Virgin Voyages

always included luxury | Life on board | dreamy destinations

Virgin Voyages

At the irreverent side of the spectrum, must-try spots include the Social Club Diner, where modern spins on fairground foods include the freak milkshakes and floats (which you'll nurse between rounds of foosball, air hockey and shuffleboard) and Lick Me Till…Ice Cream, where the house-made flavors range from Orange Ricotta to Brown Butter Financier. Even the cones are creative—try the red velvet or salted blue corn.

To balance out the fact that so much exquisite food will cost you nothing extra, group fitness is gratis, too—the only acceptable currency being sweat. “And if you're ‘not a sweaty person,’” says Virgin Voyages, “lie about it for the sake of the rest of us.” Not that every group fitness class is intense: On the mellow side, there’s guided meditation and stretching, cleansing breathing as well as yoga.

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Wellness and workshops

But whenever you book, you’ll find an impressively creative array of services at the Redemption Spa (case in point: the Awakening bamboo massage, which uses warmed bamboo stalks to roll stress out of your body) alongside more traditional treatments such as acupuncture. And if you opt for one of the facials, there’s a unique way to keep the afterglow going: Chief Entertainment + Lifestyle Officer Jennifer Lopez has made her skincare line available exclusively at sea aboard Scarlet Lady. Of course, the most durable way to keep your vacation vibes going—long after you’ve left the ship—is through the most unorthodox cruise wellness offering of all: a souvenir from the signature onboard tattoo parlor, Squid Ink.

Standout suites and cabins

Opt for a cabin with a sea terrace to experience those trademark red hammocks (which double as Instagram gold, so you’ve probably seen them). Or if you’re looking to go all out, book Rock Star Quarters or Mega Rock Star Quarters, where you’ll find sun loungers and hammocks, king-sized beds, spacious marble bathrooms, turntables and records that nod to Virgin’s old-school DNA—and all kinds of service extras (need a glam squad on call? no problem). There’s also the Massive Suite at the very front of the ship, where you can take in the sweeping views from your outdoor balcony, or—if you’re so inspired—pick up one of the guitars in your personal music room and pluck out an ode to all this awesomeness.

Another grand-scale itinerary to consider: one of the line’s repositioning trips. This April, for starters, brings a 15-night voyage from Miami to Barcelona by way of Lisbon’s winding, tiled streets and Cádiz’s evocative, seaside old town. Then November will bring a 15-night one-way sailing from Singapore to Sydney with such stops as Bali’s Tanjung Benoa peninsula, home to a variety of famed beaches and temples—and Cairns, one of the gateways to the Great Barrier Reef. The only danger, of course, is that after so much time spent on these amazing vessels and voyages, you’ll take too much to the Virgin sailor life to want to head home.

The world beyond

Europe

You’ll find a similar dichotomy in Santorini, home to both world-famous experiences (the iconic local sunset is perhaps best witnessed aboard Virgin’s private sailing charter) and experiences that involve, say, hidden trails to secret beaches, where you can hide out after horseback-riding past ancient vineyards and volcanic rock formations. Then, there are the ports you’ve perhaps never considered in the first place, but really should: the Balkan beauty that is Kotor, for example, with its café-happy ancient lanes—or the Rock of Gibraltar, which you can get to know by stand-up paddling, gin-tasting or historic fortification-touring, just for starters.

Caribbean

Beyond the Bahamas, some itineraries star the Dominican Republic, where highlights include scooter-snorkeling (yes, you’ll be instructed in the use of an underwater propulsion vehicle) through the kaleidoscopic waters of Coconut Cove and merengue-dancing and rum-sipping with locals. Other itineraries include the Yucatán Peninsula, where you can go beyond the well-worn trails of Tulum to the lesser-known Chacchoben ruins (and have lunch at a nearby lagoon) or experience a shaman-led, Maya-inspired day of wellness, complete with copal cleansing and coconut baths. Still other itineraries include St. Croix, where history buffs won’t want to miss the locally-led tour of Frederiksted, a centuries old and repeatedly disaster-ravaged town that was largely rebuilt during the Victorian era, as you’ll see on your walkabout. And all of the above is just the start.

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Always included luxury

Life on board

Dreamy destinations

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Epic entertainment

Some of the most talked-about include Duel Reality, a modern retelling of Romeo and Juliet with a circus twist; Untitled Danceshow Partything, an absurdist dance party that blends music video, the club scene and old-timey showbiz; and Never Sleep Alone, a late-night cabaret-style show led by a resident sexologist. For a different take on getting lucky, don’t miss the Miss Behave Game Show, where anyone can be a big winner. Then again, if the only entertainment you crave on any given night is your Instagram or Tiktok feed, rest assured that your in-cabin Wifi is included, too.

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Prime public spaces

Most of the spaces in question come with f&b options, from the Grounds Club (for your latte and nitro brew needs) to the Sip Lounge (champagne and caviar). Point is, leave ample time to explore the ship, however tempting your own quarters may be.

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Having launched in 2021, Virgin Voyages is still the new kid on the dock. But even in its infancy, the brand has landed everywhere from the Travel + Leisure 2022 World's Best Awards, among the top mega-ship ocean cruise lines, to the 2022 Condé Nast Traveler Hot List as one of the world’s best new cruises. Little wonder Virgin Voyages has racked up more five-star reviews than any other cruise line on Tripadvisor. So why all the buzz? In short, a radical reimagining of what cruise travel can look, feel and even taste like (hint: Michelin stars). What you’ll find is a singular study in contrasts: a line that's utterly grown-up (as in, adults only), yet famously playful and cheeky. Ships that pack the luxury and design elements of a superyacht, but still feel friendly and unpretentious. Amenities so plentiful and fabulous that even the most avid explorer would be tempted to stay aboard forever—if not for the equally irresistible shore excursions. To delve deeper, then start charting your own course, read on. The timing couldn’t be better, as the line's generous rewards program—Virgin Voyages Sailing Club—is launching this year.

All-inclusive cruising is nothing new, but Virgin Voyages’ take on the idea certainly is. While you can pay for extras, of course, everything that simply comes with the price of admission is making serious waves.

In place of the dread bottomless buffet—the stereotype that has long sent foodies packing for any trip but a cruise—Virgin Voyages sought Michelin-starred chefs to help curate the line’s culinary offerings. The result is 20+ genre-spanning restaurants, with all meals (and perhaps more amazingly, all tips) on the house. A few standouts include the Korean BBQ joint Gunbae, the Mexico City street food-inspired Pink Agave, the experimental lab-like Test Kitchen—and the nostalgic-cool seafood and steak house known as the Wake.

But some of the most distinctive—okay, the absolute most distinctive—coursework happens on the heart-pumping end of the spectrum. No fitness fan should fail to take the VHS workout, even if you’re too young to know what a VHS tape is, or to get the references embedded in this class name: Video-Headband-Simmons. Just think 80s music, neon galore and the most fun you can have getting your cardio in. Less cheeky, but no less sweat-inducing are offerings like HIIT Don’t Quit (High Intensity Interval Training) and Spin Out, a spin course.

Actually, if you consider how Richard Branson first made a global name for himself—with music megastores and a record label—perhaps his cruise line’s entertainment lineup isn’t so astonishing. Anything he’s put the Virgin name to has had distinct rock star vibes, and these ships are the ultimate showcase, with “first-to-sea, modern, and immersive entertainment…developed by the world’s most-talked-about directors, choreographers, and artists.” So you’ll find at least a dozen entertainment options, all on the house.

Though some cruise lines liken themselves to floating boutique hotels, Virgin launched actual boutique hotels before launching ships—and those hotelier sensibilities come through in countless onboard touches.

Tricked out with state-of-the-art tech, these cabins have tablet-based command centers, every conceivable kind of outlet, wristbands in place of keys and energy efficient mood lighting. Actually, mood lighting is an understatement: Select “get it on” mode on your tablet, for example, and the curtains will close, the room will go dark save for some fuchsia spotlighting over the bed—and old-timey burlesque music will turn on. The rooms are as chic and comfortable as they are technologically advanced, with everything from customizable beds to generous rain showers.

Those group fitness classes are just a start. Wellness is a way of life on these ships, to the point that there’s an entire “Well-being Season” on board (January through March). If you book during that time frame, options range from slow-flow yoga at sunrise to healthy happy hours with thoughtful cocktails and mocktails.

Perhaps sporting a fresh pedi from the Tune-up salon, you’ll want to hit the loungers on the glam pool deck at the Aquatic Club. Or for more of an old-school social sporty vibe, you’ll want to head to the Athletic Club, where you can kick back on the wraparound outdoor daybed between rounds of basketball or adult seesaw (really). In fact, whatever the club-like atmosphere you’re seeking, you’ll find it on Virgin Voyages.

It’s not just where you’ll travel with Virgin Voyages, but also the kinds of things you’ll do on arrival that will set the experience apart.

Regardless of where Virgin Voyages is whisking you off to in the Caribbean (there are eight destinations and more than 150 experiences on offer), you’ll make at least one stop that’s exclusive to this line: the Beach Club at Bimini, a private and stunning stretch of Bahamian shoreline. Basing yourself there, you can do anything from pontoon cruising to hammerhead diving, though the beach itself is so surreal and serene that plenty of sailors (Virgin-speak for passengers) opt to stay put in cabanas.

With a wide array of European destinations and experiences, Virgin Voyages immerses you in some of the continent’s most legendary and lesser-known facets, sometimes in one place. Case in point: Ibiza, where you’ll experience both the claim to global fame (the all-night, celebrity DJ-driven dance party scene) and this Balearic island’s relatively unknown quiet side: the centuries-old Dalt Vila, home to ancient architecture, winding lanes and stunning sea views from on high.

If you’re looking to travel farther afield, consider the Australia and New Zealand itineraries, which range from short but exquisite voyages between Melbourne and Tasmania to in-depth explorations that tack on the wine-producing coastal region around Napier, the wildlife-rich Otago Peninsula, the misty fjord-filled Southern Alps and more. Wherever you travel with Virgin Voyages in the region, the cultural, culinary and wilderness experiences will be epic: There’s the fusion of Maori history and modernity in the seaside outpost of Tauranga, the pairing of world-class coffee and art among Melbourne’s hidden laneways; the likely sightings of kangaroos, penguins and albatross at various points along the route…and the wonders never cease.

Plan your trip

always included luxury | Life on board | dreamy destinations

Having launched in 2021, Virgin Voyages is still the new kid on the dock. But even in its infancy, the brand has landed everywhere from the Travel + Leisure 2022 World's Best Awards, among the top mega-ship ocean cruise lines, to the 2022 Condé Nast Hot List as one of the world’s best new cruises. Little wonder Virgin Voyages has racked up more five-star reviews than any other cruise line on Tripadvisor. So why all the buzz? In short, a radical reimagining of what cruise travel can look, feel and even taste like (hint: Michelin stars). What you’ll find is a singular study in contrasts: a line that's utterly grown-up (as in, adults only), yet famously playful and cheeky. Ships that pack the luxury and design elements of a superyacht, but still feel friendly and unpretentious. Amenities so plentiful and fabulous that even the most avid explorer would be tempted to stay aboard forever—if not for the equally irresistible shore excursions. To delve deeper, then start charting your own course, read on. The timing couldn’t be better, as one of the industry’s most generous rewards programs—Virgin Voyages Sailing Club—is launching this year.

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