I went on a Virgin voyage
I’m a cruise girl. While I can’t tell you why or how this enormous vessel is steady moving on water, I can tell you a thing or two about what makes a cruise good. By no means an expert, because there’s still a couple of lines I haven’t been on, I’ve been on enough sails and excursions to be able to tell some things apart, and for what it’s worth, I LOVE a cruise.
Summer 2022 started off incredibly - with a Virgin Cruise onboard the Scarlet Lady, my first voyage with the brand. When I’ve tried to think of how to describe this trip, I keep coming back to this: Grown & Sexy. It’s 21+, it’s Sam Cooke and Prince covers by a jazz band, frozen margaritas at the pool, real dinners and the people you want to party with.
So before I jump into my favorite things in detail, here are some things that stood out to me about the cruise, things I liked and added value. If you want more detail, read on!
Food: not your average cruise dining. No dining hall or scheduled dinners. It’s full included restaurants and food halls.
Gym: this might not be important for everyone but I used it and so did a lot of other people and it was a NICE gym. Working out with a view of the ocean is something I am missing so much right now. They also offer free cycling, yoga, and work out classes, and there’s a basketball court and running path.
Tip is included. For everything. Because dinners and the like are structured differently than traditional cruises, the tips are too. (You’re not being attended by one person the entire time)
No announcements: Virgin makes it a point to leave you alone during your vacation. You have an app, maps and TVs throughout to keep you up to date on happenings.
Wifi: included (and it WORKS!)
Specialty stores: there’s a tattoo shop (!!!!!), barber, and hair salon on board. I didn’t get a chance to get tatted but next time it’s on.
If you get a room with a balcony, which if you can I recommend if you get claustrophobic like I do, the balconies have a hammock. I used that hammock every day!!! What a view. Also, the lights turn off to conserve energy - but when you walk in the room and open the door, the curtains automatically open and light comes in with a view of the ocean.
First thing I want to talk about is the food. I love the way meals are organized on the Scarlet Lady. Unlike most cruises where you have a meal time and a grand hall, with Virgin there are different restaurants on board, a food hall and specialty eats throughout like poke, pizza and (really incredibly good) ice cream. The restaurants can be reserved directly through the app (which works perfectly with the onboard wifi). We went to The Wake, Virgin’s specialty high end steak house, for brunch and I loved it. Great view from the back of the vessel with unlimited mimosas available.
My favorite dinner was at Pink Agave, a Mexican food concept and tequila bar. The food was fresh and delicious as were the drinks! I loved the appetizers so much I’d order them all for dinner. Another very cool concept restaurant is The Test Kitchen - it’s a Michelin star style concept with a science based ingredient menu, and GunBae, a Korean BBQ restaurant with a fun game at the end.
The food hall food was also very good, I enjoyed breakfast every morning and there was a pistachio macaroon dessert that I ate EVERY. DAY.
Something to note about the way they do food here - it eliminates waste. By having pre made menus at the restaurants, menus are chosen on available ingredients and avoids buffet style food waste and excess food being made.
You must try the ice cream, and if you like true chocolate, you’ll love this one.
For those who are looking for R&R in the spa, it truly is a retreat, complete with a mud room, a sauna, a Himalayan salt room and cold and hot jacuzzi. They offer day passes and of course, a full menu of offerings for massages and the like.
The entertainment onboard is a bit different to some of the previous cruise ships I’ve been to - definitely more adult! Again, the app is where you can see all the events that are going on - trivia, cabaret shows, dance shows, pool side DJ, and more.
Our travel brought it to Dominican Republic where we did an incredible excursion - hiking 40 minutes up a mountain and jumping into water to make our way down.
The next stop was in Bimini at Virgin’s private island and they are not playing!!!! Pool party meets the beautiful crystal ocean, Caribbean food, peaceful restful and beautiful scenery.
All in all, I had an incredible trip and it’s a cruise I’d do again. They’re growing and I’m keeping my eye open to where is next. I got to go home with a Vinyl I bought onboard their record shop, a record id been looking for, memories I work forget and a bad ass tan.
Some questions answered:
21+ adult only
Alcohol is not included (or specialty coffees) but very reasonably priced and again includes tip - would not deter me
As of now, COVID vaccines are required as is a negative test before boarding, free testing is available on site
This cruise was a lot of couples, though I did see friend groups throughout.
Must see / must do: must try and eat at every restaurant while on board. watch my guy butter and slam allen do a jazz show. watch one of the acrobat shows. try the chocolate ice cream.
You can find more images/video and follow along on my cruisin’ highlight here and more on my instagram feed where i share videos! To learn more about cruising with Virgin, click here.
