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About Scarlet Lady

Scarlet Lady was the first of Virgin Voyages spectacular "Lady Ships" and she is modern and sophisticated. Considered midsized at 110,000 tons, she’s the perfect size for many spectacular adventures and itineraries. "Sailors," Virgin's term for passengers, will experience a relaxed, nouveau and innovative cruise vacation.

She is about to change your cruise perspective with a host of firsts including being the first ship specifically designed for, and exclusive to, adults aged 18 and older. While this beautiful "Lady" is brimming with desirable amenities, there is very little one would consider traditional onboard Scarlet Lady. Immersive entertainment includes a festival-like lineup crafted by renowned artists, choreographers and directors. Participate in an interactive cabaret featuring the ship’s Resident Sexologist. Elaborate death-defying acts retell Romeo and Juliet. Pop-up micro-plays can happen anywhere, anytime. Ethereal technology, stunning choreography and breathtaking acrobatics are incorporated into many productions. Showbiz flair meets music video and they join forces with high energy dance parties in The Manor.

"Vitamin Sea" is the line's term for its focus on your well-being. Scarlet Lady boasts lots of outdoor spaces for guests get their Vitamin D the natural way, such as the sundeck, Crow's Nest, an athletic club, pools and more. Pamper your mind, body and soul in the underwater cave-inspired thermal suite. Sailors are sure to relish the hydrotherapy pool, mud room, cold plunge pools, heated marble hammam benches, seaweed wraps and more. Now that you are revitalized, try a new style at the hair salon or treat yourself to a haircut and shave at the ship's convenient barbershop. An exciting addition is the first-ever tattoo studio at sea, Squid Ink. Active cruisers can participate in a selection of high-intensity workouts including classes such as HIIT, spinning, boxing and other high-octane endeavors. You may choose to lift weights, do laps on the outdoor track and find your Zen in yoga or meditation classes. Unwind and enjoy your favorite cocktail or mocktail at the cabanas, complete with cooling fans.

Tantalizing dining is offered on Scarlet Lady in upwards of 20 venues, all included, with a diverse range of options, from casual fare to haute cuisine. Choose from glamorous settings and al fresco venues, as well as its largest restaurant, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. Take your taste buds on a voyage of their own with international favorites including Korean BBQ, an upscale Mexican restaurant, a Steakhouse, American-style Diner and a beach club-styled eatery among many others. Sharpen your culinary skills in a test kitchen that doubles as a restaurant. You'll also have access to 24/7 room service.

Thoughtfully designed "Quarters" are available on the ship. A high percentage of accommodations feature ocean views and a vast majority of those include a balcony, which Virgin calls a Sea Terrace. Solo cabins are also available for independent voyagers. Presence sensors detect when someone has entered or left the stateroom and conserve energy. All boast an in-room entertainment system, mood lighting, mini-bar, tablet and more. Rain showerheads are found in the bathrooms and handcrafted hammocks reside on many of the balconies. Most also have an innovative Seabed that converts from a bed to a lounger. Book one of the RockStar Suites and take advantage of perks such as "swimsuit drying", a personal assistant, wardrobe coordinator, early entry to various onboard eateries and entertainment along with exclusive admittance to Richard's Rooftop. If you've ever wanted to dance on the table Virgin's got you covered. Some of the largest suites have tables with attached stairs, a hot tub, hammocks and the private outdoor showers give new meaning to "air drying."

Evenings come alive with a signature high-energy nightclub, a thrilling casino, live music, pop-up parties, ethereal visuals and death-defying acrobatics, original production shows and more.

Cruise on the beautiful Scarlet Lady for a one-of-a-kind vacation.

Massive Suite with Terrace

This is it. This is the suite. Positioned at the most forward part of the ship — the views are, to put it simply, unrivaled. Get lost watching the waves from your outdoor hot tub or creating a new sound in your personal music room. But don't worry, you can find yourself again the next morning as you meditate alongside the waves on your sprawling, private terrace.

Fab Suite with Terrace

Whether you're into sunshine yoga on the terrace, or serving up negronis at the bar inside, this suite is for those who love to host. When it's just you, you'll be tasked with the age-old problem of whether to relax in the fully-marbled Peek-a-Boo shower inside or rinse off on the Peek-a-View shower outside under the moonlight.

Posh Suite with Terrace

An outdoor champagne table is the perfect spot to admire the view from your suite. With a glamorously designed layout enhanced by our high-tech mood lighting, Hollywood-style vanity glam area, a tricked out terrace, and floor-to-ceiling marble bathroom, this one's perfect for the posh traveler.

Gorgeous Suite with Terrace

The terrace swing chair is the perfect spot to enjoy a nightcap while you watch the moon flirt with the waves. Once inside, after rinsing off in your outdoor Peek-a-View shower, you can lose yourself in the massive European king bed while drifting off to sleep to the sounds of the waves (or your vinyl record player).

Brilliant Suite with Terrace

The Hollywood-style lights. The glam brass vanity area. The full size, fully-stocked bar (complete with mixology equipment, obviously) - this suite begs for you to indulge the rockstar deep within. And with a cheeky view of the European king bed from the (fully) marbled Peek-a-Boo shower, the only sensual rival is the ocean itself.

Cheeky Corner Suite – Biggest Terrace

Wrapping panoramic views from the corner of the ship are emphasized by design choices in this suite. Enjoy custom interior wicker chairs in this, the highest and biggest of the Cheeky Corner terraces, meant to maximize sea views - in this case, the wake view. Sailors will gaze at the sea while relaxing near the gorgeous outdoor Champagne table or kicking back in the hand-woven hammock chair. After they’ve finished soaking in the views, Sailors can indulge in some classics with their vinyl record player and a personalized, fully stocked, in-room bar. Then they’ll freshen up in the expansive top to bottom marble bathroom featuring the Roomiest Rainshower. Sleeps up to two.

Cheeky Corner Suite – Even Bigger Terrace

Wrapping panoramic views from the corner of the ship are emphasized by our design choices — from our custom interior wicker chairs to the beautiful, hand-woven hammocks on the terrace, our pieces were designed with thoughtful space to maximize sea views from any angle.

Cheeky Corner Suite – Pretty Big Terrace

Seriously Suite with Terrace

Full stocked, full-size bar. Peek-a-Boo shower, Record player ready to spin your favorite tunes, This suite is ideal if you're serious about luxury.

Sweet Aft Suite – Biggest Terrace

With endless views from the back of the ship whether you're relaxing at the terrace champagne table, or gazing at the waves directly from your indoor Peek-a-Boo shower window, there's no such thing as a bad view in this suite.

Sweet Aft Suite – Even Bigger Terrace

Sweet Aft Suite – Pretty Big Terrace

XL Sea Terrace

Boasting the same sweet views with a bigger living space and bathroom — there’s more room to do you

Central Sea Terrace

Views for those who love to be centered. Locationally. (Nama)stay here at the center of the ship

The Sea Terrace

Located in the front and back zones, get epic ocean views from any angle — from inside your cabin to the terrace hammock, that most, but not all, offer.

Ltd View Sea Terrace (Obstructed View)

All that sweet terrace jazz, but with a (slightly) limited view from a part of the ship

The Sea View

Perched on the nautically inspired window seat, a duo can take in the views (without all the mist)

Solo Sea View

Window for one plz? Get introspective as you gaze out at the waves from your own personal hideaway

The Insider

Perfect for a duo and equipped with our transitional Seabed, this is a retreat for relaxation

Social Insider

Our posh but cozy cabin is ideal for a close-knit crew. For girl bands or four cartoon turtles

Solo Insider

This cocoon-like cabin is perfect for fans of late nights and sleeping in until after lunch. It’s super cozy and ideal for solo travelers. Standard cabin amenities, check. No window, no problem. Sleeps one.

View Deck Plan

Razzle Dazzle

Deck: Deck 5

So your best friend wants something light and healthy and you want to get real weird? This is that place. Boasting a bold interior, this restaurant offers creative suprises on some classic, comfort go-tos. Whether you're looking for something familiar (#basic can be good) or something spicy and out of left field, this place does all of that with a twist (bfast, lunch, dinner, baby).

Inspired by the capital city's red hot street food scene, sailors are treated to an immersive odyssey of Mexican cuisine. Personal, intimate, and educational, a master of ceremonies will guide you through a highly curated dining and drinking experience. Mezcal dinner pairings equipped with a history lesson? Yes pls.

Deck: Deck 6

The perfect mix of sophistication, nostalgia and cool — entering The Wake is an event in and of itself. And once you've made your way down the grand staircase, you'll enter a world that harks back to the old steakhouse, three-martini-lunch days of Madison Avenue ad men. But ya know, now with, thankfully, gender equality. And less cigar smoke.

The Pizza Place

Deck: Deck 7

The Pizza Place- Casual Eatery Serving… Pizza.

Sun Club Café

Deck: Deck 16

Outdoor Eatery.

Deck: Deck 15

If you're into hands-on meat-grilling and soju drinking, our Korean BBQ is the perfect spot to do all that with maximum social engagement (IRL, but feel free to 'gram it if you want). It's a catalyst for great conversation since we all have that one friend who insists on being the meat-master. Go ahead and roast the master while they roast the meat.

The Test Kitchen

Inspired by Escoffier’s Ma Cuisine, this laboratory-like eatery is part cooking school and part restaurant. It's educational, experiential and social. With classes and evolving tasting menus, this is for the curious, boundary-pushing tastebuds on board.

Extra Virgin

Casual Elevated Italian Restaurant + Wine Bar.

Market-style Food Hall.

If vacation for you isn't complete without the ultimate form of self care (hi, us too), our spa will be your second home. From massages so good they'll make you question life itself, to a mud room that will revilatalize your soul and body, we call it Redemption for a reason. Redeem yourself from last night, last month or last year... or just redeem yourself because you want to. You earned this.

Sailor Services

Stubble + Groom

Stubble + Groom.

Exclusive Event Space.

The Tune Up

Mani-Pedi + Medi Spa.

Aquatic Club Bar

Aquatic Club Bar.

Well-being Pool

Well-being Pool.

Richard’s Rooftop

VIP Sundeck + Bar.

Okay, frankly we'd be wild to build a ship and not have a restaurant with a sun-drenched lounging area so you can combine all the things you love in one place (eating and views, obviously) so yep — we did that. The Dock feels like an elegant cabana caught between the chill, seaside perfection of Ibiza and the rustic-chic resorts of Brazil.

Flex Event Space.

Decks: Deck 7 Deck 6

The two story, three bar space, named after Richard's first recording studio, is inspired by a classic theatrical zeitgeist - layered with a moody & sexy ‘70s, punk vibe. Ground-breaking shows will kick the night off before it transitions into a mind-blowing, goodbye-early-morning-workout nightclub.

Gaming and Lounge.

Nothing marks a life-bending vacation experience, like coming home with body art that will bring you back to a time when you were truly living. We've teamed up with World Famous Tattoo Ink, Soho Ink and Freshly Inked Magazine to open our own tattoo studio on board. The historical roots of tattoo art can be traced back to sailors celebrating nautical milestones like a first time crossing the equator, crossing the atlantic or mementos of epic voyages. Inspired by that beauty and tradition, we celebrate creative self-expression, tales of adventure and unforgettable life experiences.

The Roundabout

The Roundabout.

Aquatic Club

With smooth curves and nautical details, we've created a pool deck with the sophisticated glam of a contemporary yacht. Whether you're looking to sunbathe in one of our day beds or let last night's choices melt away in the pool, you can detox and recover, or start the party all over again. Don't be surprised if paparazzi mistake you for celebs - we're legally not responsible for how good you look on this ship.

Gym & Tonic Bar

Gym & Tonic Bar.

B-Complex Burn + Balance & B-Complex Burn + Bike

#Burn, #Build, #Balance or #Bike; we've got everything a true #gymfreak could possibly want. We've got an outdoor running track, so many weights there's no wait* (*this is not legally binding), yoga to balance your chi—and then get on Todd's level, who's three bikes over and gunning to crush the Tour de France.

Training Camp

Group Fitness.

The Cabanas

Private Hideaways.

Sports Area

Sports Area.

The Athletic Club

Adult Playground.

The Athletic Club Bar

The Athletic Club Bar.

Deck: Deck 17

Jogging Track.

The Crow’s Nest

Outdoor Yoga Studio.

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Virgin Voyages Celebrates Delivery of Scarlet Lady, with Love

PLANTATION, Fla. – Feb. 14, 2020 – Virgin Voyages , the new lifestyle and travel brand delivering irresistible vacations in cruising, announced today that the Scarlet Lady has officially reached completion. Nearly three years in the making, Virgin Voyages formally welcomes its first ‘Lady Ship,’ Scarlet Lady in its fleet of four to the open waters, departing the shipyard in Genoa, Italy. In just 46 days, Sailors will embark on the Maiden Voyage, departing from her homeport in Miami.  On the heels of this celebratory occasion, Virgin Voyages welcomes Scarlet Lady with an industry leading approach that takes immediate action to address  climate change. Not only has the brand designed its fleet of ships to the latest energy-efficiency standards with state-of-the art equipment, Virgin Voyages is offsetting itsdirect climate change emissions through the purchase of carbon offsets. This commitment makes the brand the first cruise line to become carbon-neutral for its direct emissions footprint from its first day of commercial operation. The projects that will be supported by Scarlet Lady  will meet high-quality, internationally-recognized verification standards, including The Gold Standard and the Verified Carbon Standard. “It’s wonderful to welcome Scarlet Lady today,” says Virgin Group Founder Sir Richard Branson. “I’m so proud that as we start this exciting journey, we also bring to life Virgin Voyages’ commitment to preserving the ocean and the first of many steps towards a net zero carbon future.” The brand has recognized that climate change is an urgent, global issue for every industry and business. Like others, Virgin Voyages’ long-term ambition is a net-zero carbon future. This will require significant advancements in technology and infrastructure, and access to solutions that remain in development. And, Virgin Voyages is committed to working with the industry to support the necessary research and development to advance carbon-free fuels and to scale commercially viable solutions.  “The ocean is our home, and we are on a mission to protect it. The single-biggest threat facing our ocean is climate change, and we want to be part of the solution,”  said Tom McAlpin, CEO and President of Virgin Voyages. “We are committed to pioneering new technologies onboard, and working with our industry peers to advance research and development for zero-carbon fuels.”   Virgin Voyages is one of first cruise lines to use Climeon, a technology that utilizes heat generated from the ship’s engines to generate electricity, thereby decreasing the demand for fuel. While the industry continues to improve on the journey for readily available and commercially-viable solutions, purchasing high-quality carbon offsets allows us to take immediate action, while also supporting a long-term strategy that secures a net-zero future for the cruise industry. 

ABOUT VIRGIN VOYAGES Virgin Voyages is a global lifestyle brand committed to creating the world’s most irresistible holiday. With operations in the US, UK, and Europe, Virgin Voyages currently has four ships on order with master shipbuilder Fincantieri. With its inaugural season scheduled for 2020, Virgin Voyages’ first ship the Scarlet Lady was designed to reflect a yacht’s sleek luxury. Featuring spaces designed by some of the top names in contemporary design, the Scarlet Lady will be Adult-by-Design, a sanctuary at sea for the 18+ traveller.  A dose of ‘Vitamin Sea’ will be naturally intertwined across the entire ship, with well-being activated through a mix of high-energy moments coupled with relaxation and rejuvenation. The Scarlet Lady will also feature alluring entertainment and 20+ world-class intimate eateries on board. Putting a twist on luxury, which the company refers to as Rebellious Luxe, Virgin Voyages will offer incredible value for its Sailors with all restaurants, group fitness classes, soft drinks, and many more Virgin surprises included within the voyage fare.  Scarlet Lady will sail from Miami to the Caribbean in 2020, hosting more than 2,770 sailors and 1,160 amazing crew from around the world. Keep watch on virginvoyages.com for more updates.

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Scarlet Lady Cruise Ship, USA

Scarlet Lady was built by Italian ship building company Fincantieri at its Sestri Ponente (Genoa) shipyard in Trieste, Italy, for Virgin Voyages.

Vessel Type

Cruise ship

Virgin Voyages

Fincantieri

Gross Tonnage

Expected delivery.

Scarlet Lady is an adult-only cruise ship vessel featuring world-class interiors and luxury options to meet the distinctive needs of its passengers.

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Construction on the ship started with the first steel cut in March 2017. The keel laying ceremony was held in October 2017, and the cruise ship was delivered in February 2020.

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Virgin Voyages placed a €2bn ($2.2bn) contract with Fincantieri to build three cruise vessels in December 2016. An additional order was placed for the fourth ship in October 2018.

Scarlet Lady cruise ship design and features

The mid-sized luxury cruise ship features an innovative design integrating clever cabin touches and upgraded bath amenities and a unique, patent-pending cabin layout, designed in collaboration with Pearson Lloyd Design. Tom Dixon, Roman and Williams, and Concrete Amsterdam also offered their world-class designs for the ship.

The Scarlet Lady measures 278m-long and 38m-wide and has a gross tonnage of 110,000t. It can accommodate a maximum of 4,400 people onboard and has a cruising speed of 20kt.

The vessel features a total of 1,400 cabins and 78 RockStar Suites. The cabins are divided into six categories, namely XL Sea Terrace, Sea Terrace, Sea View, Insider, and Social Insider. Views of the Sea can be enjoyed from the majority of the cabins, with 86% of the cabins featuring sea terraces.

Automatic lights, temperature adjusters, autonomous charge units, 4K flat-screen 43in HDTVs, and mini-bars are part of the standard cabin design. The ship also features a transformational seabed designed by Walter Knoll.

Dining venues

The luxury ship takes an alternative approach to the traditional dining style and does not have a main assigned seating dining room with a fixed dinner time. The Wake restaurant at the aft of the ship offers seafood and other dishes.

Razzel Dazzle, designed by Concrete Amsterdam, is a First World War-themed restaurant. The multi-cuisine restaurant primarily offers dishes for vegetarians and also houses a cocktail venue called Red Bar. With its lab-like environment, The Test Kitchen features a chef that provides a list of all the ingredients and details of the recipe, enabling guests to choose their preferred style of cooking.

Geonbae is a Korean BBQ restaurant designed by Softroom, located on the seventh deck, The Dock, designed by Roman and Williams, serves as a lounge area offering a beach club-like experience to guests onboard.

Pink Agave, a Mexican restaurant designed by Tom Dixon, serves a variety of cuisines while The Galley restaurant offers different food options ranging from breakfast to dinner.

The Pizza Place offers pizzas while Extra Virgin, an Italian restaurant, serves pasta-focused food and offers a homemade food experience to travellers.

Entertainment on Scarlet Lady

Custom-designed for adult passengers, Scarlet Lady features multiple entertainment venues. The Runway is a raised red jogging track around the top of the ship while Athletic Club is a yacht-inspired feature.

Scarlet Lady features a tattoo parlour called Squid Ink, which houses two full-time resident tattoo artists.

Other entertainment venues on board the ship include Redemption Spa, Gym and Tonic Bar, Well-Being pool, four basketball courts, Crow’s Nest yoga centre, and Stubble & Groom barber shop. The Manor is a nightlife space designed by Roman and Williams.

Scarlet Lady cruise ship propulsion and power

Scarlet Lady is powered by two eight-cylinder and two 12-cylinder Wartsila 46F engines. Virgin Voyages contracted Wartsila for providing the maintenance, remote operational support services, specific fuel oil consumption (SFOC) metres, and other engine spares for the vessel.

ABB ’s Azipod steerable propulsion system on board the ship integrates two Azipod XO units, having a combined power output of 32MW (43,000hp).

Virgin Voyages, in collaboration with Scanship, employed microwave-assisted pyrolysis (MAP) technology to convert organic waste into clean energy.

In collaboration with Climeon, the cruise liner also installed six Climeon units to convert the carbon dioxide generated by the ship into electricity.

Scarlet Lady itineraries

Scarlet Lady is homeported at Port Miami cruise terminal, from where she sailed on her maiden voyage in October 2021.

Scarlet Lady’s inaugural season itinerary includes a mix of Mexican and Caribbean voyages, with five-night Riviera Maya sailings to Cozumel/Playa Del Carmen, five-night Mayan Sol voyages to Costa Maya, Mexico, and five-night Dominican Daze voyages to Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic.

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Scarlet Lady cruise ship review: What to expect on board Virgin Voyages’ 1st ship

Scarlet Lady, Virgin Voyages ' original cruise ship, takes all your preconceived notions of a cruise ship and turns them on their head.

The ship does not have a buffet or a cavernous banquet-style dining room. Kids are not welcome, but the adults-only ship gives grownups plenty of opportunities to play in both childlike and mature ways. Cruise fares include all meals, soda, basic Wi-Fi and crew gratuities, but it's not a luxury product filled with opulent decor, sedate travelers and a stuffy vibe. Onboard entertainment will include sexual innuendos, F-bombs and queer themes.

Scarlet Lady is not for everyone. But if you, like me, are tired of (or turned off by) the same-old cruise ship formula, this ship might just offer the cruise vacation you didn't know you were looking for.

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Overview of Scarlet Lady

The 110,000-ton ship features 1,330 cabins and 78 suites and can carry 2,770 passengers at maximum capacity. That's a lot smaller than the newest ships from lines like Royal Caribbean , Carnival Cruise Line and Norwegian Cruise Line . The balance works well; the ship does not feel oppressively crowded, but there are plenty of restaurants, bars and attractions on board to keep you entertained at sea.

Scarlet Lady defies categorization when it comes to pricing, as well. Its cruise fares are more inclusive than your typical mass-market ship, and therefore more expensive than other mainstream lines. But it doesn't have the same vibe as luxury cruise ships that tend to cater to a retired, wealthy clientele, who are less active and not into dance parties or cutting-edge entertainment.

The minimum age to sail Virgin is 18 years old, and the ship embraces its adults-only status . You won't find kids on board, yet you will find board games, an arcade, swings and unlimited pizza and ice cream.

A common concern I've heard is that Scarlet Lady is only for the young and the hip. As a completely non-hip, mid-40-something, I can assure you that isn't true. The target demographic for this ship is more about mindset than age.

If you're someone who likes to go out – to dinner, a show, a bar or a party – this social ship will be for you. Many restaurants have communal tables designed to bring people together, such as Gunbae, where tables exclusively seat six and you're encouraged to join in a drinking game with your newly-met tablemates. The entertainment is top notch, but it's more experimental and modern than the traditional song-and-dance cruise ship shows. Scarlet Lady is not a "read in your cabin" type of cruise ship.

It's also a ship for travelers with open minds, who embrace differences and aren't easily shocked or insulted. Onboard comedians will push boundaries with their jokes. You'll find crew, from entertainers to waiters, who may be gender-fluid, tattooed, pierced or openly gay. While the sex-themed cabaret is gone, the shows do not shy away from sexual or R-rated themes.

I loved this about the ship. Others may not.

What I loved about Scarlet Lady

Hammock on the balcony.

It might seem minor, but the hammock on my cabin's balcony made my cruise.

I often feel that balconies are wasted space. They're great for checking the weather, drying swimsuits and eating room service breakfast – but I rarely spend much time hanging out on them. Usually that's because the chairs are upright and made of metal (or metal and plastic mesh) and the veranda is small, and you can't get comfortable.

Not so with a hammock. I'm 6 feet tall and can fully recline in one of Scarlet Lady's bright red, ethically sourced hammocks. The rocking of the hammock combined with the rocking of the ship at sea, especially early in the morning when the sun was low and the temperature perfect, was incredibly soothing. I found myself plotting how to get more hammock time – rather than simply forgetting I had a balcony as I busied myself around the ship.

Scarlet Lady succeeds in creating intimate spaces onboard a big ship, and I loved all the inviting nooks I found on board. Sometimes, those nooks were tucked-away bars, like the Dock House Bar, just slightly off the main thoroughfare. Or, perhaps they were cute seating areas, like the curtained-off tables at the Sip bar or day beds on the open-air decks.

The public spaces on the ship invite you to grab a friend, a drink and chill for a while. I wished I had time to sample them all.

Entertainment

I'm a Broadway buff, and I always go to the cruise ship shows. Unless they're a real Broadway show (found on the likes of NCL or Royal Caribbean), I'm usually walking out or picking them apart before they end.

Scarlet Lady's entertainment impressed me with its innovation and its quality. The dancers were incredible; they moved about the stage like they were performing on "So You Think You Can Dance" (or other TV dance competition), not in your kid's high school dance recital. "Dual Reality," the Romeo-and-Juliet-themed show, was the first cruise-ship acrobatic performance I've seen that had a compelling plot; so many cruise lines throw dancers on hoops or silks in the air simply because they can. The way the staging and performer interaction engaged the audience was original and brilliant.

The drag show was a hoot, and the DanceShowPartyThing was different than any cruise ship show I've ever seen and a lighthearted fun time. The late-night jazz band at the On the Rocks bar kept the crowds engaged, and the crew knew how to keep the party going on the dance floor at The Manor – whether that was dancing on the stage wings or covering the crowd with a large parachute.

Related: Here's why Virgin Voyages' entertainment is now the best on any cruise

Restaurant concept

I'm not a cruiser who adores the main dining room. I prefer specialty restaurants with their individual menus, decor and vibe. But I also hate paying extra for meals when food is already included. In this way, Virgin's restaurant concept speaks perfectly to me.

Scarlet Lady has no main dining room and no buffet. Instead, you can make dinner reservations at one of its six restaurants, or make a more casual meal from the pizza parlor, food hall, snack bar (featuring wings and hot dogs) or the Dock and Dock House lounge with their mezze menu. I loved that every night I ate someplace different – one night filet mignon at the classy, upscale The Wake, the next experimental dishes at Test Kitchen or communal Korean BBQ at Gunbae.

Food ranged from edible to excellent, but meals were always fun. I felt like I was eating out in a city, rather than at a hotel conference center, and that night-out vibe set the mood for the entire evening.

What I didn't love about Scarlet Lady

Lack of direction.

Scarlet Lady is a ship for independent travelers who don't need their hands held or want to be told what to do by a cruise director (there isn't one). While I loved the lack of announcements over the intercom system or at the end of shows, I did feel like it was easy to miss out on things on board.

No one tells you how the ship works, even though it's nontraditional for the cruise industry. If you don't know to get on board and immediately make reservations for all the restaurants, shows and fitness classes you want, you will find yourself locked out of meals and events you were looking forward to.

The ship has a decided lack of signage; no deck maps or wayfinder screens by the elevator banks, not even the name of bars by their entrances. The layout of the ship is such that certain bars or venues are tucked away off the high-traffic corridors and can be difficult to find. If you do find them, they're usually in a dead end, leaving you to retrace your steps to figure out a way across a deck.

Perhaps if the app were more intuitive, some of these issues could be mitigated. But I, who have successfully employed numerous cruise ship apps, had to ask a crew member to show me where to find deck plans in the Sailor App. In-app room service ordering was glitchy, but my cabin attendant hadn't left me a printout of the menu, so I never tried in-room dining.

I can see first-time and older cruisers being especially confounded by the lack of guidance on board. While more announcements aren't the answer, I'm sure Virgin Voyages could figure out unobtrusive ways to give sailors a helping hand.

I am generally not a fan of cruise ship buffets, but a five-night cruise on Scarlet Lady gave me new appreciation for them .

Virgin Voyages is decidedly anti-self-serve. Neither its ships nor its private beach club on Bimini in the Bahamas offers a buffet. The buffet replacement on Scarlet Lady is The Galley, a food hall with several themed stations. Instead of ordering at the counter, you find a seat, flag down a waiter and put in your order, which will be brought to you when ready.

This concept works well when you have time to kill or the venue is empty. But when The Galley is packed, such as in the morning on a port day, it can take forever to catch the attention of a server and longer than you'd expect to receive your meal. You can find grab-and-go boxes in several locations on board, but the food selection is limited.

I had the same experience at The Dock after a late excursion; several of us waited far too long for a waiter to appear and take our order – even though a server had escorted me outside five minutes prior. As much as I'm not a fan of buffets, sometimes I just want to eat quickly and get on with my day.

Related: 11 things I loved on Virgin Voyages — and 6 I kind of hated

Scarlet Lady cabins and suites

Scarlet Lady offers the usual cruise ship mix of windowless inside cabins, ocean-view rooms with large windows that don't open, cabins with private balconies and large suites. Cruise rooms sleep one to four guests, with twin beds that can be combined into queens and upper bunks. That's basically where the similarity ends.

My room was a Sea Terrace, a.k.a. a standard balcony room. The IKEA-inspired furnishings and mod décor made the room resemble a trendy micro hotel. For example, the bed is modular. On the cabin's long wall, there was a cloth headboard and a narrow white platform with one thick armrest.

Twin beds can be arrayed in various configurations along the platform. I had two pushed together into a queen with one-third of the platform as a bedside table, but a triple could have a third bed jutting out perpendicular from the other two. Or, if you plan on hosting an event in your cabin, or don't like reading on a bed, you can ask your room attendant to strip the sheets and arrange two daybed mattresses into an L-shaped sectional couch.

While practically no one uses the daybed layout, the arrangement means you're sleeping on a couch cushion rather than a plush mattress. My bed on Scarlet Lady was not the comfiest I've had on a cruise, but the sheets and duvet were fine and I slept well.

My room didn't have a sofa as other cruise ships might have. It had one upright chair in the corner and a vegan leather stool under the table that doubled as desk and vanity. The table is next to a unit housing the mini-fridge and two small shelves, but there is no additional storage. Here, you'll also find a touch-screen pad where you can adjust the lighting and temperature of your room.

The only storage is in the closet area, and as in a micro hotel, your clothes won't exactly be hanging behind closed doors. One tall cabinet with a door houses four not-that-deep drawers and shelves, many of which house the safe, life jackets and extra towels. But your clothes will hang from a rack behind a curtain that you likely won't bother to close. In one corner is a luggage stand with two shelves, each with a wicker basket.

The bathroom is tiny and also lacking in storage. You can use the one long shelf beneath the sink or place your items in the small space next to the sink – there are no other drawers or shelves. I kept placing my toilet bag under the elevated soap dish and realizing the soap would drip on it.

The shower has a rain head and a wand and one meager shelf. If you're happy with Red Flower toiletries, you can use the provided dispensers of shampoo, conditioner and body wash, and not have to worry about cramming all your travel-sized bottles onto the tiny surface area.

I didn't find my cabin on Scarlet Lady to be overly inviting or cozy, and I was glad I didn't have to fight for storage space with a travel partner. What saved the cabin was its balcony, or terrace as Virgin calls it.

The 45-square-foot terrace is furnished with two uninviting metal upright chairs and a round drinks table. I wouldn't even bother to sit out there – except for the striking red hammock hung from hooks bolted into the bottom of the balcony above. That hammock was everything. At 6 feet tall, I could stretch out completely and rock with the waves as the ship made its way through the Caribbean. Its presence made a forgettable, utilitarian room desirable and memorable.

If you really want to live it up, you can book RockStar Quarters or Mega RockStar Quarters, Virgin's two categories of suites. These extra-large rooms come with attractions like music rooms, turntables, peekaboo showers with windows to the sea, fully-stocked bars and large balconies. Perks include exclusive access to the Richard's Rooftop sun deck, access to a RockStar Agent (i.e. concierge), priority reservations for dining, onboard events and shore excursions and complimentary access to the spa's thermal suite.

Scarlet Lady restaurants and bars

Scarlet Lady is peppered with restaurants and bars, and it's possible you won't be able to try them all in one sailing. Do your research in advance because some venues are easy to miss if you're not looking for them. Dining and drinking are highlights of your time on board, so you'll want to visit as many bars and restaurants as you can.

Restaurants

The ship takes an unconventional approach to cruise ship dining, with no main dining room, no buffet and no extra-fee restaurants. In this way, your onboard dining experience will feel like a land-based trip, but with fewer Yelp reviews to read. You'll likely eat in a new venue every night, most with an attached bar for pre-dinner drinks, and need to make reservations in advance or take your chance as a walk-in, either early or late. I loved both the food and the variety of options.

You'll want to make your dinner reservations as soon as you get on board. One thing that surprised me was the ship requests you also make reservations for breakfast, brunch or lunch at sit-down restaurants, such as The Wake and Razzle Dazzle. Walk-ins are welcome at less busy times (such as right when the venue opens for breakfast), but I was lightly scolded for not booking in advance. Plan accordingly.

The most highly sought after reservation on the ship is Gunbae, Scarlet Lady's Korean BBQ restaurant. Be prepared to make friends – all tables seat six, and your smaller party will be seated with strangers. That's OK because the communal dining and drinking games (you don't get the full experience if you don't play) aren't as much fun without a group.

Your server will bring the most popular of the appetizer, seafood, meat and dessert courses, though your table can turn down any option, ask for more of a favorite or request the alternatives (mostly vegetarian dishes). All the seafood (shrimp, octopus, etc.) is cooked together in the table's central grilling station, followed by the meat – without a thorough cleaning of the grill. If this bothers you due to allergies or dietary restrictions, make sure you inform the server.

Favorites at our table were the dakgangjeong (crispy chicken), octopus, kalbi marinated beef short ribs and macha tea - black sesame twist ice cream with mini marshmallows and black sesame granola.

Razzle Dazzle is a vegetarian-forward restaurant (with several, no-longer-secret meat entrees ) open for brunch and dinner. At brunch, the spicy avocado toast gets high marks, and the cucumber-melon salad was a refreshing starter. Oddly, the restaurant had no jam for my British-style chocolate-chip scone and I had to make do with butter.

Indulge your inner child and order the coconut milk fairy toast with sprinkles and the loaded cookies mudslide, or take her to the adjacent Red Bar for a popcorn old-fashioned, served in a cup designed to look like the traditional red-and-white striped popcorn bags.

The only negative is that service here can be slow and inattentive.

On the opposite side of Sailor Services from Razzle Dazzle, Pink Agave is the fancier alternative to the Let's Taco Bout It outlet in The Galley. The so-called "elevated Mexican" dishes come in small, medium and large plates, and you can mix and match them and share with your tablemates. If you're feeling adventurous, order the mezcal cocktail topped with crunchy crickets.

I did not have the normal dinner experience at Extra Virgin, the ship's Italian restaurant, due to the themed sailing I was on, but I still got to try some of the venue's popular dishes. Previous cruisers tell me Extra Virgin is a surprise favorite because Italian restaurants are so ubiquitous, but Virgin's version delivers with fabulous dishes. Everyone raves about the meatballs, the pappardelle pasta and the ricotta bomboloni (like Italian donut holes).

The most fun dinner I had was at Test Kitchen. If you like surprises, and you're willing to turn control over your dinner to a chef, you will like this experimental restaurant as much as I did. The menu reads like this:

• Shrimp/Lamb

That's it. You can make adjustments for dietary restrictions, but your waiter will bring out dishes with each of those items starring in it in an unusual way and will announce what you're eating after the plate is set in front of you. The drink pairings are worth the extra fee; you can choose from cocktail, wine, beer or alcohol-free pairings, and they're all superb.

The Wake is the most traditional of Scarlet Lady's restaurants. It's your "get dolled up and eat steak" venue, with a glam vibe and large windows overlooking what else but the ship's wake. Toast yourself with a glass of bubbly while you dine like a king on clam chowder, roasted bone marrow, filet mignon and lamp chops. Seafood lovers should splurge on the extra-fee towers of lobster, oysters, shrimp, clams, mussels and crab. The Wake chocolate mousse dessert was the winner at our table.

The Wake also serves brunch and lunch, but I wouldn't recommend it for breakfast. The menu is tiny and fancy, mostly variants of eggs Benedict, a decadent brioche French toast, steak and eggs and a vegan dish. No fruit, no bacon, no oats. The waiter came around with a tray of off-menu pastries halfway through our meal, rather than when he served our coffee and tea. In addition, the restaurant's position low on the ship and above the engines means you feel and hear the vibration of the ship a lot and all the cups and saucers were rattling.

Scarlet Lady also has a supper club experience called It's a Ship Show, which takes place in The Manor. Virgin describes the experience as a mashup of an old-school variety show and a late-night talk show, with dinner, comedy and music.

The Dock and The Dock House are twin restaurants rocking the Mediterranean resort vibe. The Dock House is an indoor lounge where you and your sweetie can sip cocktails flavored with figs and anise while nibbling on mezze, like beet hummus and watermelon and feta salad, and pretending you're in Ibiza.

The Dock is the outdoor extension, with the same menu; recline on day beds or enjoy a tete-a-tete at low wooden seating areas while you enjoy grilled shrimp and falafel accompanied by cold-pressed juices or energy shots loaded with turmeric and ginger. The food was enjoyable, but it took forever to get served mid-afternoon after a tour.

The ultimate in casual dining, The Galley is Scarlet Lady's answer to the cruise ship buffet . It's more of a food hall with multiple themed stations (noodles, tacos, soup and salad, burgers, etc.) where you order by flagging down a waiter. It can get confusing because you do have to order in person from the dessert and breakfast bakery/yogurt counter and from the popsicle cart, and there are grab-and-go bento boxes, salads, wraps and snacks, which you can eat in conjunction with your sit-down meal or take with you.

The Galley's concept could use some refining, so be prepared. It works well when the venue is relatively quiet; you don't have to queue for food or worry about food sitting around or contaminated tongs. On the other hand, when it's busy and you just want a quick meal before your tour, it can be hard to flag down a server and your food can take 20 minutes to arrive. Plus, there's no option for hot food that you plate yourself and take back to your room if there are no seats because you have to have a table to order food at The Galley. Sometimes you just need those steam-tray eggs, grabbable bagels and premade pancakes, and you don't want a waiter-served meal.

If you're catching some rays and don't want to give up your spot in the sun for lunch, The Sun Club Café is an easy pool deck grab-and-go option for anyone who likes poke bowls.

But the real casual-dining winner is The Pizza Place, churning out oven-fresh pizzas day and night in a light and airy space. I was a fan of the white truffle and egg pizza; the amusingly named "pretty fly for a white pie" also had staunch supporters. Grab a premade salad and take your pie out to the adjacent open-air patio to enjoy it in the Caribbean sunshine.

The pizzeria is located on Deck 7, where all the fun food is. Right next door is the Lick Me Till Ice Cream outpost where you can choose from a changing roster of hand-scooped ice cream and cone flavors. My favorite was the key lime pie ice cream. Down the hall is The Social Club Diner satisfying all your bar food cravings with hot dogs (including vegan ones), chicken wings and soft pretzels. You can also order sweets like cake pops and steal candy out of a jar (except it's not stealing if it's free and meant for you to take).

One of my favorite traditions on land or sea is afternoon tea, and Scarlet Lady offers a surprisingly impressive one at its Sip Lounge. I shouldn't be surprised, given Virgin's British origins, but I figured tea was not hip enough for the line. Tea service does cost extra – more if you want Champagne with your goodies – and I suggest you make it your lunch because it's way too much food for a snack. You get a full three-tiered tray with scones, finger sandwiches and too many sweets for one person to consume in one sitting.

The menu of JoJo loose leaf teas offers a nice selection of caffeinated and herbal teas. (I've been on fancier cruise lines that offered tea bags rather than loose leaf tea.) However, my tea oversteeped as the waiter forgot to leave the chain of the tea ball outside the pot and I couldn't get it out until I drank enough to reach in without burning my fingers.

Scarlet Lady does offer room service for a fee. You can order via the Sailor App. Unfortunately for me, I could not get the room service option to function properly on my phone, so I could neither see the menu nor order in-cabin dining.

Virgin Voyages does not sell drink packages as typical cruise lines do. Instead, you can purchase a Bar Tab in advance, which is onboard credit you can only spend on drinks on the ship and at Virgin's Bimini Beach Club in the Bahamas. Look for booking promotions that include a free Bar Tab of a certain amount or give you bonus money on top of what you prepay.

You will certainly have many opportunities to spend your Bar Tab on board, whether that's wine with dinner, a morning latte or a cocktail at On the Rocks while you listen to live music. Drinking is a key component of Scarlet Lady's nightlife, but as far as I saw, most people embraced the fun but drank responsibly.

Scarlet Lady's Happenings Cast (ie, the entertainment team) lead Grog Walks around the ship that are a mix of pub crawl and icebreaker games so you can meet your shipmates. They do incur an extra fee to cover drinks, but they're insanely popular and sell out quickly. Try to book the one early in the cruise to meet people and get the lay of the lounge landscape.

The two most popular bars on board each night are Sip, the Champagne bar (which also serves wine and cocktails), and On The Rocks, which is central to everything and usually has live music. If you want to get a buzz at a venue that's buzzing, choose one of these for your nightcap.

I loved the tucked-away Dock House Bar for a pre-dinner drink and its outside extension, The Dock, for day drinking while lounging on a sun bed. The Grounds Club is Virgin's nod to Starbucks, with all the caffeine and baked-good carbs you crave.

Restaurant bars of note are Pink Agave, with an enormous tequila and mezcal menu and some excellent margaritas, and the Red Bar at Razzle Dazzle with its crazy concoctions, such as the Popcorn Old-Fashioned (topped with actual popcorn). The Social Club Bar lets you embrace your inner child – if said child could drink alcohol – with alcoholic milkshakes and floats topped with candy and cookies.

Scarlet Lady has all the requisite poolside and sun deck bars, including ones offering smoothies and juices after your indoor or outdoor workout.

Related: We tried every bar on Virgin Voyages and ranked them from best to worst

Scarlet Lady activities

Scarlet Lady doesn't overwhelm you with scheduled activities when the vessel is at sea. Instead, the ship becomes your playground for you to enjoy however you like.

The top decks (15 – 17) are the places to head for fitness, fun in the sun or a combination of both. The Deck 15 Aquatic Club is where you'll find a standard pool and a well-being pool (essentially a large whirlpool), surrounded by day beds and lounge chairs. Additional sun-worshipping space can be found one deck up, including at the Athletic Club Bar at the back of the ship where you can perch on circular sunbeds or a suspended catamaran net with views to the wake below.

If you want to feel like a rockstar, you can rent one of the private cabanas on Deck 16. Each costs $250 for a full day and can be reserved at Sailor Services on Deck 5. Inside, you'll find daybeds for lounging and a drinks cooler prepped with fresh-pressed welcome juices. Your dedicated cabana attendant can bring you towels and food.

On the other hand, if working out is core to your vacation ideals, Scarlet Lady offers plenty of options, but the fitness areas aren't connected the way you think they might be, so look at a deck plan before you throw on your sneakers.

The Deck 15 B-Complex fitness center is divided into two halves: Burn + Bike portside, with a cycling studio and cardio machines, and Build + Balance starboard, with resistance machines and a studio for yoga, meditation and bungee classes. Take the stairs up to the Training Camp group fitness space, where you'll find HIIT classes.

Those are just the indoor options. Outside Training camp is a boxing ring, props for alfresco body weight exercises, a sports court for basketball and an adult playground with swings and a seesaw. Above on Deck 17 is a jogging track and a space for outdoor yoga. Back on Deck 15 by the wellness pool is another open-air workout space – especially good for show-offs since everyone lounging in that area can watch you sweat.

Virgin Voyages is known for its creative fitness classes, such as an '80s-themed workout where crew and guests don legwarmers and neon leotards to set the mood. As with the Grog Walk and prime dining times, group workouts also book up quickly, so reserve them as soon as you can. Also unlike the classes you may have tried on other cruise lines, Virgin's are aimed at active, younger adults, not seniors. You will work hard, and you will be sore the next day.

Scarlet Lady's Redemption Spa is also broken up and scattered around the ship. The main venue is tucked away on Deck 5 on the other side of the elevator bank from Sailor Services, Pink Agave and Razzle Dazzle. You'll find treatment rooms for massages here, as well as the thermal suite.

I highly recommend booking a three-hour pass to the suite and enjoying the sauna, steam room, salt room, mud room and more. There's nothing like taking a cup of mud (which looks like a chocolate milkshake) and rubbing it all over your body (or your partner's – this is Virgin after all) in the company of strangers. You won't need three hours, so consider showing up a bit late to avoid the rush at the beginning of each session.

On Deck 6, men can get a shave at Stubble and Groom, while women can get blowouts for Scarlet Night at Dry Dock. Also here is Virgin Voyages' groundbreaking tattoo parlor, Squid Ink , where you can pay inflated rates for the bragging rights of having gotten a tattoo at sea. For your other bodily needs, The Tune Up offers medispa treatments, manicures and pedicures by the pool on Deck 15.

The Deck 6 casino is a hopping place at night, partly because it's located between The Red Room performance space and On the Rocks Bar, with the entrance to the Manor nightclub just opposite. Beginners and high rollers alike can sign up for gaming lessons or poker tournaments at the WPT at Sea Poker Room in partnership with the World Poker Tour. However, hands down the most fun you'll have gambling on the ship is at Bingo With The Diva, Scarlet Lady's resident drag queen.

Other activities on board include trivia and solo traveler meetups. You can also hit the High Street shops for sundries, logo wear, hammocks, MAC cosmetics, designer clothes and purses, hair and skincare products and alcohol.

Scarlet Lady shows and parties

Scarlet Lady hits it out of the park when it comes to entertainment, both performances and parties. On many cruise ships, I'll go to a show, sit in the back and leave after 10 minutes. On Virgin, I was fully captivated for the length of the performance and often came out raving about the experience. I appreciate how the line has hired diverse performers in terms of race, size and gender expression, and how its shows do not shy away from mature language and sexual themes (both gay and straight).

I was also impressed how the cruise line creates parties and events that everyone shows up for and gets into. On other cruise lines, a deck party might attract a couple hundred guests, but on Virgin's Scarlet Night, pretty much everyone turns out.

Most main performances take place in the multipurpose, rearrangeable Red Room, but more intimate shows take over The Manor nightclub.

Here are some of the entertainment highlights of my five-night Caribbean cruise.

Ships in the Night: The first show I saw on Virgin was my least favorite. To be fair, I only was able to catch a portion of the show. The dancers were killing it, but the one singer couldn't carry the show.

Duel Reality: This engaging acrobatic performance is possibly the best show I've seen at sea, and if it's not, it's in the top three. You will be rooting not only for your team, but for love to conquer all in this original take on "Romeo and Juliet."

DanceShowPartyThing: The show's name says it all. You'll interact with the performers and join them in the Macarena, the stage will move around the room and you might not know what's going on, but it will be fun. If you despise Celine Dion's Titanic "My Heart Will Go On," you'll have a new appreciation after this performance.

Around the World in 90 Minutes: I thought The Diva's drag show in The Manor was under-promoted, but perhaps that's on purpose because the small space was packed with the lucky folks who flagged it on their schedule. I reluctantly left after intermission, but if you want to laugh yourself silly and aren't afraid of being called out by The Diva, you don't want to miss this one.

Scarlet Lady also brings guest comedians and performers on board, and the ones I saw were top notch, including a young Latina pop group called Bella Dose.

Pretty much every night there's a themed party in The Manor or out on deck, but the ones you need to pack for are the PJ Party and Scarlet Night. Scarlet Lady's first-night pajama party is optional, but if you do want to get your Virgin vibe going on day one, pack a pair of party PJs and head to the Athletic Club bar on the first night.

But the event to end all events is Scarlet night. If nothing else, you will want to wear red – whether that's a red cocktail dress or jumper, shirt, accessories or bathing suit. Some folks go all out formal, while others keep it casual. As long as you've got the right color, it's all good. The Roundabout is the place to be after dinner; look out for flash performances and crew members with invitations to secret parties. The entire ship will be out in force.

The actual Scarlet Night party takes place on the pool deck, and many revelers end up in the pool, so plan your wardrobe accordingly. It rained on our Scarlet Night so the entire event was moved into the Red Room, where it basically became a large nightclub with thudding base and not that interesting. The after party moves to The Manor, but I actually preferred hanging out at On The Rocks, listening to the killer band and watching all the outfits go by.

Scarlet Lady itineraries and pricing

Scarlet Lady is currently based out of Miami, where the ship sails four itineraries to the Bahamas and the Caribbean. Each of the four- and five-night cruises spends a day at Virgin's private beach club in Bimini, Bahamas. Other ports of call may include Key West; Cozumel/Playa del Carmen or Costa Maya, Mexico; or Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic.

In April 2024, the ship will sail an epic 14-night transatlantic cruise to Barcelona, which will be Scarlet Lady's homebase at least through October 2024. From Spain, it will sail seven-night itineraries to ports in Italy, Spain and the French Riviera, all with overnights on the party island of Ibiza.

Fares start at $1,426 per cabin for a windowless Insider cabin on a four-night Fire & Sunset Soirees cruise to Key West and Bimini. Sea Terraces with private balconies start at $1,996 per cabin. The price is valid whether you have one or two travelers sharing the room, and does not include taxes and fees. You'll pay extra for the third or fourth person sharing your cabin.

What to know before you go

Required documents

If you're a U.S. citizen on one of Scarlet Lady's round-trip Miami sailings, you'll need a current passport or an official copy of your birth certificate and a driver's license or other government-issued photo ID to sail.

For the ship's transatlantic crossing and all subsequent cruises from Barcelona, you'll need a passport that is valid for at least six months beyond the date you return back to the U.S.

Green-card holders and non-U.S. citizens will need to check requirements based on destinations visited.

In addition, you will need to check in for your cruise online, fill out the appropriate information and select an arrival time for embarkation day.

Virgin Voyages include crew gratuities in its fares. You are welcome to tip your bartender or cabin attendant extra if you feel they've gone above or beyond, but it's not necessary.

You may want to bring some cash to tip the porters who take your suitcases from the pier to the ship and any tour guides who lead your ship-sponsored or private excursion in port.

Internet access is also included on your Scarlet Lady cruise. Wi-Fi is available throughout the ship, and your complimentary access covers two devices logged in at a time per passenger. If you wish to stream music and video, you can pay to upgrade to a Premium Wi-Fi plan, subject to availability.

Carry-on drinks policy

Virgin Voyages takes a reasonable approach to passengers bringing drinks on board. Each guest may bring on board a maximum of 12 sealed 12-ounce or smaller cans or cartons of nonalcoholic beverages (water, sports drinks, soda, non-alcoholic beer, etc.) and two 750mL bottles of wine. You may not bring liquor or beer.

You must transport these in your carry-on bags. Any beverages found in your checked luggage will be confiscated and returned at the end of your cruise.

If you choose to purchase "specialty liquors" in the ports you visit, you may bring these on board but they will also be held for you until the last night of the cruise. Make sure you adhere to customs regulations about how much alcohol you can bring back into the country from abroad.

Smoking policy

Passengers may only smoke (this includes vaping) in the Deck 6 smoking room outside the Red Room and in a designated outdoor area on the starboard side of Deck 16 by the entrance to Richard's Rooftop.

Guests may not smoke in their cabins or on cabin terraces. Anyone who breaks the rules will be fined $500 and may be disembarked at the next destination, with no refund for missed days on the ship and no compensation for lodging and/or airfare back home.

Virgin Voyages' ships do not have self-service laundry rooms. However, passengers can send individual clothing items out for pressing, washing and folding, or washing and pressing. You also have the option to get an entire bag of laundry washed and folded for a flat rate.

Eco-cleaning (wet washing but with less water and eco-friendly detergent that's easier on fabrics) is also available. Express turnaround (returned by 5:30 p.m. the same day when picked up before 11 a.m.) is available for an extra fee for both regular washing and for dry-cleaning. Non-express items will be returned the following day by 5:30 p.m.

Dry-cleaning is not available on board.

Electrical outlets

All cabins are outfitted with North American, USB and universal (European, U.K. and many other countries) outlets.

A balcony cabin will have two USB ports near the bed, along with a North American outlet. The desk and vanity area have two more USB ports (though one is taken up by the charging cable for the cabin's tablet, which controls the TV, curtains and temperature), two additional North American outlets and one universal outlet.

The bathrooms have no outlets, so you'll have to use electric razors and style your hair at the vanity.

The currency on Scarlet Lady is the U.S. dollar. Before you board, you'll link a credit card to your account (which you can do via the app prior to embarkation day) or put up a cash amount from which you can debit for purchases made on board.

The Band — an adjustable cord bracelet with a scannable device attached — is your room key and charge "card" when you sail. It's also used to scan you on and off the ship when you go ashore. More importantly, perhaps, it allows crew members to locate you when you shake for Champagne delivery.

Passengers will not receive keycards unless they have access to Richard's Rooftop, an exclusive sun deck reserved for cruisers booked in Rockstar Suites.

Drinking age

Although Virgin Voyages' ships allowed anyone 18 or older to sail, the drinking age on board is 21 years when ships are docked in the U.S. In international waters and in places like Europe, where the drinking age is 18, the onboard drinking age is 18.

Virgin Voyages has no official dress code. The line advises passengers to come as they are, whether it's a sparkly dress or jeans and a T-shirt. However, the average passenger enjoys looking chic and trendy, even when dressed down. Most people do change into something a little nicer for dinner, but you won't find any official formal nights on board.

Be sure to bring something red for Scarlet Night, whether that's a red dress, shirt or accessory. (Consider a red swimsuit if you intend to end the party in the pool.) Other themed nights include a pajama party and an '80s bash, so pack accordingly.

Bottom line

Scarlet Lady is the perfect ship for modern, young-at-heart travelers who love cutting-age entertainment, good food, a good party and lots of R&R. It's not the right choice for folks who are conservative minded or easily offended, or longtime cruisers looking for a traditional experience. If you've never cruised because you don't like kids, crowds, banquet-style dining or lackluster entertainment, this might be the ship that changes your mind.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

• The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
• A beginners guide to picking a cruise line
• The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship
• The ultimate guide to what to pack for a cruise
• A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
• 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
• 15 ways cruisers waste money
• The ultimate guide to choosing a cruise ship cabin

Resilient Lady

Virgin voyages.

The  Resilient Lady  was built in 2022 and is among Virgin Voyages’s 4 ships in its fleet. The null is included in the cruise line’s Lady Ship Class. In the cruise ship stats below, you’ll find the Resilient Lady vs all of the other Virgin Voyages ships.

Resilient Lady Size

How big is the Resilient Lady? Below, you’ll find all of the relevant cruise ship stats, specs and dimensions for the Resilient Lady. Included in these statistics are passenger capacity, length, year built, year renovated, cost to build, gross tonnage, engine info, number of rooms, deck counts and more!

Resilient Lady Capacity

Passenger Capacity refers to the total number of people that the Resilient Lady can accommodate. Of course, there are also crew members on board. Below, find the total onboard capacity, including staff and cruise guests.

Virgin Voyages Avg: 2,770 guests

Resilient Lady Passenger Capacity: The passenger capacity for the Resilient Lady is 2,770 guests . The average capacity for the 4 active ships in Virgin Voyages’s fleet is 2,770 passengers. The passenger capacity range for all Virgin Voyages ships has a minimum of 2,770 guests and a maximum of 2,770 passengers.

Virgin Voyages Avg: 1,152 staff

Resilient Lady Crew Members: Staff on the Resilient Lady include 1,150 crew members. That’s a guest to staff ratio of 2.4 to 1. The average Virgin Voyages ship includes 1,152 employees and has a passenger to staff ratio of 2.4 to 1.

Resilient Lady Passenger Capacity and Crew

vs Virgin Voyages Fleet

Resilient Lady Length

How long is the null? From end to end, the Resilient Lady length equals 909 feet (278 meters). Compare that to the average ship length of all 4 active vessels in Virgin Voyages’s fleet, measuring 910 feet (278 meters).

Virgin Voyages Avg: 910 feet

The smallest Virgin Voyages ship (in terms of length) measures 909 feet (278 meters) from end to end. The longest vessel spans 912 feet (278 meters).

Our chart below shows the length of the Resilient Lady vs all other active Virgin Voyages ships.

Resilient Lady Ship Length

vs all Virgin Voyages Ships

Resilient Lady Built Date

When was the Resilient Lady Built? The Resilient Lady was built in 2022 and joined the cruise line’s Lady Ship Class.

Virgin Voyages includes 4 active ships. The oldest in the fleet was built in 2019. The average Virgin Voyages ship is 3 years old and the median build date for all active ships is 2022

Virgin Voyages Avg: 2007

When was the last Resilient Lady Dry Dock? The Resilient Lady has not experienced dry dock improvements yet.

renovation date

Resilient lady info, frequently asked questions, on which deck is the resilient lady casino located.

You will find the Resilient Lady Casino on Deck 6 of the ship.

What is the Resilient Lady ship class?

The ship belongs to the Virgin Voyages class of ships known as the Lady Ship class.

What is the Resilient Lady capacity?

We're often asked how many passengers are on the Resilient Lady. The ship's capacity is 2,770. When comparing the occupancy to the average Virgin Voyages passenger capacity, you'll find that the average ship in the fleet holds 2,770 guests. Feel free to look at our graph above to see where this ship falls in line with all other live Virgin Voyages ships.

How old is the Resilient Lady?

The Resilient Lady was built in 2022. Virgin Voyages includes 4 active ships. The oldest in the fleet was built in 2019. The average Virgin Voyages ship is 3 years old and the median build date for all active ships is 2021

Is the Resilient Lady a good ship?

Each of Virgin Voyages's ships offers a unique layout with features and activities catered to all. Whether the Resilient Lady is right for you will depend on your individual preferences. Do you prefer a larger or smaller ship with many or fewer guests? Are you hoping for many family activities or entertainment options for an older clientele. Our deck maps layout and activities list provide a helpful guide to what you'll find on board. Feel free to explore the see if this ship is suited towards your preferences.

How long is the Resilient Lady?

From end to end, the Spectrum of the Seas length equals 909 feet (278 meters). Compare that to the average ship length of all 4 active vessels in Virgin Voyages fleet, measuring 910 feet (278 meters). Please see our size comparison chart above to see how this ship falls in line with all other active ships in the fleet.

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• Cruise Knowledge

Virgin Voyages Ships By Age — Newest to Oldest

Doug Parker

• December 29, 2023

Virgin Voyages is a cruise line that was established by Sir Richard Branson, the founder of the Virgin Group. The cruise line operates a fleet of ships referred to as the “Lady Ships,” which are known for their contemporary design and emphasis on adult-only sailing experiences.

Virgin Voyages stands out in the cruise industry because it is exclusively for adults and includes gratuities, wifi, and specialty dining in the cost of the cruise.

Virgin Voyages Ships Listed by Age

Virgin Voyages boasts a young and vibrant fleet, with three of its four ships launched within the past three years.

In 2020, Virgin Voyages launched its first ship, the Scarlet Lady. The vessel boasts a sophisticated design and offers a wide range of onboard amenities, which reflects the cruise line’s dedication to redefining the cruising experience.

In the years following the launch of its first ship, Virgin Voyages has expanded its fleet with the introduction of additional vessels.

The table below shows the ship’s name, class, age, gross registered tonnage, and how many guests it carries at double occupancy.

In this article, we’ve compiled an overview of all ships in the  Virgin Voyages fleet , organized from newest to oldest, along with some key features.

Brilliant Lady

Virgin Voyages offers a range of experiences and amenities designed to enhance the comfort and enjoyment of its guests. Every aspect, from the state-of-the-art accommodations to the eco-friendly sustainability practices, is thoughtfully crafted.

Key Features : Draught Haus, On the Rocks, Richard’s Rooftop, Sun Club Bar, The Aquatic Club Bar, The Loose Cannon, The Arcade, The Groupie, High Street, Voyage Vinyl, The Athletic Club, The Tune Up, and Training Camp

Resilient Lady

Passengers can opt for a diverse range of restaurants and bars, each with its own unique ambiance and food. The dining options available vary from high-end cuisine to more casual eatery options, all while ensuring that the quality is not compromised in any way. Every meal is included in the cost of your cruise.

Key Features : Draught Haus, Grounds Club, On the Rocks, Sip Lounge, Sun Club Bar, The Aquatic Club Bar, The Arcade, The Groupie, I.V., Sailor Services, The Cabanas, High Street, Voyage Vinyl, The Athletic Club, and The Perch

Valiant Lady

Virgin Voyages offers a wide range of award-winning and diverse entertainment options to its guests. These options include live music, DJ sets, theater productions, and various other activities. Whether you’re seeking adventure or relaxation, the daytime activities cater to both.

Key Features : Draught Haus, Grounds Club, On the Rocks, Gym & Tonic, Sip Lounge, Richard’s Rooftop, Sun Club Bar, The Aquatic Club Bar, The Dock Bar, The Arcade, The Groupie, Medical Center, Sailor Services, The Cabanas, High Street, Voyage Vinyl, The Athletic Club, and The Perch

Scarlet Lady

Key Features : Draught Haus, Grounds Club, On the Rocks, Gym & Tonic, Sip Lounge, Richard’s Rooftop, Sun Club Bar, The Aquatic Club Bar, The Dock Bar, SIP, The Casino, The Red Room, The Arcade, The Groupie, Sailor Services, The Cabanas, High Street, Voyage Vinyl, The Athletic Club, and The Perch

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Virgin Voyages

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Find a Cruise on Virgin Voyages

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Cruising with Virgin

The brainchild of British entrepreneur Richard Branson, Virgin Voyages is a hip, adults-only cruise line that aims to be a bit different from the other options on the cruising market. And according to recent cruisers, it succeeds; many rave that a Virgin Voyages sailing is unlike any cruise experience they've had before (in a good way). Virgin Voyages' ships stand out with their superyacht-inspired atmosphere, upscale dining outlets, free Wi-Fi access, design-forward staterooms and wellness activities. There are four ships in the fleet (the newest ship debuts in 2024):  Scarlet Lady ,  Valiant Lady , Resilient Lady and Brilliant Lady (scheduled to debut in 2024). The line sails to a variety of destinations around the globe, including popular spots in the Caribbean, Europe and the South Pacific. Virgin's ships have departed from ports in  Miami ;  San Juan, Puerto Rico ;  Barcelona , Spain;  Athens, Greece ;  Dubai, United Arab Emirates ;  Singapore ;  Melbourne, Australia ; and  Auckland, New Zealand  so far, and Virgin continues to switch up itineraries to sail from destinations around the world. Itineraries typically last anywhere from two to 15 nights.

Cruisers can enjoy numerous amenities on Virgin's ships, including swanky pools with plenty of lounge seating, group workout classes, unique evening performances and more. Meanwhile, foodies will appreciate the ships' 20-plus dining venues and specialty bars, and the fact that sodas, drip coffee and other "essential drinks" are included in the cruise fare. Shore excursion options (called “Shore Things” by the cruise line) range from snorkeling and exploring Mayan ruins in Mexico to cultural tours and beach club relaxation in the  Bahamas  to scenic bike rides and food tastings in  Corfu, Greece . Keep in mind that Virgin Voyages excursions are subject to change based on the time of year, weather, availability and more.

U.S. News Insider Tip:  One detail to note about Virgin Voyages is the line’s four ships are nearly identical and feature the same layout. This means you can focus on finding a cruise with the dates and itinerary you want without having to compare ships or unique amenities. –  Holly Johnson, Contributor

Pros & Cons

Adults-only cruise line with brand-new ships

Focus on food, wellness and technology (including free Wi-Fi)

Unique evening entertainment options

High-tech features may not appeal to traditional cruisers

New line means there are fewer ships to choose from

No traditional buffets on board

• Expert Rating » 4.5
• Traveler Rating » 4.3
• Health Rating » 4.5

Virgin Voyages has been ranked based on an expert evaluation of the line's level of luxury, as well as an assessment of user reviews and health ratings.

• # 1 in Best Cruise Lines for the Money
• # 3 in Best Cruise Lines in the Caribbean
• # 6 in Best Cruise Lines for Couples

Explore Photos

Virgin Voyages Ships

Resilient Lady

Scarlet Lady

Valiant Lady

Before You Book

• Note: To see Virgin Voyages' flexible deposit, cancellation and rebooking policies, visit its website .
• Virgin Voyages requires a deposit of 20% of the cruise fare to confirm a booking. A reservation can be held for 24 hours without a deposit up to 45 days prior to sailing; bookings made within 44 days of the sailing (or less) require full payment at the time of booking.
• Final payment is due 120 days before the trip departure date.
• The cancellation policy varies depending on when you decide to cancel your cruise and how much of it you've paid. Depending on the timing, you may be eligible for a full refund of the deposit and any payments, a refund of any payments (but not the deposit) or a future cruise credit. If you cancel 44 days or less before your cruise, you are not eligible for any refund or credit. For more information, see the Cancellation Policies section on the Virgin Voyages terms and conditions page .
• The cruise line allows only adults ages 18 or older on its cruises.
• If you are pregnant, you must be less than 24 weeks by the end of the sailing to book a trip with Virgin Voyages.
• At the time of booking, guests are asked to notify the cruise line of any special requirements or accommodation needed, including wheelchair access and service animal requests. Cruisers requiring a service animal must notify the cruise line no later than 21 days prior to departure. You also can call Virgin Voyages directly at 1-954-488-2955 to request assistance with these matters.

Before You Board

• Cruisers will need a current passport that's valid for six months past the end of the voyage date.
• Check-in for Virgin Voyages cruises takes place entirely on the line's mobile app. This means you don’t have to print cruise tickets or bring other printed documentation along.
• Boarding is typically around 2 p.m. and disembarkation times vary by cruise. Virgin Voyages instructs travelers to refer to their booking confirmation for additional information on timing and notes the departure time listed means the exact time the ship leaves the dock, so cruisers should plan accordingly to arrive well in advance.
• There are no specific luggage restrictions, but Virgin recommends limiting the number of bags you bring on board. If you are arriving at your departure destination by plane, be sure to consult airline luggage policies before your trip.
• Cruisers can book shore excursions – which Virgin calls "Shore Things" – in the Sailor App at least 120 days prior to sailing. Travelers booked in RockStar Quarters will be able to book shore excursions 135 days ahead of sailing. Payment is due at the time of booking.
• Passengers can secure dining reservations and entertainment starting 45 days before departure through the Sailor App or via a travel agent. Those booked in higher-level accommodations (Mega RockStar and RockStar Quarters) receive early access to reservations: 60 days prior to departure. Reservations for spa and wellness experiences can only be made on board.

Disclaimers about ship ratings: A ship’s Health Rating is based on vessel inspection scores published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). If a ship did not receive a CDC score within 22 months prior to the calculation of its Overall Rating, its Health Rating appears as N/A; in such a case, the ship’s Overall Rating is calculated using the average Health Rating of all CDC-rated ships within the cruise line. All ship Traveler Ratings are based on ratings provided under license by Cruiseline.com.

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Virgin Voyages

History, review, itineraries, ships, deck plans, news.

•   Fleet
•   Review
•   Itinerary
•   News

Virgin Voyages fleet

Brilliant lady, resilient lady, valiant lady, scarlet lady, review of virgin voyages.

Virgin Voyages (formerly "Virgin Cruises", VirginVoyages.com) is a new cruise line company headquartered in Plantation (Florida USA). Virgin Voyages was created as a joint venture between Virgin Group Ltd (British multinational holding company) and Bain Capital LP (multi-asset investment company), with the latter having a majority (51%) shareholding. The establishment of Virgin Cruises was announced by Virgin Group on December 4, 2014. The new cruise line is scheduled to start operations in 2020.

Company History

Bain Capital (1984-founded) is based in Boston (Massachusetts USA) and specializes in private equity, venture capital, credit, public equity, life sciences and real estate, with assets (under management in FY2018) ~USD 105 billion. Virgin Group Ltd (1970-founded by Richard Branson and Nik Powell) is based in London (England UK) and specializes in global investments and branding through numerous fully- or partially-owned subsidiary companies in businesses like travel (cruises, hotels, tours, airlines, trains), hospitality, health, banking, retail, communications, entertainment, publishing, charity.

Virgin Group's best-known brands are Virgin Holidays, Virgin Voyages, Virgin Megastores, Virgin Hotels, Virgin Care, Virgin Trains USA (Brightline), and Virgin Airlines (Australia, Atlantic, Connect, and Galactic/spaceflights).

Virgin Voyages operates a fleet of four fully-owned cruise vessels constructed by the Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri SpA (at Sestri Ponente shipyard/ Genoa ).

In FY2018, Fincantieri reported revenue of EUR 5,4 billion. Currently ranked Europe's largest shipbuilding company, Fincantieri has 8 shipyards (all in Italy), in 2013 acquired VARD (Norway-based company with 9 shipyards) and in 2018 purchased 50% of STX France (Chantiers de l'Atlantique Shipyard in St Nazaire ). Fincantieri builds both commercial and naval ships.

In 2020, Virgin Cruises officially started operations (from Miami Florida USA ) with the 2800-passenger Scarlet Lady . Three more sisterships were inaugurated in the following years - Valiant Lady (2021), Resilient Lady (2022) and Brilliant Lady (2025).

The announcement (initially for 3 ships) was made on June 23, 2015, in Miami, during a press conference (media event "making waves") for Virgin Group's new cruise travel brand. For the event, Richard Branson arrived on a helicopter, landing near Miami's Museum Park. He announced that the total building cost for the 3 ships is USD 2,13 billion (US$710M per unit). The announcement for the 4th ship was made on October 31, 2018, with order value ~EUR 700 million.

The company's current President and CEO is Nirmal Saverimuttu (1979-born in Zambian, raised in Australia), who in September 2023 succeeded Thomas Michael McAlpin (1959-born American). McAlpin joined DCL-Disney Cruise Line in 1995 (as VP of Finance, Business Development & Shore Travel Operations) overseeing the construction of the first Disney ships ( Magic /1998 and Wonder /1999) and the development of Walt Disney's private Bahamian island Castaway Cay . In 2004, he became DCL's President. Prior to heading Virgin Cruises, McAlpin served as CEO of The World Residences at Sea (in the period 2009-2014). Following his retirement from CEO and President, Tom McAlpin continued to serve Virgin Voyages as Chairman of the Board of Directors.

Earlier in 2016, Virgin settled US$300M lawsuits filed by Colin Veitch (former NCL-Norwegian CEO), who claimed Virgin had stolen his ideas and moved on with the cruise line concept without him.

Tom McAlpin commented that the company is not to be considered a big player in the cruising industry, but rather "a small boutique line that will offer different experiences". McAlpin and Branson hinted that those experiences might take some cues from other successful Virgin ventures, like Virgin Hotels. The hotel chain is popular for offering free WiFi, minibar drinks at street prices, privacy doors allowing guests to go on about their business while room service brings requests, pet-friendly amenities with no weight or size restrictions.

In October 2016, "Virgin Cruises" was rebranded as "Virgin Voyages". At the time it was first announced, the company's founder Branson said his goal was to create a brand cruising experience that is more likely to appeal to millennials and other people who don't normally take cruise ship vacations.

In regard to onboard gratuities, the company has "No Tipping" policy, which means all gratuities are included in the base cruise fares. Also included in basic fares are beverages, all eateries, group fitness classes. The company also doesn't charge penalties or change fees. Customers are able to hold staterooms for 24 hours with no money down once they've placed a 20% non-refundable deposit. They also have a 7-day grace period allowing them to change bookings for any reason. Cruise departure date and names on bookings can be changed without fees or penalties. Shortly before opening the bookings on Scarlet Lady (Feb 14, 2019), Virgin announced all-inclusive deal policy by which cruises are sold "by cabin price". Fares are also inclusive of dining (shipwide / 20 options, some 24-hour), unlimited WiFi, all fitness classes. Cabin pricing only varies by the number of occupants. For 5-day itineraries, fares start from ~USD 250 pp per day (excluding taxes-fees).

Virgin Cruises' "non-commissionable policy" allows travel agents to earn across customer's entire transaction, including on add-ons (hotels, flights, travel insurance, spa treatments, tours/excursions, premium packages, onboard credits, taxes, fees). Travel agents receive 16% base commission on the transaction (increased from 10% by the expanded "Brilliant To Do Business With" program). "Red Hot Bonus" program additionally offers annually paid revenue up to 6% (in case certain production thresholds are met) in addition to 10% commission on everything sold prior the cruise (excepting taxes and fees).

Company changes 2019 (pre-inauguration)

In early-April 2019, Virgin Voyages signed an exclusive 7-year partnership deal with OSW (OneSpaWorld Holdings Ltd) - a provider of health-and-wellness services and products on cruise vessels and in destination resorts worldwide. OSW provides all the wellness staff, services and products onboard Virgin ships, including yoga and gym trainers, massages, medispa treatments, salon (manicure-pedicure-hairdresser) services. Each ship has a 29-person OSW-employed professional staff. The served facilities include Crow's Nest (outdoor yoga studio), Redemption Spa, Dry-Dock (blowout bar), B-Complex (Fitness Center).

In April 2019, Virgin and Intelligentsia Coffee signed a deal to provide Intelligentsia coffee (Virgin Voyages Blend) and made-to-order beverages at all venues, including the specialty coffee bars ("Ministry of Ground" and "Ministry of Ground Too") served by expert baristas.

In June 2019, Virgin expanded the list of RockStar Suite-only perks with RockStar Agents (dedicated butlers per stateroom), specially dedicated hair and makeup crew (upon request), complimentary laundry service, complimentary Thermal Suite access (Redemption Spa), all-inclusive premium drinks (in all shipboard eateries and bars), personalized bottomless in-room bar (free of charge), option to curate in-port activities.

In late-October 2019 was approved the agreement for Brightline Miami to be rebranded "Virgin Trains" and Virgin Group to build a train station (Virgin Trains PortMiami) at the cruise port. The new station serves high-speed trains and connects PortMiami directly with the USA's intercity railway system and Orlando International Airport.

On November 12, 2019, Richard Branson announced that the second Virgin ship ( Valiant Lady ) will be seasonally homeported in Sydney (NSW Australia) . Branson was in Sydney to launch a partnership between Virgin Australia Airlines and Virgin Voyages and promote affordable Australian and Caribbean fly-cruise deals on Scarlet Lady.

On December 13, 2019, was officially released the "Ship No. 1" perfume (aka "the fragrance of Scarlet Lady"). The sea lavender-based perfume was created by Air Aroma - a company specializing in scent marketing and fragrance systems (diffusers, Aropromo sale scenting devices). Virgin's Ship No. 1 is infused throughout Scarlet Lady. The perfume can be also purchased (only online - via ItSmellsLikeShip.com) for USD 50 per bottle. All net proceeds from these sales go to Ocean Unite (non-profit foundation of 30+ political leaders and business tycoons).

On December 19, 2019, was announced the "Sailor Loot" (OBC/onboard credit) program. These promotions offer OBC (per cabin) for shipboard spending during the current voyage. The OBC is based on the stateroom category and ranges from US$ 100 (interior and oceanview) to US$200 (balcony) and up to US$ 400 (suites).

Now each Virgin cruise ship offers 50+ activities and events. The onboard programming features live performances (by the company's Hapenings Cast) and is managed by Richard Kilman (Virgin's VP of Entertainment).

Company changes 2024

In February Steven Worling (Senior Director of Infrastructure & Security) announced that Virgin Voyages would roll out fleetwide an improved connectivity (Internet/Wi-Fi package) with SES Cruise mPOWERED + Starlink PRO (satellite service), with onboard connectivity 1,5 Gbps (max per ship). The Internet is provided via MEO and LEO satellites (Medium Earth Orbit and Low Earth Orbit). Shipboard Wi-Fi access is unlimited and for multiple devices per guest.

Company changes 2023

In February, Virgin replaced Harding UK (Bristol-based global travel retail business) with Starboard Cruise Services (Doral Florida-based company). As of 2023, Starboard was contracted by 11 cruise lines and operated on 90+ ships worldwide.

In March was announced an expansion of onboard entertainment fleetwide. The announcement mentioned new cabaret and game shows, new parties (80s Party, We Fancy), and more live music (by the hosted in The Red Room and The Manor program Festival Stage Acts/comedy shows rotating every 2 to 4 weeks). The list of new productions includes three fleetwide game shows (Duel Reality, Untitled DanceShowPartyThing, Miss Behave), the cabaret show Lola’s Library (fleetwide), as well as 3 new productions debuting on Resilient Lady (Persephone, Mind Mangler, Another Rose/Supper Club Series).

In April Virgin signed a partnership deal with WPT/World Poker Tour (2002-founded, internationally televised gaming and entertainment brand). The premium poker experience is offered on Scarlet Lady during all 4-5-night Caribbean itineraries. The ship's new WPT at Sea Poker Room is fitted with 8 poker tables and served by professional dealers. The new gaming venue hosts beginner training sessions, as well as cash games and WPT Prize Package poker tournaments with buy-ins between US$80-320. The US$320 buy-in WPT Prize tournament is held once per cruise. The prize (US$5000) can be used on any future voyage or WPT tournament.

In September, Nirmal Saverimuttu succeeded Michael McAlpin as the company's President and CEO. Along with the new appointment was announced a capital raise of USD 550 million (~EUR 512M/~GBP 440M) with funds managed by Ares Management's Private Equity Group. As of 2023, Ares had ~US$49,2 billion of AUM/assets under management.

In October 2023, Michelle Bentubo was appointed COO/Chief Operating Officer. In 2016-2023 she served the company as VP of Technology & Operations. Previously, she has held executive positions at Walt Disney World (Director of Experience Development), DCL-Disney Cruise Line (Director of Disney's Magical Express) and Bank of America (SVP Technology/2013-16).

In November 2023, Peter Hunt was appointed CFO/Chief Financial Officer. He previously served as CFO for Service King Collision Repair (1976-founded automotive company) and before that was in the leadership team of Virgin America Inc (2004-founded/2018-merged with Alaska Airlines).

Company changes 2022

In March 2022 was announced a partnership with Jennifer Lynn Lopez (1969-born American actress and singer) via her brand company "JLo Beauty and Lifestyle LLC". Jennifer Lopez joined Virgin Voyages as an investor and chief of entertainment/advisor/lifestyle officer. As part of the partnership, fleetwide was introduced "JLo Beauty" (onboard shop) selling the superstar's products at sea for the first time. In June 2023, she was appointed as Virgin's Chief Celebrations Officer.

In September 2022 debuted Virgin's loyalty program "The Sailing Club" by which repeat customers are provided with two main complimentary perks - "Deep Blue Extras" (premium WiFi, invitations to onboard cocktail parties, laundry services) and "Red Hot Booking Bonus Months" (discounted booking with additional OBC/onboard credit).

In September 2022 Virgin partnered with RSB/Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials (an independent global membership organization). Virgin also signed long-term agreements with three providers of waste-based sustainable fuels (Argent Energy, GoodFuels, Twelve) to supply the fleet's bunker fuels.

Company changes 2021

In mid-November 2021 was announced an investment in Virgin Voyages by Patricof & Co (1969-founded by Alan Patricof, specializing in venture capital investments). The company is part of Apax Partners LLP (London UK-based equity firm) that also includes Multinational Management Group (1972-founded) and Saunders Karp & Megrue (1988-founded).

In December 2021 was announced the partnership with the House Spirits Distillery () for the fleetwide presence of the brand "Aviation American Gin" (aka Aviation Gin/alcohol volume 42%, produced in Portland Oregon since 2006). Signature cocktails (based on the Aviation Gin) available for ordering at each Virgin ship include "The Double Agent at SIP", "Razzle Dazzle's Electric Fizz", "Stella's Groove at The Manor", "Gunbae's French 75".

Company changes 2020

On April 1, 2020, the company launched its "Jet Transfers Direct to Ship" service. The exclusive "fly-cruise" deal is for RockStar Suite passengers only, allowing them to arrive and depart the boat via chartered or private aircraft. The planes land at The Runway - a top-deck open space (Deck 17 aft) surrounded by a raised Jogging Track.

Virgin cruise ships

On June 23, 2015, Virgin announced it had signed a Letter of Intent with Fincantieri (shipbuilder based in Trieste Italy ) for the construction of 3 ships scheduled for deliveries in 2020-2021-2022 (entering service in 15-month increments).

The shipbuilding order was officially finalized on December 21, 2016. The boats are of the so-called "Lady-class", mid-sized (volume 110000 GT-tons), max passenger capacity 2860 (1410 cabins/90% with balconies), 1150 crew-staff.

The shipbuilding contract was valued at ~EUR 2 billion. The first unit's construction (Scarlet Lady) started with the steel-cutting on March 22, 2017. For the vessel design and construction, Virgin contracted the marine architecture and naval design companies "Roman and Williams" (NYC), Concrete Amsterdam, Tom Dixon's Design Research Studio (London UK), Gem Srl (Italy), Softroom (London UK), WORKac (NYC), Knibb Design, HL Studio (UK), HKS Architects (Dallas USA), PearsonLloyd (London UK).

The first ship's ( Scarlet Lady ) keel-laying ceremony was held on October 31, 2017, and attended by Sir Richard Branson, Tom McAlpin, and Boy George (UK singer, songwriter, fashion designer) who performed as superstar DJ. During the ceremony were also revealed the ship design and hull art of the future Virgin "Lady Ships".

The next image shows the ship's stern (aft) and the signature funnel shape - designed to be a major part of its exterior design. The aft of the superstructure also shows the Promenade Deck and 7 decks of cabin balconies towering above.

Each boat has 86% balcony staterooms and 93% oceanview (outside) cabins. These newbuilds greatly differ from other passenger liners (as design) and target younger and more adventurous travellers (called "sailors").

Virgin's ships are adults-only (passengers under 18 yo/teenagers and kids are not allowed) and Bahamas- flagged (registered in Nassau ).

Dining on Virgin Voyages ships is ticket price-inclusive - no extra charges are applied to any of the 20-plus onboard dining options. The cruise company doesn't believe in "paying more for great food", so it ditched traditional surcharges levied in specialty restaurants. All eateries offer "exceptional made-to-order eats" - complimentary.

As part of the company's sustainable travel policy, Virgin banned single-use plastics and there is no buffet food on the ships. All shipboard food is made-to-order - to reduce waste and lower energy consumption and emissions. Savings are reinvested into fresh (locally sourced) top-quality products, exotic ingredients, highly trained staff, and clean technologies. In April 2019 was signed a partnership with Emerald Brand to supply the fleet with "Tree-Free" (disposable) paper products, including facial-bath tissues, paper towels, napkins, hot cups. Those are made from 60-100% Tree-Free materials via technologies that use by-products of agricultural crops usually wasted or burned.

The company doesn't follow any traditional cruise dining concepts. Virgin ships don't have a main dining room, buffet restaurant, dress code (formal wear policy), assigned dining times or seating. All these concepts were replaced with intimate (boutique hotel-type) eateries offering 20+ dining options - all of which are included in cruise fares.

Virgin ships' signature facilities and venues include:

• Athletic Club (training center) is an outdoor gym area with a boxing ring and gym club equipment) located top-deck aft. Part of the Sports Deck is also the raised jogging track (Runway track, red-white colored), sundeck with open-air lounge (furnished with double daybeds and semi-circular loungers), triple netting area (overlooking below decks), 10 private cabanas (cushioned bed, low table, 2 lounge chairs), beverage service (from the outdoor Sports Bar), foosball tables, swimming pool, showers.
• MyBeast is an outdoor playground / poolside gym area.
• The Crow's Nest (aft sundeck) offers 360-degree views and is furnished with loungers and mats colored in Virgin's signature red. Here are also hosted sunrise and sunset outdoor yoga classes.
• The B Complex in an indoor fitness center with Technogym ARTIS equipment, floor-ceiling windows and separate rooms (studios) for cycling, yoga, cardio and spinning classes.
• Gym and Tonic Bar serves cold-pressed fresh juices.
• Pink Agave is a Mexican restaurant with porthole windows, metallic lighting fixtures, large tables, an elongated curved area (intimate seating with 2-seat tables), separate bar (in the Lobby), private dining room (can be booked for parties and other private events).
• The Manor is ship's 2-deck high Disco Nightclub with a large dance floor.
• The Dock is an outdoor lounge (aft on Deck 7) with cushioned wooden furniture (loungers, deckchairs, daybeds).
• Test Kitchen restaurant features lab-like design (metallic furniture, beakers, test tubes),
• Richard's Rooftop is a top-deck VIP area (Suite passengers-only sundeck) furnished with daybeds, deckchairs, circular loungers, large umbrellas, colored crystals.
• Redemption is the ship's Spa complex (on Deck 5) consisting of a Reception, Mud Room, Salt Room, Hydrotherapy Pool, cold plunge pool, Jacuzzi, Thermal Suite (indoor spa with porthole windows, plunge pool and Jacuzzi), treatment rooms (for massages and treatments) with quartz-mattress beds, Dry Dock Salon (hairdressing services), Stubble and Groom (barbershop), Blow Dry Bar, Male pedicure Spa, Mani-pedi Spa. At night, the wellness complex transforms into a dancing lounge with live DJ music.
• Razzle Dazzle is the vegan-vegetarian restaurant. Part of Razzle Dazzle is Red Bar - juice bar for fresh-squeezed juices and tonics, as well as crafted cocktails from a menu that varies every night. In two days per voyage, at Razzle Dazzle are hosted Drag Brunches featuring live entertainment by "sassy drag queens".

Via the Sailor App (when your phone is shaken), a secret Champagne button allows you to order Moet-Chandon Champagne (Brut Imperial, 750 ml bottle) delivered in an ice bucket and with two glasses. The service is called "Shake for Champagne" and provided anywhere on the ship. The premium wine can be also enjoyed at The Sip - the ship's wine lounge (Virgin's champagne house).- where also is available traditional British Afternoon Tea service.

Virgin cruise passengers are offered complimentary water (filtered and sparkling) at all onboard bars and restaurants. Throughout the ship, there are also complimentary water stations.

Virgin ships' hull art designs are Mermaid-themed (by different artists) and Inspired by traditional figureheads mounted on the bows of historic wooden ships. The designs symbolize the vessels' feminine spirit.

Ship technology

One of the cruise ships' features is the advanced clean energy system provided by the Swedish company Climeon Ocean. The new technology allows reducing CO2 emissions by converting the generated by diesel engines' heat into electricity for shipboard use. Each of the newbuilds has 6 such Climeon units, saving ~5400 tons of carbon dioxide annually. The ship's waste processing system is provided by Scanship.

On April 30, 2018, Virgin Voyages signed with Wartsila (marine technologies Finnish corporation / former shipbuilder) a 10-year "Optimised Maintenance Agreement" giving the corporation extensive and exclusive responsibility of the fleet's technical maintenance. Wartsila's "Dynamic Maintenance Planning" system allows maintenance works to be scheduled based on remotely (real-time) monitored and analyzed vessel performance data. This allows extending service intervals (when onboard equipment doesn't require maintenance).

The Virgin-Wartsila deal includes Remote Operational Support Services, Specific Fuel Oil Consumption, spare parts, engines technical advisory services, comprehensive technical support, personnel training. Wartsila-made ship equipment includes 46F diesel engines, Hybrid Scrubber System, SCR (Selective Catalytic Reduction/exhaust gas cleaning) and NACOS Platinum series (navigation and automation control systems).

• Each Virgin ship is powered by two 8-cylinder plus two 12-cylinder "Wartsila 46F" marine diesel engines. Wartsila's Hybrid Scrubber System operates in both open and closed-loop and uses seawater to remove SOx from the ship's exhaust. It also significantly reduces NOx emissions.
• Propulsion is based on ABB Azipod XO system (electric drive motors with off-hull submerged azimuth thrusters / 360--degree rotating propellers). These units provide best maneuverability (allowing in-port navigation without tug assistance) and minimal vibrations/noise. By placing the propulsion units outside the hull, the Azipod system frees up space for more lower-deck staterooms.
• ABB Ability technology is based on a network using real-time data transferred to remote centres monitoring and analyzing the propulsion system data and also offering remote technical support.
• In July 2017, was announced that Wartsila (marine technologies Finnish corporation / former shipbuilder) is the provider of vessels' power plants. Among Wartsila's core products are large diesel engines for cruise ships and ferries .

In April 2019 was contracted V-Ships Leisure USA (ship management company) which is part of V-Group Ltd (vessel management and support services provider, industry's first with a dedicated cruise ship division). V-Ships Leisure is responsible for Virgin ships' technical support/management and crew sourcing.

Virgin cruise line's staff and crew uniforms were designed by Gareth Pugh and manufactured by Cintas Corporation (via the "Design Collective by Cintas" division).

• Cintas Corporation (1929-founded, based in Cincinnati, Ohio USA) specializes in businesses products (both for rental and direct purchase) and services, including uniforms, mats, water coolers, cleaning/restroom supplies (chemicals, mops, microfiber towels, disinfectant sprays, hand sanitizers), first aid/safety products, fire extinguishers (also testing and repairs), employee courses (safety, training, compliance). In 2020, Cintas had 40,000+ employees and total revenue USD 7,09 billion (~EUR 6,12B / ~GBP 5,21B).
• Virgin Voyages Crew apparel collection is based on sustainable fabrics and garments specifically designed according to job functions, body types and climates. Unlike the traditional cruise ship uniforms, Virgin's lack the officers' epaulettes (ornamental shoulder pieces that designate his/her rank), as well as ties and waistcoats.

The project was led by Gareth Pugh (British fashion designer) and supervised by Dee Cooper (Virgin Voyages' SVP Design and Customer Experience).

Next image shows one of the initial (train-like) Virgin ship designs.

Virgin cruise bookings on Scarlet Lady were opened on February 5, 2019 (for customers with pre-sale deposits) and on February 14 (for the general public). Beginning February 5, 2019, at FirstMates.com (dedicated website), the cruise company offers all booking tools and information for travel agents (called "First Mates"), including downloadable and digital materials, interactive learning and more. For February 6th was planned the learning campaign "Cabin Fever" on Scarlet Lady staterooms as they went on sale. The website allows travel agents to make bookings on inaugural cruise season 2020 deals (from February 14) and to contact company's Sailor Services (from February 5) in case they have customers with pre-sale deposits.

Bookings for Valiant Lady cruises (Mediterranean 2021) opened on December 19, 2019.

In February 2020 was announced "The Band" - smart wearable technology to be introduced on Scarlet Lady (April 1). The device is made from recycled marine plastic (sustainability initiative) and developed via partnership with The Bionic Company. The lightweight device (RFID wristband) is mailed to all passengers and is complimentary (keepsake). The Band is activated upon boarding the ship and used for onboard purchases and payments (beverages, Casino gaming), booking tours, cabin access (room key), room service ordering (points guest's current location), VIP pass (for Richard's Rooftop).

Virgin's private island resort "Bimini Beach Club" (Bahamas)

The liner Scarlet Lady is the first cruise ship to stop at "Bimini Beach Club" (Virgin Group's private island resort in Bimini Bahamas ). The exclusive destination allows Virgin's Sailors to enjoy world-class entertainment from a rotating cast of DJs led by Mark Ronson. Virgin's Bimini Beach Club offers premium food with locally sourced ingredients and traditional Bahamian favourites like banana leaf-wrapped queen snapper, conch and mango salad, Bahamian rum cake. The complex has 6 bars, outdoor lounge areas with hammock groves, beach loungers, watersport activities, (optional/at extra cost) private poolside and beach-side cabanas for rent.

RockStar Suite passengers benefit from complimentary food service, exclusive bar and outdoor terrace lounge, VIP beach cabanas. The 7-mile (11-km) long island offers extraordinary activities like boating, snorkeling, wreck diving. The partially sunk wreck of SS Sapona (concrete-hulled steamship that ran aground in 1926) is located just a few miles off the island's southern coast.

Virgin's private resort is located on North Bimini Island and at a short bus transfer from the docking pier. It was built via partnership with Resorts World Bimini. This is a 750-acres (3 km2 / 1,2 mi2) beachfront resort-casino-marina-hotel complex operated by Genting Group (Malaysia-based multinational corporation). North Bimini is approx 68 km (42 mi) east of Miami .

Resort's building cost is USD 220 million. Virgin's Bimini Beach Club overlooks the sea and features a large lagoon-style swimming pool. The "resort experience" also features morning open-air exercises (yoga and meditation), afternoon DJ poolside parties, night beach bonfires and live musical performances.

(Coronavirus crisis) passenger shipping pause 2020-2021

Due to the COVID pandemic, Virgin Voyages postponed the cruise brand's in March 2020 inauguration (Scarlet Lady ship's Showcase Tour / media event in PortMiami) for July 15th (4-day "Richard's Birthday Bash"), with the maiden voyage departing on August 7th from Miami. The ship's originally planned inauguration was for March 29th, 2020 (3-day "Sneak-A-Peek Cruise").

All the scheduled between March 26-August 7th (a total of 29) departures were canceled. In mid-May 2020 were canceled 15 additional departures (through October 15). The 4-night "Richard Branson's 70th Birthday Cruise" (originally planned for July 15, 2020) was rescheduled for July 14, 2021. In late-September 2020 were canceled all Scarlet Lady's November itineraries, and in late-October - the remaining (December 2020) departures. The brand's inauguration was rescheduled for 2021 (January 3, then for May 9). In mid-December were cancelled more itineraries.

The brand's inauguration was rescheduled for August 6, 2021 (Scarlet Lady's Maiden Voyage from Portsmouth England). Valiant Lady's inaugural cruise program was also postponed (Maiden Voyage rescheduled from Nov 14, 2021, to March 18, 2022) and revised.

All affected bookings were provided with the option to cancel with a 125% refund (100% monetary refund) plus 25% in FCC (future cruise credit) or rebook with 200% refund in FCC. As a promo offer, all bookings made by June 30, 2020, received up to USD 500 per person in OBC (onboard credit). A full (100%) monetary refund was optional for cancellations made between May 21-December 31, 2020.

All rebookings made with the 200% FCC were fully refunded (200%) and additionally received 25% in FCC (to be used on another booking). Virgin Voyages also introduced the "Smooth Sailing Program" which allows for itineraries in 2020 (through December 16) the final payment dates to be moved to 60 days (previously 120 days) prior departure. Smooth Sailing also allows cancellations up to 48 hours (prior departure) with receiving a full (100%) refund in FCC.

Itinerary of Virgin Voyages

In 2016, Virgin cruise line's itinerary program was not detailed yet, but Branson mentioned one destination that was on the list - the Caribbean. When asked about Cuba being a potential port destination, he immediately replied "Yes!". This also meant roundtrip departures from a Florida port.

In 2017 was announced that the first Virgin cruise ship ( Scarlet Lady ) will be initially homeported in PortMiami for 7-day Caribbean itineraries departing on Sundays. During the inaugural season 2020-2021, the liner was scheduled to visit Cuba. The company's decision was influenced by conducted customer and travel agency research in the UK and North America. All Virgin cruises to Cuba had to offer an overnight stay in Havana , allowing passengers ("sailors") to explore the country's capital and its unique nightlife.

• 5-day "Mayan Sol" itinerary visits Havana (overnight) and Costa Maya (Mexico) . In Mexico, shore excursions include scuba diving (coral reefs) and Mayan ruins.
• 5-day "Dominican Daze" itinerary visits Havana (overnight) and Puerto Plata (Dominicana) where shore tours include trekking, surfing, shopping.

The second Virgin ship ( Valiant Lady ) is homeported in Miami during 2022-2023 winter season.

On November 28, 2018, Richard Branson and Tom McAlpin announced in Miami the company's plans to build a new (Virgin-exclusive) cruise terminal in PortMiami. "Virgin Voyages Terminal" is sized 100,000 ft2 (9300 m2) and is on the seaport's northwest side.

Virgin Voyages passengers benefit from an impressive variety of cruises to choose from in the inaugural 2020 season of the line's new build . The 4- or 5-night "Havana After Dark" itineraries allow Sailors to explore the Cuban culture and include an overnight stay in Cuba's capital city.

• The 5-night "Mayan Sol" itinerary visits Costa Maya Mexico . The Mayan ruins are just a short distance from the port and colorful coral reefs lie just off-shore. Virgin Voyages partnered with ITM Group for the land tours.
• The 5-night "Dominican Daze" itinerary visits Puerto Plata . On the island are offered trekking, surfing and handicraft shopping tours.

All Virgin Caribbean cruises depart from homeport Miami Florida . Virgin ships are also seasonally deployed in Europe (via Transatlantic crossings), with planned visits to several major Mediterranean and UK ports (including Dover and Liverpool ).

However, following the 2019s (June 5 issued) US Government restrictions on USA to Cuba travel, Virgin Voyages revised all scheduled itineraries to exclude Havana . The new itineraries offer late-night call port departures (including a midnight departure) on all revised Caribbean voyages.

• 5-night "Riviera Maya" itinerary visits Playa Del Carmen (across Cozumel Island), with opportunities to explore archaeological and ecological sites or touring the neighbouring Tulum (walled Mayan city).
• 4-night "Fire and Sunset Soirees" (short-breaks) visit Key West Florida (sunset departure) and Bimini Bahamas (with a late-night beach bonfire party and midnight departure). The line's sailors can experience the cultural paradise of Key West, paired with an exclusive late-night beach bonfire soiree. The artistic fire installation draws inspiration from the fireball sculptures on Branson's Necker Island.
• 7-night itineraries (for 2020 Xmas holidays) include the themed cruises "Holidaze and Nights" and "New Year's Ahoy" visiting Puerto Plata Dominicana with Bimini Bahamas and San Juan Puerto Rico.

All Virgin Caribbean cruises visit Bimini Bahamas as a private island destination.

In April 2022 was announced that in winter 2023-2024, Resilient Lady will be deployed in Australia and New Zealand (Virgin brand's debut in the region). With homeporting in Melbourne , the roundtrip itineraries ranged between 2-14 nights. Some voyages also visited ports in Tasmania (Hobart, Burnie).

Brilliant Lady's inaugural cruises (2025-2026)

Virgin's Brilliant Lady inaugural cruise season (October 2025 through April 2026) is largely based on homeporting in San Juan Puerto Rico . Initially, from Puerto Rico were scheduled 7-night roundtrip itineraries themed as "Sunsets In The Lesser Antilles" (Oranjestad Aruba, Willemstad Curacao, Fort de France Martinique, Basseterre St. Kitts) and "Southeastern Caribbean Isles" (Tortola BVI, Pointe-a-Pitre Guadeloupe, Bridgetown Barbados, Castries St Lucia, St Johns Antigua).

Brilliant Lady's Maiden Voyages commence from NYC New York , and visit destinations in Bermuda/King's Wharf and Canada/Quebec City . Follows a deployment in the Caribbean, then West Coast USA (California, Alaska), with a relocation itinerary traversing the Panama Canal.

The rescheduled 2025-2026 (October-April) Caribbean program of Brilliant Lady lists islands like Grand Turk/Cockburn Town , Antigua/St John's , Grand Cayman , and Jamaica/Ocho Rios (first-time port for Virgin Voyages). In March 2026 there is a 16-night Panama Canal repositioning itinerary (Miami to Los Angeles) visiting Costa Rica, Antigua, Guatemala, and Mexico (Los Cabos). For April-May 2026 are scheduled California Coastal voyages out of LA, followed by Alaskan cruises out of Seattle WA (May-September 2026).

Valiant Lady's inaugural cruises (2022)

Virgin's second ship ( Valiant Lady ) starts its inaugural season (2022/Maiden Voyage departs March 18th) with roundtrips leaving from Portsmouth England .

• 3-night "Long Weekender" to Zeebrugge Belgium
• 11-night "Coast the Canary Islands, Spain and Portugal"/UK to Iberia
• 12-night "Late Nights in Portugal and Spain"/UK to Iberia

Follows a Western Mediterranean deployment (May thru October 2022) based on homeporting in Barcelona and 7-day roundtrips (Sunday departures) visiting large port cities in France, Italy and Spain. Valiant Lady's Caribbean program is based on homeporting in Miami Florida USA and includes 2-week Transatlantic crossings on repositioning between Europe and USA (RepositionCruises.com).

• 8-night Eastern Caribbean itineraries (Miami roundtrips) are priced from USD 188 per night and visit Puerto Plata (Dominicana) , San Juan (Puerto Rico) , St Croix Island (USVI) and Bimini (Bahamas) .
• 6-night Western Caribbean itineraries (roundtrips from Miami) visit Roatan Island (Honduras) , Costa Maya (Mexico) and Bimini. Fares start at USD 192 per night.
• Special ( Christmas and New Year's ) itineraries and Atlantic Ocean crossings/relocation voyages are priced from USD 102 per night.

In the Caribbean, Virgin boats are homeported in Miami and all itineraries visit Bimini Bahamas as a private island destination.

Resilient Lady's inaugural cruises (2022)

Virgin's third ship ( Resilient Lady ) started its inaugural season (2022/Maiden Voyage departed on August 14th) with roundtrips leaving from Piraeus-Athens (Greece) .

• The 7-day roundtrip "Greek Island Glow" itinerary visits the Greek islands Santorini, Rhodes, Crete (Chania) and Mykonos.
• The 7-day roundtrip "Adriatic Sea and Greek Gems" itinerary visits Croatia (Dubrovnik), Montenegro (Kotor), and Greece (Kerkyra/Corfu Island, and Argostoli/Kefalonia Island).
• The "Greek Isles" program (scheduled between August 14 - October 23) ended with the 11-day Transatlantic crossing from Europe to the Caribbean (from Lisbon to San Juan/departure November 1st).

The inaugural Caribbean season 2022-2023 (Nov 12 - April 15) was based on homeporting in San Juan Puerto Rico and 7-day roundtrips.

• The "Southeastern Caribbean Isles" itinerary visits Tortola Island BVI (Road Town), Guadeloupe (Pointe-a-Pitre), Barbados (Bridgetown), St Lucia (Castries) and Antigua (St Johns).
• The "Sunsets In The Lesser Antilles" itinerary visits St Kitts (Basseterre), Martinique (Fort-de-France), Curacao (Willemstad) and Aruba (Oranjestad).

In 2023-2024 (December-March), Resilient Lady was deployed in Australia. The program included three relocation itineraries from Europe to Asia and Australia (RepositionCruises.com) - 14-day from Athens to Dubai (Oct 22), 15-day from Dubai to Singapore (Nov 5) and 15-day from Singapore to Sydney NSW (Nov 20).

Itineraries 2024-2025

Virgin's 2024-2025 (April) schedule lists 19 maiden/new ports and 27 different itineraries in the UK, Australia/NZ, and the Caribbean. Among these are the "Seachange Series" (ship relocation voyages) providing extended sea travel opportunities.

Resilient Lady is homeported in Piraeus-Athens Greece (May through July 2024) for Aegean and Adriatic itineraries. In the summer (August through September 2024) Resilient Lady visits Bordeaux ,  La Coruna , and  Bilbao on the relocation voyage to England.

On February 26, 2024, Virgin Voyages canceled Resilient Lady's 2024-2025 Australian program, citing security concerns (due to the Red Sea war crisis) impacting the ship's scheduled repositioning voyages through the Suez Canal (between Europe and Australia/RepositionCruises.com). Virgin also announced that Resilient Lady (after completing the Mediterranean season on October 20th/2024) will be deployed in the Caribbean and homeported in San Juan (Puerto Rico) offering 7-8-10-11-night roundtrips to St Maarten, St Vincent, Colombia, and Dominica.

Valiant Lady (from  PortMiami  and  San Juan Puerto Rico ) offers Caribbean roundtrips (winter 2023-2024) and in April 2024.

Scarlet Lady in summer 2024 is deployed in the Mediterranean and has scheduled two repositioning voyages - from Barcelona to Civitavecchia-Rome, and a Transatlantic crossing to Miami for a new Caribbean deployement.

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Introducing Virgin Voyages’ fourth ship, Brilliant Lady

With three ships in the water by the end of the summer, Virgin Voyages is welcoming its fourth lady ship to the family.

Like her three sisters Scarlet Lady, Valiant Lady, and Resilient Lady - Virgin Voyages has chosen a name that represents the values and beliefs it holds. As the team continually aims to create an exciting and radiant experience for its Sailors, it feels right that the fourth ship reflects that. So it’s our absolute honour to introduce Brilliant Lady to the fleet. 

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Virgin Voyages (@virginvoyages)

In a world where women are still fighting for their place at the table, intelligence is something women are often taught not to claim for themselves. Women are taught to be pretty, patient, and strong — and those are often traits we’re allowed to own. But being smart, being absolutely brilliant, is a characteristic that women are so rarely allowed to celebrate without fear of being called arrogant. Without fear of being “too much.” Without fear, period. 

While on the other hand, traditionally, men are encouraged to claim their intelligence; it's seen, rightfully, as confident and knowing their worth. Brilliant Lady represents the smart, thoughtful, boundary-pushing minds of women around the world — unafraid of owning their intelligence, aware of their importance, and confidently in touch with their own sense of self worth.

Virgin Voyages has something to float everyone's boat. Get a taste of luxury at the 20 onboard eateries, covering everything from Michelin-style dining to late night snacking. Or if you’re looking for some rest and relaxation time, book into the onboard spa and enjoy some time for you. Looking to let your hair down? There’s no party like a Virgin Voyages party so make sure you pack your dancing shoes and head to the onboard nightclub. 

Swim over to Virgin Voyages to find out more and sign up for updates on where Brilliant Lady will be setting sail.

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All about the Virgin Voyages Valiant Lady

The Virgin Voyages Valiant Lady is a fairly new ship, being built in 2022. It's considered a medium size ship. Coming in at 909 ft long and 125 ft wide, it's roughly the length of 2.5 football fields, as wide as 2.4 tractor trailers, and the same height as a 13-story building. This is an adults-only ship; all guests must be 18 or older.

Virgin Voyages Valiant Lady Overview

• Ship and Passengers
• Food and Restaurants
• Bars and Drinks
• Pools and Hot Tubs
• Ship Features and Activities

Cruise Costs

• Onboard Costs

Virgin Voyages Valiant Lady Size and Passengers

The Valiant Lady can hold 2,700 based on double occupancy (two people per room) and more when you take into account 3rd and 4th passengers. When you compare the total tonnage of the ship to the number of passengers, the Valiant Lady has a space ratio of 41. Depending on the ship, this number can range from 30 to 52 (with a bigger number meaning more space per person) so this ship's space-to-person ratio is about average.

The Valiant Lady is one of four Lady-class ships currently sailing with Virgin Voyages. Virgin Voyages currently has only one class of ships. These ships are meant to appeal to guests who are new to cruising. One of the big differences is that Lady-class ships don't have any main dining rooms or a traditional buffet. Instead, there are numerous restaurants for guests to choose from, all at no additional cost. The Valiant Lady is very similar to its sister-ships; Scarlet Lady, Resilent Lady and Brilliant Lady, although each ship may have some differences.

Virgin Voyages Valiant Lady Food and Restaurants

Food is a big part of any cruise, and there will plenty on the Virgin Voyages Valiant Lady. You have 22 different dining options to choose from. Of those options, 22 are complementary, or included with your cruise fare. Since all the dining venues are included, you get to try all the different restaurants while on board without spending an extra dime.

In terms of drinks and cocktails, you have a variety of choices. Virgin Voyages serves the Coca-cola family of products. That means Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite and Barqs Root Beer, although the selection can vary by ship.

There are also plenty of bars available on this ship. You can check outrecent bar menus for the Valiant Lady below.

Pools and Hot Tubs on Virgin Voyages Valiant Lady

Nothing beats relaxing by a pool with a nice drink in hand as you feel the fresh sea breeze pass by you. The problem is that with thousands of people on a ship, there's not always room. If you want to spend all day in a pool, a cruise might not be the right choice. You would have a much better bet choosing a resort with a huge pool complex. That being said, a quick dip in the pool can be nice on a hot day.

The Virgin Voyages Valiant Lady has a total of 1 pools and 3 hot tubs.

Virgin Voyages Valiant Lady Features and Activities

There are quite a few things to do on the Valiant Lady. These are the main amenities that are available. Some are included in the cost of the cruise, while others have an additional charge.

Virgin Voyages is a premium cruise line. Premium cruise lines typically offer upscale food, accommodations, and service. These typically cost about $150 - $400 per person per day.

Cruise pricing is dynamic and varies for each specific sailing based on factors such as departure point, ports of call, and time of year.

Virgin Voyages Valiant Lady Onboard Costs

Another way to gauge the cost of a cruise is to consider how much you'll spend on board. Even though a lot is included in the base cruise fare, you may still spend money on things like spa treatments, specialty dining, drinks, and excursions. In addition, guests can also have to pay for things like gratuities and tips.

Typically guests can expect to spend about 25 - 40% of the cost of the cruise on onboard expenses. In other words, if the cruise fare is $1,000 per person, you might spend between $250 and $400 on extra expenses.

The table below will help you understand what you might spend onboard a Virgin Voyages ship.

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Virgin voyages restaurant and bar menus (with prices), compare the valiant lady to another ship.

First ship:

Second ship:

Thinking of booking a cruise? Here are the lines you should — and shouldn't — sail with.

Posted: June 10, 2024 | Last updated: June 10, 2024

• Before you book a cruise , it's important to understand that not all cruise lines are equal.
• Each cruise line has amenities, entertainment, and experiences tailored to specific cruisers.
• Carnival is good for families, Virgin Voyages for solo adults, and Cunard for mature travelers. 

I am a very, very avid cruiser. Last year alone, I spent 73 days on cruise ships .

I've sailed with most major lines, from kid-focused Disney Cruise Line to the sometimes-naughty Virgin Voyages. When people ask me which cruise ships I recommend , my answer isn't so straightforward.

Each cruise line is unique, offering amenities, entertainment, and experiences tailored to specific cruisers. What you book will depend on your needs, wants, budget, and what you'd rather avoid.

So, I've done some research about popular cruise lines and combined my personal experiences to help you decide which cruise line to book with.

After all, this is kind of the year of the cruise , with travelers predicted to set sail at some of the highest rates in years throughout 2024.

Here's what you need to know about some of the major cruise lines before you book your next trip.

Editor's Note: Price ranges were calculated at the time of publication based on available listings on each cruise site. Cruise pricing is per person, based on double occupancy and the cheapest stateroom/fare available. Prices were calculated before taxes, port charges, and other fees. Itineraries with added tours built-in were not included when calculating this information.

Carnival Cruise Line

Cost: $ | Prices range from $156/pp for a two-day getaway from Sydney to $3,273/pp for a 10-day Alaska cruise

Ideal for: Budget travelers, intergenerational groups, families, and partiers

Skip if: You're looking for a high-class, elegant experience or a quiet, laid-back vibe

Highlight: All Carnival cruises come with itineraries loaded with fun activities. Some ships have especially exciting features like the first roller coaster at sea, SkyRide zip-line-style aerial bikes, and themed parties.

Possible cons: This is not a cruise line for those who like to wear a tux or ball gown or have a quiet cruise experience.

Launched in 1972, Carnival Cruise Line is one of nine cruise lines owned by parent company Carnival Corporation & plc. It's the company's largest cruise line, with 27 ships. Its cruises typically range from two days to 29 days.

Carnival Cruise Line offers year-round cruises in Australia, The Bahamas, the Caribbean, and Mexico and seasonal cruises in Alaska , Bermuda, Canada, Europe, Hawaii, and New England.

Celebrity Cruises

Cost: $$ | Prices range from $233/pp for a three-night Key West & Bahamas cruise to $6,912/pp for a 7-night Galapagos cruise

Ideal for: Couples, families, and solo travelers

Skip if: You're looking for a slower-paced classic cruise

Highlight: All Celebrity Cruises come with amazing outdoor spaces like The Lawn Club with real grass on the top deck of Solstice Series ships and the Rooftop Terrace on Millennium Series ships. You also won't want to miss the Magic Carpet , which allows guests to hang out while suspended above the ocean on some ships.

Possible cons: This is not a cruise line for those who want to attend lectures about their ports of call.

Celebrity Cruises began sailing in 1997. There are 16 ships, which sail on itineraries ranging from three to 19 nights to nearly 300 ports of call in 70 countries.

Cost: $$$ | Prices range from $249/pp for a two-night cruise from Southampton, England to Hamburg, Germany, to $19,158/pp for a 111-night World Voyage

Ideal for: Sophisticated travelers and mature cruisers

Skip if: You're looking for a high-energy cruise, hoping to travel with children , or craving adventurous activities

Highlight: All Cunard cruises come with white-glove service. You won't want to miss Cunard's famous 3:30 p.m. afternoon tea, gala evenings, and fine dining arranged by stateroom grade.

Possible cons: This is a very formal cruise with strict dress codes. You won't find water slides or pool parties here.

Founded in 1840, Cunard offers a classic cruise experience with cruises ranging from two to 116 nights.

Its four ships sail to Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America, and South America.

Disney Cruise Line

Cost: $$$ | Prices range from $422.40/pp for a two-night cruise from Sydney to Brisbane, Australia, to $5,592/pp for a 12-night Mediterranean with Greek Isles cruise

Ideal for: Disney adults , families, and intergenerational groups

Skip if: You don't want to vacation around a bunch of children and you crave peace and quiet

Highlight: All Disney Cruise Line cruises come with heaps of Disney magic in the way of special events and details. You won't want to miss character meet and greets, pirate-themed parties with fireworks, and passengers trading pins and leaving treats inside decorative pouches hung on stateroom doors.

Possible cons: There is a significant child population on most of these cruises and not much adults-only entertainment. Dinners in the main dining can get loud, and, just like at the theme parks, there can be many queues for activities and other offerings.

Disney Cruise Line first set sail in the 1990s and has five active ships, with the new Disney Treasure set to debut in December. The line has sailings all around the globe, and most range from two to 15 nights.

Holland America Line

Cost: $$ | Prices range from $94/pp for a one-day Pacific Northwest cruise to a $27,399/pp for a 132-day Grand Voyage

Ideal for: Music lovers and sophisticated world travelers who appreciate European hospitality and smaller ships

Skip if: You're young, traveling with children, or want to party

Highlight: All Holland America Line cruises come with a dose of Dutch hospitality and elegance. During my cruise with the line, I enjoyed the Dutch cuisine and Music Walk , which features live performances at B.B. King's Blues Club, Rolling Stone Rock Room, and Billboard Onboard.

Possible cons: The line takes its formal nights really seriously and attracts an older crowd.

Holland America Line has had ships sailing the globe for over 140 years. Its 11 ships cruise to more than 425 ports of call on seven continents, and cruises range from one to 118 days.

MSC Cruises

Cost: $ | Prices range from $80/pp for a three-night Mediterranean cruise to $46,149/pp for a 116-night World Cruise

Ideal for: Budget travelers, families, intergenerational groups, big groups

Skip if: You're looking for lots of food options or top-tier entertainment

Highlight: All MSC Cruises offer great value — and good pizza

Possible cons: The cruise fare does not include many dining options, and the evening entertainment skews old-school and a bit more basic than some other cruise lines that do Broadway-worthy shows.

MSC Cruises has 22 ships, with one more projected to join its fleet by 2025. The line has sailings all around the globe, and most range from two to 118 nights.

Norwegian Cruise Line

Cost: $$ | Prices range from $79/pp for a one-day Australia cruise to $4,379/pp for a 10-day European cruise

Ideal for: Couples, families, and solo cruisers

Skip if: You're looking for structure, ballroom dancing, and fancy dinners

Highlight: All Norwegian Cruise Line cruises offer freestyle dining. You won't want to miss its Broadway-level shows and generous drink package, which is often offered complimentary.

Possible cons: This is not a cruise line for those who like formal dress codes, and some dislike the à la carte pricing.

Norwegian Cruise Line has been sailing the world for over 57 years. Its 19 ships visit 400-plus ports on seven continents, and cruises typically last one to 25 days.

Princess Cruises

Cost: $$ | Prices range from $127/pp for a two-day Australia Seacation to $24,098/pp for a 98-day World Cruise

Ideal for: Mature solo travelers, couples, and retirees

Skip if: You're looking for lots of activities and party vibes. Princess Cruises tend to attract an older crowd, and the shows and activities reflect this. There aren't many events offered each day. On the three cruises I sailed with Princess, the entertainment was primarily musicals, piano players, and singers backed by an orchestra. There were only a handful of children on each cruise.

Highlight: All Princess Cruises offer Discovery and Animal Planet-exclusive shore excursions — and many have an excellent onboard lecture series.

Possible cons: This is not a cruise line for those who like to party, love water slides, or have teenagers.

Founded in 1965, Princess Cruises has 16 ships that sail to 330 destinations worldwide on itineraries from three to 111 days

Royal Caribbean

Cost: $$ | Prices range from $196/pp for a two-night Hong Kong cruise to $8,266/pp for a 13-night Arctic Circle cruise

Ideal for: Couples, families, and intergenerational travelers

Highlight: All Royal Caribbean cruises come with fun activities and a broad range of entertainment options. Some have the Ultimate Abyss , the tallest slide at sea, or the glass capsule North Star , the tallest viewing deck on a cruise ship. You won't want to miss the Oasis Class ships' seven distinctly themed neighborhoods and Royal Promenade, a mall-like thoroughfare with shops, restaurants, and lounges that runs the length of the ship.

Possible cons: Many of its ships are mega-ships, so this isn't the line for you if you want a more intimate trip.

Founded in 1968, Royal Caribbean sails to about 240 destinations on six continents. Cruises range from two to 22 nights.

Royal Caribbean has many of the world's largest cruise ships in its fleet of more than 20 vessels.

Virgin Voyages

Cost: $$ | Prices range from $415/pp for a four-night roundtrip cruise from England to Amsterdam to a $3,072/pp for a 13-night Canada, Carolina, and Miami cruise

Ideal for: Child-free travelers, health enthusiasts, the glamorous, and those who don't like strict rules

Skip if: You want a classic cruise, need structure, or can't handle playfulness (and, sometimes, naughtiness)

Highlight: All Virgin Voyages are child-free, and everyone gets unlimited WiFi, access to group fitness classes, and gratuities included in their fare. You won't want to miss its famous Scarlet Night, 20 eateries (every venue is considered specialty dining), and eclectic shows like "Untitled DanceShowPartyThing."

Possible cons: There aren't traditional song-and-dance shows, assigned dining times, and nightly portrait photography

Virgin Voyages has been sailing its "Lady Ships" inspired by superyachts since 2021. Three nearly identical ships are currently in service, and a fourth one is set to set sail later this year.

Virgin Voyages sails to about 100 destinations in Australia, Europe, the Mediterranean, the Caribbean, and the United Kingdom on cruises ranging from three to 16 nights.

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