Virgin Voyages – The Non-Cruise Line, Cruise Line

By: Carrie Fulton
January 27, 2022

While it was delayed an entire year, Virgin Voyages has finally launched its much-anticipated Mer-Maiden season.

You may be asking, “Do we really need another cruise line?”  After going on the October 29 sailing, I happily say yes, we do need this cruise line!  It takes your favorite parts of a cruise and puts a Virgin spin on them.  Virgin Voyages also takes the things you hate about cruising and fixes them (but if you prefer a traditional cruise, I’ll figure out the right cruise line for you.)

With every conversation I have with clients wanting to book a trip, we review your goals and preferred experiences for your trip.  So, if I am recommending a Virgin Voyages trip, it’s because I think you’ll love it! 

With over $600 worth of things that traditional cruise lines charge extra for during your cruise, you won’t be paying any extra for these items:

• Wi-fi – I was able to text, post to social media and be in contact with clients
• Gratuities – Crew members are paid at a rate comparable to the salary plus gratuity rate of other lines
• Basic beverages – Including soda, tea or basic coffee
• All meals at 20 eateries – Yes, TWENTY!  And the crew is very proactive in asking about food allergies
• Group fitness classes – You can keep up with your fitness routine or try something new

So, you won’t be getting a shocking folio at the end of your voyage or have a bunch of envelopes to fill out for your stateroom and dining crew members.  The best part is that you won’t be upsold throughout your voyage or feel like you’re missing out on anything.

These voyages are adults-only, so there are no kids to hear or watch having meltdowns because they’re eating later than they do at home or didn’t get a souvenir they wanted.  This is particularly appreciated during the stop in Bimini to go to Virgin Voyages private Beach Resort, where your day is spent lounging by the pool or gorgeous beach.  There are various places all over the three outdoor decks on board where you can find a place that has the right amount of shade or sun and access to a pool for you.

You will also be able to pick both when and where you want to eat on any given evening.  Their six main dinner locations open between 5:30-6:30pm and close about 11pm, but there’s also a food court style area called The Galley, so there’s no need to feel forced to have a more formal dinner if you want to enjoy the pools or grab a quick bite.  I’ll review my experience at each dinner locations in a future blog.

The pace is drastically slower on this cruise line, so you don’t need to dash around trying to see everything because there’s just more down time making this a perfect fit for those who want to unwind from life.  The sea days are filled with opportunities for fitness classes, spa services and time in the casino.  Evenings are filled with dining and maybe a show or two before the dance clubs open.

My other favorite part is that there is no dress code on Virgin Voyages.  I know that I always felt the need to bring multiple outfits each day on previous cruises, but you get to wear whatever you want on this cruise line!  Want to get dressed to the nines every evening, go for it!  Want to stay in shorts and a shirt because that’s what you typically wear at home, you can do that too!

There are also three shows currently on board so for a five-night sailing, you can have some nights where you don’t have to see a show or have the chance to see a favorite another time, and because you get to pick your dining time, you have total say in how you spend your evening.  I’ll go more into these three shows in a future blog.

So, if you want a cruise that lets you truly relax, slow down and eat some of the most delicious food at sea, let’s talk about getting you on a Virgin Voyage!  Email me at cfulton@wishesfamilytravel.com

This is part one of a three-part series.