Cruise holidays are one of my favourite things in life. For a while, they were the only way I was able to get out and see the world. I had a very intense fear of flying, and discovering cruising meant I had the freedom to visit other countries without ever having to set foot on a plane.
Thankfully I managed to overcome that fear, but cruises remain one of my favourite ways to travel. There’s just something so special about living in the lap of luxury while you sail toward a new destination every morning that’s hard to beat! It’s worth noting that for those who share a passion for this unique way of life, exploring job opportunities on cruise ships can be an exciting way to combine work with adventure, offering the chance to see the world while building a rewarding career.
Cruise travel is a comfortable and diverse way to travel. During this trip, Luggage Tags can add a lot of uniqueness to your travel experience. Not only is it a practical identifier that helps you easily identify your luggage, but it can also express your travel style and personality through personalized design.
Luggage tags can be designed with elements related to cruise travel or add some patterns that symbolize sailing or cruise travel. In addition, you can also engrave your name, voyage information, travel date, or even a favorite quote or travel motto on the luggage tag, making it not only a functional item but also a personalized symbol of your travel.
Over the years, I’ve been lucky enough to experience travelling on a fair few cruise lines – Royal Caribbean & Disney Cruise Line have always been my favourite, but we’ve enjoyed Princess Cruises and Celebrity Cruises as well as trying one of P & O’s smaller ships.
So when we were recently invited to spend a week on board Virgin Voyages Scarlet Lady, I was incredibly excited – but also a little anxious. Virgin Voyages are doing cruising differently – and I wasn’t sure if I’d enjoy their non-traditional approach.
The Scarlet Lady redefines the cruise experience with its chic, modern design and adult-only atmosphere. Launched as the debut ship of the Virgin Voyages fleet, Scarlet Lady boasts a variety of innovative features, including luxurious, eco-friendly cabins, world-class dining options, and cutting-edge entertainment. With a strong emphasis on sustainability and guest satisfaction, Scarlet Lady offers a fresh and exciting approach to cruising, making it a standout choice for modern cruisers.
But how did it compare to other cruise lines and did we enjoy our time on board? Let’s find out…
Embarkation Experience
We boarded our 7 night cruise in Barcelona. This was the first time I’d ever done a fly-cruise, having previously always sailed from UK ports and I was nervous about how different the process would be.
We decided to arrive into Barcelona the evening before our cruise departed incase of any hiccups with travel, and we stayed the night at Hotel Sixties on the famous Las Ramblas. We spent the evening browsing the markets and enjoying some Spanish delicacies, before taking an Uber in the morning to the World Trade Terminal which was just a 10 minute drive from our hotel.
Virgin Voyages have one of the latest embarkation times I’ve come across with boarding starting from 1.30pm. We were allocated the latest embarkation slot of 4.30pm and although we did arrive earlier, we were not able to board ahead of this time so we did end up with around 2 hours to wait dockside – luckily there was a bar nearby so we could grab a coffee and get out of the sun.
Once our boarding time arrived however, the embarkation process was very efficient. We sailed through security within 10 minutes, we checked in using just our passports and were then handed our seabands and directed toward the ship.
Upon stepping onboard, the first thing I noticed was the lack of any welcome from crew – this was very different from experiences I’ve had on other cruise lines who usually have greeters at the entrance and perhaps a bit of fuss made. I have to admit, this made me a little nervous – was this going to set the tone for the rest of our trip?
My fears didn’t last for long as I soon became distracted by how fresh & funky the ships interior was, and how spacious and open it all felt.
Our first experience of the fresh approach Virgin Voyages take to cruising came quite quickly when we were prompted by our app to complete the Muster Drill. Instead of sitting through a dry speech, this involved watching a Safety video which felt more like a rock video with plenty of comedy elements before heading to scan in to our muster station. So easy and refreshingly fun!
Then it was time to head up to the pool deck for the Sail away party where the free champagne was flowing – the perfect way to get the party started!
Accommodation
We stayed in an XL Sea Terrace cabin, and I have to say – I consider it to be probably the best cabin we’ve stayed in on a cruise ship.
It felt very spacious, with every amenity we could hope for including a comfortable spot for me to do my makeup, a full length mirror, a mini fridge and plenty of storage space.
The bed was comfortable enough with great pillows, and the design was fresh and airy. I had heard the bathrooms were particularly small but I didn’t personally find this to be the case – they felt on a par wit any cruise bathrooms I’ve experienced, and the overhead rain shower was delightful!
I particularly loved the way that Virgin Voyages have utilised tech in the cabins – everything is controlled via the tablet in the room. This acts as the remote control for your TV, it controls the lighting, its how you place room service orders or request services from your cabin steward, and you can even use it to control mood lighting and to open and close the curtains!
The balcony was a generous size and my favourite thing was the famous hammock swing – these are pure bliss! The perfect place to enjoy a coffee as you gaze out over the sea each morning, or take a nap under the stars – I spent lots of time here and it’s something I think all cruise lines should implement!
If I had one slight complaint about the cabins, it would be that the air conditioning could be a lot better. I found the room to be very hot and when I requested a fan I was surprised to be told that they don’t have any on board – I bought one for myself in port and this helped a lot, so I would recommend packing a mini-fan if you prefer a cooler environment.
Dining Options
Virgin Voyages do things quite differently from other cruise lines when it comes to dining, and this was the area I was most apprehensive about as any seasoned cruiser will tell you that the food is a big part of what makes cruising so appealing!
With traditional cruising, guests are allocated a seating in the Main Dining Room – they will usually have the same table and the same waiters each night, and the menu will change throughout the sailing with a variety of cuisines offered. There will then also be several higher-end restaurants available to dine in for an additional fee.
But with Virgin Voyages, there is no Main Dining Room and no premium restaurants. Instead there are several smaller restaurants which guests can choose to dine in as and when they wish to, all included in the cost of your cruise.
You can make table reservations via the Virgin Voyages app before sailing (though we found there was plenty of availability to move reservations around or make last minute ones during our sailing too), or there is usually some walk-in availability too.
Here is a breakdown of the restaurants on board, and what we thought of them:
– **The Wake:**
This is a steak & seafood restaurant, and is considered the most high-end eatery onboard the Scarlet Lady.
The restaurant is, as the name suggests, at the aft of the ship with a large floor-to-ceiling window giving a great view of the Wake which makes it an ideal spot for dining during sail away.
The menu is as you would expect from a steak house – with filet mignon and clam chowder being the highlights. I had both, and was very impressed by the standard of food – the sides were also not to be missed, with the twice baked potato with caramelised onion being a particular stand out.
– **Razzle Dazzle:**
This is an upscale American-diner style eatery with an emphasis on Vegetarian and Vegan meals, though some meat options are available.
We waited until later on in our cruise to eat here as I wasn’t sure I’d like it, but I was so pleasantly surprised – everything on the menu was an absolute hit, even the dishes we tried which wouldn’t usually appeal to us.
Stand out favourites were the Nashville hot cauliflower, Lamb shank and Fried green tomatoes along with the stunning Leek mafaldine pasta which I still dream about!
Brunch is also not to be missed here, and there are bottomless mimosas available – definitely one to indulge in!
– **The Test Kitchen:**
This is the one dining venue that I was super apprehensive about, so much so that I almost didn’t make a reservation here.
The vibe is that this is an experimental kitchen serving a 6 course tasting menu and you are not given a detailed breakdown of whats on offer – instead your menu simply states the main ingredient/focus of each course.
I watched some YouTube reviews of the ship prior to boarding, and the main menu here seemed like something I would struggle with – one course is served with pasta made from fish instead of flour and I knew that texture-wise this would be a sensory nightmare for me – I’m autistic and I can struggle a lot with food that’s outside of my comfort zone!
But once I realised that there was a Vegan and Vegetarian menu available, I felt more comfortable giving it a go.
I have to say – I was blown away by the whole experience! It’s not just about the food here – it is truly a sensory experience from start to finish, and the service was absolutely top notch. But the food was still surprisingly good, with some courses being among my favourite bites on the entire cruise! (The asparagus sorbet was a revelation – who knew?!)
Be sure to at least try it, you can always head up to The Galley afterwards if it doesn’t tickle your fancy!
**Pink Agave:**
This is a Mexican inspired restaurant serving Mexican inspired cuisine, and the vibe is very upscale from the moment you enter via the Instagrammable tunnel of lights.
Again the service here was wonderful, and the food was very good although not our favourite of the cruise. I would rate this restaurant last on our list but that’s not to say it was bad or not worth trying – more that the standard was so incredibly high across the ship that even a restaurant such as this which I would consider top notch anywhere else, comes off as last choice.
The appetisers were the highlight here, with the Chips & Guac being the standout highlight. The chocolate dessert tacos are also worth mentioning!
**Extra Virgin**
This is the elevated Italian restaurant on board, and it stood out as the absolute highlight for us! So much so, that I booked a last minute reservation for our last evening while we were still eating our starters – I just knew we needed to experience it again!
The food is absolutely to die for, and you CANNOT miss the Pasta course – the best carbonara I have ever tasted in my life, and be sure to order the spaghetti bolognese too – life changing!
Every bite here was absolutely phenomenal, I would book another cruise purely to eat here again.
**Gunbae**
This is the only restaurant that we didn’t experience on board. There were plenty of reservations available throughout our sailing and we did *almost* try it, but we’re not super-sociable when it comes to dining and this is a Korean BBQ restaurant where tables are shared with other guests and drinking games are played.
We decided it wasn’t for us this time, but I heard great things about the food and experience from other guests and I do kind of regret not giving it a go – definitely one for next time!
**The Galley**
Another thing that makes Virgin Voyages very different from other cruises is the lack of a traditional buffet restaurant on board. Most cruise lines use the buffet as the main dining offering on board, and we certainly have been known to enjoy them! But Virgin wanted to address the problem of food waste and I can see why….so they decided to try something a little different by introducing The Galley.
The Galley looks very much like a standard cruise buffet, but instead of having serving stations offering up ready-made meals for you to help yourself to – there are instead a variety of stations offering made-to-order meals.
The variety is still plentiful – the stations include Bento Baby for sushi boxes, Hot Off The Press for toasted sandwiches and paninis, Noodle Around for delicious Ramen, Lets Taco About It for…you guessed it…Tacos and mexican bites, A make your own salad station, a Dessert station, a Burger station which served classic burgers as well as daily burger specials, and a 24 hour Diner which serves all day breakfast as well as a daily special such as Roast Turkey Dinner.
There is also a Grab & Go station offering wraps, salad and mezze bites for you to take away if you want to.
I thought I’d really miss having a traditional buffet on board but I actually much preferred The Galley – the choice was still more than enough, the quality of food was higher as everything was made fresh, and it felt so much more hygienic than handling serving spoons after other diners too. I am definitely converted!
Other Options
As well as The Galley, there is also a great little cafe on the Pool deck called Sun Club Cafe which is a little bit hidden away but it’s one you don’t want to miss! Serving light bites such as rice bowls and sliders, this was an ideal place for lunch – the firecracker popcorn and short rib bao buns were exceptional!
As for late night eats, there is also a Pizza Place on board which is open until 2 am daily serving whole pizzas to eat in or take away.
And if you fancy a sweet treat, then Lick Me Til Ice Cream is what you need – the ice cream here is SO good and I’m not usually an Ice Cream kind of person! They even have red velvet cones!
There is also a coffee shop on board where speciality coffee is an additional charge but the pastries and treats are included, as well as The Social Club which serves Pretzels and Hot dogs as well as a selection of sweet treats all included in the price of the cruise. And don’t miss Opa Hour at The Dock Club which happens every afternoon – complimentary Greek Mezze bites with a great view!
As for Room Service, this is known as Ship Eats and can be ordered via the Tablet in your cabin or via the Virgin Voyages app. There is a $7 tray charge when you order, but you can order as much as you want – we ordered 30 cans of soda to keep in our fridge on the first night of the cruise!
Entertainment and Activities
The entertainment on board is certainly different than you’d find on traditional cruise lines but that doesn’t mean its less than – if anything I actually really appreciated that Virgin Voyages have shaken things up! It felt fresh and exciting, and the standard was incredibly high. Go into the shows with an open mind and you won’t be disappointed, but don’t expect to see your standard Theatre cabaret turns on this ship!
There are the usual entertainment suspects on offer such as comedians and magicians, but we actually chose to go for the more unique offerings such as the Drag shows which we very much enjoyed.
There are daily exercise classes, as well as various workshops and talks available too – we particularly enjoyed the Stargazing event which was held at 10pm on a deck at the back of the ship where we laid under blankets looking up at the night sky as the host talked us through the stories of the stars. So relaxing!
There are also daily meditations, as well more traditional cruise offerings such as daily trivia quizzes which were great fun!
There were regular parties happening too – kicking off with the sailaway party on the pool deck where the Happenings crew (the entertainment team!) danced with guests and got the party atmosphere going.
There is also a pyjama party thrown on the top deck on the first night of the sailing which was really good fun – be sure to pack some fun pyjamas, anything goes!!!
The main event was Scarlet Night where guests are invited to wear “a splash of red” – this is a similar vibe to a traditional formal evening but as there is no dress code on Virgin Coyages, formal attire is not required. Infact you don’t even HAVE to wear red if you don’t want to, but it’s fun to get involved.
Scarlet Night culminates in a pool party which gets pretty wild with guests jumping into the pool fully clothed! If you’re a little more tame than take a seat on the upper deck and watch from above – you won’t want to miss it!
As well as the parties and daily events, there are numerous bars dotted around the ship with live music offered most evenings as well as a Casino and The Manor Nightclub. We also really enjoyed The Groupie which are private karaoke rooms you can hire for free – so much fun!
The main shows happen in The Red Room which is such an impressive theatre venue as – unlike static theatres – this one adapts for each show! Some shows are done in a traditional stage & viewing seats style, while others utilise a split seating area with a central stage, and one show in particular has no seating at all and a stage that literally moves around the room – SO innovative and impressive!
The shows we saw were:
Ships In The Night – A modern dance & performance theatre piece, which mixed modern songs with a bit of a love story – very unique and not to be missed.
Duel Reality – A mind blowing modern take on Romeo & Juliet which is more of a circus performance than a show but does involve some musical performances and some audience participation elements too, the ending moved me to tears. Just wonderful with world class talent on show!
and DanceShowPartyThing – yes thats it name and really, it perfectly describes what it is! It is like NOTHING you have ever seen/been involved in before and I wouldn’t want to spoil any surprises – but you HAVE to see it!
The quality of entertainment on board was so good that it’s made me want to take family & friends on board to experience it for themselves, which I think is a true testament to how good it was.
Onboard Amenities
On board the Virgin Voyages Scarlet Lady, guests can indulge in a luxurious array of wellness and fitness facilities. The spa, known as the “Redemption Spa,” offers a serene retreat with a variety of rejuvenating treatments, including massages, facials, and hydrotherapy.
For fitness enthusiasts, the ship boasts a state-of-the-art gym equipped with the latest exercise machines, free weights, and dedicated spaces for yoga and group fitness classes. There are a variety of exercise classes offered daily including things like 90s Boyband Dance Classes, Broadway Musical Dance Class and 80s Mix Tape Exercise Class. There are also daily yoga & meditation classes on offer.
Additionally, the Scarlet Lady pool deck offers numerous hot tubs and whirlpools as well as a small pool and plenty of sun lounger space. We never struggled to find space to relax here even on sea days, and we enjoyed the varied choice of spots around the ship to relax and hang out.
There is also an outdoor area with swings and a seesaw which is great fun, as well as a sports court.
Ports On The Irresistible Med itinerary
We sailed on the Irresistible Med itinerary, so our stops included Toulon, Marina di Carrara, Rome & Ibiza overnight.
We chose to just take things at our own pace and browse the ports on foot, but there were plenty of Shore excursions available to book on board at the Shore Things desk or via the Virgin Voyages app.
I really appreciated the longer lengths of time that we docked in the ports as it meant we had plenty of time to explore in each destination – for example in Rome we were docked from 10am until 11pm which meant we were able to take the train from the port of Civitavecchia into Rome itself without worrying about making it back to the ship on time.
In Ibiza we were docked overnight, and Virgin ran a free shuttle bus throughout the night for passengers wanting to go to and from the town.
I felt that Virgin Voyages made it very easy to access and enjoy the ports, and I’d like to utilise the Shore Things service next time.
Sustainability and Modernising The Cruise Experience
Virgin Voyages is making waves in the cruising industry with its strong commitment to sustainability and eco-friendly practices. Emphasizing a “Save the Waves” initiative, the Scarlet Lady is designed to minimize environmental impact without sacrificing luxury. The ship employs cutting-edge technology such as a state-of-the-art waste management system, advanced water filtration, and energy-efficient LED lighting throughout.
Single-use plastics are banned onboard, replaced with sustainable alternatives. Virgin Voyages also partners with innovative companies to source locally and responsibly produced food, reducing the carbon footprint. By prioritizing sustainability at every turn, Virgin Voyages sets a new standard in the cruising world, appealing to eco-conscious travellers who value both adventure and environmental stewardship.
Service and Crew
One thing that really stood out as different on board Virgin Voyages was how relaxed the staff were. On many cruise lines there is a real “them and us” vibe – it’s never spoken but it comes across in the very formal way that staff address guests as Sir & Madam, in the silver service within the restaurants, and with how the staff are generally kept away from guest areas when not working – you never usually see staff on board cruise ships if they’re off-duty because they’re kept to their own areas which, in most cases, are not as luxurious as the guest areas and they usually don’t get the eat the great food that we do. Staff on board most cruise lines are also usually paid a relatively low wage so that they rely on guest tips.
Virgin Voyages have completely shaken this up as they are a NO TIPS line! This is great from a guest perspective as it means the cost of your cruise doesn’t have any hidden extras, but it also means that the staff are paid a proper wage too. Which I think is so much better.
Staff say that Virgin Voyages is one of the very best lines for the way they are treated, and this shows in that they are not kept hidden away from guests when not on duty – we often saw staff eating in The Galley or having a night out on board with friends which is great to see!
They also do not have such strict rules on uniform and appearance, with much more relaxed and comfortable looking outfits and plenty of visible tattoos and piercings etc. The staff – as a result – seem much happier than I have ever experienced on a cruise ship before, and I much preferred the informal approach to conversation and service too.
Value for Money
The price of a Virgin Voyages cruise is always inclusive of:
*Tips – so no extra gratuities need to be paid
*Wifi – though you can upgrade to higher speed if you wish but the basic package was fine
*Soft drinks – so only alcohol is an extra charge
In my opinion, this makes it exceptionally good value for money! There are no upcharge speciality restaurants on board, so everything is included in the price you pay other than alcohol and a handful of onboard experiences such as spa services, shore excursions and a few classes.
Most cruise lines we have travelled on charge (a LOT!) extra for soft drinks packages, and speciality dining as well as for gratuities so it felt really refreshing not to have to worry about any of that with Virgin Voyages.
The quality of food and the standard of entertainment on board were exceptionally high, which leads me to the opinion that Virgin Voyages are offering the BEST value for money of any cruise line right now. I would say they are impossible to beat.
How Do Virgin Voyages Compare To Other Cruise Lines?
This is the million dollar question! As someone who was completely “Loyal to Royal Caribbean” and a die-hard Disney Cruise Line fan, how did Virgin Voyages and their non-traditional cruise approach compare?
Well I have to say – I am completely sold!
Virgin Voyages completely blew other cruise lines out of the water on food quality, value for money and entertainment. The ship was stunning, and the atmosphere of inclusivity on board was fantastic – the vibes were fantastic, and I can’t wait to get on board again!
They have firmly rocketed to the top of my list for an adults only cruise which is a huge surprise to me as I genuinely didn’t think I could be swayed.
Final Thoughts
We had such a wonderful time on this cruise. As well as the high standard and variety of entertainment and wonderful cruise, what really stood out for us was just how modern and fresh Virgin Voyages are. From their use of technology making things smoother on board, to their LGBTQ and body positive inclusivity across the board – it was such a wonderful experience to feel so comfortable and see everybody else feeling the same way.
The lack of dress code really added to this, and the lack of formalities with staff made it feel more friendly and relaxed too.
I think Virgin Voyages have truly created something wonderful, and I can’t wait to sail with them again.
If you would like to experience a Virgin Voyages cruise yourself, Find the best Virgin Voyages cruise deals and more with Trending Travel – you won’t regret it!