Is Virgin Voyages the Best Cruise for Adults? Full Review and What to Expect
My name is Mishana Sturdivant and I own Tad Bit Rad Travels. The purpose of this blog is to share tips, tricks, and recommendations to empower my readers to travel efficiently and unapologetically. Here’s an honest review from a solo traveler cruising with Virgin Voyages. This is not a paid advertisement, just my experience cruising through Spain and France. Enjoy.
I may have solo tripped too hard when I booked the 7-day Virgin Voyage cruise to the South of France and Spain on a whim. I found a good black Friday deal and booked it immediately without inviting a friend. I thought that if I waited to ask a friend to travel with me, I would have missed out on the deal. I’m so glad I didn’t hesitate to book this experience, as I would recommend it to anyone.
Virgin Voyages is Perfect for Solo Travelers
First off, Virgin Voyages caters to solo travelers, which is rare among cruise lines. As soon as I checked in and arrived on the Scarlet Lady, there was a solo passenger meet-up. I had the opportunity to connect with other solo travelers. I would recommend taking advantage of the solo sailor meet-up. Exchange numbers/social media accounts and keep in touch throughout the cruise if you would prefer to have new people to dine and party with. After the solo meet-up, there was a celebration on the deck at departure. There was a free sparkling rose for everyone, loud music, and enthusiastic dancing that set the tone for the rest of the cruise.
Room Tour of the Terrace Room on Scarlet Lady, Virgin Voyages
The Cabins are Cozy
Typically on cruises, space is limited in the cabin unless you upgrade to the more expensive cabins. When I booked my cruise, I selected the Insider cabin. It’s one of the smallest cabins with no windows. As the time for my cruise approached, I had the opportunity to bid for a cabin upgrade, which I suggest you do. I bid $530 for a sea terrace room. For the bidding process, you bid at least the minimum amount required and the cruise accepts depending on availability and the pool of bids for the available rooms. I think I was lucky. I bid the minimum amount and I received exactly what I wanted. Sea Terrace rooms can be $1,000-2,000 more than the Insider solo cabins and I won it for only $530 extra.
Now, back to the comfortability of the cabins. They are spacious, stylish and modern. The technology from the security of the door, smart controls, and automatic lights is advanced. Each room comes with a tablet that you can access the 24/7 room service, laundry services, and controls for the room, all from your bed. I used the late-night food delivery service, Ship Eats (similar to Uber Eats) almost every night. It was included in the fare. The food hit the spot! The menu consists of simple salads, burgers, chicken tenders, etc. The typical limited late-night food menu. I also participated in the laundry. They charged by bag vs. the weight/per piece like other hotel laundry services. I had a single bag of laundry that they washed folded and delivered within 24 hours. It was USD 25.
Dining Options are like No Other!
I enjoyed eating around the Scarlet Lady. There were no all-day buffets and long lines. Meals were made to order. Even the food hall was organized similarly to a food hall in your local city. Multiple stations specialized in many types of food. There was a salad bar, a taco bar, a burger bar, a dessert bar, and a pasta bar. There was even a to-go section, where sailors could grab cold sandwiches and salads on the go. If you prefer a more formal dining experience, there are multiple restaurants on the ship that are included in your fare. You sit down and order your preferred 3+ course meals. The only challenge that I ran into with their eateries is that they are super popular. Reservations are encouraged and should be required. Typically as a solo traveler, it’s easier for me to slip in and grab a seat even if a restaurant is super popular. This worked sometimes but it didn’t work all the time on the Scarlet Lady because the super popular restaurants were booked up early. I did not have a chance to visit the seafood and steakhouse restaurant, The Wake.
There was a Michelin-starred chef with a restaurant called The Test Kitchen. It was a super cool concept, and I enjoyed the wine-tasting menu as well. Unfortunately, I was still hungry after visiting and ended up ordering Pizza at the late-night pizzeria, The Pizza Place. My favorite dining experience was Gunbae, the Korean BBQ spot. This dining experience is not for the shy solo traveler. This restaurant only offers group seating, so you sit with strangers (similar to a hibachi Japanese restaurant setup). It was a 3-hour interactive experience of a chef cooking our food in front of us and getting to know our table mates. As a solo traveler, this helped me meet new people. The people I met at Gunbae, ended up being my crew that I partied with the rest of the cruise.
All in all, the food on the Scarlet Lady was delicious. I did not starve or run out of options. You can tell Virgin Voyages took their time curating the best dining experiences for their sailors.
Activities on the Ship
The Scarlet Lady had a ton of happenings on the ship, whether it was shows, parties, or cooking classes. There was always something to get into. We had 2-3 sailing days and 4 days docked. So even when we docked, Virgin Voyages had excursions that you could sign up for. These were more expensive than the typical excursion but I opted in because it ensured that I would make it back on the ship on time. I choose convenience every time, no matter the price. It’s very helpful when I am traveling solo because it’s one last thing that I have to worry about. I did not participate in any of the fitness, cooking, or cocktail mixing classes. I wish I did, I will next time. However, I did visit the Spa during one of our sailing days. The spa prices are a bit expensive but it's to be expected. I booked a much-needed pedicure and a massage. They tried to upsell me some products to take home but I politely declined. The services were comfortable and thorough. I wish they offered a spa day pass with sauna and water therapy.
Nail Salon on board
The entertainment on the ship was good. The shows are quirky and fun. There are bars with live music, a casino, and night shows. The night shows are entertaining. There are comedy shows, interactive game shows, dance shows, magic shows, you name it. The nightclub, the Manor is an LGBTQ-friendly club that offers different DJs every night. Each night, there’s a theme. I went to the nightclub every night to dance the night away until 2-3 am. It was cool to see the different themes and the different crowds it attracted each night. The very last night was scarlet night where everyone wore red to celebrate and honor the significance of the Scarlet Lady. There were parties and experiences hosted all over the ship. It ended with a pool party on the top deck. I would say that the activities offered on the ship are tailored to a younger crowd but they are generation boomer proof. Does that make sense? The themes are progressive, quirky, and fun but the content is not too raunchy. This ensures that everyone enjoys the entertainment. Some may prefer more raunchy or less quirky but it was perfect for my tastes.
I enjoyed the activities on the ship, it kept me out of my room and busy. I like that. It’s very easy to get overwhelmed or to want to stay in your room as a solo traveler on cruise ships. But Virgin Voyages makes it very easy to mingle with strangers or to have fun solo.
Nightly entertainment on board
Activities off the Ship
As I mentioned before, I booked off-shore excursions when we docked in each city. Some people book their excursions from third-party sites like Viator, or they decide to wander on their own. Virgin Voyages offers transportation to/from the boat to the city center. If you book an off-shore excursion offered by the ship, transportation is included in your experience. Just like the alcoholic beverages on the ship, off-shore excursions are an additional cost. They are one of the only things that’s not included in your fare. I booked a vineyard tour in Provence (from our Marseille port stop), Ibiza cave hiking, and a catamaran boat ride in Palma de Mallorca. All of these excursions were fun and allowed me the opportunity to mingle with people on the ship. For some of our dock stops, I chose to wander on my own during my free time. I enjoyed shopping, eating and drinking wine in Cannes, and exploring Ibiza and Palma de Mallorca’s city centers at night. I enjoyed the local cuisine while off the ship as well. I recommend you do as well. The food on the ship is good, but please don’t visit these beautiful cities without trying their local cuisine.
Things to Know Before You Book
With all of that being said, here are things to know before booking:
Wait until there’s a sale – I was able to save thousands of dollars booking during the Black Friday sale and bidding for an upgraded room later on.
Don’t be afraid to book as a solo traveler, there are many activities and opportunities to meet new people. Also, the cabin is comfortable enough for you to enjoy your solitude.
Cocktails are not included, but there are multiple opportunities for free booze. I recommend booking your bar tab in advance because they offer deals before your board.
Participate in as many all-inclusive activities as possible! You paid for it! There are cooking classes, entertainment shows, 3+ course meals, fitness classes, and 20+ eateries. The opportunities are endless.
Bring a red dress/suit for the Scarlet Night ☺
Wandering through the Ibiza streets
