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August 20, 2025

Virgin Voyages, an American cruise line, embraces a philosophy centered on passenger freedom: from embarkation onward, the atmosphere stands apart from traditional cruises. No heavy formalities: the focus is on relaxation and conviviality. Passengers, called “Sailors,” are welcomed into a warm atmosphere, ideal for rest and discovery. No travel booklets or long security procedures—everything is digital and seamless!

Virgin Voyages adopts an inclusive approach, where everyone can experience the journey at their own pace. Whether you want to rest, participate in activities, or explore the ports, freedom is at the heart of the experience.

Their four ships are nearly identical and designed as living spaces with careful attention to design. The fleet’s ships, like the Resilient Lady, have a capacity of about 2,700 passengers, fostering an intimate and refined atmosphere. The interior design combines modernity and comfort, with elegant common areas and cabins equipped with advanced technologies. Each cabin has a private balcony with a red hammock, a distinctive symbol inviting relaxation facing the sea. A tablet in the cabin allows passengers to customize lighting, temperature, and musical atmosphere, offering a tailored experience.

The culinary offering onboard is one of Virgin Voyages’ strongest points. With over 20 restaurants, passengers can enjoy a variety of cuisines, from vegetarian dishes to international specialties. All meals are included in the cruise price, with no extra charges, even for specialty restaurants (which are usually paid separately on other cruise lines).

Among these restaurants, “The Wake” offers a chic atmosphere with high-quality meats, while “Test Kitchen” provides an innovative culinary experience (molecular cuisine). Each Virgin ship also features numerous other specialty restaurants (gourmet Mexican, Korean barbecue, American diner, and Italian). Reservations are easily made through the Virgin Voyages mobile app, ensuring total flexibility. Beyond these restaurants, the ship is well-equipped to satisfy other cravings. Pizza, ice cream, popcorn, candy, sushi, tacos, ramen, hamburgers, pastries… are also included in the cruise price, with some available 24 hours a day.

The Virgin Voyages mobile app is an essential tool for passengers. It allows consulting the daily schedule, booking restaurants and activities, and monitoring onboard expenses. Before departure, it facilitates check-in and offers credits for excursions or spa treatments, thereby enhancing the overall experience.

Regarding entertainment, Virgin Voyages stands out from other companies. Everything onboard is designed to surprise and delight passengers. Immersive and participatory shows, themed nights, and unique installations punctuate life on board. The unmissable event is the “Scarlet Night,” Virgin’s signature evening, which transforms the ship into a vibrant party. In addition to Scarlet Night, the Pyjama Party is another celebration held on every Virgin cruise during the first evening, after the Sailaway Party. The ship itself is very well-equipped, with a spa (at an additional cost), fitness classes, a tattoo parlor (also at an additional cost), and a two-level nightclub.

Virgin’s uniqueness also reflects in its onboard beverage system. The company does not offer any beverage packages. All non-alcoholic drinks (except coffee) are included in the cruise price. Alcoholic beverages, however, must be paid for separately. Virgin does offer beverage credit packages with decreasing prices.

Virgin Voyages is also distinguished by its “Always Included Luxury” approach, providing added value of over $1,000 per voyage. Passengers benefit from included meals, fitness classes, shows, Wi-Fi, non-alcoholic beverages, and tips—all included in the cruise price.

The Virgin Voyages fleet includes four ships: Scarlet Lady, Valiant Lady, Resilient Lady, and the brand-new Brilliant Lady, launched in 2025. Each ship is designed to offer an experience combining luxury, comfort, and environmental responsibility. The company is also committed to an eco-friendly policy.

Virgin Voyages’ itineraries generally include stops in trendy cities of the Mediterranean and the Caribbean. Passengers can explore these destinations at their own pace. The company offers cruises departing from ports such as Miami, Barcelona, and Athens.

For my positioning cruise of the Resilient Lady between Barcelona and the Piraeus in Athens, I departed from the port of Civitavecchia on April 29, 2025. After a very quick boarding process, the crew handed me the Virgin wristband (equivalent to the cruise card used by traditional companies) and showed me the safety video on a tablet near the reception.

Afterwards, I went to my cabin, a Sea Terrace category room. It is very well equipped and modern: it has a touchscreen tablet to control temperature, lights, TV, curtains, etc. The decor is sober and chic, and the balcony is equipped with a red hammock, Virgin’s signature for cabins with balconies. I took the opportunity to explore the Virgin Voyages app, which throughout the cruise would allow me to book restaurants and some activities.

That evening, the program was already full: I dined at one of the ship’s many specialty restaurants (all included in the cruise price), the Razzle Dazzle. After an excellent meal, I went to Scarlet Night, a unique evening found only on Virgin ships. Passengers, crew, and decorations all dress in red, and various parties continue until late at night. The highlight was undoubtedly the 11 p.m. pool party, an incredible event to experience! Exactly the kind of night that couldn’t happen on a ship with children (Virgin Voyages offers cruises exclusively for adults). After this first intense evening onboard, I went to sleep while the ship continued toward Valletta (Malta), which we would reach after a day at sea.

The second day was spent at sea. I took advantage of this day to familiarize myself with the ship, which, despite hosting a maximum of 2,700 passengers, is quite large. I discovered the concept of the Food Court, an area that replaces the traditional buffet found on other cruise lines. It consists of many small food stands offering a wide variety of high-quality dishes (burgers, sushi, salads, pastries, ramen, tacos, etc.). The food in the Food Court, like everywhere else on the ship, is excellent, and the service is incredibly smooth!

My exploration continued with the ship’s outdoor spaces, which are quite well organized. Aside from the fact that the ship has only one pool, the outdoor decks are never crowded, even on sea days. In the afternoon, I decided to have a cocktail at the pool bar. I paid $9 because Virgin ships do not offer drink packages. Alcoholic beverages are charged separately, but as I mentioned, all non-alcoholic drinks (juices, soda, water, etc.) are included. However, there are packages available for pre-order before departure that offer a decreasing credit—for example, paying €300 gives you €400 to spend on drinks onboard.

As for entertainment, various activities were offered throughout the day at sea: fitness classes, one-man shows, drag queen performances, and quizzes are not to be missed! After an excellent dinner at the gourmet Mexican restaurant “Pink Agave,” also included in the cruise price, I went to the karaoke rooms! For the modest price of €0, you can book small karaoke rooms alone, as a couple, with family, or friends. The song selection is vast, with thousands of songs in English, French, Italian, Spanish, and more, all accessible via a tablet. All that’s left is to have fun!

The following day, the ship arrived at the port of Valletta (Malta). Virgin arranged a free shuttle service connecting the ship to the city center. I took advantage of the day to explore the streets of this magnificent city on my own. After a few hours of walking, I returned onboard and went to the Social Club to grab popcorn and candy (also included at no extra charge). This bar also offers hot dogs, a selection of drinks, board games, and arcade games (all included as well).

That evening, I dined at the ship’s molecular cuisine restaurant, “Test Kitchen.” Like all the restaurants, there was no additional charge. I enjoyed a very original and flavorful meal—for example, a beef filet with chocolate sauce. After dinner, I headed to the two-level nightclub “The Manor” to close the night with Latin American music.

The next day was another day at sea, this time heading to Mykonos. I took the opportunity to try other items included in the cruise price, such as pizzas, ice creams, and poké bowls. Verdict: the ice creams were a bit artificial, but everything else got top marks! The evening started with a sunset aperitif, followed by dinner at the steakhouse “The Wake,” specializing in exceptional meats. Then I went to The Manor for a ’60s, ’70s, and ’80s dance night, featuring various events hosted by the onboard artists.

The following day in Mykonos, I explored this beautiful town with its authentic Greek charm and atmosphere before returning onboard early afternoon to enjoy the sun (and some exquisite pastries, I admit). It was already time to pack, as that night would be my last on board the Resilient Lady. But I didn’t get down—I decided to enjoy every moment until the very end!

That evening, I dined at “Extra Virgin,” an Italian-inspired restaurant with excellent specialties. Then I watched a magnificent show in the ship’s theater. The audience stood in a sort of concert pit, while the performers entertained all around on various specially designed stage elements. It was a truly surprising and immersive performance!

The cruise ended with arrival at the port of Piraeus, near Athens. Disembarkation procedures were smooth and quick, just like boarding.

In conclusion, I had an extraordinary experience on this cruise, which is completely different from a traditional cruise. It’s a style that won’t appeal to everyone, but others will love it. A Virgin cruise typically costs more than cruises with lines like Costa or MSC, but onboard you won’t have any extra costs and can enjoy premium quality in every aspect. Virgin Voyages redefines the cruise experience by offering an adult-only concept that combines luxury, modernity, and freedom. For those seeking a different kind of cruise focused on wellness and discovery, Virgin Voyages stands out as a must-try option. If I could do it again, I would do so without hesitation!

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Antonin Berdin

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