By Certified Travel Consultant Dawn Webb
What Cruise Features Make Virgin Voyages Worth Booking?
Choosing which cruise line to book can be confusing with six different cruise types available, from adventure to luxury, and 51 ocean cruise lines. Who offers the best cruise ship features?
In narrowing my search, I explored the options of an adult-only cruise (18+ travelers). Now that I am an empty nester, I wanted to kick back, relax, and enjoy my cruise time. So, I booked a Virgin Voyages cruise. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I was pleasantly surprised by the many positive features.
If It’s your first time booking an all-adult cruise, there are several features to consider with Virgin Voyages that will help accelerate your relaxing experience.
1. Comfortable Beds
The mattress is so comfortable on the Seabed, the first ever transformational bed providing more space for cabin gatherings as the plush bed transforms into a comfy sofa during the day.
2. Food Made to Order
There are no buffets aboard the Scarlet Lady. However, there is a galley with multiple food choices that cater to vegetarians, which was extremely important to me. There are 6 sit-down restaurants you can book on your Virgin Voyages app to avoid scheduled mass dining times. It’s important to ensure your allergies are registered beforehand so the Rockstar staff can cater to your needs.
3. Bar Tabs
There are no drink packages offered for Virgin Voyages cruises. However, there is a bar tab that you can purchase before sailing; seasonally, you can pick up a bonus depending on the amount of tab prepaid. This provided quality drink choices and prevented drunk and disorderly sailors aboard the ship. You can also share your bar tab with other sailors so that no prepaid amount is left unused.
4. Cleanliness
Virgin Voyages is committed to having one of the cleanest fleets at sea, and boy, did they deliver. The restrooms were always clean, and they provided a plastic bottle-free environment, so pack your Yeti because water filling stations are readily available, and the cabin refill water is on them. Sparkling water is available upon request.
5. Tips Included
No more nickel and diming; aboard the Virgin Voyages, all gratuity is included. Virgin Voyages takes the guesswork out and prides itself on no hidden fees.
6. Happy Relaxed Crew
Unique to most cruise lines, the Virgin Voyages crew can have visible tattoos. I spoke with several crew members who previously worked for other cruise lines, and they testified that Virgin Voyages is a cut above and supports the crew’s personalities. I felt it as I walked about the ship; you could feel the positive crew members’ energy in the air; they had a passion for service instead of a dread for working, which helped me experience a much more relaxing and enjoyable cruise.
7. Spacious Cabins
Virgin Voyages’ spacious cabin layout design uses intelligent architecture to optimize space and views of the ocean. The extra space is designed to accommodate the Seabed that transforms into a sofa.
8. Relaxing Hammocks
I gained a relaxing red signature hammock when I booked a Sea Terrace cabin. 86 percent of Virgin Voyages cabins feature a balcony, and 93 percent feature an ocean view. All terraces aboard Scarlet Lady supplies a custom-designed handwoven red hammock designed by artisans from Yellow Leaf, a social enterprise that fosters women’s empowerment and community transformation in rural Thailand.
9. Specializes in Solo-Travel
Virgin Voyages provides solo insider cabins designed and priced exclusively for the solo traveler.
10. WIFI Included
Virgin Voyages prides itself on no hidden fees, which means free WIFI for all sailors throughout the ship. (Always Included Luxury provides $1000 worth of value per sailor)
For more information on best cruise ship features, click HERE
