Cruising on Valiant Lady — Virgin Voyages

A Quick History of Virgin Voyages (and the Captain Who Rescued Richard Branson)

The Virgin Voyages Vibe: What Makes It Different from Other Cruise Lines

As previously stated, Richard Bransons dream was to reinvent cruising for people who though they’d never take a cruise. This piece is really important to the Virgin Voyages Vibe because when you step onboard one of their 4 ships, you can feel the difference.

Adult’s Only – Probably the most appealing part of Virgin Voyages for many sailors is that every voyage is child-free. That alone elevates the whole experience. If you’re a parent, you probably don’t get many chances to vacation for yourself and fully switch off from parenting duties, and this is exactly that chance.

What I noticed most onboard was how relaxed everyone seemed. I can’t say for certain that it was because the ship was adults-only, but people just seemed less tense, and it made the atmosphere genuinely pleasant. On other cruises I’ve been on, it’s common to see stressed-out parents chasing kids around the deck. Here, the whole ship felt calm and easygoing.

Entertainment– Speaking of adult fun, the cruise director onboard is a drag queen known as The Diva, and she sets the tone for the entire ship! The entertainment is definitely adult-friendly and seriously entertaining. During my sailing, I caught a cappella shows, a magician, an amazing performance by The Diva herself, and a few adult-flavored game shows.

Another detail I loved: the casino sits on one of the main decks, with windows, instead of being tucked away in a basement like on other cruise lines.

And if shows aren’t really your thing, don’t worry. The Social Club hosts karaoke and trivia every day, and I especially enjoyed those. There’s no shortage of ways to stay entertained onboard.

No pricey drink packages – I absolutely love Virgin Voyages’ approach to drinks. Finally, a drink package that actually makes sense!

Before you sail, you can add a Bar Tab to your account in whatever amount you like. Not a big drinker but want to enjoy a drink or two in the evening? You’re not forced into an all-inclusive package that costs an arm and a leg just to have a few drinks a day. Your Bar Tab also works at the onboard coffee shop, so you can treat yourself to a latte every morning, or grab a smoothie from the Gym & Tonic bar.

What I love most is that it’s customized to you, instead of one giant upfront cost that pressures you to drink all day, every day.

The best part? When you prepay your Bar Tab, Virgin Voyages adds bonus credit on top. I bought a $200 Bar Tab and they added an extra $25, so I had $225 to spend onboard. The bigger the Bar Tab, the more bonus credit you get.

Drink prices onboard are also refreshingly fair. They’re about what you’d pay at any bar or restaurant back home, unlike other cruise lines that mark up drinks and add fees, basically punishing you for skipping their overpriced package. And coffee, tea and soda are included in your cruise fare!

Don’t want to prepay? No problem. You can simply buy drinks as you go, and everything is charged to your account at the end of the cruise.

Travel Agent Pro Tip: Prepay for less than you think you’ll drink, not more. Any unspent Bar Tab or Sailor Loot is not refunded after your cruise, so it’s better to underbuy. If you go over, it simply gets added to your onboard account, and you won’t leave money on the table.

Girl Math: If you prepay your Bar Tab before you step onboard, that money is already spent… which means every drink is basically FREE!

No Dining Halls or Buffets – I’d be lying if I said this didn’t make me a little nervous at first. I personally love the main dining rooms on other cruise lines: you get all dressed up, your dining time is set, and the only decision you have to make is how many entrées to order!

But after experiencing it for myself, it made all the difference. Every restaurant we tried was incredible (more on the food below), and without a set dining time, our schedule stayed completely flexible. Some nights we ate early, other nights we dined late. Honestly, I barely gave the dining halls a second thought. It was a total non-issue.

No Intrusive Announcements or Photographers– If you’ve cruised before, you know there’s always someone, somewhere on the ship trying to upsell you something. On Virgin Voyages, I was never once approached or pushed to upgrade to anything!

You also won’t hear constant announcements over the loudspeaker reminding everyone what time to be back onboard or interrupting your peace with updates you didn’t need. Virgin keeps it classy because, well, everyone’s an adult. All the info you need is in the app, plus the occasional note left in your cabin about anything important coming up, so nothing interrupts your vacation.

And finally, there are no photographers roaming the ship snapping your picture like you’re at Disney World. You can just relax and enjoy the moment.

The Food on Virgin Voyages: No Buffet, No Main Dining Room

Before I set sail on Valiant Lady, another travel advisor told me Virgin Voyages had the best food she’d ever had on a cruise ship. Let me tell you: it lived up to the hype.

What sets Virgin Voyages apart is that there’s no traditional buffet (they skip it to cut down on food waste) and no main dining room. I know that might sound worrying if you’ve cruised before, but trust me: you will never go hungry on this ship.

Dinner: 20+ Restaurants, All Included

On most cruise lines, you pick a dining time, eat in the same dining room every night, and pay extra for the “specialty” restaurants. Virgin flips that completely. With more than 20 eateries on board, you can choose a different restaurant every night, and they’re all included in your fare.

Some of my favorites:

• Italian (Extra Virgin) for handmade pasta
• Korean BBQ (Gunbae), a fun, interactive night out
• The Wake, the ship’s steakhouse
• Pink Agave (Mexican) won the top award for Best Onboard Dining Venue and features the largest selection of tequila and mezcal at sea
• Test Kitchen, an experimental, culinary-school-style dinner with some of the most unique (and delicious) courses I’ve ever had

The menus are also great for every kind of diet, so dietary restrictions are easy to work around.

Quick Bites: The Galley Is Better Than Any Buffet

You might be thinking: no buffet? What if I just want a quick breakfast or lunch? I wondered the same thing.

Enter The Galley on Deck 15. It’s like a food hall, with burgers, sushi, bento boxes, a salad bar, tacos and ramen. Everything is made to order, so it has all the convenience of a buffet, but fresher and so much better.

In the morning, the Galley serves breakfast: omelets, bacon, sausage, French toast, breakfast burritos and fresh fruit. Plus, Grounds Too is right there for your specialty latte. I’m not a big breakfast person, so overnight oats, a fresh fruit cup and an iced latte became my morning routine.

My Favorite Spots for Snacks and Sunsets

Beyond the restaurants and the Galley, there are plenty of places to grab a bite around the ship:

• The Dock House (Deck 7): my personal favorite, and where I wrote part of this post. In the afternoon they serve a small menu of appetizers, and it’s the perfect spot to catch the sunset before dinner.
• The Social Club: comfort food like pretzels, hot dogs and popcorn

My Valiant Lady Cabin: What It’s Like and What to Book

If you’ve ever been on a cruise, you know the feeling: the room is fine, but a little claustrophobic. I’m happy to report that cabins across the Virgin Voyages fleet are not what you’d expect from other cruise lines.

The Sea Terrace: Your Own Balcony (and That Hammock)

Most cabins on Virgin Voyages are Sea Terraces, which means a private balcony and the most comfortable hammock at sea. I stayed in a Sea Terrace on Deck 9, and I’m officially spoiled.

Here’s what that means for you: because around 80% of cabins are Sea Terraces, a balcony is much more affordable here than on most cruise lines. And everything feels more elevated when you can enjoy the ocean from your own private balcony.

Did I mention the hammock? No lie, Sailors RAVE about it, and now I understand why.

At 185 to 225 square feet, the Sea Terrace feels spacious, and I loved the design. My favorite feature: when you unlock your door, the shades automatically open to the ocean. It’s a little “ahh” moment every single time.

Suite life at Sea

RockStar vs. Mega RockStar: What the Suite Perks Get You

Two Days in Bermuda: What a Virgin Voyages Port Stop Really Means.

Let’s be honest: port days can be… stressful. Shore excursions with strict meeting times (often super early), tight deadlines to get back on the ship, and hundreds of other passengers all trying to do the same thing at the same time.

My Bermuda stop was the complete opposite.

Day 1: Exploring Bermuda on My Own Time

I couldn’t decide on a shore excursion, so I skipped it. Around 11:30 a.m., I strolled off the ship at my own pace and set out to explore Bermuda on my own.

I hopped on a ferry to Hamilton, Bermuda’s capital, for some shopping and lunch, then took the bus to Horseshoe Bay Beach, one of Bermuda’s famous pink-sand beaches.

Let me first say: I am not a beach person. I live in Colorado, and I’m a mountain girl through and through. But this beach was absolutely fantastic. Within minutes I was in the water, floating in the waves with the salt on my skin.

Part of the peace I felt came from knowing there was no rush to get back, because the ship wasn’t leaving until the following day. I lay on the sand with my thriller novel, the breeze on my face, completely relaxed. As the sun started to lower, we made our way back to the ship to get ready for dinner.

I can’t stress this enough: the whole day felt calm. Not rushed, not overwhelming, just content. You know, how vacation should feel.

Why Overnight Port Stops Are the Future of Cruising

Overnight stops mean more time in the places you visit, so you can actually feel and connect with a destination instead of racing through it. That’s my motto at High Desert Horizons, and Virgin Voyages naturally shares it. You’ll find overnight stays on many of their itineraries, including popular stops like Ibiza and Mykonos.

Day 2: A Slow Morning at the Royal Naval Dockyard

The next morning we stayed close to the ship, browsing the shops at the Royal Naval Dockyard for souvenirs before heading back on board for our 2:30 p.m. departure.

Tips for Your Bermuda Port Day

• You don’t need a Shore Thing to enjoy Bermuda. Ferries and buses make it easy to explore on your own.
• Get a transportation pass for the ferry and buses. Check current options at the Dockyard visitor center when you arrive.
• Bring cash or a card for transit and snacks. The beaches have limited services.
• Use your overnight. Save the farther-away spots for Day 1 and keep Day 2 easy near the ship.

Want help planning your own port days, whether excursions, do-it-yourself routes or the perfect beach? That’s what I do best.

My Favorite Moments on Board

Is Virgin Voyages Worth It? My Honest Verdict

Absolutely, for the right traveler.

Remember when I said I was team Royal Caribbean? Well, Valiant Lady changed my mind. The food, the Sea Terrace (and that hammock), the relaxed overnight in Bermuda and the grown-up atmosphere all made this one of my favorite cruises yet. I’ll 100% be back on board within the next two years.

That said, no cruise line is the perfect fit for everyone. People vacation in different ways, and that’s exactly how it should be.

Virgin Voyages is a great fit if you:

• Want an adults-only trip, whether as a couple, with friends or solo
• Love great food and trying a different restaurant every night
• Prefer a boutique-hotel feel over a giant theme park at sea
• Want more time in port, with less rushing

It may not be the best fit if you:

• Are traveling with kids (Virgin Voyages is 18+ only)
• Love a classic buffet or a set dinner routine with the same tablemates
• Want big-ship thrills like waterslides and rock-climbing walls
• Want an all-you-can-drink package (Virgin uses a prepaid bar tab instead)

One honest note: gratuities aren’t included in your fare anymore, so budget for them, or prepay through Virgin’s VoyageFair Choices.

This is exactly why working with a travel designer matters. I’ll help you figure out whether Virgin Voyages is your perfect match, or which cruise line is, before you book a thing.

Tips for First-Time Virgin Voyages Sailors

My biggest tip for First-Time Sailors is to book your trip through a First Mates Travel Advisor. When you book through an advisor you get all the benefits, with no up-charge. Personalized service catered to you and your needs and access to all of the most up to date specials and promos! Did I mention when you book through me you’ll be rewarded with $50 Sailor Loot (On Board Credit to be used on ANY service). Email me with PROMO: VVOCT26 to get this exclusive deal!