Cruises

Virgin Voyages Sets Sail

By Matt Turner Jan 24, 2022 10:00am

After briefly operating a series of “sailings to nowhere” for the U.K. market in summer 2021, Virgin Voyages has made its official debut, sailing from Miami to the Caribbean and Mexico last fall. Luxury Travel Advisor joined for one of the first voyages in November, a “Fire & Sunset Soirées” itinerary, lasting four nights that included visits to Nassau and Virgin Voyages’ private Beach Club at Bimini, both in the Bahamas, as well as one day at sea.

We were able to tour the ship in September while it was docked in Manhattan for a media and stakeholder preview. At the time, we were impressed with the hardware and the dinner we had at Test Kitchen, an experimental dining experience, but were really looking forward to seeing the ship and crew in action.

Long story short: It didn’t disappoint.

Entertainment

Not surprisingly, music and entertainment onboard Scarlet Lady were over-the-top impressive. Musicians will have sets at various bars and social spaces throughout the day, which allows guests to simply pull up a chair, grab a drink and enjoy. Performances are scheduled, so if there’s someone you want to check out, you’ll know when and where. Artists on our sailing included a vocalist, a solo guitarist and a band. We were even fortunate enough to catch the vocalist do a “pop-up” performance at the pool one afternoon. It was just one song and she was done, so you have to get lucky sometimes.

There’s also a group called Phantom Folktales, who operate a series of “song-driven micro-plays.” They, too, have scheduled performances, in addition to popping up randomly throughout the sailing. Impromptu moments like this is a big part of the Virgin Voyages ethos.

Dual Reality is the ship’s signature entertainment option. It’s like Cirque du Soleil meets “West Side Story.” Rival teams — Red and Blue — compete in various acrobatic stunts only for two members of opposing teams to fall in love. The crowd during the performance we attended was really into the show and we have to give tremendous kudos for even attempting some of the acrobatics while on a cruise ship — where even calm seas can result in some rocking; thus, uneven floors while you’re trying to land.

The show is performed in the Red Room, a multi-configurable space that allows for a traditional theater set up, for the stage to be set between two sections of seating (as it was for Dual Reality), or for a more open forum with no seating.

One very steamy show was “Never Sleep Alone,” presented by Virgin Voyages resident sexologist Dr. Alex. It’s an interactive, late-night cabaret (key word being interactive). Virgin Voyages says, “it’s not for the faint of heart” and we’d have to agree. Boiled down, the show was about self-empowerment and being honest with what you want, and it was definitely one of the cooler parts of the sailing. Tip: If you don’t want to be called on and would rather just enjoy the show, the venue (The Manor) offers two levels of seating, so just be sure you’re on the second floor, as you can’t get to the stage easily from there.

“Never Sleep Alone,” along with late-night entertainment, takes place in The Manor, a two-story, three-bar space. Although not available on our sailing, a dinner show is currently being installed for the space.

Fun spaces include The Groupie, a series of private karaoke rooms; The Social Club, which is part-fast food diner, part-game room (think air hockey, foosball and table shuffleboard); and The Arcade with free-to-play games. Just outside of The Manor is the Casino, home to 115 slot machines, as well as tables for craps, roulette, electronic Texas Hold’em, blackjack, three-card poker and more.

Cuisine

Like the entertainment, dining did not disappoint. Scarlet Lady has over 20 eateries, including six sit-down restaurants. Tip: Be sure to make reservations before your sailing or as soon as you’re on board. Restaurants will keep a number of seats open for walk-ins each night (so if you missed out on a reservation, still give it a shot!) but it’s best to have your table booked.

Gunbae is a Korean barbecue restaurant where the food is cooked in front of the guests on a hot grill. (Photo by Matt Turner)

While all the dining was great, nearly everyone in our group said that Gunbae, a Korean barbecue restaurant, was the best on board. Not only was the food excellent, it’s cooked in front of you by your server on a ripping hot grill. And, as its name implies (“cheers” in Korean), every meal at Gunbae begins with one of several drinking games, where the losers (and winners) take a shot of soju, a Korean rice wine. The “Forever Crispy Fried Chicken” appetizer was a standout, as was the bibimbap, which is mixed tableside. To close the meal, Gunbae serves an extremely decadent soft serve ice cream, available in black sesame or shikye (a sweet Korean rice beverage) flavors and topped with black sesame granola, mini mochi and miso caramel.

Another dining highlight was Pink Agave, a Mexican restaurant that touts the largest collection of tequilas and mezcals on a ship. The ribeye steak with chile ancho and quesilo was one of our favorite dishes of the trip. Other restaurants include Extra Virgin, an Italian restaurant with great charcuterie and meatballs; The Wake steak and seafood restaurant, which also serves brunch (the French toast was another of our favorite meals); Razzle Dazzle, a vegan-forward restaurant that will host drag brunches in 2022; and Test Kitchen, the gastronomic restaurant, where the tasting menu can be served alongside wine, beer, cocktail or mocktail pairings.

Good to know: Test Kitchen also hosts a mixology course that was a hit with everyone we spoke to who attended.

Beyond the restaurants, there’s the Sip Lounge, serving champagne and Afternoon Tea (every day from 1 to 4 p.m.), and The Galley, which is a food court-type dining experience (note: there are no buffets on board). Here, guests can opt for all-day diner food, burgers, salads, tacos, noodles, sushi, sandwiches, pastries and more. There’s also an ice cream shop (provocatively named Lick Me Till… Ice Cream), as well as The Pizza Place (our favorite was a white pie with roasted garlic). All rooms also offer 24/7 room service.

Foodie Tip: Should guests have a dietary restriction, the restaurant staff is excellent at assisting and making sure you know which menu items are OK or unsafe to order. In fact, the smartly dressed crew on board was extremely helpful without being overwhelming. Virgin Voyages allows its guests to show tattoos, piercings and have whatever hairdo they choose, so you actually get to know them as people and not just server-robots.

Nearly all food onboard is included with the fare (some dishes are available at an additional charge). For drinks, “sailors” (as Virgin Voyages calls its guests) can purchase a “bar tab” to spend onboard. Note: They can also use this to pay for excursions, shopping, spa services and more.

The Virgin Voyages app plays a dominant role in your cruise experience. With it, guests can make dining or show reservations, book shore excursions, order room service and check the daily schedule of events. You can also use the app to summon a bottle of Moët & Chandon to nearly anywhere onboard; all you have to do is open the app and shake your phone (you will then be asked to confirm whether you want the champagne delivered, and voila!).

Cabins, Suites and Beyond

Each room with a balcony onboard comes with a red hammock and not a single person we spoke to called it a gimmick. Made by sustainable brand Yellow Leaf, they are comfortable whether sitting or lying fully reclined and are the perfect spot to unwind with a book while listening to the ocean waves. If there weren’t so many other things to do on board, we could have spent quite a lot of time here, simply relaxing.

The top room category is the Mega RockStar Suites, with the crème de la crème being the Massive Suite, totaling nearly 2,150 square feet. Beyond the separate bedroom and living room, there’s a music room with a selection of guitars and a huge terrace with a private hot tub, daybed, table for six and more. (In true Richard Branson style, the table has steps leading up to it, so that dancing on the table is that much easier).

Suites also have a 24/7 room attendee, a bottomless in-room bar and “Peek-a-View” showers to take in the views from outside.

Richard’s Rooftop is a deck available exclusively to suite guests, who are distinguished by black wristbands (used to pay for drinks and the like), compared to red for all other guests. It’s the only space on the ship that suite guests have access to that others don’t and it offers a selection of day beds, hot tubs and its own bar, with complimentary Moët & Chandon available daily from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

The Sea Terrace Rooms offer 225 to 265 square feet of space. Amenities in these rooms include a red hammock and mood lighting. (Photo by Matt Turner)

All rooms come with a tablet, from which, guests can control the lighting, shades, air conditioning and the television, as well as provide services such as room service. Pretty Fun: The room has built-in lighting/curtain settings for a hangover, dance parties and “getting it on.”

Note: The typical muster drill has been given a bit of a facelift, as well. As soon as guests enter their room, they will be prompted to watch a six-minute safety drill video (recorded as a music video, of course). They will then simply have to check in at their muster station afterwards.

Activities and Well-Being

The Redemption Spa is a must-visit. Although we did not receive any treatments, we did make use of the facilities, which includes a mudroom, sauna, steam room, Himalayan salt room, hot and cold plunge pools and a larger pool. There’s also a heated marble sitting area adjacent to large windows to just enjoy the views and, due to its lower position on the ship (Deck 5), the sounds of the waves.

Higher up, on Deck 15 is the two-space gym. Build + Balance is home to weightlifting equipment along with a yoga/meditation studio, while Burn + Bike has cardio equipment and a spin studio. Tip: We are new to “spin” but really enjoyed our early-morning class. About one-third of the people in our class had never done it before, so don’t be shy about trying it out!

On the same deck are the two pools — the Aquatic Club, lined with daybeds and loungers and usually entertained by a DJ, and the Well-being pool, located between the Tonic Bar and an outdoor gym. On the top deck, 17, is an outdoor yoga pavilion and the running track.

The Well-Being Pool is a circular pool located between the Tonic Bar and an outdoor gym. (Photo by Matt Turner)

Additional facilities include women’s and men’s grooming salons, and Squid Ink, the only permanent tattoo parlor on a cruise ship and currently operated in partnership with Soho Ink and Freshly Inked magazine. To our recollection, it was never empty during our sailing.

Beach Club at Bimini

All sailings on Scarlet Lady (which will operate out of Miami year-round to the Caribbean and Mexico) stop at the Beach Club at Bimini, Virgin Voyages’ private beach club operated in partnership with Resorts World Bimini. (On days where the ship is docked at Bimini, the beach club is open exclusively to Virgin Voyages guests and is staffed with onboard crew; on all other days, it’s open to resort guests.)

Here, guests can opt to lounge poolside or on the beach (cabanas are available to rent ahead of time and they were sold out on our voyage). There are also several bars, where guests can still use their wristband and bar tab, as well as a couple dining outlets that (during our stop) all had the same menu.

Good to know: For suite guests, there is a VIP area with its own section of the beach, cabanas, bar and covered dining area.

There are two large pools with the mood set by a DJ. The “pool float party” was a real hit during our stay.

Note: A tram will bring guests from the dock to the beach club; it takes about five minutes for the transfer, so we wouldn’t suggest walking.

Scarlet Lady will be joined by two other ships in future — Valiant Lady and Resilient Lady — which are expected to make their deliveries each of the next two years. The former will begin sailing out of Barcelona, while the latter will sail from Athens.

Advisor Insight: Solo Travelers

Denise Wiggins, global executive advisor/CEO of Denise Wiggins Travel & Health Services, has already sailed with Virgin Voyages twice. She tells us, “I can still say the number-one comment that I and others have stated is that the best part of this sailing is it’s adults only. It truly is a win and welcome.

“I am also still in awe of the quality and design of the ship. The variety of onboard deck areas for one’s choice of relaxing, chilling and/or enjoying a drink with music is so warm and inviting. The designs are photo-worthy. The area known as The Dock (Aft/Deck 7) was one of my favorites. This outdoor venue with real plants and trees felt like a park and being positioned in the aft of the ship where the beautiful ship wake can be witnessed is so mesmerizing and captivating. The additional areas for games, casino, tea, bars, etc. were so fun. There truly is something for everyone — you just need to thoroughly explore the ship while on it. Let’s not forget the cabins and the hammocks! Every daytime was carved out to hang in the really nice and soft hammock.

“Equally of value is the very superior and wonderful customer service. The sailor staff is incredible. They are fun, welcoming, inviting, warm, friendly and funny. They work hard to be present for everyone’s needs.

“I would be remiss if I didn’t give a nod to all the onboard chefs and their amazing dining establishments and entrees for each of the eateries. Oh my goodness — they curate such wonderful, pleasing and delicious dishes. The dining is definitely a highlight. And, certainly, the shows are so extra special, unique, extraordinary and really a new experience compared to the standard cruise entertainment. I really enjoyed the show, “Ships in the Night” (The Red Room). It’s edgy, different and realistic.

“One more — I’m obsessed with the Deck 17 Runway and I wasn’t alone. It was always busy with runners and walkers of all kinds. I even did a midnight power walk for two miles (12 laps) one night under the bright moon and stars.”

As for what type of client might enjoy Virgin Voyages, Wiggins says, “I feel the ship is really an open book to welcome many styles of clients, starting with college graduates to tight girlfriend squads and to all ages and groups in-between. The sweet spot that I feel would appreciate and be open to such a boutique and luxury style ship as the Scarlet Lady would be 35- to 65-year-olds and then toss in those who welcome and are always up for ‘let’s try something new’ and that can include people of all walks of life. Both of my sailings included LGBTQ groups who loved the ship and truly embraced all it had to offer. Many, many solo travelers, including myself, felt at home on Scarlet as you can ‘float’ around all day long and find something to do. So many of us commented on how fun it was to make new friends and that being solo was perfect on this ship.”