I just returned from a 4 night Fire and Sunset Soirées cruise to Key West and the Beach Club at Bimini Island in the Caribbean on Virgin Voyages original ship, the Scarlet Lady. If you are like me, you might have heard the name Virgin Voyages and automatically pictured a huge party boat full of drunken people sailing  around.  Perhaps it is because it’ s an adults only cruise line or perhaps it’s because we associate the Virgin brand with wild fun.  And while there is a lot of partying and fun on board, cruising with Virgin Voyages is about so much more.

Embarkation Process

As soon as we arrived at Terminal V, (Virgin Voyages very own cruise terminal building at PortMiami) the luggage was tagged and set aside and we were sent inside to begin the check in and boarding process.  Now Virgin, like many other cruise lines offers and strongly encourages you to check in online before the start of your cruise.  This means going on the Virgin Voyages app and uploading your passport, selfie photo, credit card info for on board charging and emergency contact information.  I found it super easy to check in online and highly recommend doing it.  It will save you so much time and hassle when you arrive at the terminal.  The check in line was a little long but Virgin had many crew members helping and it moved quite fast. It was much quicker than some other cruise brands I have experienced.

The Band

As part of the check in process, each sailor receives The Band, Virgin Voyages answer to the do it all card/pass you get on other cruise lines. This was one of my absolute favorite features that Virgin offers.  The Band is worn on your wrist for the duration of the cruise and acts as your cabin key, payment method for cabin charges, and source of ID for all things related to the cruise (like getting off the ship at any ports during the cruise).  It also allows you access to any shows or experiences you have booked while onboard. This was so much better than having to carry around a card and lanyard all day everyday. I am a HUGE fan of The Band.  

Virgin Voyages App

The app is your key to all things Virgin while you are on board.  In it, you can view the daily events and offerings, reserve a spot for popular shows and entertainment, make dining reservations, book shore excursions and even choose your disembarkation time at the end of the cruise.  You can also make spa reservations and join exercises classes.  It also allows you to message Sailor Services, Virgin Voyages version of guest services. The app will also send you reminders and notifications while on board and display your agenda for each day of the cruise.  This is super helpful and allows you to keep track of what you’ve booked when and keeps you where you need to be.  I had zero issues or complaints with the app leading up to or during my sailing.

Cabins

The cabins on Virgin Voyages ships are what we have come to expect from the Virgin brand; they are innovative, modern and comfortable. The cabin we had booked was called a Sea Terrace cabin which has a beautiful balcony facing the ocean. The ship is very well signed and it was very easy to locate our cabin.  When we first walked in, we were surprised by how big and welcoming it was.  We ended up with an aft corner Sea Terrace cabin which meant our cabin was at the back of the ship and had an angled side wall.   We went right outside to look for the famous red hammock but were surprised to find that in our suite, it came with a swinging chair instead.  I was both excited and bummed about this as I had heard so much from others about how amazing the hammocks are.  In fact, it is one of the things that sets Virgin apart from its competitors. No other cruise line has done this yet and I have no idea why.  It is innovative and truly adds to the vacation feel. Once I tried out the swinging chair, I discovered it was amazing and I was glad to have it.  However, it does make me want to take another cruise just to experience the hammock.  Well played, Virgin, well played. 

Another thing about Virgin Voyages cabins are the modular bed system.  This allows you or your cabin attendant to put your bed modules into multiple configurations at any time. This is another uniquely Virgin Voyages innovation and makes your cabin flexible throughout your entire stay. The beds are incredibly comfortable and firmer than I expected.  Sleeping on it, you would have no idea it is part of a modular system.  I slept great the entire trip and had no complaints. Our cabin was also very sound proof.  We could occasionally hear people in the halls but never once heard any of our neighbors.

Virgin Voyages adds another amazingly clever feature in their cabins that few cruise lines have: smart controls for everything inside your cabin.  The lights, thermostat, tv/media, and curtains are all controlled via the smart tablet inside your cabin.  It is such a great idea and you can take the smart tablet to bed with you each night, allowing you to control everything without ever leaving your bed. I LOVED this convenience as I tend to get hot during the night and want to turn the temperature down.  I was able to do this every night without leaving my comfortable bed.  The smart tablet also has another very Virgin touch: mood lighting.  You can select different moods and the lighting will adjust to match your selection.  Some examples are: Zen, Let’s Get it On, Hangover, etc.  This is another genius Virgin Voyages touch that shows attention to detail with the playful spin we have come to expect.

Food 

5 Stars! That is in the only way to describe the dining experience on a Virgin Voyage.  It was truly the best dining I have experienced on any cruise line thus far.  Every single place you eat, whether casual or fine dining, has food that has been crafted with the same level of attention and care. From the French fries in The Galley to the filet mignon at The Wake, you won’t be disappointed with any of the amazing food Virgin has to offer. 

The Galley is Virgin’s answer to a buffet type food court. It has a similar feel but with more customized service and freshly prepared made to order selections.  It is not a buffet and the cruise line prides themselves on that fact.  They are very careful to minimize waste as part of their commitment to the environment.  The Galley is filled with a lot of mini-restaurants where you can grab and go freshly prepared food made to order. My favorite meal to eat in The Galley was breakfast where I had a fresh garden omelette and bacon every morning.  There were many other choices as well including yogurt and fresh fruit toppings, cereal, freshly baked pastries and so much more. If you need a delicious meal in a hurry, this is the place to go. Lunch is just as amazing with offerings such as sushi bento boxes, freshly made custom salads, burgers and fries, gourmet tacos and much more.  If you need a meal in a hurry but don’t want to compromise on taste, The Galley is the place to go.  

I also had a chance to experience some of the fine dining restaurants for dinner each night.  The first night, we ate at Test Kitchen which feels like a cross between a food laboratory and cooking school. It is a great place to go if you want to try daring new combinations and really expand your taste palette.  The menu is pre-set with some courses offering you a choice between two things for example, shrimp or lamb as a main course.  Some of the combinations look weird on paper but I encourage you to try them.  You won’t regret it! I personally loved the unique food pairings they came up with and I ended up liking things (like beet purée) that I was sure I would hate just by looking at the menu.  

The second night of our voyage, we ate at The Wake, which is the chophouse style restaurant on board.  I will confess that my absolute favorite meal is filet mignon so I was really looking forward to this one.  It did not disappoint.  From the wedge salad, to the asparagus and twice baked potato and finally the filet that was as a tender as melted butter,  The Wake was everything I had hoped for and more.  It is also stunningly beautiful inside and even has a two-story grand staircase you walk down as you enter it.  Attention to detail is everywhere from the fine decor to the gourmet food.  This is one not to miss!

On the last night, we ate at Pink Agave which is a high energy dining experience inspired by the cuisine and atmosphere of Mexico City. The food is as red hot as the DJ beats and complimentary tequila shots.  The dishes come in three different sizes and are all meant to be shareable.  You are encouraged to order as much as you want.  The guacamole is NOT to be missed as it was the best I have ever had.  There are pomegranates mixed in and while that may sound weird, the taste is out of this world! The pomegranates add a burst of sweetness to the salty lime of the guacamole and it was AMAZING.  Don’t miss it.  At Pink Agave, I also had the best blackened shrimp I have ever tasted.  It was so incredibly flavorful and the texture was perfect.  As if the food wasn’t amazing enough, the DJ lead music was fun without being overwhelmingly loud.  At the stroke of 9, the wait staff came by and delivered complimentary coconut milk tequila shots to everyone for a restaurant wide toast.  Dining at Pink Agave is an experience unlike any other and I highly recommend it.

Besides the amazing taste and quality, almost all of this amazing food is included with your cruise fare.  During my sailing,I didn’t see many food options at all with an extra cost and despite eating some of the best selections offered like filet mignon, my food bill at the end of the trip was a whopping $0.  I almost felt guilty leaving each one of these amazing restaurants without paying anything extra.  

Staff

My absolute favorite part of the cruise was the staff.  There are truly no words for the kindness, attentiveness and genuine concern the crew members have for each sailor. Every single crew member we met, went out of their way to make sure we had everything we needed and that all of our expectations were being met.  The staff alone would make me cruise Virginia Voyages again!

From our cabin attendant who set up our cabin and modular beds just how we wanted it and showed us how to control the tv using the smart tablet, to each waiter in all the restaurants we ate at who made sure our drinks were always full and our orders were correct, we were treated like royalty by crew members throughout our cruise.  Every time we walked down the hallway and would encounter a staff member, they would ask us how our voyage was and if they could improve on anything.  The level of service here is truly spectacular and is one of the many things that sets Virgin Voyages apart from some other cruise lines.

All staff gratuities are 100% included in your fare and if you do order a drink or something that costs extra, you aren’t even given a chance to leave a tip.  Your band is scanned and your item given to you.  No bills or receipts.  You can choose on your own to go to Sailor Services at the end of the voyage and add extra gratuity if you  wish, but no staff member will ever ask or hint for a tip and there are no envelopes or slips of paper given at the end of the sailing even mentioning gratuity.  This is a nice change from some other cruise lines and I appreciate having the option to quietly add more if I want without having any pressure to do so. 

Entertainment

Virgin has several entertainment venues on board.  Two that I experienced were The Red Room, which is considered the main theater and The Manor which is a two-story night club type venue with three bars spaced throughout.  In The Red Room,  I saw Duel Reality which is a heart-pounding acrobatic style rendition of Romeo and Juliet.  This kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time.  Some of the stunts and acrobatic aerial moves were just unreal.  The level of talent by the performers is breathtaking.  The Red Room was also smaller and had a more intimate environment than I had pictured.  I am used to the mega theaters of other cruise lines.  This venue is smaller and allows you to feel as if you are part of the performance.  I really enjoyed that.  It makes you even more invested in the show.

The other show I saw was “Around the World with the Diva” in The Manor. This is currently the only drag show at sea and stars Kara Kature, Drag Queen extraordinaire.   Kara was hilarious and has a figure to die for.  The show encompasses singing, dancing and lip-synching. It was rowdy, raunchy and had great audience participation.  If you want to be an active participant in the show, make sure you sit at the tables right in front of the stage.  Otherwise you will just be a spectator.  If you are the type of person who has an open mind and likes to have fun, then you will probably really enjoy this show.  Just keep in mind that it is a drag show, so the topics and humor will be raunchy.  There is also some adult language in the show so plan for that as well.  If you want to be part of history, then come and watch the first ever drag show at sea!  It is an unforgettable experience to be sure!

There are also many trivia games and competitions held throughout each sailing so you can have lots of fun getting to know your fellow sailors.  The Scarlet Lady also has many unique entertainment options on board like a free retro arcade filled with games from the 80’s and Virgin Vinyl, a record shop filled with listening stations where you can listen to your favorite tunes from all eras and genres.  They even have a karaoke venue called The Groupie where you can book private rooms and karaoke with your friends. And of course, all Virgin Voyages ships include a casino. No matter what your version of fun is, you are sure to find it aboard a Virgin Voyages ship.

Fitness

No-one does fitness at sea quite like Virgin Voyages. B-Complex is a multi-section workout studio equipped with all the traditional workout equipment you would expect as well as a fitness studio that offers HIT, spin, barre, yoga and even bungee classes. And the best part, group workout classes are included in your cruise fare, so no extra fees! They also have a traditional style running track called The Runway which offers beautiful views as you run or walk around the ship.  There are even mini-boxing rings and punching bags scattered around the outside deck for more intense fitness training.  Whatever form of fitness you are into, Virgin Voyages has you covered and will keep you on track during your voyage!

Beach Club at Bimini 

All Virgin Voyages in the Caribbean have a day planned at Virgin’s own private Beach Club at Bimini.  It is a lovely private beach club open only to Virgin Voyages guests anytime the ship is at port. (When there isn’t a ship at port it becomes open to guests of Resorts World Bimini).  Most major cruise lines have a private island or beach club in the Caribbean and Virgin is no exception. When you exit the ship, you walk to the end of the pier and catch a tram.  There are two stops on the tram.  The first stop on the tram is Fisherman’s Village Marina where you can rent a golf cart to cruise around the island in or do a little shopping.  A word of warning: There are aggressive sales people at this stop that borderline harass you to rent a golf cart.  If you aren’t aware of what is happening, you might think this is the Beach Club and start to exit the tram. We saw a couple of people get confused and do this very thing and we let them know that this wasn’t the right stop for the Beach Club.

The second tram stop is for Virgin’s Beach Club at Bimini.  Here you exit the tram and enter right into the beach club.  You will see two large rectangular pools, several bars, eating areas and facilities, and lastly the beautiful stretch of beach that you get to enjoy for the day.  As I am a beach person, this is where I planned to head for the day. Even though we didn’t get to the beach until around 10:30 am we easily found two chairs under an umbrella. After enjoying the sun for a while we decided to enjoy a swim in the warm ocean water.  The sand here is soft and fine and the water every bit as clear and turquoise as you would imagine.  It is truly a lovely beach and a wonderful relaxing oasis from everyday life. 

If you are looking for more of a party and drinking vibe, fear not.  All you need to do is head to one of the pools where you can take part in live performances, games and enjoy endlessly available tropical drinks and beer.  The pools are shallow and made for lounging with a drink in hand.  The party only stops when the sun goes down and it’s time to head back to the ship.  It’s your day in the sun, enjoy it as you see fit…relaxing at the beach or whooping it up at one of the many pool parties.

The food at Bimini Beach Club is delicious.  The menu isn’t as varied as I would have liked and some of the descriptions didn’t sound appealing but I made myself try one of everything on the menu and I am glad I did. The asado was my favorite entree with a light but delicious flavor and the rum cake for dessert was heavy on the rum (just the way I like it).  

Commitment to the Environment

One thing that has to be mentioned is Virgin Voyages commitment to bettering the environment. Richard Branson explained Virgin Voyages philosophy “There is nothing in this world more important than our oceans and we’re on a mission to protect them and set an example. Success needn’t compromise sustainability.”

This isn’t just lip service.  They truly mean it and their commitment to the environment can be seen everywhere: from The Band (each one of which is made from 2 pounds of plastic removed from our oceans), to the food which eliminates the waste of buffets and focuses on sustainable seafood, to the hammocks which are woven by tribal women in Thailand allowing them to break the cycle of poverty.  No detail is overlooked when it comes to sustainability. This is yet another thing that sets them apart from some of the other cruise lines out there. 

Creating your own experience on Virgin  

Virgin Voyages can be as tame or as wild as you make it.  For example, at Bimini Beach Club, you can hang out at the pool, drink at the bar, enjoy the music and entertainment/games they have or you can go to the beach and just lounge in a chair and swim in the ocean where things are much more calm and quiet.  It was amazing to see that both experiences could co-exist together.

The same is true on board.  What you participate in and where you hang out will shape your experience.  And if you go to bed before 11 pm and skip the late night Scarlet Night or Pajama Night parties, then you will have no clue there is a wild party going on somewhere on the ship.  

My final opinion: Virgin Voyages is a cruise line that can be enjoyed by everyone, no matter what your age (18-99). The all inclusive fare, gourmet food and diverse dining options, incredible and attentive staff and commitment to the environment and sustainability make Virgin Voyages a cruise line not to be missed.