I've sailed the Caribbean and the Greece and Turkey routes with Virgin Voyages, plus the usual mix of Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, Celebrity, and Princess over the years, so I had something to measure it against. I'd also done a lot of research before this trip, so I figured I knew roughly what to expect. What actually stood out was how many smaller things, the ones that don't show up much in the ads, ended up sticking with me.
Every restaurant is actually included
This is the headline of Virgin's pitch and it holds up. There's no main dining room, no upcharge menu, no "specialty" tier you have to pay extra to unlock, and there's no package to track or specialty dinners to count down. That part changes the rhythm of a cruise more than I expected. My one tip: reservations fill up fast, so grab your favorites the moment you're onboard.
Alcohol isn't included, but there's a workaround
Soda, coffee, juice, and the rest of the non-alcoholic drinks are part of the included fare. Alcohol isn't, though there's a workaround. Thanks to my First Mate (that's what Virgin calls the travel advisor on your booking), I ended up with hundreds of dollars in bar tab and bonus Sailor Loot (Virgin's onboard credit) that I wouldn't have gotten booking directly with Virgin. That covered protein smoothies after working out, a cocktail with dinner, a piña colada on the hot sea days, an apple cider before a show. It's the kind of perk most people don't know to ask about, and it's a big part of why I tell clients booking direct isn't always the better deal.
I somehow ended up in three fitness classes
I'm not usually the guy who signs up for shipboard fitness classes. On Virgin I did my first ever HIIT class, my first spin class, and my first bungee fitness class, all in the same week, mostly because they were included and easy to just show up to. All three ended up being some of my favorite parts of the trip, which was not something I expected to say about a cruise.
Free private karaoke rooms
This was a first for me on any cruise line: actual private karaoke rooms, and they're free to book. No singing in front of a bar full of strangers, no fighting over the mic, just your group in a room having a good time. It's a small thing on paper but it was one of the best nights of the sailing.
Everyone on this ship will talk to you
This is the one I still can't fully explain. Virgin sailings have been noticeably more social than anything else I've sailed, strangers striking up real conversations at the bar, at dinner, in line for a class. It's not something I've felt to the same degree on other cruise lines. I don't know if it's the adults-only crowd, the ship's layout, or just who Virgin tends to attract, but it's real and it's one of the more underrated parts of sailing with them.
It's not just a party cruise
Virgin's own marketing leans hard into the high-energy, party-cruise image, so that's the impression a lot of people have going in. That side is real, theme nights like Scarlet Night take over the whole pool deck, and if that's what you want, it delivers.
But there's just as much on the quieter end. The Dock House was where I ended up more than once, a relaxed lounge with live acoustic music, good drinks, and none of the club energy.
There's also a communal painting wall where you can grab a marker and fill in part of a big mural alongside other sailors, no talent required, just something to do with your hands while you chat.
Or you can head to The Dock at the aft of the ship for Stargazers, an official event where someone from the crew tells stories while you lie back on a daybed and look at the stars. If partying isn't your thing, Virgin still has you covered.
The shows are a lot more interactive than a typical cruise
Virgin's entertainment includes a show called Persephone, and instead of fixed theater seating, you can floor stand right by the stage. I've watched plenty of cruise ship shows from a seat a few dozen feet back. Watching this one from right up front was a completely different experience, it felt like the kind of show I'd normally pay hundreds or even thousands of dollars for on land, and it was just included.
Then there's Miss Behave, a game show that splits the entire theater into teams and pulls everyone out of their seats to compete in the middle of the room. It's genuinely hilarious to watch, and nothing like the sit-and-watch format most cruise line entertainment sticks to.
The bottom line
Most of this doesn't show up in Virgin's marketing. The included restaurants get top billing, and rightly so, but the fitness classes, the karaoke rooms, the interactive shows like Persephone and Miss Behave, and the way strangers actually talk to each other on these ships are the parts that surprised me most. If you're wondering whether Virgin Voyages is worth trying, that's exactly the kind of thing I'm happy to walk through. And as a certified Virgin Voyages First Mate, I'll do what I can to get you extra perks and bonuses beyond what you'd see booking direct.