Virgin Voyages — CruiseDirector

Overview

Virgin Voyages is Richard Branson's adults-only cruise line that launched in 2021 and has spent the years since systematically dismantling every convention the cruise industry holds dear. No buffet. No formal nights. No main dining room with assigned seating. No kids. No gratuity envelopes. No nickel-and-diming for restaurants.

What they've replaced it with is a fleet of four nearly identical ships running a model where all dining is included across 20+ venues, WiFi and gratuities are baked into the fare, and the onboard atmosphere skews more boutique hotel than floating resort. The entertainment is original rather than borrowed from Broadway, the fitness programme is included, and the whole thing is wrapped in a design language that feels genuinely different from anything else at sea.

The trade-off is real: the pool deck is small, the ships carry around 2,770 passengers with limited outdoor space, and the drink package (bar tab) is an add-on that can push costs up significantly. The cabin design is clever but compact. And the vibe - festival-adjacent, party-ready, late-night-forward - is not for everyone. That's by design.

I've sailed on 3 of the 4 ships - Scarlet Lady , Valiant Lady and Resilient Lady .

The Fleet

4 ships reviewed.

Scarlet Lady

Sailed

Launched 2021 · 110,000 GT

2,770 passengers

The original. Caribbean and Med deployments. Post-drydock upgrades in 2024 added Lucky Lotus and Grounds Club Too.

Read full ship guide →

Valiant Lady

Sailed

Launched 2022 · 110,000 GT

2,770 passengers

Med and Caribbean rotations. Hosts the annual U.S. Comedy Fest sailing.

Read full ship guide →

Resilient Lady

Sailed

Launched 2023 · 110,000 GT

2,770 passengers

Originally planned for Australia before Red Sea disruption rerouted her to the Caribbean.

Read full ship guide →

Brilliant Lady

Launched 2025 · 110,000 GT

2,770 passengers

Newest. Launched Sept 2025. First Alaska deployment for Virgin in summer 2026 from Seattle.

Pricing & Fares

Virgin Voyages fare structure and what's actually included.

Virgin uses a three-tier fare structure called VoyageFair Choices: Base, Essential, and Premium. All three include dining at every restaurant, WiFi, gratuities, basic beverages (water, drip coffee, tea, soda), and all entertainment. The tiers differ on flexibility, dining reservation windows, and extras like the bar tab credit.

The honest truth: the "all-inclusive" label needs context. Dining, yes. Alcohol, no - not unless you buy a bar tab or book Essential/Premium. Shore excursions are extra. Spa is extra. The cabin minibar is extra. Virgin is more inclusive than most mainstream lines, but it isn't fully all-inclusive.

Included	Base	Essential	Premium
All dining (20+ venues)	✓	✓	✓
WiFi	✓	✓	✓
Gratuities	✓	✓	✓
Basic beverages	✓	✓	✓
Fitness classes	✓	✓	✓
Entertainment	✓	✓	✓
Bar tab credit	—	$50/day	$100/day
Early dining booking	—	—	✓
Flexibility to change	Limited	Moderate	Full

Dining

Restaurants and dining on Virgin Voyages.

This is where Virgin genuinely breaks from the pack. Every restaurant on board is included in the fare - no upcharges, no cover fees, no premium dining supplements. The Galley replaces the buffet with a market-style food hall. The rest of the restaurants range from Korean BBQ (Gunbae) to upscale steak (The Wake) to Mexican (Pink Agave) to a late-night diner (Diner & Dash).

Quality is uneven. The Wake and Pink Agave are consistently strong. Extra Virgin (Italian) is reliable. Gunbae is fun but loud. The Galley is better than any buffet but has its off-hours. The Test Kitchen is the one you want to book early - it fills fast.

My restaurant reviews

Dining

Complete Dining Guide for Scarlet Lady: Every Restaurant Reviewed

Every restaurant on Scarlet Lady reviewed - main dining, specialty, buffet, and room service, with prices, what to book, and the one dinner worth the splurge.

Mar 14, 2026 · 9 min read 8.2

Reviews Dining Review

Pink Agave Menu -- A Taste of Mexico at Sea on Virgin Voyages

Pink Agave represents Virgin Voyages' departure from conventional cruise dining, offering an upscale Mexican restaurant experience across their fleet.

Dec 9, 2024 · 3 min read 8.1

Reviews Dining Review

Lucky Lotus -- New Chinese Restaurant on Scarlet Lady (Virgin Voyages)

Virgin Voyages has unveiled Lucky Lotus by Razzle Dazzle, a Chinese-inspired dining venue aboard the Scarlet Lady. The restaurant launched in November 2024, following the ship's emergence from dry dock.

Dec 8, 2024 · 3 min read 8.5

Reviews Dining Review

The Pizza Place on Virgin Voyages: A Slice at Sea

The Pizza Place represents Virgin Voyages' most relaxed dining venue, featuring made-to-order personal-sized pizzas available throughout the day and into the night.

Dec 7, 2024 · 3 min read 8.9

Solo Cruising on Virgin Voyages

Virgin doesn't have dedicated solo cabins like Norwegian's Studios, but the adults-only environment and reduced single supplement on Sea Terrace cabins (up to 70% off the second fare) make it one of the better mainstream options for solo cruisers. The communal tables at The Galley, the Scarlet Night party, and the group fitness classes create natural social touchpoints without the forced mixer feel.

Single supplement Reduced (up to 70% off 2nd fare)

Solo cabins No dedicated solo cabins

Social programme Organic - no forced mixers

Solo-friendly dining Communal tables, no assigned seating

My solo cruising guides

Solo Cruising

Solo Cruising on Scarlet Lady: What to Expect

Who Virgin Voyages Is For

Let's be honest: who will love this line, and who should look elsewhere.

You'll love it if...

+ You want adults-only without the luxury price tag

+ Dining variety matters more to you than formal service

+ You prefer a festival atmosphere to a traditional cruise

+ You're a solo traveller who's comfortable being social

+ You hate tipping culture and want it built in

+ You value design and find most cruise ships generic

Look elsewhere if...

— You're travelling with kids (hard no - 18+ only)

— You want a big pool deck and lots of outdoor space

— You expect traditional cruise service and formality

— You want a fully all-inclusive drink package in the fare

— You're a light sleeper - the vibe runs late

— You prefer quiet, enrichment-focused cruising

My Reviews & Guides

Everything I've written about Virgin Voyages.

Cabins

Best Cabins on Scarlet Lady: Where to Book and Why

Deck-by-deck guide to the best cabins on Scarlet Lady - balcony, inside, suites, solo, accessible, and the one sweet-spot cabin I would book today.

Mar 14, 2026 · 9 min read 8.2

Guides

Scarlet Lady Deck-by-Deck Guide: What's on Every Level

Complete deck-by-deck guide to Scarlet Lady - every restaurant, bar, pool, and public space mapped by deck, with navigation tips and the best decks for cabins.

Mar 14, 2026 · 10 min read 8.2

Dining

Complete Dining Guide for Scarlet Lady: Every Restaurant Reviewed

Every restaurant on Scarlet Lady reviewed - main dining, specialty, buffet, and room service, with prices, what to book, and the one dinner worth the splurge.

Mar 14, 2026 · 9 min read 8.2

Itineraries

Scarlet Lady Itineraries 2026: Where It Sails and When

Complete guide to Scarlet Lady itineraries in 2026 - every region, homeport, the best sailing to book, and the one to skip.

Mar 14, 2026 · 8 min read 8.2

Reviews

Scarlet Lady Review: The Honest Take

An honest review of Scarlet Lady - what it gets right, what it gets wrong, who it suits, and whether it is worth the money.

Mar 14, 2026 · 10 min read 8.2

Solo Cruising

Solo Cruising on Scarlet Lady: What to Expect

Everything solo travellers need to know about Scarlet Lady - single supplement, solo cabins, social life, dining alone, and whether this ship is worth booking solo.

Mar 14, 2026 · 7 min read 8.2

Guides

What's the Vibe on Scarlet Lady? Who Sails and What to Expect

What Scarlet Lady is actually like - passenger demographics, dress code reality, daytime energy, evening atmosphere, and who this ship is (and isn't) for.

Mar 14, 2026 · 7 min read 8.2

Reviews Ship Review

Scarlet Lady by Virgin Voyages: Ship Overview for 2026

Complete overview of Virgin Voyages' Scarlet Lady covering cabins, dining, entertainment, and what to expect from this adults-only cruise ship.

Sep 29, 2025 · 6 min read 8.9

Cruise Lines Cruise Line Info

Virgin Voyages VoyageFair Choices: Fares Explained for 2026

A breakdown of Virgin Voyages' new VoyageFair Choices fare structure with Base, Essential and Premium tiers compared.

Sep 29, 2025 · 5 min read

Reviews Dining Review

Pink Agave Menu -- A Taste of Mexico at Sea on Virgin Voyages

Pink Agave represents Virgin Voyages' departure from conventional cruise dining, offering an upscale Mexican restaurant experience across their fleet.

Dec 9, 2024 · 3 min read 8.1

Reviews Dining Review

Lucky Lotus -- New Chinese Restaurant on Scarlet Lady (Virgin Voyages)

Dec 8, 2024 · 3 min read 8.5

Reviews Dining Review

The Pizza Place on Virgin Voyages: A Slice at Sea

The Pizza Place represents Virgin Voyages' most relaxed dining venue, featuring made-to-order personal-sized pizzas available throughout the day and into the night.

Dec 7, 2024 · 3 min read 8.9