Scarlet Lady has 17 decks, but you will spend most of your time on just six of them. The ship divides neatly into three zones: restaurants, bars, and entertainment on Decks 5, 6, and 7; cabin decks from 8 to 14; and pools, fitness, and outdoor spaces on Decks 15, 16, and 17. The layout is logical once you understand it, but there is one catch that trips up first-time passengers. Deck 5 forward has cabins, while Deck 5 midship and aft has restaurants. You cannot walk between them on the same deck - you need to go up to Deck 6, cross the ship, and come back down. It is the one genuine layout quirk worth knowing before you board.

I found my way around within the first full day on my transatlantic crossing. The Scarlet Lady overview covers the ship’s character. This guide covers its geography.

Quick Reference

Key locations at a glance:

Deck-by-Deck Walkthrough

Deck 4

The lowest passenger-accessible deck. The only thing here is the medical centre and tender boarding areas. You access it via the forward stairwell or elevators. You will likely never visit this deck unless you need medical attention or are tendering to a port.

Deck 5 - Spa and Dining

Deck 5 is split in a way that catches people out. The forward section contains cabins - inside cabins and some sea view rooms, including the Solo Sea View cabins. To reach the restaurants and spa, you need the midship elevators or stairs.

The midship and aft section is where things get interesting. Pink Agave sits at the aft, serving upscale Mexican with a mezcal bar. It is one of the best restaurants on the ship. Razzle Dazzle, now operating as Lucky Lotus by Razzle Dazzle in the evenings since the 2024 dry dock, is a vegetarian-forward restaurant by day that transforms into a Chinese-inspired dining concept at night. Both are included in your fare.

The Redemption Spa occupies a significant chunk of Deck 5. The thermal suite has portholes looking out to sea, heated quartz beds, a mud room, salt room, cold plunge pools, and a hydrotherapy pool. Access is roughly GBP 30 ($39) for three hours. Sailor Services (guest services) is also on this deck.

Noise note: Deck 5 cabins sit directly below the casino and Roundabout atrium on Deck 6. Passengers in forward cabins on this deck report some noise transfer, particularly late at night when the casino and bars are busy.

Deck 6 - Dining, Entertainment, and Shopping

This is one of the busiest decks on the ship and the one you will return to most often.

Starting forward, the Red Room is Scarlet Lady’s main performance space. It spans two decks (6 and 7) and transforms between four configurations for different shows. Duel Reality, the acrobatic Romeo and Juliet, uses an immersive setup where front-row passengers are part of the action.

The Den sits adjacent to the Red Room - a private bookable event space.

Moving midship, you reach the Roundabout atrium, the ship’s central hub. A DJ spins vinyl here during the day. The circular staircase connects up to Deck 7. On the Rocks, the ship’s largest bar, sits just below the Roundabout with live music most evenings.

High Street runs along this deck with retail shops, the Squid Ink tattoo parlour, Stubble and Groom barbershop, Dry Dock blow-dry bar, and the Virgin Voyages merchandise store.

The Casino is midship on the starboard side - a non-smoking space with blackjack, roulette, craps, and slot machines. It was expanded with additional slots during the 2024 dry dock. The smoking room and casino bar are at the back.

The Manor nightclub entrance is on Deck 6, accessed through a glittering mirrored corridor off the casino area. This two-storey venue spans Decks 6 and 7.

Three restaurants occupy the aft section. The Test Kitchen is a molecular gastronomy cooking lab serving a six-course tasting menu - the most experimental dining on the ship. Extra Virgin is a casual elevated Italian with communal tables and excellent gnocchi. The Wake is the glamorous steakhouse and seafood restaurant, accessed from Deck 7 above via a staircase, with a martini bar and the newly refreshed wine display.

Deck 7 - The Social Hub

Deck 7 is the heart of the ship, packed with bars, casual dining, and social spaces. No cabins on this deck.

Starting forward on the port side, the upper level of the Red Room has additional seating. The Groupie offers bookable private karaoke rooms. Sip champagne lounge curves along the starboard side - Art Deco brass and glass, afternoon tea, and champagne cocktails.

The upper level of the Roundabout connects here, along with the Draught Haus taproom (eight beers on tap), Grounds Club coffee bar, and Voyage Vinyl record shop.

Midship, the Social Club is a large open space with board games, shuffleboard, air hockey, a bar serving wings and hot dogs, and the adjacent Arcade with free retro games - Space Invaders, Pac-Man. The Loose Cannon, a nautical-themed dive bar, is tucked in beside it.

The Pizza Place serves complimentary pizza until 1am. Lick Me Till Ice Cream is a retro scoop shop. Both are on this deck.

The aft section of Deck 7 is where the ship’s best social spaces live. The Dock House is a casual Mediterranean restaurant and bar with cushioned indoor seating, live music, and mezze from a roving cart. Outside, The Dock has day beds, loungers, and sweeping wake views. This is where passengers gather for sunset drinks and it is the most atmospheric spot on the entire ship.

The promenade deck wraps fully around the ship at this level. It is rare on modern ships and gives Scarlet Lady a proper nautical feel, with seating, bars, and space to walk the full circuit.

Decks 8-14 - Cabin Decks

Seven decks of accommodation with essentially identical layouts. Cabin categories vary by deck:

Deck 8: Sea Terrace (balcony) cabins, Cheeky Corner Suites, Sweet Aft Suites, XL Sea Terraces, and a small number of Inside cabins. This is the lowest balcony deck, which means less motion in rough seas but some port-side balconies look directly at lifeboats.

Deck 9: Same layout as Deck 8. Sea Terrace cabins, some Inside cabins, and suites.

Deck 10: Sea Terrace and Inside cabins. A good midship option on this deck gives you easy access to both the entertainment decks below and the pool deck above.

Deck 11: Previously all Sea Terrace cabins. During the 2024 dry dock, several were converted into 24 Seriously Suite Rockstar Quarters - 352 sq ft with European king beds, peek-a-boo showers, record players, and stocked bars.

Decks 12-13: Sea Terrace, Inside, and suite cabins. These are quieter midship decks with no public areas above or below generating noise.

Deck 14: The highest cabin deck (apart from the Mega Rockstar suites on Deck 15). Bridge deck is at the forward end. Cabins here are generally considered the most desirable standard accommodation for the combination of height and distance from noise sources.

Key cabin note: Cabin numbers use A for port side and Z for starboard, not odd and even. This catches out passengers familiar with other cruise lines.

Deck 15 - Pools, Food Hall, and Fitness

The busiest outdoor deck and the one that generates the most debate. The Aquatic Club pool is the main swimming pool, and honestly it is too small for 2,770 passengers. On sea days, expect competition for loungers. Six VIP cabanas with white curtains and day beds were added during the 2024 dry dock, offering a bookable escape.

The Well-being Pool is a secondary, quieter pool at the aft end of this deck. It is smaller but less crowded.

The Galley is the ship’s food hall - Virgin’s replacement for the traditional buffet. Multiple food stations serve everything from sushi to burgers to salads, with staff serving you rather than a self-service setup. Grounds Club Too, the coffee bar at the Galley entrance, was redesigned during dry dock into a separate lounge space that transforms into a cocktail bar at night.

Gunbae, the Korean BBQ restaurant, is on this deck. It seats groups of six around shared grills with a drinking game element - social and loud, which is the point.

The B-Complex gym splits into two halves: Burn and Bike (cardio, spinning) and Build and Balance (weights, yoga, Pilates). The gym has glass walls with views over both sides of the ship. The Gym and Tonic bar sits between the pools and the gym. The Tune Up mani-pedi spa is also here.

The Mega Rockstar suites (Gorgeous, Posh, Fab, and Massive suites) are on this deck at the forward end, with their own terraces and hot tubs.

Noise note: Deck 15 cabins (the suites) are adjacent to the pool area, gym, and restaurants. Daytime noise from the DJ and pool activities carries.

Deck 16 - Fitness and VIP Spaces

Richard’s Rooftop is the VIP sundeck and bar, reserved for Rockstar suite guests. It sits above the Mega Rockstar suites with craft cocktails and DJ sets. If you are in a standard cabin, you will not access this area.

The Sun Club cafe serves outdoor food. The Sun Club and Sun Club bar provide additional sunbathing space away from the pool deck crowds.

The Athletic Club dominates this deck - an outdoor gym with a boxing ring, training equipment, and the Athletic Club bar. The Cabanas are private bookable hideaways on the starboard side. The Sports Area has a basketball court.

The Net is a suspended catamaran net at the very aft, overhanging the ocean. It is equal parts terrifying and photogenic. Day beds, oversized loungers, and hammocks surround it.

Deck 17 - Running Track and Yoga

The highest passenger deck and the simplest. The Runway is a jogging track that circles the ship. The Perch (also called The Crow’s Nest) is an outdoor yoga space at the aft where sunrise and sunset classes happen. On my transatlantic crossing, the stargazing sessions held up here were a highlight - lying under blankets looking at the sky while the ship moved beneath us.

Scarlet Lady has three banks of elevators: forward (4 lifts), midship (8 lifts), and aft (2 lifts). The midship bank is the most used and the most congested, particularly after shows on Deck 6 and during meal times heading to Deck 15.

The forward elevators are the fastest route to Deck 5 cabins and the spa. The aft elevators are the quickest path to The Dock House, The Wake, and the aft outdoor spaces. Experienced passengers use the aft stairwell to skip elevator queues entirely.

There is one layout quirk to know: the forward and aft sections of Deck 5 do not connect at passenger level. Cabins are forward, restaurants are aft, and you must go via Deck 6 to cross between them.

The promenade on Deck 7 wraps fully around the ship, which is useful for moving between forward and aft without going through the interior. On sea days, walking the promenade is a proper exercise option in its own right.

Best Decks for Key Activities

For cabin-specific recommendations, the cabin types guide and the Scarlet Lady overview cover which room categories sit on which decks.