Cruise on Virgin Voyages' Valiant Lady
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General
Virgin Voyages has three ships launched in 2020 (right at the start of COVID), 2021, and 2023. An additional ship will be launched during 2024. They are all identical in structure and facilities. The ships weigh 110,000 tons with a maximum capacity of 2,700 passengers.
All the ships are named after women with the suffix "Lady": Valiant Lady, Scarlet Lady, and Resilient Lady. The fourth ship is named: Brilliant Lady. The company was founded by billionaire Sir Richard Branson, owner of the airline Virgin Atlantic and the Virgin Hotels chain.
Virgin built a new terminal at the Port of Miami which is lit up at night and the company logo is visible from afar. The company, which joined a competitive market full of options and cruise lines, is trying to find its unique place and appeal to new market segments while standing out in different ways. Its main uniqueness: Adult-only cruises, ages 18 and up, which attracts many customers, especially young people without children or parents of young children looking for some peace. From this stems the character of the shows and events on the ship.
Additional striking differences in the company's ships: employees on the ship do not wear uniforms, they have no ranks (not even the captain), passengers are called "Sailors," there is no cruise director, there are no central dining rooms, there are "secret" events, especially secret parties (which were initially very erotic, including S&M, but have been toned down a bit today). There are facilities suited specifically to those who are forbidden from sailing on the ship—children. Swings of various types, board games, puzzles, etc., but it seems the adults enjoy returning to childhood, playing, and uploading a photogenic story on a swing against the background of the sea or port. The emphasis on the cruise is on alcohol-fueled parties, with plenty of trance music, a Diva, and significant representation for the LGBTQ+ community.
In addition to the regular spa, there is a tattoo studio on board, and many passengers treat themselves to a tattoo during the voyage. After over 40 cruises with most cruise lines and on ships of various types, I decided to check out Virgin's second ship: "Valiant Lady" on a six-night Western Caribbean cruise and experience the company and its innovations for myself.
The cruise price included internet, tips, and meals in all restaurants, and usually also includes generous "onboard credit" for purchasing drinks, tours, spa treatments, tattoos, and more. It is important to note that prices have significantly increased in the last year and continue to rise. Is it justified? Is it recommended? In the following article, I will try to present everything possible regarding the ship, rooms, facilities, food, service, shows, and many more important tips to help you decide if a cruise on the company's ships is right for you.
Boarding Day – Expectations vs. Reality
At Virgin Voyages, everything is done differently, and it starts with boarding. In most companies, you can start boarding the ship as early as 11:00 AM; at Virgin, the first to board, who are suite residents and repeat passengers with high status called "Deep Blue," board only at 1:45 PM. Most passengers board from 2:30 PM onwards according to the time they set in advance in the app (a month and a half before the cruise date, the earliest time was 3:00 PM; luckily, thanks to Platinum status at Princess, I received the Deep Blue status which gives several nice benefits and we got to board at 1:45 PM). Instead of a key, you receive a gray-red bracelet with which you open the door, pay everywhere, and disembark and board the ship. The bracelet usually bears the two expressions most common during the cruise, which are actually the company's "motto":
-Ahoy Sailor – and passengers are called Sailor, a bit pathetic in my eyes, and the phrase "Ahoy Sailor" is heard from all employees constantly. -Feeling Nauti – the literal meaning is "feeling nautical," but the true intention sounds the same: "naughty," meaning inappropriate behavior, especially with sexual overtones.
You can request a different inscription or even the passenger's name in advance. The boarding process was quite long and exhausting, mainly involving standing in lines. Compared to our boarding on ships in all other companies (except Carnival), it consumed much more time and was less friendly. Disembarkation from the ship on the last day is at 10:30 AM at the latest, compared to 9:30 AM in most other companies, meaning it doesn't really compensate for the late boarding, but one small advantage: you can stay in the room until the disembarkation time and are not asked (as in most companies) to vacate the room and be in public areas as early as 7:30-8:00 AM. After you manage to board, you must make reservations for shows and various activities, which if not done in the first hours of the first day, are taken and cannot be booked throughout the cruise. The stairwells and corridors have a very basic and simple design. Everything is gray with stripes in red, blue, or purple colors. No pictures, no variety. Also no maps of the ship or directions. Only next to the elevators is there a large picture with the floor number and nautical flags that change from floor to floor.
Our room, a standard balcony room, surprised us with its small size compared to rooms of the same level in other American companies.
We were especially negatively surprised by the size of the bathroom and toilet. You cannot dry yourself in it without the towel rubbing against the toilet, so you dry yourself outside the bathroom. The smallest we've had so far from all cruise lines. The balcony is standard size with a very cute and recommended addition, exclusive to Virgin: a red, comfortable hammock that you can both lie and sit on.
There is plenty of storage space in the room and everything is modern with an iPad that operates the TV and can also be used to order food, towels, cleaning, etc., but the design is very basic and in the style of IKEA. The whole ship is painted in gray colors with a bit of red. The gray is very reminiscent of military ships and for us, as Israelis, gave a less pleasant feeling. In short—the feeling in the first hours was quite disappointing but with hope that what we would discover and receive later would compensate...
Almost Everything Included
One of the striking advantages of Virgin Voyages is its "almost everything included" policy. And indeed, they keep their promise: the cruise price includes internet, tips, meals in all restaurants, fitness classes, free soft drinks (there are juice machines and soft drinks like cola), and all shows and activities. The price does not, of course, include tours in ports, does not include premium coffee, and does not include alcoholic beverages, but they usually have various deals that give "Loot," which in their language is onboard credit for any use, and there are also many deals with credit only for alcoholic drinks. When on board, they have a recommended deal for those who book a voucher for an additional cruise: $600 onboard credit for the next cruise and a $300 discount. You pay a $300 deposit (no need to choose a cruise) and receive these benefits. Every passenger can even purchase ten vouchers under these conditions and transfer them to friends and acquaintances. The voucher can be used for booking through your travel agent (who, if good like mine, gives even more benefits) or for direct booking. The voucher is non-refundable and can be used within two years. An excellent sales promotion method with much better benefits than other companies that encourages people during their vacation to buy more and more vacations and convince friends to join. The deals change from time to time but are always tempting. Repeat passengers and passengers whose status from other companies was matched are called Deep Blue and receive additional benefits. We received an extra $200 for drinks, benefits for premium coffee, and more. Combined with the onboard credit we had ($600 general plus $300 for drinks), we had too much credit to spend. Since we are not big drinkers (we drank anyway with every meal, including mimosas at brunches), we utilized the drink credit for fresh natural juices and high-quality shakes as well. The general money can be used for spa treatments, tours, and even the casino.
We managed to use all the credit and at the end of the cruise did not pay even one additional cent. Definitely a company where the most is included of all companies. It's just a pity that the cruise price has increased significantly in the last year and continues to rise.
Pools and Sports/Leisure Facilities
For lovers of pools and jacuzzis, the pools on the company's ships are a bitter disappointment. While all ships and companies don't have giant pools, most still allow for swimming and various water sports activities. At Virgin, there are two pools. The first looks at first glance from afar like a standard cruise pool, a bit smaller than usual, but when you get closer you discover a tiny pool, the smallest I've encountered on cruise ships—two-thirds of the pool size is actually a puddle with water a few centimeters deep!
The second pool, also small and not for swimming, is circular.
Next to both and on an additional deck, there are tiny jacuzzis, suitable for 4 in a squeeze, which are almost constantly full with 6-7 people body-to-body. Although I am a lover of water and pools, this was the first cruise where I did not enter the water of any pool or jacuzzi! On the outer decks, there is also a multi-purpose sports court: basketball/pickleball/soccer, which is also particularly small compared to the modern ships of other companies.
On the other hand, there are plenty of swings, especially those suited for kindergartens, but, to remind you: this is an adult-only cruise. After a few photos for Instagram, most passengers exhausted the swings and they stood quite abandoned for most of the cruise.
There is also a flexible net you can lie on for sunbathing (like many catamarans have), but it is very uncomfortable and it too is used for a picture or two for social networks and is usually abandoned.
Additionally, fitness facilities and various games like giant chess, shuffleboard, long soccer tables, etc., and even a punching bag are scattered across several decks.
On the highest floor, floor 17, there is a recommended, elevated red walking track that offers an unobstructed 360-degree view.
Inside the ship on floor 7, in one of the popular areas "The Social Club," there are various games such as air hockey and electronic game machines, as well as a large selection of board games and puzzles.
The gym is well-equipped and divided into two different zones; the main drawback in my eyes—loud trance music played in it all the time, and even the best noise-canceling headphones fail to silence it.
Adjacent there is also a spinning room and a sports room with mats for yoga etc. Under Virgin's "all-inclusive" policy, you can participate for free in classes held daily in the sports rooms, but the drawback is that the number of participants is very small and limited, and by the first day of the cruise, no spot remains for any class until the end of the voyage. Therefore, sports lovers must immediately upon boarding the ship reserve spots (even before shows and restaurants; this fills up the fastest). The spa on the ship is divided into different zones located on various floors from floor 5 to 15; prices for different treatments are similar to other companies (very expensive. A good way to use onboard credit...). An exclusive Virgin Voyages gimmick: a tattoo studio. There, by appointment and of course for payment, they will give you whatever tattoo you dreamed of (real, not henna). The place is very popular and active.
Shows and Parties on the Ship
At Virgin Voyages, shows and activities are different than in other cruises, and the management regarding them is also different. Entry to most shows is by reservation. However, you cannot book any show or activity before boarding the ship. Everything must be booked immediately after boarding or through the app (which opens for reservations only after boarding and connecting to the ship's Wi-Fi). Whatever you don't book in the first hours of the first day is taken and cannot be booked for the whole cruise. Although there are "standby" spots, since the halls are small and the number of shows is limited, there is a very low chance of getting in without a prior reservation. On the "Valiant Lady," there are two main halls: "The Red Room," which is the main hall and is significantly smaller than in any other ship. This is a versatile hall—it can look like a regular hall, like a stadium, or like a dance floor without chairs.
Another hall is called "The Manor." This is also a hall that can change greatly and become a dance club, but its main use is for dinner with a show called by the unoriginal name: "The Ship Show."
In my opinion, this is the most recommended show on the ship. A net hour-and-a-half show with singers, dancers, a host, and many guests from a magician to a dancer inside a giant ball, a tap dancer, and acrobats.
An elaborate show at a high level that also includes tasty food. The entrance to "The Manor" is particularly impressive with a golden mirror maze. In addition to it, there are two other recommended shows presented in the Red Room: a circus and juggling show (of which most sessions were canceled in our cruise due to weather) and a "Diva Around the World" show, starring the ship's Diva and her dance troupe.
An additional "show" is actually a TV game called: "The Miss Behave Show," where two hosts divide the hall into two halves and together with the audience do many strange and surprising things. It is very hard to describe or digest it.
Each one of the shows is held several times during the cruise, but the total number of spots for each of them across all sessions is less than half of the total passengers. In addition, there are two giant parties: a Pajama Party and a hot dance party named "Scarlet" where everyone wears red.
Sometimes the parties are held by the pool and sometimes, if the weather is not suitable, in the hall which becomes a giant dance floor.
There are other activities and events (quite few and very few options simultaneously) in the central space called "Roundabout" on floors 6 and 7. A small and crowded place, with very few seats, where people arrive an hour in advance to catch a spot for a very short half-hour show.
The highlight for many: the secret parties. Only for carefully selected invitees and very hush-hush. In the past, they were extremely erotic, but following exposure and reactions from some participants, they have been greatly moderated. They are held in "secret" locations in a special hall at the bow of the ship, reached from the crew quarters etc. There are of course also musical corners with musicians and singers, but in a significantly smaller quantity than in most other companies, and it is usually hard to find a seat near the musicians. There is no cruise director or head of activities and there isn't a main show every day.
With advance planning of the days and booking immediately upon arrival, you will manage to see 3-4 shows in a week-long cruise; on Celebrity, for example, I saw ten shows in a week! And without booking a spot in advance.
Take into account that even when you have a booked spot for a show on Virgin, you will have to stand in a long line of fifteen minutes to half an hour at the hall entrance because the doors open only a few minutes before the show starts. You cannot, as in most companies, enter and sit leisurely in the hall to catch a spot.
Food and Drink in Virgin's Restaurants
The food at Virgin Voyages is undoubtedly its strongest point. First of all: all restaurants are included in the price. There is no need to add money for specialty restaurants. As usual, there is also nothing reminiscent of other companies in the food: There are no central dining rooms and no buffet, but in their place, there is a variety of recommended and diverse restaurants. On the Valiant Lady, there are six restaurants on different floors from floor five up to 15: A Mexican restaurant (especially loved by Americans and acclaimed) called: "Pink Agave," where in addition to a variety of classic dishes (the duck is particularly recommended) there are also crispy crickets and of course a rich bar with tequilas.
A wonderful Italian restaurant called "Extra Virgin" with recommended dishes; I especially liked the appetizers including calamari, meatballs, and artichoke. A Korean grill restaurant called "Gunbae": The name means "cheers" in Korean, and at the end of the meal you play a nice game with the waiter involving drinking shots of Korean liquor. The meal is at shared tables for six people. An American restaurant with a twist combined with vegetarian and vegan dishes named: "Razzle Dazzle,"
An experimental kitchen named "The Test Kitchen," a kitchen based on molecular cooking with a fixed 6-course menu (there is a choice only for the main course) that changes every few days, where the portions are small but with a lot of "show," and the most recommended restaurant in my eyes: "The Wake," a steak and seafood restaurant. All these restaurants are open only for dinner except for two: "The Wake" and "Razzle Dazzle," which are also open for brunch (from morning until afternoon). For all of them, reservations must be made in advance! Otherwise, there is no room.
Reservation usually opens 45 days before the cruise date and within hours all the more convenient times are taken. But don't despair. Half of the spots are available for booking on the ship—immediately upon boarding the ship. It is recommended immediately upon boarding, after booking shows, to book meals in the app (including brunch). Instead of a buffet, Virgin ships have a giant place on floor 15 named "The Galley" with many food stalls: a salad bar, burgers, tacos, sushi, noodles, toasts, all-day breakfast, fruit, sweets, a popsicle stand, and more.
Some are open all day and some only until three in the afternoon. You can sit at a table and have everything served, or you can go between the stalls and order. In some, you receive a beeper notifying you when the food is ready. Soft drinks (including cola, sprite, etc.) and regular coffee—unlimited free. High-quality coffee and alcoholic drinks—for a fee. Almost everyone has "Loot"—money for use for any purpose and/or money for use only on alcoholic drinks. There are other food corners on the ship on the lower floors for light meals, such as "The Dock" with skewers and Mediterranean food or the "Social Club" with hot dogs, popsicles, and cookies. There is also an excellent ice cream parlor with flavors that mostly change daily (also without extra charge)
And a recommended pizzeria with Italian pizzas from the oven.
