Virgin Voyages Reviews 1.307

I've sailed on Virgin Voyages twice and do plan to sail at some point again. However...the reason for my 3-star review is that the customer service experience from Virgin Voyages is quite bad! On my most recent Virgin Voyages cruise, we paid nearly $500 for a shore excursion that in no way, shape or form matched the description of the tour. When someone on the tour questioned that, the tour guide snapped and angrily screamed "I am not aware of the tour description you were provided, and what I say goes!" So guess what I did? I reached out to Virgin Voyages and provided feedback. They did NOTHING. And I mean NOTHING! They literally just said "sorry" after listening to my complaint. No credit, no partial refund. They absolutely won't budge on that! Yet when I sailed on Princess and experienced an entire cruise that was total garbage, they at least had the decency to give us each a $50 credit towards a future cruise - better than nothing at all. THAT is what Virgin needs to do. It's not enough to "just listen," and who even knows if they truly did that. Otherwise...Virgin Voyages actually offers an overall good experience. Best included food I've had at sea among the "main" cruise lines. Very clean & modern ships. Adults-only! They've got a lot of positives, but one glaringly obvious detriment is their hideous customer service, which is very much in need of improvement.

Overall I thought the food was not that good. There were a few things that were good, limited choices in the restaurants, same menu every day. Also the capacity of each restaurant was minimum to accommodate the guests on board. Very difficult to be a walk in if you didn't have a reservation which were all filled up before the cruise, unless you wanted to eat at either 5 PM or 9 PM. I also did not think the entertainment shows were very good. The music in the bars was good. The galley buffet for breakfast was good and the best part was that you could get breakfast anytime of the day. I also felt they nickel dimed you along the way, for example if you ordered orange juice for breakfast in the restaurant they charged $7.00, a little ridiculous in my opinion. The entire staff was excellent.

Todo excelente el trato de los empleados apesar que la mayoría hablaba inglés los demás trataban de entender a uno que ha la español. Las comidas exquisitas. Lo único fue en la habitación 5292m ruidos en la cabina pero nada que no te dejara dormir.

Amazing experience on Scarlet Lady with @VirginVoyages! From the cabin to the food to the incredible staff, everything was top-notch. If you’re looking for a fun, kid-free getaway, Virgin Voyages is the move. You won’t be disappointed.

The experience was unforgettable. The food was amazing - we ate about 8 times a day - the selection was fantastic. The crew were the highlight - they were kind and funny and made sure that I received the correct foods (allergy). They were incredibly helpful and made the experience. There was a tattooist on board - Hayley Vinay was kind and thoughtful and made me feel at ease for my first ever tattoo - as well as walking me off the proverbial ledge more than once. I would highly recommend getting a tattoo from her if you've ever thought about it. The entertainment was great - we did multiple trivias, and a painting class which was a ton of fun. Our Bimini day was cancelled due to strong winds but the crew were so kind and they organized a bunch of fun activities to do instead. Such a wonderful experience and i'll be sure to book with Virgin again.

We have cruised many times and this was THE WORST. First off, before you ever go, you cannot choose your cabin. You go with fingers crossed. 60 days out, you are supposed to make dinner reservations. You know nothing about the restaurants, their menus, the quality of their food, or what time shows are happening. We arrived at the terminal a few minutes before our designated time to board. We must have been outside in line for at least 45 minutes, before the line even began to move. Departure was not much better. We have friends who departed later than us that were in line for way more than an hour just to get off the boat, not to mention the line in the terminal before you can get your luggage. There is no one restaurant for evening sit down dining. The buffet is limited, with few choices, few changes in choices and many stations closing very early. Beer and wine are not included with meals. You have to buy a drink package, and every single time you get a drink, or a hot chocolate or a soda at the soda shop, you have to pay. Drinks were not cheap. With $350 to spend for 11 days (and we aren't big drinkers), the money was gone after less than a week. Perhaps the most aggravating part of that, was on the Scarlet Night, everyone was around the pool, music playing, partying. A young lady came around with a tray laden with small glasses, like jello shots come in, passing them out. After you take one, she all of a sudden wants you to pay for it. It was so deceptive. Down it and then she gets out her little machine to charge it. Most of the activities were either paid drinking activities, work out activities or trivia. Beyond that, nope. The staff is very nice and helpful, however our room was made up every morning, and several nights not at all. No cute towels set up on the bed, no chocolate on the pillow. Walking the halls was dull, as there are no paintings or pictures or any kind of decoration. Very institutional. In the fine print, after you pay and think as they advertise "no tips", you find out they want you to pay $22/person/day. I call that tipping. Leaving the ship, no water bottles, returning, no drinks, no cold towels, just "ahoy mate". The shows were different, but there was no large venue, so you had to stand in line for a half hour or more to be sure you were able to get in. It was a cheap version of cruising, but didn't come with a cheap price. We have another one with them booked for August for the eclipse, and are cancelling out, even though we will probably lose our deposit. Not willing to do that again. Too much money to spend to be that disappointed.

TLDR
Fantastic quick service food.
Great Dining experiences.
Bands vs lanyards was great.
Less stuff to do than other lines.
Drink package not being unlimited creates anxiety for heavy drinkers.
Small pools.

Details
5 Night cruise to Grand Turk and Bemimi from Miami.
Traveling with 4 couples all in our 40s.
Balcony Cabins.

Pros
Hammocks were used often. Wish there were 2. (There are 2 on the newest boat)
The vibe. It felt very casual and friendly.
All of the staff was great(but not over the top)
They fixed the luggage of a person in our party. That was above and beyond.
The terminal and their travel agent program.

We had low expectations for Gunbae but it blew us away. We didn’t like the prospect of having to cook our own dinner but Anandha our server did it for us and it was great.
With our size group we loved doing things family style so everyone could try everything. We liked that the staff suggested it rather than having to ask.
The last night we had extra virgin which was the best food by far.
For quick service was all amazing and the format virgin uses with the dining hall style should be the gold standard all lines try to mimick.
Special call out to the PBJ at the Panini place and the noodle place.

Meh
Room tech. Cool but sometimes just a little finicky.
No Map in the app(that I could find)
Free WiFi wasn’t good. Has to immediately upgrade.
Signature drinks - a few times we found ones we liked at restaurants but couldn’t get them again. You should be able to get them anywhere on the ship if requested.
Even though we didn’t have kids, we missed the adventure activities.
Not having a real sports bar, especially during the playoffs. Or a big screen outside either sports. (We’re not even big sports ball people).
The steaks were poorly cooked at the Wake. The Wake in general was the least enjoyable.
Blue Agave wasn’t to our liking either. Just trying to hard to be anything but a Mexican restaurant.
Almost all the arcade machines were broken in some way.
No chicken strips anywhere!? :)

Staff
Phazian at the wake made the dinner bearable. Excellent service and set the tone for our cruise.

Anandha from Gunbae was the best and provided above and beyond service.

Juan Carlos provided excellent service fo our room. We made several requests through the app that were completed lightning fast.

We had a great cruise experience with Virgin in their new ship Brilliant Lady. This was our first cruise after considerable research, and the Virgin experience did not disappoint! If you are looking for a kids-free, judgement free, mature cruise with incredible food, entertainment and crew, then Virgin is a must!

UPDATE: Over 3 weeks post cruise and still fighting for my refund. Shore-based Sailer Services is horrible. Multiple lengthy calls and emails with zero satisfaction. They don’t listen enough to understand issues and their often untimely cut-and-paste responses are useless. I guess disputing the charges through my credit card company are my best option. What a joke!

We had a good time, but could’ve been much better. For starters, we (ten of us) finally settled on dates and booked a cruise, the first for most of us. A couple months later, we were informed our cruise was cancelled because our ship was chartered by a large group. We went from a seven day cruise to an eleven day cruise, which is a lot for first time cruisers. I will say Virgin is probably the best around, especially considering they’re adults only. The food was okay at best. We hit all the restaurants but found The Galley our best option. My biggest problem, after following Virgin’s advice to book excursions through them, was in getting our refund for cancelled excursions. We also booked excursions outside of Virgin and were immediately refunded when they were cancelled. We went to Sailor Services on our last night to specifically ask about receiving a refund for the cancelled excursion we booked through Virgin, and were told we would automatically receive a refund to our linked credit card. After receiving what looked like an email from Virgin requesting personal info to receive our refund, I contacted customer service and received an auto-email stating someone would get back to me, and that Virgin would never request personal info. Some in our group responded to the same email and got their refund, but others have not. Seems extremely shady and, so far, it seems we may be out $300. Love the “no kids” aspect of Virgin, but don’t feel I should have to jump the hoops to get what’s rightfully coming to us. Thinking cruises are the best option for us. Once you’re away from the ship, you apparently have to fight for what’s yours.

This was my first cruise ever, and I honestly don’t know how anything is supposed to top Virgin Voyages after this experience.

From the moment I stepped onboard, the staff completely made the voyage. Every interaction felt warm, personal, and genuinely thoughtful, not scripted or forced.

A huge shoutout to Sam at Gunbae, absolute DELIGHT. From the energy, to the humor, to making the entire dining experience feel fun, welcoming, and memorable, Sam turned a meal into a highlight of the trip. Gunbae alone is worth sailing for.

And Junior at the Dock Bar, what a gentleman. Impeccable service, incredible drinks, and such a kind, attentive presence. He has that rare ability to make you feel taken care of without ever hovering. Truly elevated the whole Dock Bar experience.

I also have to mention Dr. Juan at the Spa, phenomenal. Professional, knowledgeable, and genuinely invested in making sure you feel relaxed and refreshed. One of the best spa experiences I’ve had anywhere, land or sea.

Beyond the standout individuals, the overall vibe of the ship was unmatched, stylish, inclusive, relaxed, and FUN without being chaotic. The food was excellent, the ship design was gorgeous, and the atmosphere felt modern and welcoming in every way.

For a first cruise, I couldn’t have asked for a better introduction. Virgin Voyages didn’t just meet expectations, they set a new standard.

Already counting down until my next sailing. 🚢✨

Première expérience de croisière à bord du Resilient Lady et totalement conquise ! Service impeccable, nourriture délicieuse, personnel professionnel, souriant et accueillant. Propreté irréprochable. J’y retournerai sans hésiter et je recommande vivement.

I LOVED this cruise and @VirginVoyages. The crew and other passengers were SO friendly. I was hesitant about sailing alone, but even this introvert met and hung out with SO many people. Because it's all adults, the vibe is very different than other cruise lines I have been on, but the smaller ships make it more conducive to socializing. The shows were great. The food was great. The specialty restaurants don't cost extra (although a few items do, but are clearly marked). If you're solo, go to Gunbae because it is group dining, and gives you a chance to meet other people. I will ABSOLUTELY sail on VV again.

VV's product on board is fantastic, however their shore side customer service is the absolute worst. If you have a shore thing get cancelled, or any other issue or changes to make to your booking, be prepared to spend countless hours on the phone over several weeks. I've spent the last 7 weeks trying to resolve a refund and credit issue when I made changes to a booking. Nearly $2,000 is missing and still no answers.

I have cruised on a number of cruise lines but never Virgin Voyagers. A good friend suggested that I try Vrigin. I am so happy I did. The staff were all helpful and attentive with a high morale, all the speciality restaurants were first rate, the enterainment was as good as anyother line, and the ship was clean throughout. I will never cruise on another line again unless a friend or family member has already booked another line for a milestone and asked me to join them. I look forward to my next Virgin Voyagers cruise!

Very enjoyable and good value as it included wifi, gratuity (changing for 2026), all restaurants, etc. There are no drink packages for alcoholic beverages or specialty coffees or specialty juices, but you can buy a bar tab in advance that includes bonus incentives. For people who don’t drink a lot, this was great.

We were on 11 day cruise in Caribbean and very much an older demographic.

SHIP: although I appreciate the nautical theme and vision for the design, I thought there was too much “hard” seating and wasted space. Areas around pool were claustrophobic, whereas other deck areas were almost empty. Daybeds should be replaced in prime seating areas as they take up too much space, and placed in spaces that are underutilized. Outdoor gym is one such wasted space with very few people and no comfortable seating. Very few quiet spaces where one can enjoy the sun without music in background.

ACTIVITIES: none really appealed to us, as many to do with shopping or going to spa. The good ones were always “sold out”.

SERVICE: excellent and hard working staff

CABIN: I requested bed topper so our bed was more comfortable than my son’s who was 2 doors down. LOVE THE HAMMOCK! Appreciated a true balcony rather than an “infinite” balcony. We had plenty of storage space. Great selection of movies, etc. on entertainment system.

DINING: Overall it was very good to excellent. There were duds, especially in the Galley which was hit and miss. At lunch, the chicken breasts in the Galley were often overcooked and it tasted like they were “recycled” into the daily curries. The curry sauces were very good, too bad the chicken pieces were hard. The same goes for the beef bourguignon they had one day where beef chunks were very hard instead of being fork tender. Fish in the Galley also tended to be overcooked. Pastries looked really good but tasted 6-7/10. We only had dinner once there and the beef Wellington was very good.

Virgin’s restaurants were very good; only drawback is you have to book in advance to get prime times. Test Kitchen was very good as they allowed us to substitute items if they were not to our liking. Rojo, overall, was our favourite once we asked the kitchen not to salt our steaks as they were too salty when we tried it first time (must’ve salted before cooking and again before serving). The fish was outstanding and perfectly cooked. Pink Agave’s sous-vide duck was my personal favorite. Their guacamole was surprisingly tasteless for a Mexican restaurant. The Wake’s clam chowder deserves its fame; however, bone marrow was tasteless. The dorade was excellent. The steaks were decent but lamb chops were underseasoned. Extra Virgin was our least favorite as I make better chicken liver mousse and arancini. Only decent pasta was seafood but steak was decent. Gunbae was 7-8/10, but very noisy. Make sure you are seated with people with similar food restrictions as we were seated with another group who had allergies, etc. and it really changed the order of the meal, which we didn’t like.

What I’m not impressed with is booking system for restaurants. We were fortunate that we got all our bookings as we set alarm for when our “tier” for booking opened up 60 days in advance. However, those who had to wait were out of luck. Yes, they do have bookings set aside once you are on board and can access ship wifi, but again, those who had priority boarding got first choice. With the new booking system as of January 2026, it forces you to upgrade your cabin in order to get priority to reserve restaurants before you board the ship.

ENTERTAINMENT: was about 7-8/10 overall. Our first show, Duets, was not very good. Many people, including myself, walked out. Only one out of three singers could really sing. The one show I really wanted to see, which I had booked in advance, Up With a Twist, was cancelled at last minute due to staff illness.

Would I go with Virgin again? Yes, as long as pricing is better than competitors for what it includes.

I recently sailed with Virgin Voyages during a work trip to the Cayman Islands and chose this cruise based on its awards and reputation as “#1 each year.” I expected a premium experience. What I found instead was one of the worst price-to-quality ratios I’ve seen in cruising.

I honestly thought Norwegian Cruise Line was the bottom, but Virgin Voyages managed to set a new low.

1. The Buffet System Is a Disaster

There is no normal buffet like every other cruise line has. Instead:
• There are 5–6 small food stations
• Each has a separate queue and wait
• You cannot serve yourself
• Staff hands out food and you wait with a buzzer card for every item

Example: salad in one area, oatmeal somewhere else, drinks somewhere else — all separate lines. It’s inefficient, slow, and completely kills the buffet concept.

2. Restaurant Booking is Impossible

Booking restaurants in advance? Forget it.

Everything was already fully booked months before the cruise and I was unable to secure reservations in the app.

Only way I got in was by asking in person every day as a solo traveler and they seated me with other solo guests. To be fair: the food in the restaurants was excellent. That’s the one strong point.

3. Terrible Ship Layout & Design

This ship is designed incredibly badly on the inside:
• No large theater for main entertainment like other ships have
• Tons of tiny rooms instead of a few well-designed areas
• Navigation makes no logical sense
• You often cannot walk forward/backward on the same deck and must go up/down repeatedly

It feels like a maze, not a cruise ship.

4. Staff Motivation was Low

Most of the staff seemed unmotivated and uninterested. Not rude, just not engaged. It did not feel premium at all.

5. Parties Are Good BUT…

Parties are well-produced and decent quality. However, if you are sailing from Miami and looking for nightlife, it makes no sense — Miami Beach has far superior venues, DJs and energy without paying for a cruise.

Overall

This is a terrible product for the price. The marketing and Instagram hype do not match the actual experience once onboard. I regret choosing Virgin Voyages and will not sail with them again.

The only good part was the food quality in restaurants everything else was a disappointment.

Not recommended!!

We recently sailed with Virgin Voyages for the first time and overall had a good experience. The food on board was excellent, the ship itself was exceptionally clean, and the staff consistently impressed us with their friendliness, professionalism, and genuine effort to create the best possible experience. We also really enjoyed the ports we visited and appreciated the generous amount of time allotted at each stop. It was also refreshing to not be "nickel & dimed" for every item on board. We loved a lot of the extra's you get with the price of the cruise. While we paid a little more than other cruises, it was worth not to be "sold to" every moment on board.

Where things felt different, especially for a cruise marketed toward adults, was in the entertainment and nightlife. While the individual entertainers were talented, we found the overall stage productions, creativity, and show material to be a step below what we’ve experienced on other cruise lines. Additionally, it was surprisingly difficult to find a place to dance or enjoy late-night fun after about 11:30 p.m. The ship seemed to wind down early, and we were surprised that there wasn’t a dedicated dance club or late-night venue that stayed lively into the night. These aspects were disappointing, though not enough to ruin the trip.

The highlight of the onboard entertainment was the “Red Night” party by the pool. That evening delivered the kind of energy and atmosphere we expected from an adult-focused cruise, and we would have loved to see more nights like that throughout the sailing.

Since this was our first Virgin Voyages experience, it’s possible our expectations—shaped by the “adult cruise” branding—played a role in how we perceived certain elements. In the end, we truly enjoyed our time with family, the ports we visited, the people we met, and the unique touches Virgin brings to cruising.

Now that we’ve experienced Virgin Voyages, we’ll likely choose a different cruise line in the future that aligns more closely with what we’re looking for. But we’re glad we tried it and appreciated the new experience it offered.

Virgin is a FABULOUS adult experience. No kids! The embarkation and de-embarkationre seamless. The food is amazing, and it's a lot of adult fun! There were great shows and something to do for everyone. We will return.

Tons of fun, making new friends, incredible food, and great entertainment. My only suggestion to newbies is start doing your homework as soon as you book. That was the newbie mistake I made. There is so much to do, reservations you can make, etc. that it takes time. I started two weeks before my ship was to sail and I missed some opportunities because of that. I'm already viewing new options for my next cruise.