What to Expect on Virgin Voyages: My Personal Experience

Dear Virgin Voyages Sailor,

I’m so thrilled about Resilient Lady’s upcoming departure. The entire My Cruises team and I hope you are looking forward to your journey onboard Virgin Voyages.

I was recently lucky enough to enjoy my own personal holiday onboard Resilient Lady and after sailing Virgin Voyages for the very first time I want to share my experiences with you on this impressive multi-award-winning cruise line and what you can expect. In line with the Virgin Voyages Way, they aim to do things differently and in my opinion in a good way.

The Virgin Voyages App

I was a little bit concerned about how to use the app, however, once I had taken the time to explore it’s functionality, I was pleasantly surprised by how easy it was to complete the pre-cruise information and start to plan my voyage! The app gave me the ability to select dining and shore excursions, as well as personalise my voyage. The options and simplicity were fantastic. Once onboard, the app really showed its benefits as it allowed me to discover the events of each day, plan my activities, and add any dining requests. Please reach out to the My Cruises team if you are unable to complete your ready to sail or access the app for the firs time, we are here to help!

Embarkation and First Impressions

After counting down to my Greek Islands cruise, I was excited to see the ship and it did not disappoint! It stands out among a sea of white ships, its sleek design waiting for us to board. This really elevated our excitement. Embarkation was a breeze and with Virgin Voyages having dedicated embarkation time slots, and these time slots occurring slightly later than standard, (from 2 pm onwards.), this ensures everything is open onboard and there’s no waiting around with your luggage to access your cabin. Also, you’ll receive a small bracelet that acts as your cruise card, which is much easier than the traditional cards, which you can often misplace.

Clever Cabins

Virgin Voyages has been very clever with the design of their cabins. They are comfortable and practical with warm nautical tones. Selected cabins can also be made up as a living room during the day and a bedroom by night if you prefer. In standard cabins, the wardrobe doors are replaced by fabric curtains which reduces any creaking or banging when the ship is in motion.

Another great addition to the clever cabins is Virgin Voyages famous red hammocks on your sea terrace, another example of how they do things differently.

Design & Formation

Once we’d unpacked our luggage, it was time to explore the ship. It’s bright, modern, and colourful. The flow of the ship works well and has an excellent passenger-to-space ratio. Each of the lounges and public areas has a different vibe and there is something for everyone. It felt more like an upmarket hotel than a traditional cruise ship. The outdoor areas are also incredibly spacious and have plenty of places to relax in. The pool loungers have huge fluffy white towels and a high-quality feel to them. The only area that surprised me was the main pool, which is designed for the perfect cool down, such as a quick dip in and out rather than swimming laps. There are also plenty of other areas for outdoor exercise.

Dining Experiences

If you’re an avid cruiser like me, you may notice that there is no true main dining room or buffet area as with other ships. This is very intentional. The dining design concepts were created to counter typical cruising experiences. The way Virgin Voyages does dining is exceptional. Imagine a premium restaurant without the price tag. From authentic Italian at Extra Virgin to mouthwatering steak and seafood at The Wake, the quality and variety of cuisine were sensational.

You can opt to pre-book some of the restaurants before you leave home or see what your taste buds feel like on the day.  Rest assured if you haven’t pre booked, the restaurants do keep a percentage of tables for those who want to decide on the day. One on these longer voyages, you’ll have a chance to try them all!  I was a huge fan of The Galley, which is more like an upmarket food hall than a buffet, perfect for breakfast and lunch with an array of delectable choices.

Drinks & Bar Tab 

You may have a Bonus Bar Tab included in your voyage or have opted to purchase one. If you have a bar tab included on the full voyage from Athens to Australia, this will be split across the three voyages and may show as a combination of bar tab and sailor loot, so be sure to use up the full credits on each sector. The bar tab is a great way of being able to select what you love to drink and when. This is different from a traditional drinks package where costs need to be monitored. You will notice the high quality of some beverages, especially cocktails, all made to order rather than premixed. Don’t forget Virgin Voyages already includes soft drinks in your cruise fare, so the bar tab is purely for extra indulgence!

Epic Entertainment

This is where Virgin Voyages takes sailing to the next level. It’s a festival at sea. From live music every evening at On The Rocks bar to remarkable dinner shows such as Another Rose, the entertainment is varied and spectacular. As the ship is designed for adults, some of hte shows are cutting edge, so buckle up for risqué performances. Remember, this is not your traditional cruise line. Even so, there is something for everyone. There are also many outstanding bars or lounges to enjoy a drink with new friends such as the Dock House which is a beautiful Mediterranean tapas bar that even has an outdoor bar area for dining or sipping under the stars. If you have a zest for life, there is no doubt you’ll have fun on this ship.

Don’t forget to pack something red to celebrate the famous Scarlet Night deck party.

Ready to Cruise?

If you’re a veteran cruiser like me, you may find yourself comparing the ways things are done, but hopefully in a good way! There’s a varied age group onboard which is great – these voyages make you feel ageless. Virgin Voyages does things differently and it works! You can certainly see why Sir Richard Branson loves this style of cruising too. If you’re young at heart, you will feel even more so on Resilient Lady.

I hope this letter offers you a true account of my Virgin Voyages journey, and what you can expect onboard. This innovative cruise ship is making waves across the globe, and with the incredible itinerary from Europe to Australia that we’ve curated exclusively here at My Cruises. I hope you have a wonderful voyage and enjoy the ship as much as my wife and I did.

Happy Voyaging!

Michael Middleton
My Cruises, General Manager

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