Virgin Voyages: Because Kidulting is Fun

From Miami to Turks and Caicos to the Bahamas

Hey Sailors! Once you lean into the silliness of the Virgin Voyages entertainers greeting you this way, you can lean into the indulgent luxury of this cruise line aimed at adults. We chose Virgin for the all-inclusive pricing (no tipping, no up charges for specific restaurants and basic Wi-Fi included), the sunny Caribbean ports of call and the absence of kids (all passengers must be 18+).

Even as a person who loves planning travel, it’s fun to turn over the itinerary to a cruise and not worry about planning any of the details. I usually book my own trips, but this time I had a great experience booking our Virgin Voyage through a Virtuoso travel agent. Our agent, Julie Jones, had recently experienced a VV cruise herself and had lots of good tips to offer us. Best of all, booking through Virtuoso meant we had early boarding privileges. We booked the cruise with only two weeks to go until departure, which meant all of the preferred dining times were booked (I don’t like eating dinner at 9:00). With Julie booking us, we boarded with the “Rock Star” level passengers without paying the rockstar price—nearly three hours earlier than other passengers (more fun starting sooner!).

THE SHIP: THE VALIANT LADY

We were impressed with the modern and minimal decor of the Valiant Lady. Areas are distinct with their own themes and feeling, yet it all holds together with a splash of iconic Virgin red. Launched in 2022, the Valiant Lady still feels brand new. This is not a traditional cruise ship with a gigantic formal dining room or central area. It feels like lots of different chic hotel lobbies where you’d love to hang out. Music is a central theme (remember Virgin started as a record label) and there is even a DJ booth at the center of the ship. There are times it felt like everyone aboard was in one place (cocktail send-off party with free glasses of bubbly) to times we were blissfully all alone (in the pool on a port day!).

The rooms are bigger than many cruises we’ve been on, and my favorite part was our private deck with their signature red rope hammock (available in all exterior rooms). I spent quiet time daily hanging in the hammock–either reading and relaxing and watching the sea swell or stargazing at night.

THE FOOD

No buffets! Virgin offers a variety of restaurants and an upscale food court to satisfy any appetite, craving or need. Every night is an opportunity to try a new restaurant. This is not the traditional cruise experience where you get an assigned table with a wait staff that you see throughout the cruise. Even better—no up charges for any specific restaurant. With a 5-night trip, we didn’t manage to hit them all, which was kind of exciting. There was always a new place to try.

My favorite restaurants on the Valiant Lady:

The Wake - This restaurant is really the shining star from menu to decor. Its posh interiors are gold and wood with a high-end steakhouse vibe. We had a fabulous dinner here (steak and fish) and also a yummy brunch. It’s the hardest place to obtain reservations so it’s the place to prioritize when you book reservations.

Pink Agave - This restaurant is all about upscale Mexican. Portions are smallish which was great so we could try lots of bites, including fresh guacamole, grilled shrimp and chicken enchiladas. Since all food is included with your cruise fare, you can order as much as you want if you aren’t full on the first request. A tiny chocolate taco stuffed with dulce de leche was a great ending here. The restaurant turns into a nightclub after dinner hours.

Extra Virgin - This Italian restaurant offers pasta made on the ship. We loved the gnocchi, which was light and fluffy like pillows, as well as the cornmeal encrusted calamari. The marinated mushroom steak was a hit with my meat-loving husband. The charcuterie board, which was suggested as an appetizer, looked like a small meal, so we passed. This really confused our waiter, but he didn’t know we’d already hit Opa Hour in The Dock for mezzes!

Also interesting for foodies: The Test Kitchen - Designed with an open kitchen so you can watch some of the food preparation going on, there is a set menu but not much description (example: “scallop/black garlic” or “study of chicken” is the full description of a course). Presentation is prioritized and items are beautifully plated with flourishes and garnishes and sauce. However, it does take hours to eat here. Dinner is the show, so don’t plan on getting to any entertainment events for at least 3 hours after your reservation time. This is a bit too long to sit and you could tell some people were annoyed (hint: my husband).

Our favorite spot on the whole ship: The Dock. This gorgeous Greek-themed bar at the stern featured “Opa Hour” every day with Mediterranean appetizers, cocktails and wine and a view that couldn’t be beat. Some of the seating featured puffy loungers (almost like beds) where you could relax, close your eyes and take in a little satisfying nap after day drinking. One night, the entertainment program included a chance for a guided stargaze and the crew turned off all the ambient lighting on the back of the ship, allowing the stars to pop. I’m still thinking about the beet hummus and the grilled shrimp skewers.

If you don’t want to plan ahead for every meal, there is an upscale food court (not a buffet) with lots of choices. Our favorites included chorizo avocado breakfast tacos, a hot, gooey s’mores cookie at the bake shop and fruit bento boxes. The offerings include everything from a traditional American breakfast, sushi, burgers and tacos. On a different deck there is a counter pick-up pizza place so you can travel to a sunny spot on the ship to enjoy your pizza.

DRINKS

We were surprised and delighted to find the drink pricing equivalent with what we pay in nice restaurants at home. We bought a pre-paid bar tab ahead of the cruise as Virgin threw in a ~10% bonus on top for buying early. You can see many of the bar menus online on the Virgin Insider’s website to plan your drinking spending. Note: Virgin Insider is a travel agency’s website and not affiliated officially with Virgin Voyages, but they have tons of great information to help you plan.

THE FUN STUFF

Facing what seemed like a never-ending winter, our plan was about getting somewhere warm and sunny. We booked an itinerary leaving from Miami called “Dominican Daze” expecting to go to the Dominican Republic but were surprised (and absolutely fine) with a last-minute VV change to Turks and Caicos instead. In Grand Turk, we had a fabulous snorkeling excursion with crystal-clear aqua waters and plenty of fish sightings (we were ok with the lack of sharks) followed by an afternoon on the beach, sifting our toes through white sand.

A private club was a nice way to experience Bimini Beach in the Bahamas - great facilities, including lunch, music and bars. We got there before most of the passengers and had our pick of the seats. Bottom right is our view in Grand Turk from Jack's Shack (with conch fritters and a cold Corona).

In the Bahamas, Virgin Voyages takes over the Bimini Beach Resorts World Beach Club when it is in port – giving guests a completely private beach experience. We got off the ship early in the day and were rewarded with lounge chairs and an umbrella (no extra cost). You can also pay for a private cabana with guaranteed lounge chairs, shade and waiter service. The club also offers lunch which includes ceviche, coconut fish curry, plantain fries and a tasty rum cake. You can charge drinks at the club just like you do on the ship.

When we weren’t in port, there was plenty to do onboard. Bingo with the Diva, featuring the ship’s iconic drag queen, was hilarious even though I didn’t win. We played trivia several times and proudly won rounds of drinks. The onboard shopping included both designer and lower-end offerings. There are lots of shows, strolling entertainers, games, music lounges for every musical taste, sports (including yoga classes, a walking track plus pickleball and basketball courts) and late-night activities.

YES, I’D GO AGAIN IN A HEARTBEAT

Now that our kids are grown, we especially enjoyed food, drink and entertainment experiences aimed at adults (who could relax and act like kids). There is truly something for everyone on Virgin Voyages — from the person who wants a quiet place to watch the sea go by to an “all in” bingo-playing, dance party enthusiast. We met very nice people, including people our age (50s) who were friendly enough to share their Champagne package and younger people (30s) who teamed up with us to win trivia one night (and the prize–yay, more Champagne!).

Hey Sailor, if I were you, I’d take a Virgin Voyage as soon as possible.