How How to Have the Best Cruise on Virgin Voyages: Tips from Seasoned Sailors

Virgin Voyages isn't your grandparents' cruise line. There are no kids running through the halls, no formal nights, and no midnight buffet with an ice sculpture. Instead, you get an adults-only, all-inclusive experience built around great food, great music, and genuinely good design. If you're setting sail (Virgin calls it "voyaging") for the first time, here's how to make the most of it.

Nail Your Dining Reservations Early

The single biggest thing to get right before you even step on board is dining. Virgin Voyages doesn't have a main dining room or a buffet. Instead, there are multiple specialty restaurants included in your fare, including The Test Kitchen, Pink Agave, Razzle Dazzle, Gunbae, Extra Virgin, and The Wake. This is worth repeating, all them are in included in your fare, no expensive specialty dining here. These spots fill up fast, especially at peak dinner times, so as soon as your reservation window opens (usually a set number of days before departure), grab your top picks for the nights that matter most. Gunbae deserves a special mention here: it's a Korean BBQ-inspired restaurant where the cooks lead sailors in a game using hand signals and shots, and it's rowdy, fun, and a little chaotic in the best way. Even if Korean BBQ isn't usually your thing, it's worth experiencing once for the atmosphere alone.

Pack for Comfort, Not for Formality

Packing is refreshingly simple, mostly because of what you can leave behind. One of the best parts of Virgin Voyages is the total absence of formal nights: no tuxedos, no gowns, no awkward "resort casual" dress codes. Leave the fancy suitcase at home and pack for comfort instead: think resort wear, swimwear, and maybe one or two nicer outfits if you want to feel a bit dressed up for a night at The Wake or Extra Virgin. It truly is a 'come as you are' atmosphere on board which most really appreciate.

Set Up the App Before You Board

Before you even reach the terminal, get the Virgin Voyages app set up and linked to your booking. It's your key to the whole experience: it handles reservations, room service, your Sailor Services messages, and even lets you order drinks delivered to your spot on the pool deck. And speaking of Sailor Services, use it instead of guessing. Questions about your itinerary, dining, or anything else on board go through Sailor Services, accessible via the app or in person, and response times are generally quick. It saves you from wandering the ship looking for answers.

Make Time for Bimini, and Consider Splurging on a Suite

If your itinerary includes a stop at Bimini in the Bahamas, don't skip it. Virgin's private beach club there has pools, hammocks, watersports, and beachside food and drink service, and it's worth planning your day around rather than treating as an afterthought. For those wanting an even more elevated experience, consider the RockStar Suites: they come with their own private sundeck, upgraded amenities, and access to Richard's Rooftop, a rooftop retreat exclusive to suite guests. It's a meaningful step up if the budget allows.

Catch a Show and Explore Beyond the Pool Deck

Entertainment is another area where Virgin Voyages puts in real effort, from acrobatic performances to intimate live music sets. These shows tend to be smaller and more theatrical than typical cruise entertainment, so check the daily schedule and plan around a show or two rather than treating it as background noise. And while the pool deck gets most of the spotlight, some of the best spots on the ship are elsewhere, like the Redemption Spa, the running track, and quieter lounges like The Dock. If you want a some time to yourself, these areas offer a completely different pace.

Leave Room for Unplanned Moments at Sea

Finally, resist the urge to over plan your days at sea. With no formal schedule to follow and no kids' clubs to coordinate around, sea days are built for flexibility. Leave room to wander, catch a spontaneous show, or just enjoy a drink somewhere quiet. The itinerary will always be there; the unplanned moments are often what people remember most.

Ready to Set Sail?

Virgin Voyages works best when you lean into what makes it different: adults-only freedom, thoughtful design, and a genuine focus on food and entertainment over rigid tradition. Plan the essentials early (dining reservations, app setup, any big splurges), then leave space to enjoy the rest as it comes.

Ready to book your own voyage? The hardest part is simply deciding when to go. And if you want help planning every detail, from picking the right sailing to snagging the best dining reservations, reach out to Travels with Kirstie. Kirstie can take the guesswork out of your first voyage so all you have to do is pack your bags.