I was recently lucky enough to go on an educational to experience a Virgin Voyages Cruise.
I was so excited as I had heard so many stories about this cruise operator. I had heard about the exceptional service, exclusively adult experience and all about their many awards they have won. Along with some of my travel counsellor colleagues we flew to Athens and boarded the Resilient Lady for a 7 night cruise around Croatia and Greece. The trip was to experience the Virgin Voyages brand as well as to do some work around Social Media. Virgin Voyages operates differently than your typical big brand cruise line. Included in your cruise price are all onboard dining options, which includes over 20 restaurants and 6 speciality restaurants, essential drinks (branded soft drinks, tea and coffee), basic wi-fi, unlimited group workouts, nightly entertainment and tips. They also have evening stays in ports and overnight stays too.
There is a Virgin Voyages App you will have access to. This is where you can book your dinner reservations, shows and shore excursions. Shore excursions are an additional charge, I would recommend pre booking these and when I got onboard the trips I wanted to do, had sold out.
I stayed in a Sea Terrace Cabin. The design of the cabin was very modern and spacious with a balcony. There was a tablet that controlled everything in the room and the TV came with movies you could enjoy. The balcony features a hammock. It’s the perfect place for an afternoon nap, once you manage to climb into it! There are inside, solo and accessible cabins as well as Suites, which are called Rockstar Quarters. I did manage to visit all the different room types, I have photos and knowledge I can share with you.
We stopped in Split, Dubrovnik, Kotor and Corfu. These were great opportunities to explore the wonderful destinations with new colleagues/friends and take content for our social media pages.
The food was just amazing, some of the best food I have tasted. All the restaurants you dine in are included. One of my favourites was the Test Kitchen. It features a preset menu, you don’t know what you’re eating until this is explained to you, it’s pure Theatre. I chose to have the wine paring with each course, which made the whole meal even more memorable (this was an additional charge) Virgin Voyages doesn’t do buffets like other cruise lines. Instead, the food is made to order and brought to you. The Galley is where you go for that quick bite to eat. It boasts a dedicated bakery, a burger grill, a taco shack, a sushi bar and a noodle bar. I used to like going there at breakfast and lunch times, choosing from freshly made omelettes or bagels and smoked salmon. I really enjoyed the Noodles, I could go on and on! Oh, and the ice-cream parlour was another favourite of mine, which I visited daily. Amongst the restaurants, there was a Mexican, a Korean, an Italian a steak and seafood restaurant, there is something for everybody.
The drinks are not super expensive, and you can purchase a bar tab before you board the ship. Branded soft drinks, still and sparkling water , standard tea and coffee is included. Alcoholic drinks and speciality tea and coffee you have to pay for.
The shows and nightlife onboard were fantastic. After dinner, we would enjoy shows in The Manor, a two-story, three-bar space named after Richard Branson’s first recording studio. The Red Room is the first ever transformational, multi-form theatre at Sea. As a group we liked to visit the Karaoke in the Social Club, where they also serve great chicken wings! For those that like a little flutter there is a casino, and an Arcade. From the very start of your cruise, the entertainment doesn’t disappoint with a sail away party, serving free flowing bubbly, and a pyjama party out on deck after dinner. One of the main talking points of the cruise is the Scarlet Night. A chance to dress up in red, get that glitter on your face and experience the ship lit up red with pop up performances, throughout the bars, and out on deck too. There is something for everyone, the live music in one of the cocktail bars ‘On the Rocks’ was a place we met as a group before and after dinner for a pre or post dinner drink.
Virgin Voyages offers a wide variety of fitness classes, from spin classes, boxing and Bungee classes, to yoga outside on the Perch in the mornings, watching the sunrise There is a large gym, with one being cardio and on the opposite side of the deck, a studio with a variety of weight machines and free weights. Of course, you could find me here most mornings, or running on the Runway, the outdoor track. Whilst all of that is included, there is a Spa you can enjoy at an additional cost.
The amenities are endless, there is a hair and beauty salon, a barber and a tattoo parlour. There is something onboard for everyone, with plenty of activities, to keep you busy, or quiet places to relax and read a book. I had the best week, experiencing this amazing ship, and can’t wait to go on another cruise.
