virgin cruise line history

Why Richard Branson Launched an Adults-Only Cruise Line, Virgin Voyages

The Virgin Group founder talks to Town & Country about his latest travel venture.

Every item on this page was chosen by a Town & Country editor. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy.

“I’ve never been interested in going on cruises,” Sir Richard Branson tells me on the first day of a cruise of the Greek Islands on the Virgin Voyages ship Resilient Lady in early September.

“I asked myself many years ago, why? And I just thought, there are a lot of people like me,” he says. “Ninety - five percent of the population hasn’t been on cruises, and what I love and what the team at Virgin love to do is try to challenge ourselves to create something that caters to people who don’t like what currently exists.”

No Kids and No Buffets

The 20 restaurants onboard, which include a stylish steakhouse and a Korean barbecue spot where diners are encouraged to take part in drinking games (to facilitate participation, complimentary soju is provided along with non-alcoholic beverages), are designed to resemble hotspots in New York and London.

“My image of cruises was buffets and people queuing up, and it didn’t appeal to me,” Branson, who is distinctly soft-spoken, says. “I didn’t enjoy flying on other people’s airlines before we started Virgin Atlantic, and it was the same thing. I think we’ve managed to create the kind of airline I would like to fly on and my friends would like to fly on, and we try to do that in any sector we move into.”

A Younger Crowd Embraces Cruising

Virgin is entering the cruise industry at an opportune moment. According to a survey by the industry trade group Cruise Lines International Association that was first cited by the New York Times , there is more interest than ever in cruising among millennials and Gen-X travelers.

Seventy-seven percent of millennials and 73 percent of Gen-X travelers reported being interested in taking their first cruise. Of the 4,500 respondents who took their first cruise, 88 percent of millennials and 86 percent of Gen-X respondents said they plan to go on another one.

It's easy to see why. Aside from the ease of simply unpacking once and visiting multiple destinations throughout the trip, cruising is fun, especially with elements that distinguish Virgin’s ships from other cruise lines’.

The brand’s ships are inspired by yachts, Virgin Voyages CEO Nirmal Saverimuttu tells me. “Our ships are like a big yacht, with a lot of small, intimate spaces,” Saverimuttu says. “On traditional cruise ships, you’re looking at dining spaces that seat 1,000 to 2,000 people. Our biggest eatery seats 200, and each restaurant has a dedicated kitchen and executive chef.”

And unlike other cruise ships–both large and small–all the food is made to order, so sailors (as Virgin Voyages passengers are called) never have to queue up for a buffet.

The audience, Branson says, is the young at heart. As an adults-only cruise line, the minimum age is 18, but passengers in their 70s and 80s were also onboard the Greek Islands cruise. The core age groups are travelers in their 40s, 50s, and 60s. Branson himself celebrated his 72 nd birthday onboard a Virgin cruise in July 2022.

A Delayed Launch for Virgin Voyages

Branson admits the cruise line’s launch did not go as planned. In February 2020, the first ship was set to make its debut in the U.K. port city of Dover.

“The Spice Girls, who were once on Virgin [Records], were meant to come launch it and never turned up,” Branson says. “I talked to Posh Spice and she said, ‘We’re being told, best not to go onto cruise ships.’”

After Dover, the ship sailed to New York, where Jennifer Lopez was set to turn up for the American launch. J. Lo also didn’t show.

“It made me wonder what it was that was worrying them so much,” Branson says, “and then we realized this thing called Covid seemed to be worrying enough people for us to then send both ships back to Italy and mothball them for 18 months back in the shipyard.”

The Virgin founder says that despite the inauspicious start, he and his team would not give up. “We had two beautiful ships and a wonderful team of people,” he says. “We just had to sweat it out. We got through it and here we’ve come out stronger for it.”

The Cruise Line's Accolades—One Especially Loyal Customer

Virgin Voyages has been racking up awards, including sweeping all five awards in Cruise Critic's large-ship category in 2023: Best Overall Cruise Line, Best Cabins, Best Dining, Best Service, and Best Value-for-Money. It was also named the Best Large Cruise Ship cruise line in the Condé Nast Readers' Choice Awards earlier this year.

And it has fervent fans, like Chris DeSalvo , who was on his 41st voyage in less than a year. In July, the mobile app developer celebrated his 40th birthday on another Virgin ship, Valiant Lady. He signed up for his first Virgin Voyage while living in Miami and saw Virgin ships in port there.

Having only been on a handful of cruises before, DeSalvo says that the red woven hammocks on the ship's balconies (86 percent of cabins come with balconies, and their hammocks are created by Yellow Leaf , an organization that promotes women's empowerment and community transformation in rural Thailand) first attracted him to Virgin Voyages. The free WiFi was another plus, since it would allow him to work from the ship. DeSalvo had such a great time that he booked another cruise, and another one, and so on—adding up to around 220 nights onboard. He's also booked a spot on a six-week crossing from Dubai to Sydney later this year.

As for Branson, he's planning to join another Virgin cruise in the Caribbean next summer, if not before.

"I like to learn and I love starting things," Branson tells me. "I love learning about industries I know little about, and I love trying to change things for the better."

With Virgin Voyages, that's what he's done.

Sam Dangremond is a Contributing Digital Editor at Town & Country, where he covers men's style, cocktails, travel, and the social scene.

@media(min-width: 40.625rem){.css-1jdielu:before{margin:0.625rem 0.625rem 0;width:3.5rem;-webkit-filter:invert(17%) sepia(72%) saturate(710%) hue-rotate(181deg) brightness(97%) contrast(97%);filter:invert(17%) sepia(72%) saturate(710%) hue-rotate(181deg) brightness(97%) contrast(97%);height:1.5rem;content:'';display:inline-block;-webkit-transform:scale(-1, 1);-moz-transform:scale(-1, 1);-ms-transform:scale(-1, 1);transform:scale(-1, 1);background-repeat:no-repeat;}.loaded .css-1jdielu:before{background-image:url(/_assets/design-tokens/townandcountrymag/static/images/diamond-header-design-element.80fb60e.svg);}}@media(min-width: 64rem){.css-1jdielu:before{margin:0 0.625rem 0.25rem;}} Travel @media(min-width: 40.625rem){.css-128xfoy:before{margin:0.625rem 0.625rem 0;width:3.5rem;-webkit-filter:invert(17%) sepia(72%) saturate(710%) hue-rotate(181deg) brightness(97%) contrast(97%);filter:invert(17%) sepia(72%) saturate(710%) hue-rotate(181deg) brightness(97%) contrast(97%);height:1.5rem;content:'';display:inline-block;background-repeat:no-repeat;}.loaded .css-128xfoy:before{background-image:url(/_assets/design-tokens/townandcountrymag/static/images/diamond-header-design-element.80fb60e.svg);}}@media(min-width: 64rem){.css-128xfoy:before{margin:0 0.625rem 0.25rem;}}

The Best Room At: ... Rosewood London

How to Live in a Spa

The Hottest Date Spot for Celeb Couples in L.A.

Forget Aspen. Let's All Go Skiing in Courchevel.

The Best-Looking New Hotels on the Planet

The Best-Looking New Hotels on the Beach

The Best-Looking New Lodges in the Wild

The Best-Looking New High-Design Hotels

The Best-Looking New Minimalist Hotels

Best-Looking New Hotels in Cities

The Best-Looking New Hotels in the Countryside

• CruiseMapper
• Cruise Lines

Virgin Voyages

History, review, itineraries, ships, deck plans, news.

•   Fleet
•   Review
•   Itinerary
•   News

Virgin Voyages fleet

Brilliant lady, resilient lady, valiant lady, scarlet lady, review of virgin voyages.

Virgin Voyages (formerly "Virgin Cruises", VirginVoyages.com) is a new cruise line company headquartered in Plantation (Florida USA). Virgin Voyages was created as a joint venture between Virgin Group Ltd (British multinational holding company) and Bain Capital LP (multi-asset investment company), with the latter having a majority (51%) shareholding. The establishment of Virgin Cruises was announced by Virgin Group on December 4, 2014. The new cruise line is scheduled to start operations in 2020.

Company History

Bain Capital (1984-founded) is based in Boston (Massachusetts USA) and specializes in private equity, venture capital, credit, public equity, life sciences and real estate, with assets (under management in FY2018) ~USD 105 billion. Virgin Group Ltd (1970-founded by Richard Branson and Nik Powell) is based in London (England UK) and specializes in global investments and branding through numerous fully- or partially-owned subsidiary companies in businesses like travel (cruises, hotels, tours, airlines, trains), hospitality, health, banking, retail, communications, entertainment, publishing, charity.

Virgin Group's best-known brands are Virgin Holidays, Virgin Voyages, Virgin Megastores, Virgin Hotels, Virgin Care, Virgin Trains USA (Brightline), and Virgin Airlines (Australia, Atlantic, Connect, and Galactic/spaceflights).

Virgin Voyages operates a fleet of four fully-owned cruise vessels constructed by the Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri SpA (at Sestri Ponente shipyard/ Genoa ).

In FY2018, Fincantieri reported revenue of EUR 5,4 billion. Currently ranked Europe's largest shipbuilding company, Fincantieri has 8 shipyards (all in Italy), in 2013 acquired VARD (Norway-based company with 9 shipyards) and in 2018 purchased 50% of STX France (Chantiers de l'Atlantique Shipyard in St Nazaire ). Fincantieri builds both commercial and naval ships.

In 2020, Virgin Cruises officially started operations (from Miami Florida USA ) with the 2800-passenger Scarlet Lady . Three more sisterships were inaugurated in the following years - Valiant Lady (2021), Resilient Lady (2022) and Brilliant Lady (2024).

The announcement (initially for 3 ships) was made on June 23, 2015, in Miami, during a press conference (media event "making waves") for Virgin Group's new cruise travel brand. For the event, Richard Branson arrived on a helicopter, landing near Miami's Museum Park. He announced that the total building cost for the 3 ships is USD 2,13 billion (US$710M per unit). The announcement for the 4th ship was made on October 31, 2018, with order value ~EUR 700 million.

The company's current President and CEO is Nirmal Saverimuttu (1979-born in Zambian, raised in Australia), who in September 2023 succeeded Thomas Michael McAlpin (1959-born American). McAlpin joined DCL-Disney Cruise Line in 1995 (as VP of Finance, Business Development & Shore Travel Operations) overseeing the construction of the first Disney ships ( Magic /1998 and Wonder /1999) and the development of Walt Disney's private Bahamian island Castaway Cay . In 2004, he became DCL's President. Prior to heading Virgin Cruises, McAlpin served as CEO of The World Residences at Sea (in the period 2009-2014). Following his retirement from CEO and President, Tom McAlpin continued to serve Virgin Voyages as Chairman of the Board of Directors.

Earlier in 2016, Virgin settled US$300M lawsuits filed by Colin Veitch (former NCL-Norwegian CEO), who claimed Virgin had stolen his ideas and moved on with the cruise line concept without him.

Tom McAlpin commented that the company is not to be considered a big player in the cruising industry, but rather "a small boutique line that will offer different experiences". McAlpin and Branson hinted that those experiences might take some cues from other successful Virgin ventures, like Virgin Hotels. The hotel chain is popular for offering free WiFi, minibar drinks at street prices, privacy doors allowing guests to go on about their business while room service brings requests, pet-friendly amenities with no weight or size restrictions.

In October 2016, "Virgin Cruises" was rebranded as "Virgin Voyages". At the time it was first announced, the company's founder Branson said his goal was to create a brand cruising experience that is more likely to appeal to millennials and other people who don't normally take cruise ship vacations.

In regard to onboard gratuities, the company has "No Tipping" policy, which means all gratuities are included in the base cruise fares. Also included in basic fares are beverages, all eateries, group fitness classes. The company also doesn't charge penalties or change fees. Customers are able to hold staterooms for 24 hours with no money down once they've placed a 20% non-refundable deposit. They also have a 7-day grace period allowing them to change bookings for any reason. Cruise departure date and names on bookings can be changed without fees or penalties. Shortly before opening the bookings on Scarlet Lady (Feb 14, 2019), Virgin announced all-inclusive deal policy by which cruises are sold "by cabin price". Fares are also inclusive of dining (shipwide / 20 options, some 24-hour), unlimited WiFi, all fitness classes. Cabin pricing only varies by the number of occupants. For 5-day itineraries, fares start from ~USD 250 pp per day (excluding taxes-fees).

Virgin Cruises' "non-commissionable policy" allows travel agents to earn across customer's entire transaction, including on add-ons (hotels, flights, travel insurance, spa treatments, tours/excursions, premium packages, onboard credits, taxes, fees). Travel agents receive 16% base commission on the transaction (increased from 10% by the expanded "Brilliant To Do Business With" program). "Red Hot Bonus" program additionally offers annually paid revenue up to 6% (in case certain production thresholds are met) in addition to 10% commission on everything sold prior the cruise (excepting taxes and fees).

Company changes 2019 (pre-inauguration)

In early-April 2019, Virgin Voyages signed an exclusive 7-year partnership deal with OSW (OneSpaWorld Holdings Ltd) - a provider of health-and-wellness services and products on cruise vessels and in destination resorts worldwide. OSW provides all the wellness staff, services and products onboard Virgin ships, including yoga and gym trainers, massages, medispa treatments, salon (manicure-pedicure-hairdresser) services. Each ship has a 29-person OSW-employed professional staff. The served facilities include Crow's Nest (outdoor yoga studio), Redemption Spa, Dry-Dock (blowout bar), B-Complex (Fitness Center).

In April 2019, Virgin and Intelligentsia Coffee signed a deal to provide Intelligentsia coffee (Virgin Voyages Blend) and made-to-order beverages at all venues, including the specialty coffee bars ("Ministry of Ground" and "Ministry of Ground Too") served by expert baristas.

In June 2019, Virgin expanded the list of RockStar Suite-only perks with RockStar Agents (dedicated butlers per stateroom), specially dedicated hair and makeup crew (upon request), complimentary laundry service, complimentary Thermal Suite access (Redemption Spa), all-inclusive premium drinks (in all shipboard eateries and bars), personalized bottomless in-room bar (free of charge), option to curate in-port activities.

In late-October 2019 was approved the agreement for Brightline Miami to be rebranded "Virgin Trains" and Virgin Group to build a train station (Virgin Trains PortMiami) at the cruise port. The new station serves high-speed trains and connects PortMiami directly with the USA's intercity railway system and Orlando International Airport.

On November 12, 2019, Richard Branson announced that the second Virgin ship ( Valiant Lady ) will be seasonally homeported in Sydney (NSW Australia) . Branson was in Sydney to launch a partnership between Virgin Australia Airlines and Virgin Voyages and promote affordable Australian and Caribbean fly-cruise deals on Scarlet Lady.

On December 13, 2019, was officially released the "Ship No. 1" perfume (aka "the fragrance of Scarlet Lady"). The sea lavender-based perfume was created by Air Aroma - a company specializing in scent marketing and fragrance systems (diffusers, Aropromo sale scenting devices). Virgin's Ship No. 1 is infused throughout Scarlet Lady. The perfume can be also purchased (only online - via ItSmellsLikeShip.com) for USD 50 per bottle. All net proceeds from these sales go to Ocean Unite (non-profit foundation of 30+ political leaders and business tycoons).

On December 19, 2019, was announced the "Sailor Loot" (OBC/onboard credit) program. These promotions offer OBC (per cabin) for shipboard spending during the current voyage. The OBC is based on the stateroom category and ranges from US$ 100 (interior and oceanview) to US$200 (balcony) and up to US$ 400 (suites).

Now each Virgin cruise ship offers 50+ activities and events. The onboard programming features live performances (by the company's Hapenings Cast) and is managed by Richard Kilman (Virgin's VP of Entertainment).

Company changes 2024

In February Steven Worling (Senior Director of Infrastructure & Security) announced that Virgin Voyages would roll out fleetwide an improved connectivity (Internet/Wi-Fi package) with SES Cruise mPOWERED + Starlink PRO (satellite service), with onboard connectivity 1,5 Gbps (max per ship). The Internet is provided via MEO and LEO satellites (Medium Earth Orbit and Low Earth Orbit). Shipboard Wi-Fi access is unlimited and for multiple devices per guest.

Company changes 2023

In February, Virgin replaced Harding UK (Bristol-based global travel retail business) with Starboard Cruise Services (Doral Florida-based company). As of 2023, Starboard was contracted by 11 cruise lines and operated on 90+ ships worldwide.

In March was announced an expansion of onboard entertainment fleetwide. The announcement mentioned new cabaret and game shows, new parties (80s Party, We Fancy), and more live music (by the hosted in The Red Room and The Manor program Festival Stage Acts/comedy shows rotating every 2 to 4 weeks). The list of new productions includes three fleetwide game shows (Duel Reality, Untitled DanceShowPartyThing, Miss Behave), the cabaret show Lola’s Library (fleetwide), as well as 3 new productions debuting on Resilient Lady (Persephone, Mind Mangler, Another Rose/Supper Club Series).

In April Virgin signed a partnership deal with WPT/World Poker Tour (2002-founded, internationally televised gaming and entertainment brand). The premium poker experience is offered on Scarlet Lady during all 4-5-night Caribbean itineraries. The ship's new WPT at Sea Poker Room is fitted with 8 poker tables and served by professional dealers. The new gaming venue hosts beginner training sessions, as well as cash games and WPT Prize Package poker tournaments with buy-ins between US$80-320. The US$320 buy-in WPT Prize tournament is held once per cruise. The prize (US$5000) can be used on any future voyage or WPT tournament.

In September, Nirmal Saverimuttu succeeded Michael McAlpin as the company's President and CEO. Along with the new appointment was announced a capital raise of USD 550 million (~EUR 512M/~GBP 440M) with funds managed by Ares Management's Private Equity Group. As of 2023, Ares had ~US$49,2 billion of AUM/assets under management.

In October 2023, Michelle Bentubo was appointed COO/Chief Operating Officer. In 2016-2023 she served the company as VP of Technology & Operations. Previously, she has held executive positions at Walt Disney World (Director of Experience Development), DCL-Disney Cruise Line (Director of Disney's Magical Express) and Bank of America (SVP Technology/2013-16).

In November 2023, Peter Hunt was appointed CFO/Chief Financial Officer. He previously served as CFO for Service King Collision Repair (1976-founded automotive company) and before that was in the leadership team of Virgin America Inc (2004-founded/2018-merged with Alaska Airlines).

Company changes 2022

In March 2022 was announced a partnership with Jennifer Lynn Lopez (1969-born American actress and singer) via her brand company "JLo Beauty and Lifestyle LLC". Jennifer Lopez joined Virgin Voyages as an investor and chief of entertainment/advisor/lifestyle officer. As part of the partnership, fleetwide was introduced "JLo Beauty" (onboard shop) selling the superstar's products at sea for the first time. In June 2023, she was appointed as Virgin's Chief Celebrations Officer.

In September 2022 debuted Virgin's loyalty program "The Sailing Club" by which repeat customers are provided with two main complimentary perks - "Deep Blue Extras" (premium WiFi, invitations to onboard cocktail parties, laundry services) and "Red Hot Booking Bonus Months" (discounted booking with additional OBC/onboard credit).

In September 2022 Virgin partnered with RSB/Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials (an independent global membership organization). Virgin also signed long-term agreements with three providers of waste-based sustainable fuels (Argent Energy, GoodFuels, Twelve) to supply the fleet's bunker fuels.

Company changes 2021

In mid-November 2021 was announced an investment in Virgin Voyages by Patricof & Co (1969-founded by Alan Patricof, specializing in venture capital investments). The company is part of Apax Partners LLP (London UK-based equity firm) that also includes Multinational Management Group (1972-founded) and Saunders Karp & Megrue (1988-founded).

In December 2021 was announced the partnership with the House Spirits Distillery () for the fleetwide presence of the brand "Aviation American Gin" (aka Aviation Gin/alcohol volume 42%, produced in Portland Oregon since 2006). Signature cocktails (based on the Aviation Gin) available for ordering at each Virgin ship include "The Double Agent at SIP", "Razzle Dazzle's Electric Fizz", "Stella's Groove at The Manor", "Gunbae's French 75".

Company changes 2020

On April 1, 2020, the company launched its "Jet Transfers Direct to Ship" service. The exclusive "fly-cruise" deal is for RockStar Suite passengers only, allowing them to arrive and depart the boat via chartered or private aircraft. The planes land at The Runway - a top-deck open space (Deck 17 aft) surrounded by a raised Jogging Track.

Virgin cruise ships

On June 23, 2015, Virgin announced it had signed a Letter of Intent with Fincantieri (shipbuilder based in Trieste Italy ) for the construction of 3 ships scheduled for deliveries in 2020-2021-2022 (entering service in 15-month increments).

The shipbuilding order was officially finalized on December 21, 2016. The boats are of the so-called "Lady-class", mid-sized (volume 110000 GT-tons), max passenger capacity 2860 (1410 cabins/90% with balconies), 1150 crew-staff.

The shipbuilding contract was valued at ~EUR 2 billion. The first unit's construction (Scarlet Lady) started with the steel-cutting on March 22, 2017. For the vessel design and construction, Virgin contracted the marine architecture and naval design companies "Roman and Williams" (NYC), Concrete Amsterdam, Tom Dixon's Design Research Studio (London UK), Gem Srl (Italy), Softroom (London UK), WORKac (NYC), Knibb Design, HL Studio (UK), HKS Architects (Dallas USA), PearsonLloyd (London UK).

The first ship's ( Scarlet Lady ) keel-laying ceremony was held on October 31, 2017, and attended by Sir Richard Branson, Tom McAlpin, and Boy George (UK singer, songwriter, fashion designer) who performed as superstar DJ. During the ceremony were also revealed the ship design and hull art of the future Virgin "Lady Ships".

The next image shows the ship's stern (aft) and the signature funnel shape - designed to be a major part of its exterior design. The aft of the superstructure also shows the Promenade Deck and 7 decks of cabin balconies towering above.

Each boat has 86% balcony staterooms and 93% oceanview (outside) cabins. These newbuilds greatly differ from other passenger liners (as design) and target younger and more adventurous travellers (called "sailors").

Virgin's ships are adults-only (passengers under 18 yo/teenagers and kids are not allowed) and Bahamas- flagged (registered in Nassau ).

Dining on Virgin Voyages ships is ticket price-inclusive - no extra charges are applied to any of the 20-plus onboard dining options. The cruise company doesn't believe in "paying more for great food", so it ditched traditional surcharges levied in specialty restaurants. All eateries offer "exceptional made-to-order eats" - complimentary.

As part of the company's sustainable travel policy, Virgin banned single-use plastics and there is no buffet food on the ships. All shipboard food is made-to-order - to reduce waste and lower energy consumption and emissions. Savings are reinvested into fresh (locally sourced) top-quality products, exotic ingredients, highly trained staff, and clean technologies. In April 2019 was signed a partnership with Emerald Brand to supply the fleet with "Tree-Free" (disposable) paper products, including facial-bath tissues, paper towels, napkins, hot cups. Those are made from 60-100% Tree-Free materials via technologies that use by-products of agricultural crops usually wasted or burned.

The company doesn't follow any traditional cruise dining concepts. Virgin ships don't have a main dining room, buffet restaurant, dress code (formal wear policy), assigned dining times or seating. All these concepts were replaced with intimate (boutique hotel-type) eateries offering 20+ dining options - all of which are included in cruise fares.

Virgin ships' signature facilities and venues include:

• Athletic Club (training center) is an outdoor gym area with a boxing ring and gym club equipment) located top-deck aft. Part of the Sports Deck is also the raised jogging track (Runway track, red-white colored), sundeck with open-air lounge (furnished with double daybeds and semi-circular loungers), triple netting area (overlooking below decks), 10 private cabanas (cushioned bed, low table, 2 lounge chairs), beverage service (from the outdoor Sports Bar), foosball tables, swimming pool, showers.
• MyBeast is an outdoor playground / poolside gym area.
• The Crow's Nest (aft sundeck) offers 360-degree views and is furnished with loungers and mats colored in Virgin's signature red. Here are also hosted sunrise and sunset outdoor yoga classes.
• The B Complex in an indoor fitness center with Technogym ARTIS equipment, floor-ceiling windows and separate rooms (studios) for cycling, yoga, cardio and spinning classes.
• Gym and Tonic Bar serves cold-pressed fresh juices.
• Pink Agave is a Mexican restaurant with porthole windows, metallic lighting fixtures, large tables, an elongated curved area (intimate seating with 2-seat tables), separate bar (in the Lobby), private dining room (can be booked for parties and other private events).
• The Manor is ship's 2-deck high Disco Nightclub with a large dance floor.
• The Dock is an outdoor lounge (aft on Deck 7) with cushioned wooden furniture (loungers, deckchairs, daybeds).
• Test Kitchen restaurant features lab-like design (metallic furniture, beakers, test tubes),
• Richard's Rooftop is a top-deck VIP area (Suite passengers-only sundeck) furnished with daybeds, deckchairs, circular loungers, large umbrellas, colored crystals.
• Redemption is the ship's Spa complex (on Deck 5) consisting of a Reception, Mud Room, Salt Room, Hydrotherapy Pool, cold plunge pool, Jacuzzi, Thermal Suite (indoor spa with porthole windows, plunge pool and Jacuzzi), treatment rooms (for massages and treatments) with quartz-mattress beds, Dry Dock Salon (hairdressing services), Stubble and Groom (barbershop), Blow Dry Bar, Male pedicure Spa, Mani-pedi Spa. At night, the wellness complex transforms into a dancing lounge with live DJ music.
• Razzle Dazzle is the vegan-vegetarian restaurant. Part of Razzle Dazzle is Red Bar - juice bar for fresh-squeezed juices and tonics, as well as crafted cocktails from a menu that varies every night. In two days per voyage, at Razzle Dazzle are hosted Drag Brunches featuring live entertainment by "sassy drag queens".

Via the Sailor App (when your phone is shaken), a secret Champagne button allows you to order Moet-Chandon Champagne (Brut Imperial, 750 ml bottle) delivered in an ice bucket and with two glasses. The service is called "Shake for Champagne" and provided anywhere on the ship. The premium wine can be also enjoyed at The Sip - the ship's wine lounge (Virgin's champagne house).- where also is available traditional British Afternoon Tea service.

Virgin cruise passengers are offered complimentary water (filtered and sparkling) at all onboard bars and restaurants. Throughout the ship, there are also complimentary water stations.

Virgin ships' hull art designs are Mermaid-themed (by different artists) and Inspired by traditional figureheads mounted on the bows of historic wooden ships. The designs symbolize the vessels' feminine spirit.

Ship technology

One of the cruise ships' features is the advanced clean energy system provided by the Swedish company Climeon Ocean. The new technology allows reducing CO2 emissions by converting the generated by diesel engines' heat into electricity for shipboard use. Each of the newbuilds has 6 such Climeon units, saving ~5400 tons of carbon dioxide annually. The ship's waste processing system is provided by Scanship.

On April 30, 2018, Virgin Voyages signed with Wartsila (marine technologies Finnish corporation / former shipbuilder) a 10-year "Optimised Maintenance Agreement" giving the corporation extensive and exclusive responsibility of the fleet's technical maintenance. Wartsila's "Dynamic Maintenance Planning" system allows maintenance works to be scheduled based on remotely (real-time) monitored and analyzed vessel performance data. This allows extending service intervals (when onboard equipment doesn't require maintenance).

The Virgin-Wartsila deal includes Remote Operational Support Services, Specific Fuel Oil Consumption, spare parts, engines technical advisory services, comprehensive technical support, personnel training. Wartsila-made ship equipment includes 46F diesel engines, Hybrid Scrubber System, SCR (Selective Catalytic Reduction/exhaust gas cleaning) and NACOS Platinum series (navigation and automation control systems).

• Each Virgin ship is powered by two 8-cylinder plus two 12-cylinder "Wartsila 46F" marine diesel engines. Wartsila's Hybrid Scrubber System operates in both open and closed-loop and uses seawater to remove SOx from the ship's exhaust. It also significantly reduces NOx emissions.
• Propulsion is based on ABB Azipod XO system (electric drive motors with off-hull submerged azimuth thrusters / 360--degree rotating propellers). These units provide best maneuverability (allowing in-port navigation without tug assistance) and minimal vibrations/noise. By placing the propulsion units outside the hull, the Azipod system frees up space for more lower-deck staterooms.
• ABB Ability technology is based on a network using real-time data transferred to remote centres monitoring and analyzing the propulsion system data and also offering remote technical support.
• In July 2017, was announced that Wartsila (marine technologies Finnish corporation / former shipbuilder) is the provider of vessels' power plants. Among Wartsila's core products are large diesel engines for cruise ships and ferries .

In April 2019 was contracted V-Ships Leisure USA (ship management company) which is part of V-Group Ltd (vessel management and support services provider, industry's first with a dedicated cruise ship division). V-Ships Leisure is responsible for Virgin ships' technical support/management and crew sourcing.

Virgin cruise line's staff and crew uniforms were designed by Gareth Pugh and manufactured by Cintas Corporation (via the "Design Collective by Cintas" division).

• Cintas Corporation (1929-founded, based in Cincinnati, Ohio USA) specializes in businesses products (both for rental and direct purchase) and services, including uniforms, mats, water coolers, cleaning/restroom supplies (chemicals, mops, microfiber towels, disinfectant sprays, hand sanitizers), first aid/safety products, fire extinguishers (also testing and repairs), employee courses (safety, training, compliance). In 2020, Cintas had 40,000+ employees and total revenue USD 7,09 billion (~EUR 6,12B / ~GBP 5,21B).
• Virgin Voyages Crew apparel collection is based on sustainable fabrics and garments specifically designed according to job functions, body types and climates. Unlike the traditional cruise ship uniforms, Virgin's lack the officers' epaulettes (ornamental shoulder pieces that designate his/her rank), as well as ties and waistcoats.

The project was led by Gareth Pugh (British fashion designer) and supervised by Dee Cooper (Virgin Voyages' SVP Design and Customer Experience).

Next image shows one of the initial (train-like) Virgin ship designs.

Virgin cruise bookings on Scarlet Lady were opened on February 5, 2019 (for customers with pre-sale deposits) and on February 14 (for the general public). Beginning February 5, 2019, at FirstMates.com (dedicated website), the cruise company offers all booking tools and information for travel agents (called "First Mates"), including downloadable and digital materials, interactive learning and more. For February 6th was planned the learning campaign "Cabin Fever" on Scarlet Lady staterooms as they went on sale. The website allows travel agents to make bookings on inaugural cruise season 2020 deals (from February 14) and to contact company's Sailor Services (from February 5) in case they have customers with pre-sale deposits.

Bookings for Valiant Lady cruises (Mediterranean 2021) opened on December 19, 2019.

In February 2020 was announced "The Band" - smart wearable technology to be introduced on Scarlet Lady (April 1). The device is made from recycled marine plastic (sustainability initiative) and developed via partnership with The Bionic Company. The lightweight device (RFID wristband) is mailed to all passengers and is complimentary (keepsake). The Band is activated upon boarding the ship and used for onboard purchases and payments (beverages, Casino gaming), booking tours, cabin access (room key), room service ordering (points guest's current location), VIP pass (for Richard's Rooftop).

Virgin's private island resort "Bimini Beach Club" (Bahamas)

The liner Scarlet Lady is the first cruise ship to stop at "Bimini Beach Club" (Virgin Group's private island resort in Bimini Bahamas ). The exclusive destination allows Virgin's Sailors to enjoy world-class entertainment from a rotating cast of DJs led by Mark Ronson. Virgin's Bimini Beach Club offers premium food with locally sourced ingredients and traditional Bahamian favourites like banana leaf-wrapped queen snapper, conch and mango salad, Bahamian rum cake. The complex has 6 bars, outdoor lounge areas with hammock groves, beach loungers, watersport activities, (optional/at extra cost) private poolside and beach-side cabanas for rent.

RockStar Suite passengers benefit from complimentary food service, exclusive bar and outdoor terrace lounge, VIP beach cabanas. The 7-mile (11-km) long island offers extraordinary activities like boating, snorkeling, wreck diving. The partially sunk wreck of SS Sapona (concrete-hulled steamship that ran aground in 1926) is located just a few miles off the island's southern coast.

Virgin's private resort is located on North Bimini Island and at a short bus transfer from the docking pier. It was built via partnership with Resorts World Bimini. This is a 750-acres (3 km2 / 1,2 mi2) beachfront resort-casino-marina-hotel complex operated by Genting Group (Malaysia-based multinational corporation). North Bimini is approx 68 km (42 mi) east of Miami .

Resort's building cost is USD 220 million. Virgin's Bimini Beach Club overlooks the sea and features a large lagoon-style swimming pool. The "resort experience" also features morning open-air exercises (yoga and meditation), afternoon DJ poolside parties, night beach bonfires and live musical performances.

(Coronavirus crisis) passenger shipping pause 2020-2021

Due to the COVID pandemic, Virgin Voyages postponed the cruise brand's in March 2020 inauguration (Scarlet Lady ship's Showcase Tour / media event in PortMiami) for July 15th (4-day "Richard's Birthday Bash"), with the maiden voyage departing on August 7th from Miami. The ship's originally planned inauguration was for March 29th, 2020 (3-day "Sneak-A-Peek Cruise").

All the scheduled between March 26-August 7th (a total of 29) departures were canceled. In mid-May 2020 were canceled 15 additional departures (through October 15). The 4-night "Richard Branson's 70th Birthday Cruise" (originally planned for July 15, 2020) was rescheduled for July 14, 2021. In late-September 2020 were canceled all Scarlet Lady's November itineraries, and in late-October - the remaining (December 2020) departures. The brand's inauguration was rescheduled for 2021 (January 3, then for May 9). In mid-December were cancelled more itineraries.

The brand's inauguration was rescheduled for August 6, 2021 (Scarlet Lady's Maiden Voyage from Portsmouth England). Valiant Lady's inaugural cruise program was also postponed (Maiden Voyage rescheduled from Nov 14, 2021, to March 18, 2022) and revised.

All affected bookings were provided with the option to cancel with a 125% refund (100% monetary refund) plus 25% in FCC (future cruise credit) or rebook with 200% refund in FCC. As a promo offer, all bookings made by June 30, 2020, received up to USD 500 per person in OBC (onboard credit). A full (100%) monetary refund was optional for cancellations made between May 21-December 31, 2020.

All rebookings made with the 200% FCC were fully refunded (200%) and additionally received 25% in FCC (to be used on another booking). Virgin Voyages also introduced the "Smooth Sailing Program" which allows for itineraries in 2020 (through December 16) the final payment dates to be moved to 60 days (previously 120 days) prior departure. Smooth Sailing also allows cancellations up to 48 hours (prior departure) with receiving a full (100%) refund in FCC.

Itinerary of Virgin Voyages

In 2016, Virgin cruise line's itinerary program was not detailed yet, but Branson mentioned one destination that was on the list - the Caribbean. When asked about Cuba being a potential port destination, he immediately replied "Yes!". This also meant roundtrip departures from a Florida port.

In 2017 was announced that the first Virgin cruise ship ( Scarlet Lady ) will be initially homeported in PortMiami for 7-day Caribbean itineraries departing on Sundays. During the inaugural season 2020-2021, the liner was scheduled to visit Cuba. The company's decision was influenced by conducted customer and travel agency research in the UK and North America. All Virgin cruises to Cuba had to offer an overnight stay in Havana , allowing passengers ("sailors") to explore the country's capital and its unique nightlife.

• 5-day "Mayan Sol" itinerary visits Havana (overnight) and Costa Maya (Mexico) . In Mexico, shore excursions include scuba diving (coral reefs) and Mayan ruins.
• 5-day "Dominican Daze" itinerary visits Havana (overnight) and Puerto Plata (Dominicana) where shore tours include trekking, surfing, shopping.

The second Virgin ship ( Valiant Lady ) is homeported in Miami during 2022-2023 winter season.

On November 28, 2018, Richard Branson and Tom McAlpin announced in Miami the company's plans to build a new (Virgin-exclusive) cruise terminal in PortMiami. "Virgin Voyages Terminal" is sized 100,000 ft2 (9300 m2) and is on the seaport's northwest side.

Virgin Voyages passengers benefit from an impressive variety of cruises to choose from in the inaugural 2020 season of the line's new build . The 4- or 5-night "Havana After Dark" itineraries allow Sailors to explore the Cuban culture and include an overnight stay in Cuba's capital city.

• The 5-night "Mayan Sol" itinerary visits Costa Maya Mexico . The Mayan ruins are just a short distance from the port and colorful coral reefs lie just off-shore. Virgin Voyages partnered with ITM Group for the land tours.
• The 5-night "Dominican Daze" itinerary visits Puerto Plata . On the island are offered trekking, surfing and handicraft shopping tours.

All Virgin Caribbean cruises depart from homeport Miami Florida . Virgin ships are also seasonally deployed in Europe (via Transatlantic crossings), with planned visits to several major Mediterranean and UK ports (including Dover and Liverpool ).

However, following the 2019s (June 5 issued) US Government restrictions on USA to Cuba travel, Virgin Voyages revised all scheduled itineraries to exclude Havana . The new itineraries offer late-night call port departures (including a midnight departure) on all revised Caribbean voyages.

• 5-night "Riviera Maya" itinerary visits Playa Del Carmen (across Cozumel Island), with opportunities to explore archaeological and ecological sites or touring the neighbouring Tulum (walled Mayan city).
• 4-night "Fire and Sunset Soirees" (short-breaks) visit Key West Florida (sunset departure) and Bimini Bahamas (with a late-night beach bonfire party and midnight departure). The line's sailors can experience the cultural paradise of Key West, paired with an exclusive late-night beach bonfire soiree. The artistic fire installation draws inspiration from the fireball sculptures on Branson's Necker Island.
• 7-night itineraries (for 2020 Xmas holidays) include the themed cruises "Holidaze and Nights" and "New Year's Ahoy" visiting Puerto Plata Dominicana with Bimini Bahamas and San Juan Puerto Rico.

All Virgin Caribbean cruises visit Bimini Bahamas as a private island destination.

In April 2022 was announced that in winter 2023-2024, Resilient Lady will be deployed in Australia and New Zealand (Virgin brand's debut in the region). With homeporting in Melbourne , the roundtrip itineraries ranged between 2-14 nights. Some voyages also visited ports in Tasmania (Hobart, Burnie).

Valiant Lady's inaugural cruises 2022

Virgin's second ship ( Valiant Lady ) starts its inaugural season (2022/Maiden Voyage departs March 18th) with roundtrips leaving from Portsmouth England .

• 3-night "Long Weekender" to Zeebrugge Belgium
• 11-night "Coast the Canary Islands, Spain and Portugal"/UK to Iberia
• 12-night "Late Nights in Portugal and Spain"/UK to Iberia

Follows a Western Mediterranean deployment (May thru October 2022) based on homeporting in Barcelona and 7-day roundtrips (Sunday departures) visiting large port cities in France, Italy and Spain. Valiant Lady's Caribbean program is based on homeporting in Miami Florida USA and includes 2-week Transatlantic crossings on repositioning between Europe and USA (RepositionCruises.com).

• 8-night Eastern Caribbean itineraries (Miami roundtrips) are priced from USD 188 per night and visit Puerto Plata (Dominicana) , San Juan (Puerto Rico) , St Croix Island (USVI) and Bimini (Bahamas) .
• 6-night Western Caribbean itineraries (roundtrips from Miami) visit Roatan Island (Honduras) , Costa Maya (Mexico) and Bimini. Fares start at USD 192 per night.
• Special ( Christmas and New Year's ) itineraries and Atlantic Ocean crossings/relocation voyages are priced from USD 102 per night.

In the Caribbean, Virgin boats are homeported in Miami and all itineraries visit Bimini Bahamas as a private island destination.

Resilient Lady's inaugural cruises 2022

Virgin's third ship ( Resilient Lady ) starts its inaugural season (2022/Maiden Voyage departs August 14th) with roundtrips leaving from Piraeus-Athens (Greece) .

• The 7-day roundtrip "Greek Island Glow" itinerary visits the Greek islands Santorini, Rhodes, Crete (Chania) and Mykonos.
• The 7-day roundtrip "Adriatic Sea and Greek Gems" itinerary visits Croatia (Dubrovnik), Montenegro (Kotor), and Greece (Kerkyra/Corfu Island, and Argostoli/Kefalonia Island).
• The "Greek Isles" program (scheduled between August 14 - October 23) ends with the 11-day Transatlantic crossing from Europe to the Caribbean (from Lisbon to San Juan/departure November 1st).

The inaugural Caribbean season 2022-2023 (Nov 12 - April 15) is based on homeporting in San Juan Puerto Rico and 7-day roundtrips.

• The "Southeastern Caribbean Isles" itinerary visits Tortola Island BVI (Road Town), Guadeloupe (Pointe-a-Pitre), Barbados (Bridgetown), St Lucia (Castries) and Antigua (St Johns).
• The "Sunsets In The Lesser Antilles" itinerary visits St Kitts (Basseterre), Martinique (Fort-de-France), Curacao (Willemstad) and Aruba (Oranjestad).

In 2023-2024 (December-March), Resilient Lady was deployed in Australia. The program included three relocation itineraries from Europe to Asia and Australia (RepositionCruises.com) - 14-day from Athens to Dubai (Oct 22), 15-day from Dubai to Singapore (Nov 5) and 15-day from Singapore to Sydney NSW (Nov 20).

Itineraries 2024-2025

Virgin's 2024-2025 (April) schedule lists 19 maiden/new ports and 27 different itineraries in the UK, Australia/NZ, and the Caribbean. Among these are the "Seachange Series" (ship relocation voyages) providing extended sea travel opportunities.

Resilient Lady is homeported in Piraeus-Athens Greece (May through July 2024) for Aegean and Adriatic itineraries. In the summer (August through September 2024) Resilient Lady visits Bordeaux ,  La Coruna , and  Bilbao on the relocation voyage to England.

On February 26, 2024, Virgin Voyages canceled Resilient Lady's 2024-2025 Australian program, citing security concerns (due to the Red Sea war crisis) impacting the ship's scheduled repositioning voyages through the Suez Canal (between Europe and Australia/RepositionCruises.com). Virgin also announced that Resilient Lady (after completing the Mediterranean season on October 20th/2024) will be deployed in the Caribbean and homeported in San Juan (Puerto Rico) offering 7-8-10-11-night roundtrips to St Maarten, St Vincent, Colombia, and Dominica.

Valiant Lady (from  PortMiami  and  San Juan Puerto Rico ) offers Caribbean roundtrips (winter 2023-2024) and in April 2024.

Scarlet Lady in summer 2024 is deployed in the Mediterranean and has scheduled two repositioning voyages - from Barcelona to Civitavecchia-Rome, and a Transatlantic crossing to Miami for a new Caribbean deployement.

Virgin Voyages related cruise news

Virgin Voyages unveils expanded Eat & Drink Festival across fleet

Virgin Voyages presents its Eat & Drink Festival, slated for July across all its vessels, promising an amalgamation of award-winning dining...

Virgin Voyages introduces Eat & Drink Festival 2024

Virgin Voyages' renowned dining and beverage offerings are set to take the spotlight with a series of month-long onboard activations. Scheduled for...

Virgin Voyages invites remote workers on month-long Mediterranean cruise

Virgin Voyages presents an opportunity for remote workers to embark on a month-long cruise around the Mediterranean this summer, priced at less than...

VIDEO: Sir Richard Branson presents free Virgin cruise to plane passengers

Virgin Group founder Sir Richard Branson pleasantly surprised passengers on a Delta flight bound for San Juan, Puerto Rico, by personally...

Brilliant Lady ship completes final drydocking before delivery to Virgin Voyages

The newbuild Brilliant Lady cruise ship has successfully concluded her final dry dock period ahead of her imminent delivery to Virgin Voyages. This...

Virgin Voyages cancels Australia&New Zealand cruises 2024-2025 due to Red Sea crisis

Virgin Voyages, the travel brand company founded by billionaire Richard Branson, has made the decision to cancel its Australia and New Zealand 2024...

Virgin Voyages introduces high-speed connectivity fleetwide with SES Cruise+Starlink Internet

The UK-based company and travel brand Virgin Voyages is set to introduce an unprecedented level of connectivity for its passengers with the...

Resilient Lady's Australia-Europe repositioning itinerary (via Suez Canal) changed to an Around...

In a strategic shift from her traditional relocation voyages, Virgin Voyages' vessel Resilient Lady is set to embark on a circumnavigation of the...

Expansion plans: Royal Caribbean's Barcelona Terminal G acquisition

RCG/Royal Caribbean Group has emerged as the solitary contender for the forthcoming Terminal G at the Port of Barcelona (Spain), standing...

Virgin Cruises celebrates Resilient Lady ship's MerMaiden Voyage, marking a South Pacific debut

Virgin Voyages' ship Resilient Lady has commenced her MerMaiden voyage. Departing from Melbourne, the adults-only "lady ship" (fleet's third...

•   show more news

• Share full article

Advertisement

Richard Branson’s Virgin Voyages starts U.S. cruises as the industry bounces back.

Mr. Branson wants to bring to cruises the same sensibility that he brought to his airlines: younger and slightly edgy. (There is a tattoo parlor onboard.)

By Lauren Hirsch

• Sept. 17, 2021

Virgin Voyages, a joint venture between Bain Capital and Richard Branson’s Virgin Group, made its United States debut this week, more than a year later than scheduled.

Ryan Cotton, the head of the consumer and retail group at Bain, spoke with the DealBook newsletter about the venture and the prospects for the cruise industry, which has been upended by the pandemic .

The industry has been desperate to get operations rolling again. Three of the world’s largest cruise operators — Carnival , Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line — together lost nearly $900 million a month during the pandemic, the credit rating agency Moody’s reported.

Some companies, like Norwegian , have staged battles with government officials in states like Florida, a hub for the industry, over legislation barring businesses from requiring proof of vaccinations from customers.

The industry’s pandemic woes have not dissuaded Mr. Branson, who has wanted to start a cruise line for about 25 years, Mr. Cotton said. (He still has his original sketches.) Seven years ago, he got serious about it and brought in Bain to help with financing a Virgin-branded cruise ship. The idea was to bring to cruises the same sensibility that Branson brought to his airlines: younger and slightly edgy. (There is a tattoo parlor onboard.)

The venture’s first ship, the Scarlet Lady, has been cruising around Britain this summer on short trips open only to British residents. It was originally supposed to begin operations from the United States early last year, just as everything shut down. Some cruise ships were hit hard by Covid outbreaks early in the pandemic, which decimated the industry. But demand among aficionados has proved resilient , giving cruise lines hope.

“The Covid situation has not gone the way any of us expected,” Mr. Cotton said. But the vaccine rollout has given the new venture confidence in going ahead with a soft launch of the adults-only cruises in the United States.

The cruises are for vaccinated passengers only, and travelers need to be tested before they board. Onboard precautions include grab-and-go food options, capacity restrictions and an air ionization system. Activities on the adults-only cruises include yoga, meditation classes and late-night cabaret shows.

Lauren Hirsch joined the New York Times from CNBC in 2020, covering business, policy and mergers and acquisitions.  Ms. Hirsch studied comparative literature at Cornell University and has an M.B.A. from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth. More about Lauren Hirsch

Come Sail Away

Love them or hate them, cruises can provide a unique perspective on travel..

 Cruise Ship Surprises: Here are five unexpected features on ships , some of which you hopefully won’t discover on your own.

 Icon of the Seas: Our reporter joined thousands of passengers on the inaugural sailing of Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas . The most surprising thing she found? Some actual peace and quiet .

Th ree-Year Cruise, Unraveled:  The Life at Sea cruise was supposed to be the ultimate bucket-list experience : 382 port calls over 1,095 days. Here’s why  those who signed up are seeking fraud charges  instead.

TikTok’s Favorite New ‘Reality Show’:  People on social media have turned the unwitting passengers of a nine-month world cruise  into  “cast members”  overnight.

Dipping Their Toes: Younger generations of travelers are venturing onto ships for the first time . Many are saving money.

Cult Cruisers: These devoted cruise fanatics, most of them retirees, have one main goal: to almost never touch dry land .

• Port Overview
• Transportation to the Port
• Uber & Lyft to the Port
• Dropping Off at the Port
• Cruise Parking
• Cruise Hotels
• Hotels with Parking Deals
• Uber & Lyft to the Ports
• Things to Do
• Cozumel Taxi Rates
• Free Things to Do
• Restaurants Near the Cruise Port
• Hotels & Resorts With Day Passes
• Closest Beaches to the Cruise Port
• Tips For Visiting
• Shore Excursions
• Cruise Parking Discounts
• Hotels with Shuttles
• Which Airport Should I Use?
• Transportation to the Ports
• Dropping Off at the Ports
• Fort Lauderdale Airport to Miami
• Inexpensive Hotels
• Hotels near the Port
• Hotels With Shuttles
• Budget Hotels
• Carnival Tips
• Drink Packages
• Specialty Restaurants
• Faster to the Fun
• More Articles
• CocoCay Tips
• Norwegian Tips
• Great Stirrup Cay
• Harvest Caye
• How to Get the Best Cruise Deal
• Best Time to Book a Cruise
• Best Websites to Book a Cruise
• Cruises Under $300
• Cruises Under $500
• Spring Break Cruise Deals
• Summer Cruise Deals
• Alaskan Cruise Deals
• 107 Cruise Secrets & Tips
• Tips for First-Time Cruisers
• What to Pack for a Cruise
• What to Pack (Alaska)
• Packing Checklist
• Cruising with Kids
• Passports & Birth Certificates
• Bringing Alcohol
• Cruising with a Disability
• Duty-Free Shopping
• Cruise Travel Insurance
• Things to Do on a Cruise Ship
• What Not to Do on a Ship
• News & Articles

14 Cool Things to Know About the New Virgin Voyages Cruise Line

Most of the time, cruisers get excited about the newest ship coming to a cruise line. Carnival Horizon, Royal Caribbean’s Symphony of the Seas, and Norwegian Bliss have all made tons of headlines due to their size, grandeur, and newest features.

Imagine, then, if instead of just a new ship there was an entirely new cruise line. And that cruise line what making major changes to what’s considered “normal” in the cruise industry.

That’s exactly what we’re seeing with Virgin Voyages . The cruise line is part of Richard Branson’s “Virgin” umbrella of companies, which includes everything from airlines to cell service. One thing about the reputation of Virgin is that the company is seen as always doing things a bit different — and a bit better — than its competitors.

From the sounds of it, the Virgin Voyages cruise line will be no different. While the first ship won’t be up and running for more than a year, there’s been a steady trickle of news and unveilings of noteworthy features. In fact, much of what’s been revealed so far make it clear that Virgin will not be just another cruise line.

Here’s what we know so far…

Virgin Voyages Is For Adults Only

Perhaps the first sign that Virgin won’t just be another cruise line is that it is adults only. For years cruise lines have pushed to be family friendly, designed to appeal to everyone. Kid’s clubs and activities for children are commonplace on most cruises. However, Virgin has announced that you must be 18 years or older to sail on its ships. That means even if you have teenagers who know how to behave themselves, they still won’t be allowed on board. Leave the kids at home.

The First Ship Will Sail From Miami

If you want to ride on the new cruise line, you need to start looking for tickets to Miami. Virgin has announced that the ship will sail from PortMiami. This shouldn’t be a surprise. The company has offices in nearby Plantation, Florida, so sailing from South Florida makes sense. Meanwhile, the Miami cruise port is the busiest in the world and offer the resources and facilities to handle a new cruise line.

The Ships Will Look Like No Other

Even the look of the cruise ship is getting an overhaul. The renderings of Virgin’s first ship show a futuristic design, with cabins that go all the way to the point of the bow. The bow itself is creates more of a vertical line from the water instead of the classic forward angle On the stern, the superstructure is cut-in from the width of the hull, similar to the MSC Seaside. It all combines to create a ship that’s unmistakable and sure to turn heads.

The First Ship Is Named Scarlet Lady

So much is made of a cruise ship’s name. It can set the tone for what passengers expect, based simply on the name. In this case, Virgin Voyages has named its first ship Scarlet Lady. In our opinion the name suggests style and grace, which is likely what the cruise line was going for. In addition, the name is an homage to the name of one of the early planes to fly for Virgin’s airline.

There Will Be No Buffets

Buffets and cruise ships go together like peanut butter and jelly. But when is the last time you really loved eating at the buffet? Truth is that many passengers eat there because that’s what’s available. Virgin Voyages will take the buffet out all together.

All Restaurants Are Included

Over the years, it’s been a trend to have more restaurants on the ship… but to charge extra for them. So if you want to eat somewhere other than the buffet or the main dining room, then you usually have to pay up. That’s not the case on the Scarlet Lady. The cruise line has announced that not only will there be 20+ places to eat on board, but they also will be included in your cruise fare. That’s a welcome relief from the trend toward charging more for specialty restaurants.

There’s a Bar in Every Restaurant

One thing that Virgin Voyages isn’t getting rid of is the bar. In fact, every restaurant on the ship will have a bar so there’s no need to run elsewhere for a drink while having a meal or just hanging out. No word yet on if drink packages will be available.

Food Is Made to Order

Remember how we told you there were no buffets on the cruise ship? Well if the idea of food sitting out for extended periods doesn’t sound good to you, then you’ll love to hear that Virgin Voyages plans to have all of its food made to order. We’re not exactly sure how the cruise line will be able to feed thousands of people during the meal time rush without having some items pre-made, but we sure like the sound of having everything freshly made when ordered.

Single-Use Plastics Are Gone

According to the cruise line, there will be a massive reduction in disposable plastics — including elimination of single-use plastics — across the fleet. Things like plastic straws, and disposable water bottles will no longer be offered. Meanwhile, the ship also aims to reduce the total amount of disposable plastic consumed (compared to the average liner) by 50% or more.

There’s a Tattoo Parlor On the Ship

It certainly isn’t for everyone, but for those that want to get some ink done, there’s a one-of-a-kind tattoo parlor at sea. We know of no other cruise line doing something like this. “Squid Ink” will be able to handle anything you need in the tattoo department, whether it’s a butterfly on your ankle or a clipper ship across your chest.

Havana Will Be On the Ports of Call

A few years ago Havana began opening up for cruise ships and it’s been an exciting new addition to cruise lineups. Virgin has announced that Havana will be its first destination. As one of the most “unspoiled” cruise ports in the Caribbean, we certainly think Havana makes sense as a ground-breaking destination. There’s no word yet on what other ports the ships will visit.

There Are Four Ships Planned

The first ship from Virgin Voyages is the Scarlet Lady, but that’s not all the cruise line has planned. Already a second ship is under construction. Right now this ship is yet to be named. In addition, there are two more ships ordered, which will mean a fleet of four Virgin ships by the time they are completed. In other words, Virgin Voyages is not simply looking to have a ship and call itself a cruise line. It will be sailing with an entire fleet.

Gyms Are Completely Reimagined

Head to the gym on a cruise ship today and you’ll find some treadmills and weight machines, but that’s about it. In fact, most of the time it’s empty. Virgin seems to be focusing heavily on health and wellness. The ship will include a “Training Camp” room, boxing classes, space for yoga and meditation, and even a cold-pressed juice bar. In addition, the cruise line seems to be focusing not just on working out, but working out and socializing, which it says is inspired by athletic social clubs of the past.

Scarlet Lady Sets Sail in 2020

While the exact date is yet unknown, if you’re excited about sailing on Virgin Voyages, then you’ll have to wait until 2020. That’s when the first ship in the fleet is scheduled to set sail. After that, the schedule is for each of the remaining ships to come online one a year through 2023. There is no word yet on when reservation will open for passengers to book their spot to set sail.

Popular: 39 Useful Things to Pack (17 You Wouldn't Think Of)

Read next: park & cruise hotels for every port in america, popular: 107 best cruise tips, secrets, tricks, and freebies, related articles more from author, virgin voyages revises schedule (and drops prices) after cuba cruise ban, 11 things to do at the virgin voyages beach club at bimini, 9 ways virgin voyages is different from carnival (or any other cruise line), virgin voyages announces unique details of new suites, virgin voyages opens for bookings february 14, plus will build a new terminal, 9 tell-tale signs of a first-time cruiser, leave a reply cancel reply.

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

11 Tips Cruise Lines DON’T Want You to Know (But They Aren’t Against the Rules)

Cruise anxiety these facts may calm your biggest fears, revealed: the most expensive carnival cruise you can buy (and cheapest, too), hotels with cruise shuttles for every major port in america, 107 best cruise tips, tricks, secrets, and freebies, 39 useful things to pack for your cruise (including 17 you’d never think of).

• Privacy Policy
• Terms & Conditions

Too hip or just right? Here's what it was really like sailing on Virgin Voyages for the first time

With a nighttime show called "Never Sleep Alone" that awards golden condoms to participants, an onboard tattoo parlor and in-room music and lighting settings with options like "get it on" and "hangover mode," adults-only Virgin Voyages clearly caters to a kid-free crowd. Still, I had no idea what to expect as I stepped onto Virgin Voyages' Scarlet Lady .

Leading up to its maiden voyage in 2021, Virgin Voyages marketed itself as the cruise line for vacationers who otherwise weren't interested in traditional cruising. It aimed to appeal to those who were young and hip, wanted to party and craved an atmosphere without little kids running around.

Up until recently, I'd only ever sailed with Disney Cruise Line — and with my kids in tow. However, the Virgin Voyages concept has intrigued me since it launched.

Could Richard Branson's edgy Virgin Voyages truly be a perfect match for trips without kids? Or, would I feel completely out of place and overwhelmed by the rock star attitude featured throughout the cruise line's ships?

There was only one way to satisfy my curiosity — I booked a sailing on Virgin Voyages' Scarlet Lady.

Would the four-night cruise from Miami , with stops in both Key West, Florida, and Bimini, Bahamas, impress me enough to consider Virgin Voyages for future trips? Here's what I took away from the experience — and whether I'd cruise with Virgin Voyages again.

For cruise news, reviews and tips, sign up for TPG's cruise newsletter .

There's a surprisingly diverse crowd on board

Like many people, I went into my cruise expecting most passengers (or "sailors," as the line calls them) to be millennials based on the flashy marketing I've seen from the line. Much to my surprise, though, there was a fair mix of people on my sailing.

Sure, there were millennials in their late 20s, 30s and even early 40s — including me, as I fall within the oldest bracket for that generation — but for every 27-year-old on board, there was also someone close to 70 years old like the cruise line's founder, Richard Branson.

Last year, Tom McAlpin, the president and CEO of Virgin Voyages, told TPG's resident cruise expert Gene Sloan that on early sailings of Scarlet Lady, the average passenger age was in the 50s, with plenty on board in their 60s and 70s. Based on my trip, I'd say that is still a pretty accurate representation.

After a few days on board, it became clear that what passengers had in common wasn't the age listed in their passports but rather the shared desire to have a good time. For the most part, my fellow cruisers were a diverse, inclusive and vibrant group of vacationers who were all eager to strike up conversations with others, regardless of age.

Related: First look: 10 things I love about Virgin Voyages' new Valiant Lady cruise ship

The adult-oriented persona isn't as extreme as you might expect

While there is a "Scarlet Night" celebration featuring lots of red lights and sailors donning their best scarlet-colored attire, the atmosphere on board is far from what you'll find in Amsterdam's Red Light District.

The entertainment we experienced fell somewhere between PG-13 and R, though we admittedly headed to bed by 11 p.m., so perhaps offerings leaned more X-rated as the night went on.

There were a couple of shows that I wouldn't want to see with, say, my parents, such as the previously mentioned "Never Sleep Alone." During that event, participants were awarded golden condoms that granted access to a post-show VIP party. However, those adult activities were easy to spot on the agenda, so you could easily skip them if you wanted a more tame cruise experience.

Beyond the evening entertainment, the vibe was similar to what you'd find in Las Vegas . The pools, restaurants, spa, casino and exercise classes all featured plenty of skimpy outfits and adult-oriented jokes and innuendos, though you could avoid anything that was too outside your comfort zone.

Related: 5 cruise lines to try if you just can't stand being around kids on vacation

Dining options are plentiful (albeit hit or miss)

As far as I'm concerned, cruises are for eating — and Virgin Voyages offers numerous places to dine on Scarlet Lady.

In addition to featuring more than 20 grab-and-go spots and traditional sit-down eateries, there's the large Galley venue with various vendors arranged in a way similar to what you'd find in a food court or buffet.

Given all the options available, there were more places than we could try on our first Virgin Voyages cruise. Still, we sought to sample as much as possible during our four-night sailing.

If you're looking for a traditional sit-down experience, six onboard restaurants accept reservations for dinner: The Wake (which serves steaks and seafood), Razzle Dazzle Restaurant (a contemporary venue with vegetarian and American fare), The Test Kitchen (a laboratory-style eatery), Pink Agave (where gourmet Mexican cuisine is on the menu), Extra Virgin (an Italian-inspired venue) and Gunbae (which specializes in Korean barbecue).

Your cruise price covers dining at all of these spots, plus the quick bite options on the ship. However, some restaurants offer buy-up options labeled as "treat yourself" dishes that cost extra. For example, a half-dozen oysters at The Wake are going to set you back an additional $20, but the steak and clam chowder are 100% included.

Besides the main restaurants, there's the previously mentioned Galley, where you can savor everything from sushi roll bento boxes to 24-hour diner food. It is a hybrid of a grab-and-go and dine-in experience, meaning how you order will vary depending on which station you visit.

Additionally, you'll find casual spots that serve ice cream, pizza, poke bowls and more. You can also order room service; the food is complimentary, but there's a $5 delivery fee.

While I appreciated the array of options at our disposal, I found the quality of the food and service to be hit or miss. Some restaurants I loved so much that I went back a second time; at others, I took a solitary bite of food before deciding to move on.

For example, the tuna poke bowl I excitedly tried at the Sun Club Cafe was patently awful, and the sushi rolls at The Galley were disappointing, reminding me of what I'd find in my Texas grocery store.

Similarly, The Wake was lackluster, to say the least. While some fellow cruisers we met enjoyed the restaurant, it was extremely underwhelming during our visit, serving the worst shrimp and grits I've ever had. Not to mention, the service was slow and seafood options were surprisingly limited for a restaurant that claims to specialize in steak and seafood.

It wasn't all mediocre, though.

Gunbae's Korean fare was not only delicious but served in a setting that was an absolute blast to experience. It really captured how Virgin markets itself by offering staff-led drinking games and communal seating that encourages socializing. We had such a great time there that when we walked into a quiet and sparsely populated restaurant on our last night, we turned around and went back to Gunbae for a repeat experience that was just as memorable as our first visit.

Pink Agave was another standout restaurant. It didn't offer as much of a party vibe as Gunbae, but it still felt lively and served a solid selection of Mexican dishes.

Related: Cruise ship restaurant nirvana: The 9 best meals you can have at sea

The cabins are decent but could be improved

Unless you splurge on a pricy RockStar suite , you'll be placed in a cabin that looks modern but otherwise seems fairly standard, other than the fancy mood lighting.

Our Sea Terrace cabin was spotless and stayed true to the modern theme featured throughout the ship, but it wasn't the most comfortable spot on the whole.

While we enjoyed the red outdoor hammock that was shockingly comfortable and not merely a cute, Instagram-worthy gimmick, as well as the selection of in-room movies, which ranged from the original "Top Gun" to newer releases like "Elvis," the rest of the cabin left a lot to be desired.

The bathroom was quite small, to the point where it bordered on being a claustrophobic experience.

The bed was also rather hard and uncomfortable for my personal tastes, so much so that by the last night of our trip, I was ready to return to my more inviting setup at home.

Additionally, unlike Disney Cruise Line, where cabin attendants make it a point to get to know you and your preferences, Virgin Voyages lacked the same personalized service. I never interacted with a person in charge of our cabin, as it would be serviced while we were out (after pushing a button that sent the request to the crew) by a person that, to us, remained nameless and faceless.

Related: Virgin Voyages to debut cruise loyalty program in 2023, with temporary perks available now

The private beach club is top-notch

While other ports of call vary based on the sailing, a constant for Scarlet Lady is a stop at its private beach club in the Bahamas.

Situated on the island of Bimini, this spot was, in a word, fabulous.

Although it's not quite a private island like Royal Caribbean's CocoCay and Disney Cruise Line's Castaway Cay, that doesn't really matter. You'll feel like you're in an exclusive setting after taking the open-air tram from the ship's dock to the modern, beautiful beach club.

The club offers a couple of large pools, ample lounge chairs and towels, plenty of bars and a picture-perfect beach. A swim-up bar would have been nice, but that's being picky.

During your visit to the club, any drinks you order are charged to the ship, so bar tab credits you have during your cruise will work here, too. The food, which ranged from snapper steamed in a banana leaf to a salad featuring Bahamian mango and macadamia, is included, though some dishes were better than others. I loved mixing the curry, rice and snapper I ordered all together to create a pretty tasty bowl.

On-island entertainment is available as well, though I can't speak to what happened as the afternoon wore on, as we hit our sun quota by midday. However, rumor has it there was a pool float party that occurred after our departure.

Related: Virgin Voyages hopes to draw cruise newbies like me: Here's my first impression from its first sailing

You won't find the usual cruise experience on board

Virgin Voyages does not simply give its amenities and activities quirky names — like "Lick Me Til Ice Cream" for the onboard ice cream shop. The overall experience is a bit different than what you'll come across on traditional cruise lines.

To start, there are no drink packages — and that was a big complaint I heard on the ship from folks who were used to sailing with other lines that offer unlimited drink inclusion options . Instead, Virgin Voyages offers a bar tab that you can load before you sail. Sometimes bar tab credit is also included with the sailing as part of a promotion.

Blessedly, there are no keycards and associated lanyards to keep up with but rather adjustable bracelets that look like friendship bracelets from middle school. Unlike the ones from your childhood, these have built-in technology that opens your cabin door, allows you to charge things to your account and more.

There are also no set dining times, restaurant rotations or dress codes, though you can — and should — make dinner reservations. As a result, you can dine at whichever restaurant you prefer at a time that works for you.

Other than the cabin cleanings, the crew was more noticeable, too. We saw crew members on the basketball courts, eating in The Galley and just generally out and about around the ship even when they didn't appear to be on the clock, which helped create a more relaxed atmosphere.

Additionally, we didn't have to worry about extra tips, taxes or fees. Tips for the crew, spa services and more are factored into your cruise price, so what you see on the menu really is what you can expect to pay.

Another noticeable (and welcome) difference was how laid-back the line was with announcements and disembarking. Outside of a welcome announcement from the captain on the first day, we didn't hear another peep. On the last day, you just had to be off the ship by a respectable 10:45 a.m., so you could still go to a workout class, play some air hockey and have brunch without feeling rushed to depart.

Related: 21 tips and tricks that will make your first cruise go smoothly

Bottom line

Despite some underwhelming aspects here and there, such as some design choices we didn't love and a very crowded pool area, we had a great time.

The late-night spicy ramen, social atmosphere and fun ports more than made up for any hiccups. For us, it was like a four-day long party without the hangover.

In fact, we had such a great time that before disembarking Scarlet Lady, we put a $300 deposit down on a future Virgin Voyages sailing so we could receive $900 in discounts and credits the next time around.

It's safe to say that overall, the cruise was absolutely worth it — and one we can't wait to do all over again.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

• The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
• A beginners guide to picking a cruise line
• The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship
• A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
• 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
• 15 ways cruisers waste money
• 12 best cruises for people who never want to grow up
• The ultimate guide to what to pack for a cruise

• Cruise Knowledge

Virgin Voyages Ships By Age — Newest to Oldest

Doug Parker

• December 29, 2023

Virgin Voyages is a cruise line that was established by Sir Richard Branson, the founder of the Virgin Group. The cruise line operates a fleet of ships referred to as the “Lady Ships,” which are known for their contemporary design and emphasis on adult-only sailing experiences.

Virgin Voyages stands out in the cruise industry because it is exclusively for adults and includes gratuities, wifi, and specialty dining in the cost of the cruise.

Virgin Voyages Ships Listed by Age

Virgin Voyages boasts a young and vibrant fleet, with three of its four ships launched within the past three years.

In 2020, Virgin Voyages launched its first ship, the Scarlet Lady. The vessel boasts a sophisticated design and offers a wide range of onboard amenities, which reflects the cruise line’s dedication to redefining the cruising experience.

In the years following the launch of its first ship, Virgin Voyages has expanded its fleet with the introduction of additional vessels.

The table below shows the ship’s name, class, age, gross registered tonnage, and how many guests it carries at double occupancy.

In this article, we’ve compiled an overview of all ships in the  Virgin Voyages fleet , organized from newest to oldest, along with some key features.

Brilliant Lady

Virgin Voyages offers a range of experiences and amenities designed to enhance the comfort and enjoyment of its guests. Every aspect, from the state-of-the-art accommodations to the eco-friendly sustainability practices, is thoughtfully crafted.

Key Features : Draught Haus, On the Rocks, Richard’s Rooftop, Sun Club Bar, The Aquatic Club Bar, The Loose Cannon, The Arcade, The Groupie, High Street, Voyage Vinyl, The Athletic Club, The Tune Up, and Training Camp

Resilient Lady

Passengers can opt for a diverse range of restaurants and bars, each with its own unique ambiance and food. The dining options available vary from high-end cuisine to more casual eatery options, all while ensuring that the quality is not compromised in any way. Every meal is included in the cost of your cruise.

Key Features : Draught Haus, Grounds Club, On the Rocks, Sip Lounge, Sun Club Bar, The Aquatic Club Bar, The Arcade, The Groupie, I.V., Sailor Services, The Cabanas, High Street, Voyage Vinyl, The Athletic Club, and The Perch

Valiant Lady

Virgin Voyages offers a wide range of award-winning and diverse entertainment options to its guests. These options include live music, DJ sets, theater productions, and various other activities. Whether you’re seeking adventure or relaxation, the daytime activities cater to both.

Key Features : Draught Haus, Grounds Club, On the Rocks, Gym & Tonic, Sip Lounge, Richard’s Rooftop, Sun Club Bar, The Aquatic Club Bar, The Dock Bar, The Arcade, The Groupie, Medical Center, Sailor Services, The Cabanas, High Street, Voyage Vinyl, The Athletic Club, and The Perch

Scarlet Lady

Key Features : Draught Haus, Grounds Club, On the Rocks, Gym & Tonic, Sip Lounge, Richard’s Rooftop, Sun Club Bar, The Aquatic Club Bar, The Dock Bar, SIP, The Casino, The Red Room, The Arcade, The Groupie, Sailor Services, The Cabanas, High Street, Voyage Vinyl, The Athletic Club, and The Perch

Recent Posts

Passenger reportedly jumps from cruise ship in front of family, carnival vista review 2024 + cruise news [podcast], port clears cruise ship to leave after identifying 69 fake visas, hydration economics: carnival hikes bottled water prices by 25%, share this post, related posts.

Holland America Extends 2025-2026 Sailings on Pinnacle-Class Ships

Stranded Passengers in Africa Rejoin Cruise Ship After Nearly a Week

Bringing you 15 years of cruise industry experience. Cruise Radio prioritizes well-balanced cruise news coverage and accurate reporting, paired with ship reviews and tips.   

Quick links

Cruise Radio, LLC © Copyright 2009-2024 | Website Designed By   Insider Perks, Inc

See the entire world with Virgin Voyages

Virgin Voyages has announced four new one-way sailings that cross oceans and hemispheres and offer Sailors the chance to see more of the world.

Experience Virgin Voyages’ newest ship, Brilliant Lady. Enjoy a five-night holiday sailing to finish 2023 in style, or voyage on one of three epic, two-week adventures – or combine them for a global, six-week trip of a lifetime in 2024.

Brilliant Caribbean holidays

Brilliant Lady will set sail from Miami to San Juan on 24 December 2023, giving Sailors the chance to celebrate the holiday season with Virgin Voyages. Enjoy some serious festive vibes while you sail, with full days to explore both Puerto Plata and St. Croix. You’ll arrive in San Juan on 29 December 2023, just in time to see in the new year.

Australia, Bali & Singapore

Sail north with Virgin Voyages from Sydney to Singapore on 27 Marcy 2024. On this 14-night cruise, you’ll leave with iconic views of the Sydney Harbour, stopping at Airlie Beach, Cairns and Darwin before making an overnight stay in Bali, and then arriving in Singapore.

Singapore sights to Dubai delights

Set sail from Singapore on 11 April 2024 on a one-way voyage to Dubai with Virgin Voyages. With this 14-night voyage, you’ll have plenty of time to dip into Phuket’s beautiful green waters, gaze at Colombo’s incredible architecture, and catch up on Goa’s laid-back lifestyle. You’ll also get to explore Kuala Lumpur and Mumbai, before arriving in Dubai.

Modern Dubai to Ancient Athens

Explore iconic sites along the Red Sea and the Mediterranean on this 14-night one-way voyage from Dubai to Piraeus (Athens). After experiencing the modern wonders of the Arabian Gulf, you’ll cross the Suez Canal and reach the stunning Greek coast. With late-night stays in Safaga and Alexandria, plus full days in Rhodes and Santorini there’s plenty of time to soak up the history, revel in the desert sunshine and get your island glow going.

Set sail the Virgin way

There’s so much to do onboard all of Virgin Voyages’ ships. Enjoy a taste of luxury at the 20 onboard eateries, covering everything from Michelin-style dining to late-night snacking. Or if you’re after some rest and relaxation time, book into the onboard spa and enjoy some time for yourself. All that self-case will come in handy when it’s time to put on your glad rags, grab your dancing shoes and throw some shapes at the onboard nightclub.

Plus, with Virgin Voyages, there’s so much included in the price of your sailing. You won’t be paying for WiFi so upload as many holiday snaps as you want to make everyone back home jealous. All your exercise classes are included too, as well as your food and basic drinks, and tips for Virgin Voyages’ crew.

Can’t wait to get on board? Visit Virgin Voyages to find out more and book your sailing today.

Join Virgin Red and you can earn up to four Virgin Points per pound when booking a Virgin Voyages cruise via Virgin Atlantic Holidays.

Virgin Voyages announces sustainable marine fuel partnerships

Seven European destinations you can visit with Virgin Voyages

More than 30 new ways to earn Virgin Points with Virgin Red in the US

• Track A Ship
• View Ship Traffic In A Port
• World Map Of Port Locations

Follow along with the video below to see how to install our site as a web app on your home screen.

Note: This feature may not be available in some browsers.

• Guest Register If you are reading this it means you have not yet registered. Please take a second to REGISTER (it's FREE). You will then be able to enjoy all the features of Cruising Earth .
• Ship Tracking

Track A Virgin Voyages Cruise Ship / Virgin Voyages Cruise Ship Tracker - Cruising Earth

Virgin voyages cruise ship tracker / live ship tracking map.

Track A Virgin Voyages Cruise Ship

Virgin Voyages currently has 4 trackable ships. Selecting a specific Virgin Voyages ship below will allow you to track it and view additional details like the ship's current location, recent track, speed, course, next port destination, estimated time of arrival (ETA) and more.

Locate and track a specific Virgin Voyages' ship by selecting it from the ship tracking options available below.

Track Cruise Ships , Cruise Ferries , Research Ships , Military Ships and Famous Ships right here live on Cruising Earth !

Get the latest current and forecast weather information that may affect your cruise vacation travel plans.

It looks like you may be utilizing ad blocking software or another ad filtering technology while visiting Cruising Earth. Certain areas of this site may not work properly because of this, particularly live updates of ship trackers and webcams.

We work hard to strike a balance between content and ads and as a free site we greatly appreciate your support in permitting ads to render. Ads help us cover our server and maintenance costs, which helps us continue to keep this site free to use. You also don't want to miss out on any specials or discounts posted from the Cruise & Travel Industry! For the best site experience please disable your ad blockers for cruisingearth.com, then click the button below. Thank you.

Love Exploring

The Beautiful History Of Cruises Over Time

Posted: January 7, 2024 | Last updated: January 7, 2024

Sailing through time

1830s: the very beginnings

1840s: the first pleasure cruises

1840s: a landmark in cruise-line history

1850–60s: early developments

Passenger cruising continued to develop through the mid-19th century, with luxuries like on-board lounges and simple entertainment emerging. Shown here, in 1856, is Cunard's RMS Persia, one of the largest ships of her time and an early Blue Riband winner (an award given for high-speed Atlantic crossings).

1870s: the New World

1880s: lighting up the ocean

1890s: “floating palaces”

1900s: entering cruising’s golden age

At the turn of the century, there was still a frisson around cruising and large, buzzy crowds would often gather to see off the ships. This nostalgic photograph was snapped between 1900 and 1915, and shows large steam boats leaving from the White Star Line dock in Detroit, Michigan. Well-dressed passengers fill the ships' upper and lower decks too.

1900s: the first purpose-built cruise ship

1910s: onboard entertainment

1910s: the Titanic disaster

One of the most famous and devastating events in cruise history occurred in this decade. Dubbed "unsinkable" by the White Star Line's vice-president, the Titanic set out from Southampton on her maiden voyage on 10 April 1912 to much applause. But just four days later, she collided with an iceberg in the North Atlantic: the compartments in her hull filled with water and she tragically sank. The disaster claimed the lives of more than 1,500 people.

1910s: First World War

1920s: cruising’s golden age continued

1920s: setting the bar high

1920s: a festive feast

1920s: the first round-the-world cruise

Another major milestone came in the 1920s: the very first round-the-world cruise. The Cunard Line's RMS Laconia (pictured here leaving Liverpool circa 1920) sailed around the globe in 1922, calling at 22 ports along the way, and taking 450 lucky passengers with her.

1930s: all games on deck

1930s: making a splash

1940s: post-war cruising

1950s: the post-war decades

Come the 1950s, cruise ships had another phenomenon to compete with: jet planes. Commercial air travel boomed in this decade, with comfier aircraft and improved routes enticing travelers into the skies. Many cruise liners underwent swish post-war refits in an attempt to stay afloat: this 1950s photo shows the opulent dining room of French liner SS Île de France after a dramatic post-war makeover.

1950s: going Down Under

1950s: the Blue Riband record breaker

Though formalized in the 1930s, the Blue Riband – the award for the passenger cruise liner with the fastest Atlantic-crossing time – has its roots right back in the 19th century. The record is still held by SS United States of United States Lines, which first sped across the Atlantic in 1952. She's pictured here on 9 July 1952, docking in Southampton.

1960s: the Jet Age

1970s: The Love Boat

As flying became more commonplace, the popularity of cruising looked set to dwindle. However, one particular TV series is often credited with keeping travelers' passion for cruising alive. The Love Boat – aired from the 1970s – was a comedy series that followed the crew and passengers of luxury liner SS Pacific Princess. Such was its popularity, some say it brought cruising back into the mainstream once more. This shot shows Cunard Line's Queen Elizabeth 2 in 1975. 

1970s: cruising opens up to the masses

1980s: the cruise to nowhere

The 1980s is thought to be the decade that pioneered the "cruise to nowhere," where the ship really was the destination. The SS Norway (pictured) – a lavish mega ship with room for thousands of passengers and amenities like a casino – embarked on a no-docking cruise in this decade.

1990s: Disney takes to the water

2000s: making waves in the modern world

The 2000s saw larger-than-life, no-expense-spared, mega cruise ships sail onto the scene. This sunset snap shows Cunard Line's Queen Mary II as she completes her first trans-Atlantic voyage in January 2004. At this time, she was the largest and most expensive cruise ship ever constructed with room for 2,200-plus passengers, a theater and even a planetarium, setting the bar for the ships of posterity. 

2010s: bigger, better and healthier

2020s: off to a rocky start

The 2020s got off to an eventful start. The COVID-19 pandemic halted almost all cruises, with some passengers and crew marooned onboard while testing and entry protocols were debated. In 2021 rife cancellations, last-minute border changes and variant outbreaks persisted. However, the years since have indicated a return to pre-pandemic popularity, with 300 cruise ships departing in April 2022 – pretty impressive compared to just 22 departing in April 2021. Cruise lines have incorporated more health and safety protocols, such as advising passengers to control their TV, light and temperature via an app instead of touchpoints. 

If this has floated your boat, here's where to see the world's most famous ships

More for You

The Exact Time to Quit Your Job, According to Chief HR Officer

Ukraine appeared to strike a Russian tank equipped with a makeshift electronic warfare system — but that may worry Ukraine

Here's What Happens When You Keep a Car For Over a Decade

7 CDs You Probably Owned, Threw Out and Now Are Worth Bank

‘Death cleaning’ isn’t morbid, it’s the healthiest thing you can do

These Are The World’s Best Nude Beaches

Harvard psychologist shares 9 toxic phrases 'gaslighters' always use—and how to respond

San Francisco proposal would allow lawsuits over grocery store closures

4 Chain Restaurants With The Absolute Best Chicken Pot Pie And 4 With The Worst

I moved from the US to Ireland. Here are 11 things that surprised me most.

9 Insider Secrets You Should Know From a Goodwill Employee

15 Car Brands With Notoriously High Maintenance Costs—and 3 With the Lowest

What life is really like as a high-functioning depressive

Health officials sound the alarm as 'break-bone fever' hits record levels: 'There are 200% more cases'

I Lost White Friends When I Finally Spoke Out

Steve Jobs once said the best managers are 'individual contributors' who aren't interested in managing people

16 Popular Pizza Chains, Ranked Worst to Best

17 Jobs That Pay $25 an Hour to Work From Home

Here’s why Americans drive on the right and the UK drives on the left

Buffalo Nickels Could Be Worth Thousands — How To Spot One

2024: THE VIEW FROM THE TOP

In 2024, previously uncharted territory is on the horizon. from the english channel to the cook strait, we’re taking our time and exploring new parts of the world. and these new routes come with the same included luxury you’ve come to love..

SEA YOURSELF HERE

Our new destinations

New in 2024: basque in spanish sunlight. dance in puerto rican twilight. relax in tasmanian starlight., this year, we’re doubling down on the entertainment you love, bringing more comedy into our lineup, and even sending one of our shows to tour on land..

• LOLz Supper Club Stand-up from the very best up-and-comers on the scene, hosted in a classy, old-school supper club setting.
• Duel Reality: Now on Land Where Romeo & Juliet meets the circus — and you’ll watch the whole thrilling conflict unfold, just feet away from the action.
• Festival Stage Acts Music, comedy, audience participation — in 2024, you’ll experience something new on every single voyage with our rotating lineup of epic laughs.

LOVE & LOYALTY

Virgin Voyages Sailing Club

Coming 2024: the virgin voyages sailing club is getting an (even more) epic upgrade., we’re changing things up in 2024 — but we know when to leave a good thing alone. and our beloved flagship events aren’t going anywhere..

• Celebration Voyages Our Celebrations Voyages — starring Richard Branson himself — are boutique celebrations of the Virgin brand, featuring the people who created it. SEA WHEN WE SAIL
• Elevate Voyages Designed as a space for self-discovery and growth, Elevate is inspired by the success of 2023’s Limitless Voyage. And in 2024 Elevate is going global. LEVEL UP YOUR LIFE
• Eat & Drink Festival You loved it, so we brought it back. Three ships, two months, one epic onboard program for discerning foodies. Sailing June 30th through August 4th. SEAS THE TASTE
• Well-Being Months Breathe in. Breathe out. From January to March, all sailings focus on getting you grounded — with spa offerings, wellness socials, and more. FEEL GOOD