So, picture this: Cyber Monday. The hubby and I, hunting for travel deals like it’s the final round of a shopping Olympics. And then, jackpot—we locked in a ridiculously good deal on a Virgin Voyages cruise and cheap airfare from our hometown airport (this is rare, because our small Fargo, ND airport is usually pretty expensive). Fate? Possibly. A well-executed travel hack? Definitely.

Now, after 11 nights of sailing, I have thoughts. Was it worth it? Would I do it again? Did I finally get to live my best hammock life? Let’s dive in.

Virgin Voyages cruise ship, a detailed review of the experience — Virgin Voyages Cruise Ship Resilient Lady

First Impressions: The Vibe Check

Going in, after watching dang near every YouTube video we could find, I expected Virgin Voyages to have a Vegas-meets-cruise type of energy—lots of people-watching, trendy aesthetics, and maybe some light chaos. And while it did have that polished, modern feel, it was way more relaxed than I thought it would be.

A big part of that? The adults-only factor. You’re treated like an actual grown-up. No surprise fees or gouging. No gimmicky sales pitches. Just vibes. The staff—especially the Happenings Cast—are so engaging and inclusive that you feel like you’re part of this cool little floating community, whether you’re 21 or 71, introverted or the life of the party, LGBTQ+ or straight. You belong here.

Speaking of the Happenings Cast, they’re like a modern, cooler version of a cruise director, except instead of one person making awkward announcements over the PA system, you get 12 uniquely themed crew members whose sole job is to interact, engage, and bring the fun. There’s:

🎤 The Hostess (your main emcee)
🎭 The Artist (creative and eccentric)
🎶 The Diva (pure entertainment and sass)
🎲 The Gamer (for all things trivia and games)
🪄The Charmer (the magician)…
and 7 more! These aren’t just employees—they make the cruise experience.

The Food: Did It Live Up to the Hype?

Short answer? Absolutely. This was, hands down, the best food I’ve had at sea. We ate everywhere:

🍽️ The Wake (steakhouse vibes, great brunch)
🌮 Pink Agave (Mexican, and my personal favorite)
🥩 Razzle Dazzle (vegetarian-friendly, but also amazing meat options)
🍜 Gum Bay (Korean BBQ)
🍣 The Dock House (Mediterranean small plates)
🍝 Extra Virgin (Italian food done right)
🍔 The Galley (a casual food hall-style spot)

Standout Meal? Pink Agave’s steak with cheese and pomegranate guacamole. I am forever changed. Pomegranates in guac? Virgin Voyages, take my money.

Biggest Letdown? Test Kitchen. Now, I love adventurous food—I’ll usually try anything at least once. Test Kitchen has multiple set menus (regular and vegan – and depending on the length of your cruise could change 3 times), so you’re not completely in the dark, but you don’t really know how things will be prepared or paired together. Unfortunately, too many of the dishes were a miss for us. My husband, who’s significantly pickier than I am, was not a fan. If you love experimental, Michelin-star-level creativity, you might enjoy it. Honestly, I still think you should try it for the experience, because it was pretty cool. And hey, if you don’t eat everything you’re served and are still hungry after, just head to the Galley.

Entertainment & Events: A Party or a Chill Cruise?

Here’s the thing about Virgin Voyages—you get to pick your experience. Want to party all night? You can. Prefer low-key casino nights and live shows? That works too.

Best Show: “Misbehaved” was a must-see—edgy, hilarious, and absolutely worth it.
Coolest Concept: “Persephone”—interactive, immersive, and the cast literally dances around you.
Most Unexpectedly Amazing Act: A “professional nerd” mentalist whose memorization tricks blew my mind.

We also got to see some of the other shows like the Diva’s Drag show (it’s different on each cruise-depending on the Diva working that ship) and Lola’s Library (which was a lil bit risk-ay, albeit very entertaining). No matter what, there is plenty of entertainment. But getting into some of the shows can be a bit tricky and you may need to show up pretty early for the main ones to ensure you get a good seat.

Events You Can’t Miss

🎉 Sail Away Party – Free champagne. Need I say more?

👚 Pajama Party – Bring your PJs, because everyone dresses up. Matching sets, onesies, sexy lingerie, or just classic flannel—it’s all fair game. This is one of the most fun, laid-back parties on board.

🔴 Scarlet Night – The ship’s signature event where everyone wears red. Whether you go all-out in a red gown or keep it casual in a T-shirt, you’ll fit in. It starts with a backstory-themed show and ends with an epic pool party where everyone jumps in—fully clothed. It’s chaotic. It’s sexy. It’s so much fun.

🥂Grog Walk – $$ This costs extra ($50 per person at the time of writing this). This is a guided bar crawl with some of the happenings crew across the ship where you try a signature drink at each stop. You get to know your fellow sailors, get a little tipsy, and by the end, you have some people you’ll recognize throughout your cruise. Was this worth the extra cost? Yes – but I’d highly suggest doing the Grog Walk on one of the first nights of your cruise.

Our Cabin Experience: A Pleasant Surprise

We originally booked the cheapest inside cabin, and then Virgin Voyages said, “Nah, let’s treat you right.” We got upgraded to a Central Sea Terrace—aka balcony + hammock. And that hammock? 100% lived up to the hype.

✅ Room highlights:

The hammock is life.
You can control everything (lights, curtains, TV) with an iPad.
Plenty of storage, despite what some people claim.
Free caraffe’s of water in your room (refilled daily).
Plenty of plugins (so we didn’t have to pack a power strip).

❌ Room downsides:

The bed was pretty hard. You don’t really notice right away, but by the last few days of the cruise, my poor husband’s back was not amused. You can ask your room steward for a pillow top.

The bathroom was tiny, but functional.

The One Hiccup: Upgraded Internet

Virgin Voyages changed their Wi-Fi structure right before our cruise, and it was not a good change.

Basic Wi-Fi (free, but limited, think social media access so you can post some pics but not stream videos)
Streaming Package (better, but no VPN access, you could stream and upload videos—has a daily paid option)
Work from Sea Package (only option with VPN, but you have to buy it for the whole trip—no daily option)

If you need to work on board and use a VPN, be ready to spend big, $50/day. My husband only needed it for two days, but we would have had to pay for the entire 11-night cruise. We complained, did not get a real solution, and it was frustrating.

Final Verdict: Would I Cruise Virgin Again?

Oh, absolutely. In fact, we already committed—big time.

We bought FOUR future cruise placeholders through the onboard My Next Virgin Voyage program. They were on sale, so we stocked up. We can use them ourselves or transfer them to friends, plus they come with onboard loot and a discount off the cruise we end up purchasing.

Who Would Love Virgin Voyages?

✔ Foodies
✔ People who love unique experiences
✔ Travelers who hate being nickel-and-dimed

Who Might Not Love It?

❌ People who need traditional cruise structure
❌ Families with kids
❌ People who get really sea sick (since it’s a smaller ship than some of the mega cruise lines, you can feel the waves more easily)

Despite the internet frustration, this was the most fun, most laid-back, best-food-ever cruise I’ve been on. We’re already scheming to bring friends on our next one.

If you’re thinking about sailing Virgin Voyages, do it. And also, maybe start planning your Scarlet Night outfit now.

Virgin Voyages: Was It Worth the Hype? Our 11-Night Adventure at Sea