It’s no secret we love Virgin Voyages at Elite Cruising and Tours, perhaps it is the fresh take on cruising that is challenging the norm, or perhaps it is just done so well we can’t find much to not like about it!!  Well that’s not true, everyone has their flaws, and our verdict of Virgin Voyages depicts exactly what we loved, what could be done better and our insider tips and tricks to making your Virgin Voyage even better!!

If you are considering a Virgin Voyage, we are here to help get you booked, we are so excited about getting you on board we are waiving our standard booking fee on short cruises, and we even have a great value add you can’t get by booking directly with Virgin!!  2023/24 season SOLD out, don’t miss the boat for 2024/25!

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What did we love?

‍Entertainment – As an adult only ship you can expect filters to be off and plenty of choice to keep you thoroughly entertained.  The diversity of the spaces made delivering different experiences easy and keeps things fresh and exciting.  While some of the time you found yourself wondering what exactly you were watching, it all came together leaving the crowd talking at the end of every experience.  It will come down to personal taste as the overall quality is excellent and there was nothing cliché about this cruise entertainment.

Food – Cruise Ships are a foodie’s paradise, Virgin take this to the next level with no main dining, no mass produced or prepared meals, all 20 eateries have their own kitchen where food is cooked to order.  Dining was an experience with no rush and a pace you would expect in any normal restaurant.   With no kids to cater for the menu really speaks to a more sophisticated palate, everyone has their favourite, but I loved Pink Agave the best!!  

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Crew – This is where it all comes together, you expect great service, engagement, and attention to detail on any premium cruise, the Virgin Crew do all of this with a genuine and warm approach.  With an inclusive policy towards all staff and sailors this is felt right through from every level of employee.  You can tell the conditions for staff are great and that the Virgin philosophy or hiring for attitude is evident, nothing was too much trouble and all crew seemed to enjoy their roles and being part of the overall experience.

The Ship – There was LOTS of space on Virgin, with limited large areas each part of the ship felt exclusive and intimate, there was always a new area to explore, some quiet, some lively and some with a great balance in between.  The spa area is very impressive, with multiple spaces and variety, 3-hour packages make for a nice treat – there are of course massage and beauty treatments also available, even a Tattoo parlour if you are inclined to do so!

Inclusions – Overall the cruise is exceptional value for money, with no specialty dining that needs to be paid extra, all fitness classes included, all essential drinks (water, tea, coffee, soft drink, and basic juices), basic Wi-Fi & Gratuities all included, you really don’t need to spend a lot more.  If you don’t drink a lot you could walk off without a bill.

What could be better?

The App – Unfortunately, you are reliant on the App to make show bookings, dinner reservations and even check-in prior to arriving at the terminal.  This is all doable and the result works, but it's clunky and you need to be patient.  

Wi-Fi – This is included for basic wi-fi, it's rather slow and wasn’t the easiest to connect to, paying for the premium package meant I was able to make a few bookings on my laptop in the cabin and coffee shop, for me it was worth it, for just general internet browsing it might be a bit expensive.

Cabin Size – Yes, it’s a ship and there is limited space, the Sea Terrace and below though were all on the small side of what I expected.  Also be mindful that the layout for friends sharing is unique..  The bathrooms are also very compact, it at least has a standup shower with glass door and no horrible shower curtains!  

Day Tours and Itineraries – Within the Aussie market the itineraries are a lot of the same, I LOVE Tasmania, NZ and some of the other regular ports, and domestic or NZ tourism can be expensive by land so this is a great option, although the day tours offered by Virgin are in USD and sit in the premium range for pricing.  We would suggest you look at a Med or Caribbean cruise if you are wanting to bring a bit of external culture to your cruise, for domestic cruises, grab some friends, a partner or go it solo to just simply enjoy the atmosphere and vibes effortlessly created onboard a Virgin Voyage. 

Overall:

Virgin is a brilliant product suitable for anyone over the age of 18 right up to the 81+.  The most common question we get asked is ‘Who is it for?’  ‘What ages are the guests?’ and ‘Is it just one big Party?’ This is not a conservative brand, it is however refined in its delivery and offerings, so it’s surprising attracts an older clientele that want the youthful vibe, lots of multi-gen groups and young professionals.  It wasn’t a booze cruise, it wasn’t a party if you didn’t want it to be, but there was lots of fun if you did!  

Virgin Voyages are well positioned to convert travellers who think cruising isn’t for them, it may not be your cup of tea if you like traditional cruises, but change is as good as a holiday, why not do both!!  It’s a great price point for close to home holidays given the quality and inclusions, compare it to a domestic fly and stay holiday and you are going to come out ahead. Better yet, when you look at their destinations in the Med and Caribbean this is a perfect product to hit up multiple destinations unpacking only once and having some fun on the transport to your next stop!!!

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HOT TIPS:

If you see an Event in the Manor you want to experience – line up about 30 minutes early for the best spot inside – this is usually the ground floor entered via the Casino – keep going straight through the bar and grab a seat.  Late comers could miss out altogether or end up with less than desirable seats.

Set your App Up - Yes, it’s a pain, until the app gets fixed you may want to give up a few times but persevere, make sure you load all the required documents and select your preferred check-in time as soon as you can.  You are required to board within that time and can’t get on early so don’t waste time when you can start your holiday early!  You can also select your disembarkation time through ‘Shore Things’ activities on the last day of your cruise, this varies on when that is loaded, just keep your eye out for it.

Know your Ship – and not just the SHIP itself but also the Virgin terminology, unlike traditional cruises their onboard credit (Sailor Loot) is separate to a Bar tab, it's mainly linked to alcohol, coffee can go on both, but you can’t use your sailor loot for drinks other than ‘experiences’ like bottle service or room service.  Yes, it gets tricky, that’s why having an advisor make your booking makes it all so much easier!

Participate and be you – be bold!  The more you get involved the more fun you will have. There are often free drinks given out in tournaments, for those that are brave enough to put their hand up in a show and they always end up having a blast!!!  Remember as well, Virgin is a judgement free zone, don’t be shy, everyone is welcome and accepted, just don’t be that person that steals all the attention for the wrong reasons 😊

Book your restaurants but know that plans will change and what you can’t get in advance you can usually swap to while on the cruise, they will also take walk-ins. You can’t book the same restaurant multiple times and this includes brunch/lunch in conjunction with dinners – we recommend prioritising the dinner dates first.

Theme Nights:  Pack something Red for Scarlet Night something a bit more on the glam side for the ‘We Fancy’ night, neither are compulsory and you won’t feel out of place if you don’t dress up, its Virgin – come as you are!!!

Fitness Classes:  Classes book out quickly and they have limited numbers, bookings for this open the minute you are on the ship – make it a priority to jump in and reserve your spaces before you consume the reason you want to do the classes. There is a 24 hour cancellation window before fees hit, if you miss out, set a reminder for about 25 hours prior as this is when people will cancel and you can grab a spot.

These are our insider tips, you will find FAQ’s and important information on the Virgin site, or, if you have booked your cruise with one of our advisors, just ask and we can let you know.

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