ad- this post reviews a complimentary pr experience however I was not obliged to post
Cruises have a bit of a drab reputation. Seasickness, stale buffets, OAPs aplenty, cringey live acts and no way of escape. Despite this, I'll admit, I've always been secretly desperate to go on one. There's something so romantic about travelling the seas. It's a place rife with drama, intrigue, passion and nostalgia. Basically the plot of an Agatha Christie novel, just ideally without the whole murder thing.
So, when Virgin Voyages invited me on the opportunity to join their Summer Soiree cruises around the UK, I jumped at the opportunity. The Scarlet Lady sounded nothing like the stuffy cruise ships of yore. It's home to over 20 restaurants and bars, a nightclub or two, heck even a record store and tattoo parlour (yes, I was very tempted). Maybe not the Golden Age of ocean liners I've been dreaming about, but did they have nightclubs? I doubt it.
What followed was four whirlwind days of sunset gazing, hammock lazing, hot tub bathing, fine dining, and dancing till dawn (okay, 2am, I get sleepy!). There's so much to do on the ship that it would be impossible to get bored. It's designed so you can partake in as much, or as little, as you want. There's morning yoga and meditation for the early risers. Or the gym and a running track for the fitness buffs (yeah, not me). The spa and pool for the relaxers, and live shows and dancing for the revellers. The activities on offer are endless; 80s workout classes and spin sessions to pub quizzes and retro pool parties. Four nights barely scratched the surface of all the boat had to offer!
I thought I'd put together an overall Virgin Voyages cruise review of everything I experienced. I've included a breakdown of all the dining and services available. If you're umming and ahhing about sailing the high seas, hopefully this Virgin Voyages cruise review will provide a small glimpse into life as a Virgin Voyages sailor!
Things To Know Before Setting Sail
- Virgin Voyages cruises are 18+ only, so leave the kids at home!
- Prior to departure you can download the Virgin Voyages app. This allows booking restaurants and experiences in advance. I'd recommend doing this as soon as possible to avoid disappointment as most things book up fast
- All food and basic beverages are included. You can use a wristband to pay for anything else, which you can top up with sailors booty (credit)
- There are no irons on board. Learn from my mistakes and don't pack a tonne of stuff that needs ironing!
- At time of writing voyagers must be double vaccinated
- Plugs are EU and US, so bring adaptors
- Make sure to pack something red!
Virgin Voyages Cruise Rooms Review
The vast majority of rooms on board have sea views and private balconies, which is what we enjoyed. I've never been on a cruise before so don't have a reference to compare to, but it was spacious and well equipped. There's an iPad that controls settings like temperature and lighting, and allows you to make requests from sailor services. The bathroom was a tad small but manageable, with a decently sized shower. The highlight was definitely the balcony, a dreamy spot for whiling away lazy hours reading or sea-gazing in the hammock.
Alongside the regular rooms the Scarlet Lady also boasts a host of suite. I didn't manage to get a peek in but they sounded pretty extravagant! Guests of the suites have their own private section of the ship including Richard's Rooftop bar, and their own hot tubs. So bougie, so VIP, maybe one day?
Activities On Board
You could probably sail the Scarlet Lady for a year straight and not run out of things to do. There's so much going on at all times that I struggled with permanent FOMO. However after a while I had to accept that I was never going to experience everything (an excuse to book another trip perhaps?).
Alongside the permanent activities, in the form of shopping, getting tatted up (if you can stomach the somewhat eye-watering prices), or hanging out at the record store, there's also bulletins around the ship and on the app outlining the day's activities schedule. Think pub quizzes, cocktail mixology, sleepovers under the stars, and so, so much more.
You can book activities in advance via the app, or speak to sailor services. The early bird catches the worm - it pays to be organised and get everything booked in before they fill up!
Exercising on Scarlet Lady
If you're a gym-head reluctant to give up leg day in favour of cruising, never fear. Scarlet Lady is well equipped with an extensive gym, including all the usual machines plus spin and yoga studios. I know, right?! It nearly even enticed me, an avid non-gymer, for a workout. Emphasis on nearly. There's also a running track along the top deck of the ship, allowing for a pretty spectacular running experience. If you're looking for a more social experience, the app has a plethora of fitness related activities scheduled in. Dip your toes in with a yoga class, or go for the full Virgin Voyages experience with an 80s-style aerobics workout. If you're a keen swimmer, there is the pool, although honestly it's more of a "show off that bikini bod for the gram" kinda pool than a "get those lengths in" pool.
Amenities on the Scarlet Lady
Not much of a gym bunny? I feel ya. If you're more interested in rest and relaxation, there's the Redemption Spa. It offers up everything from massages to a steam room, mud room, and cold and hot plunge pools. Regretfully I never quite made it to the spa - incentive to return!
As we were sailing around UK waters (read: UK temperatures), the pool deck wasn't quite the draw it might have been if we were sailing, say, The Caribbean. That said, the heated hot tubs more than made up for the lack of suntan opportunities. The main pool is fairly cosy, packed in by sun loungers, and I didn't end up spending much time there. I can imagine it gets pretty crowded!
If you're in the mood to get primped and primed, there's a saloon and gentleman's barber shop on board. I skipped, but my partner went in for a haircut. He came out with an 80s-ish mullet that sounds awful in theory, but in practice was one of his best haircuts to date. Then there's the aforementioned tattoo parlour, Squid Ink, helmed by the guys from Soho Ink. I've been desperate to get a tattoo and do somewhat regret not going for it! Unfortunately the prices were rather more than I'd like to pay, with the smallest of doodles starting at $150.
More Cruises: Star Clippers Cruise Review
Virgin Voyages Cruise Food Review
If I had to give top marks to just one thing in this Virgin Voyages cruise review, it would be the food. The Scarlet Lady has six major restaurants which are bookable via the app. Alongside these there plenty more dining options including an all-night Galley, serving up street food style options from burgers to bento. Curated by a Michelin-starred chef collective, the food is varied and innovative. There are more than enough options to satisfy every palate. We dined at a different restaurant each night, with regular trips to the Galley for snacks throughout the day.
Test Kitchen
Virgin have comprehensively thrown out the rule book when it comes to cruise restaurants. Test Kitchen, our first foray into their on board dining offering, would not have felt out of place in London or New York. Waiters in lab coats serve up a 6 course tasting menu in laboratory-esque surrounds, accompanied with a drinks pairing of wine, beer, cocktails or non-alcoholic options (priced at $35).
Very little is alluded to on the minimal menu. Each course is given a cryptic one word description. I won't spoil the surprise, but dishes were weird and wonderful with a focus on innovative presentation and unique takes on simple ingredients. For those of you who like your food with minimal theatricality, it might seem a little odd. Fussier eaters might struggle, but if you're an adventurous eater it will certainly be a culinary journey worth taking.
Extra Virgin
Extra Virgin is the ship's Italian restaurant. Truthfully, at first glance it was the one restaurant I was happy to skip. Don't get me wrong, I adore Italian food, but on a bill next to steak and seafood, it hardly stands out. I'm happy to announce however, that I was proved entirely wrong.
This isn't your bog-standard local high street "Italian" fare with a menu reeling off the usual pizzas and pastas. It's more comparative to a traditional Italian trattoria menu, with antipasto, pasta dishes and secondi (main) dishes. We went for the gnocchi with mushroom, spinach and truffle, which according to my slightly garbled notes (we were well into a bottle of rather delightful sparkling wine at this point) was verging on baby food but delicious - "I would be a baby for this gnocchi". Okay past Anoushka, some really top tier journalism right there!
The squid ink was our other pasta choice, served up al dente. The sauce was reduced right down so the flavour really packed a punch. Apparently it was "very bitey" - another gem from my note-taking. Make of that what you will! We also shared a secondi of braised pork cheek, which was garnished with a sweet potato crisp. At this point I seem to have abandoned note taking altogether, so I suspect the wine was taking it's toll. In my defence, it was Scarlet Night on board!
Pink Agave
Pink Agave, the ship's Mexican restaurant, is for lack of a better word, a vibe. The lightbulb lined approach to the restaurant feels like it could be the entrance to a VIP nightclub. The kind that charges a small fortune for entrance and will send away anyone in trainers, no less. Inside is equally chic, designed by interiors institution Tom Dixon. Think dark deep velvets, leather, and a buzzy "this is the place to be" atmosphere.
The "verging on nightclub" ambience is reinforced with a strong (in every sense) drinks menu. The highlight is the largest mezcal menu to be found on the seven seas. My partner, being the mezcal enthusiast he is, practically started salivating at this little nugget of information. Our waiter was well versed in all the drink options available, guiding us through the menu and suggesting the best options to suit our tastes. This meant fancy pants mezcal for him, hair of the dog cocktails for me...
The menu is split between small, medium, and large plates, with a focus on meat. It's not all tacos and enchiladas, but uses classic Mexican flavours to create more nuanced, unique dishes. This was our last meal aboard and if I'm being honest, I'd pretty much given up on note-taking at this point (blame several slightly-too-wild nights at The Manor). Funnily enough writing this a good, ooh, six months later, (procrastination is not my friend) my memory of the dishes are a little hazy. That said, I remember it being one of my favourite dining experiences on board, so definitely worth booking.
The Wake
As the true journalist that I am (okay, greedy person), I had thoroughly researched all the restaurants on board the Scarlet Lady before embarking. Of all of them, The Wake was the one I was most excited for. It's easily the most refined, with a minimal meets elegant aesthetic, and a menu revolving around steak and seafood (so basically, all the fancy things). If I'm honest however, it's probably the one that impressed me the least.
That's not to say it wasn't good, because it was (nothing is bad on this ship!). However I think I went in with such high expectations that it was inevitable they would get dashed. I chose the clam chowder to start, which I have fond memories of, and followed with the fillet mignon, a hefty cut of beef cooked perfectly. We also pushed the boat out with a seafood platter to share, which whilst enjoyable enough didn't exactly change my life. Nonetheless, The Wake is still a must-try. It's perfect if you're looking for a romantic dinner option one night aboard the Scarlet Lady.
Gunbae
Gunbae! If you know, you know. Scarlet Lady's resident Korean restaurant throws you straight into the action with shots of soju and drinking games to get things going. Everything Korean is oh so hip right now, and Scarlet Lady's architects clearly wanted to cash in, indulging diners with a lively and semi-authentic Korean barbecue experience. If anything says "this is not your average cruise", it's this.
The concept is designed around sharing, with large round tables centred around the aforementioned barbecue. The priority is the raw meat, fish, and veg designed to be cooked at your table. Though one might assume it's heavily meat focussed, the BBQ options also include vegetable and seafood medleys. It's also one of the best spots on the ship for a cocktail, so come thirsty!
Razzle Dazzle
Razzle Dazzle is the ship's "vegetarian" restaurant. In reality it's more veggie-focused, offering plenty of healthy choices and meat-free dining. They've also sneakily slipped in the odd "naughty" dish - yep, that is fried chicken on my plate. It's a more casual dining option than the other bookable restaurants, and the menu is massively varied with something for every taste. The decor itself has hints of an American diner, were it on steroids, pairing aggressive stripe motifs with pops, nay, liberal swathes, of bold red hues. It's a lot, as in, a whole lotta fun.
Virgin Voyages Cruise Drinking, Bars and Nightlife Review
Entertainment
First off, let me preface this section by saying that I had previously never been on a cruise, so I had no idea what to expect. If I'm being brutal, my imagined perceptions of cruise ship shows probably weren't the most positive. Washed up has-beens doing Elvis impersonations, or worse, cringey standup. Spoiler alert, it is so much more than that. Sure, there were a few shows that were not my cup of tea. However there were so many more that had me at the edge of my seat in awe, dancing and singing along, and even snogging my boyfriend in front of a bunch of cheering strangers (true story).
Some of the highlights:
Never Sleep Alone: This standup meets cabaret show dispensing somewhat dubious but amusing sex and love advice (and the scene of the aforementioned snogging) had us stiff-upper-lipped Brits squirming in our seats - you've been warned.
Dual Reality: A circus retelling of Romeo and Juliet. This fast-paced acrobatics performance had me feeling all kinds of untalented.
Scarlet Night: Paint the town (ship) red come Scarlet Night. Sailors are invited to don their best red looks and enjoy a spontaneous party with pop up experiences all over the ship.
Pool Party(ies): There were several pool parties complete with singing, dancing, and jumping in said pool, over the course of the voyage. I caught the one on the final night, and ended up stripped to my undies in the (freezing) pool, all for a glass of free champs. Worth it.
A couple of the other entertainment areas which I didn't make it to were the private karaoke booths, casino, and retro games room.
Bars and Nightlife
There are bars dotted around the entirety of the Scarlet Lady. In fact, at any one point you're usually mere yards from your nearest bar. There's a beer-centric tap room, a classy champagne bar, several on-deck cocktail spots, and even a nightclub which sprawls over two floors and hosts much of the ship's debauchery. If you're looking for your drinks with a side of *pizzazz*, you have options - think cocktail masterclasses, cabaret-accompanied happy hours, and champagne afternoon teas. My favourite spots for a drink were numerous. Margs at the hot tubs during the day, trying something new at On The Rocks, the resident cocktail bar, and ending my night with live music or DJ sessions at The Manor.
The Final Word
When researching both pre-embarkation and more recently upon writing this piece, I noticed a lot of seasoned cruisers using phrases like "not for me", or "a bit weird", to describe their Virgin Voyages experience. Sounds off-putting, but I don't think it's necessarily a negative. Virgin Voyages isn't going to be everyone's cup of tea. But that's kind of the point. It's turning the cruise experience on it's head, ripping up the rule book, and offering a completely unique cruise experience. If you're looking for traditional, safe, or comfortable, probably won't be for you. To put it frankly, this is not your Grandmother's cruise.
That said, to say that it's a "party cruise", or solely designed for the young, would be to undersell the experience. There really is something for everyone, and you can tailor your experience to suit your interests. If you want to take it easy, chilling in your hammock or reading by the pool, that's your prerogative. If you want to party, I'll see you at The Manor!
Overall I would not consider myself the typical cruise target audience, but I loved it. Being a bit of an organisation-freak, planning my itinerary and trying to do all the things kept me more than happily busy. The dining and drinking offering is an unparalleled experience for any keen foodie. I was worried I'd get bored being stuck out at sea, but I didn't remotely find myself missing dry land. Now to convince all my friends to get "on-board" for Virgin Voyages 2022!
Please do drop me a comment if you've found this Virgin Voyages cruise review helpful. Or let me know if you have any other cruise recommendations for this converted cruiser!
This comment was very helpful indeed! I have a VV cruise in a couple of weeks and looking forward to it.
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Oh amazing, have the best time!!