10 Things We Love Most About Sailing with Virgin Voyages Cruise Line

As a travel advisor, it's an important part of my job to become familiar with the suppliers that I rely upon for my clients. Everyone knows that the best way to truly know about a product is to try it out yourself. So, this past December that's just what I did. I arrived in Miami on December 16th and hoped fervently that the wind and stormy seas wouldn't impact the cruise about Virgin Voyages that I was about to embark upon. I love the idea of Virgin Voyages - no kids, all restaurants included, not having to worry about crazy drink packages or mandatory gratuities - it makes sense. My question then was, how does this translate in reality? Can they pull off this model of cruising successfully?
I am pleased to report that they do!

For today, I will share a list of my 10 favorite things from the cruise adventure.

1. The Pato at Pink Agave - Honestly, I wasn't expecting much here; I figured the food would be good, as was the case at almost every eatery we visited on the ship, but was definitely not expecting this to top my favorites list. But the duck dish, Pato, is one I still dream about today. It wasn't just me either, the couple sitting at the next table had cruised before and were both there to get the duck, as was another couple that I had met on an excursion earlier during the cruise. Even if there were nothing else I liked on the ship, I'd be ready for anther cruise with Virgin just to have that deliciousness grace my palate again!
   

2. Adults-Only - I was worried that it would be a much younger crowd. I am happy to say that there was a nice range of age groups and there was something for everyone to enjoy.
   

3. Extra Virgin Restaurant - The ship's gorgeous Italian eatery serves up wonderful pasta dishes and even allows you to get a half-order of the pasta so you can enjoy one of the other main dishes. The gnocchi is to-die-for! The Pato (above) was my favorite dish until I had dinner here my last night, now I have two favorites.
   

4. Our Room Attendants - Our cabin attendants Marina and Moch greeted us by name each day and kept our room absolutely pristine. They went above and beyond to ensure the best guest experience.
   

5. Puerto Plata Excursion - Touring a women's recycling co-op in the Dominican Republic and actually getting to learning the paper recycling process hands-on while working with and chatting with these lovely women was deeply inspiring. Everyone on the excursion wished we had more time; 2 hours just wasn't enough. I can't wait to visit again in 2025!
   

6. Late Puerto Rico Departure - Unlike most ships that rush passengers back onboard, Virgin let us linger well into the evening exploring Old San Juan's Blue Cobblestone streets. My travel partner and I used that time to have a delicious birthday dinner and drinks at a little rum bar that is outside the Princesa - Cocina Cultura. We also highly recommend a stop at Chocobar Cortes in Old San Jaun.
   

7. The Duel Reality Show - Think part Romeo and Juliet/part circus acts. We were swept away with both the story and the amazing talents of the show's performers. I loved the comedian and the Ship Show, but Duel Reality was my favorite.
   

8. The Sparkly Hallway - The shimmering hallway leading to The Manor dazzled us each time we entered, with its kaleidoscopic sparkle tunnel effect. Very Virgin. Very cool.
   

9. Afternoon Tea - Sipping tea and nibbling finger sandwiches overlooking the sea at The Sip lounge was a lovely afternoon ritual. It's not on the agenda anywhere, so consider this your insider tip. You can use your bar tab to purchase the experience, with or without champagne. Everyone who passed by stopped to comment on how great it looked. So much fun!
   

10. The Puzzle Race - Picture this, a 500-piece puzzle, as many people as you can fit at your table, and 30 minutes to be the first to complete it. It's a great way to meet new people if your traveling in a small group or solo, a fun activity with a table-full of your friends, and harder than you think!

This first Virgin Voyages cruise won us over with its unique experiences, top-notch service, and super fun vibe. We can't wait to sail with Virgin again, so we decided to book our Peace Cruise in April 2025 aboard this cruise line. Their sustainability initiatives, thoughtful excursions that allow you to give back, and the unique travel model make it a wonderful venue for our first Peace Cruise in partnership with Journeys4Peace. To find out more, visit our Mission-Based Trips page.

Considering a cruise aboard Virgin Voyages? Contact us today!