Not Your Traditional Caribbean Cruise: Virgin Voyages’ Scarlet Lady

New on the cruising scene, Virgin Voyages is a chic, adults-only cruise line that is very different and very non-traditional.

Virgin Voyages’ ships are strikingly different with their superyacht-inspired atmosphere and cruising them really gives you the impression that you are on a giant yacht with friends. It has upscale dining options, free Wi-Fi access, modern minimalist design from ship to the stateroom. It even has wellness activities from boxing to yoga.

I recently sailed Scarlet Lady out of Port Miami on a five-night cruise to Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, and Bimini, Bahamas.  This was a cruise that I was thoroughly looking forward to but was apprehensive about because of all the exercise-centric amenities. Once onboard, that apprehension quickly faded.

Once on board, it was obvious that regardless of who this cruise is advertised to (younger-hip millennials), the guest list was comprehensive of ages 21 to 87 – all looking to experience something different and indeed, it was different.

So, watch the videos below to get an idea of what your stateroom will be like, how my first day began, and a culmination of the rest of the cruise.

The small pools did not affect me as I do not go into the pools on ships anymore. From my observations, it wasn’t a problem on our cruise either. The fullest I saw it was during Scarlet Night with people dancing in them.

My impressions: Go with an open mind. If you are married to traditional cruising, you may not want to do a Virgin Voyages cruise-it is anything but traditional. I, along with the rest of the passengers we spoke to, loved the adult-only atmosphere.  The ship is beautiful in a minimalistic way. The crew is amazing – be prepared for a very casual approach to the crew along with some salty language at times.  If you are an avid cruiser-I say try them out.

Was everything perfect? Nope! The cabin needs more storage (which Virgin is in the process of remedying). The shower isn’t for tall people-anyone over 6’1” (183cm) will struggle to stand comfortably). The ship has a large portion dedicated to fitness with free weights, boxing, etc. that I only saw staff use. I think it’s a missed opportunity of wasted space.

Virgin Voyages Cruise Tips:

1. Book your restaurants well in advance on the app before the cruise.
2. Book your shows as soon as you can once onboard – slots will fill quickly.
3. The app works better on board than it does beforehand.
4. Essential drinks do not include alcohol- If you plan to drink, consider the pre-purchased drink tab.  They often give you extra if you purchase $300 or more (which can be used by both guests in the cabin).