Virgin cruises review: is Virgin Voyages a good cruise line?

Virgin Voyages scorecard

Our verdict in one line: Virgin is the best big-ship choice for adults, held back mainly by a small fleet and a narrow set of itineraries. It ranks third in our cruise line rankings, behind Celebrity and Oceania, and first for adults who want a lively ship.

Strengths

• No children on board. Every guest must be 18 or older. Virgin is the only big-ship line with that rule; Oceania is also adults-only now, but on ships of 670 to 1,250 guests with a much quieter evening.
• Restaurants included. There is no main dining room and no surcharge restaurants. You book times at a set of smaller venues, each with its own menu, and a food hall called The Galley covers casual meals. On Royal Caribbean, Norwegian or Carnival, the equivalent dinners are extra-cost specialty restaurants.
• Wi-Fi and basic drinks in the fare. Still and sparkling water, soft drinks, juice, coffee, tea and group fitness classes are all included. On the Base fare the Wi-Fi covers one device; higher fare tiers upgrade it.
• One gratuity, no other tipping. For bookings made since October 7, 2025, Virgin charges a flat daily service gratuity per guest (cheaper if you prepay it), and says no other tipping is expected on board. That is still simpler than lines that add bar service charges on every drink.
• Modern, identical ships. All four ships are sisters, the oldest first carried guests in 2021, and Scarlet Lady has since been refitted with new suites. Picking a ship is really picking an itinerary.

Weaknesses

• Gratuities are no longer included. Older reviews and comparisons that list tips as included are out of date for new bookings. Add the daily charge when you compare totals.
• Fare tiers add complexity. Sea Terrace and lower cabins are sold as Base, Essential or Premium. Base is non-refundable with basic Wi-Fi; Premium adds faster Wi-Fi on two devices, a prepaid Bar Tab and more flexible terms. Compare the same tier when you shop.
• A small, narrow program. Four ships and no new ones on order. Much of the year is short Caribbean sailings from Miami, often calling at Virgin’s Beach Club at Bimini. Alaska only started in 2026, on one ship.
• Not a quiet ship. The day starts later and the night runs later than on traditional lines. If you want an early night and a calm deck, look elsewhere.
• Unfamiliar format. No formal nights, no set table, no traditional buffet routine. Some first-timers love that; some traditional cruisers find it disorienting.

Who it suits

• Couples who want a restaurant-led trip without paying a specialty dining charge every night.
• Groups of friends on a long weekend: the short Caribbean sailings from Miami are Virgin’s core product. See our short cruise picks.
• Solo travelers who want a sociable ship. Our singles and solo cruise picks compare the cabin options.
• Adults who’ve tried mainstream lines and want fewer children, fewer upsells and better included food, without moving up to luxury fares.

It does not suit families, traditional cruisers who value a formal night and a regular waiter, or anyone planning a long port-intensive voyage. For a quieter adults-only trip, Oceania is the alternative; for a design-led line that allows children, see Celebrity and our Celebrity vs Virgin Voyages comparison. The full adults-only list is in our best cruises for adults.

Which Virgin ship to pick

Because the four ships are near-identical, choose by route:

• Brilliant Lady (2025) is the newest and the one on the non-Caribbean routes: Alaska from Seattle and Vancouver, and Mexico from Los Angeles. See the Seattle and Los Angeles port guides. Virgin’s New York season ends in October 2026, and it has no New York sailings announced for 2027.
• Resilient Lady splits the year between Europe and the Caribbean.
• Valiant Lady is the Caribbean regular on short trips from Miami.
• Scarlet Lady sails the Caribbean in winter and the Greek Isles and Mediterranean in summer.

On Alaska, Virgin is much newer than Princess or Holland America. Compare it in our best cruise lines for Alaska before you book. More on the fleet and deployments is in our Virgin Voyages guide.

Virgin Voyages review FAQ

Is Virgin Voyages a good cruise line?

Yes, for adults. It includes every restaurant, basic drinks and Wi-Fi, has no children on board and runs modern ships. It is not a good choice for families, for traditional cruisers or for travelers who want a wide range of long itineraries.

Are Virgin cruises good value?

Usually, once you compare totals. A mainstream line’s lower fare often ends up close to Virgin’s after you add specialty dining and Wi-Fi. Remember to add Virgin’s daily gratuity, which new bookings now pay on top of the fare.

Is Virgin cruise line good for first-time cruisers?

For adults who don’t want a traditional cruise, yes. If you picture a main dining room, formal nights and a big production show, a line such as Celebrity or Princess will feel closer to that.

Are tips included on Virgin Voyages?

Not for bookings made since October 7, 2025. Virgin charges a flat daily service gratuity per guest, cheaper if prepaid, and no other tipping is expected on board.

Is Virgin Voyages better than Celebrity?

For adults who want nightlife and included restaurants, yes. Celebrity ranks higher overall in our rankings because it suits a wider range of travelers, including families with older children, and sails far more itineraries.

Are these Virgin cruise reviews based on passenger ratings?

No. This is our editorial review, graded on the criteria in how we rate cruises and based on Virgin’s own fare terms, ship and cabin pages. We don’t publish star ratings or passenger scores.