Scarlet Lady cruise ship: who it suits, where it sails and which cabin to book

Scarlet Lady at a glance

Line

Virgin Voyages

Class

Lady

Entered service

2020 (refurbished 2024)

Gross tonnage

110,000

Guests

About 2,770 (double occupancy)

Crew

About 1,160

Decks

17

Part of the Virgin Voyages fleet. Home ports: Miami, Athens (Piraeus), Barcelona, San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Scarlet Lady is the first ship of Virgin Voyages, the adults-only Virgin cruise line. Fincantieri built it at its Sestri Ponente yard near Genoa, Italy, and delivered it in February 2020, and Richard Branson christened it in Dover that month. The pandemic held up its debut, so it carried its first guests in 2021: a UK preview season from Portsmouth, then its inaugural voyage from Miami on October 6, 2021.

It measures about 110,000 gross tons and 909 feet, with 17 decks. Wikipedia gives 2,770 guests and 1,160 crew, which works out to roughly one crew member for every 2.4 guests. That’s a mid-size ship by today’s standards: the biggest Caribbean ships carry about twice as many people.

Who is the Scarlet Lady cruise ship for?

Scarlet Lady is for adults who want a social, modern ship without paying extra to eat well. Everyone on board is 18 or over, all of its restaurants are included, and so are WiFi, basic drinks and gratuities. It suits couples, friends and solo travelers on short Caribbean breaks or a week in the Mediterranean.

Couples and friend groups. The ship leans toward late nights, with a two-deck nightclub called The Manor and DJ sets around the ship. Our adults-only cruise guide compares Virgin with other lines that keep kids off the ship or out of key areas.

First-time cruisers who dislike add-ons. On most big lines the steakhouse, the WiFi and the daily tips all go on your bill. Here they’re in the fare. Drinks with alcohol still cost extra.

Solo travelers. Virgin’s social style and set fares make it a regular pick in our best cruises for singles guide, though cabins are priced for two.

Who should look elsewhere: families, anyone who wants a water park, and anyone who wants a traditional cruise with formal nights and assigned dinner tables.

What’s included on Scarlet Lady?

The fare covers every restaurant on board, WiFi, fitness classes, shows and what Virgin calls essential drinks: drip coffee, tea, still and sparkling water, soda and juice. CruiseMapper notes that gratuities are included too. You pay extra for alcohol, spa treatments, shore excursions and the optional cabanas at the Bimini Beach Club.

That changes the price comparison. A Scarlet Lady fare can look higher than a mainstream line’s fare for the same nights, but you won’t add a specialty dining charge, a WiFi package or daily gratuities on top. The Virgin Voyages guide explains the line’s fare types and bar tab options.

Standout features

• Lots of included restaurants. CruiseMapper lists The Galley, Pink Agave, Extra Virgin, Gunbae, Wake, The Test Kitchen and Razzle Dazzle, among others. None carries a cover charge.
• Lucky Lotus by Razzle Dazzle: a Chinese-inspired evening menu added in the November 2024 refit.
• The Manor: a two-deck nightclub that hosts shows and late-night parties.
• Athletic Club: an outdoor gym area at the stern with a boxing ring, plus a running track on the sports deck.
• Redemption Spa: a thermal suite, hydrotherapy pool and salt room. A couples treatment room was added in 2024.
• Squid Ink: a tattoo parlor run by resident artists.
• Shows: the ship page lists Duel Reality, an acrobatic take on Romeo and Juliet, and Ships in the Night, a dance and vocal show.

What changed in Scarlet Lady’s 2024 refit?

Scarlet Lady spent two weeks at Fincantieri’s Palermo yard in November 2024 and returned to service on November 28, 2024. Virgin turned several Deck 11 Sea Terrace cabins into 24 new RockStar Quarters suites of 352 square feet each, added the Lucky Lotus evening menu at Razzle Dazzle, expanded the non-smoking casino and added a couples room at the spa.

Venues can change again, so check the current ship page before you book for a specific restaurant.

Scarlet Lady cabins to pick and avoid

The best cabin on Scarlet Lady for most guests is a midship Sea Terrace, Virgin’s name for a balcony cabin. Wikipedia counts 1,030 balcony cabins out of 1,408, so balconies are the default here, not the upgrade. Inside and oceanview cabins are scarce (105 and 95), so book early if you want the cheapest fare.

Pick:

• A midship Sea Terrace on a deck with cabins above and below, for the least motion and noise.
• An entry-level RockStar Quarters suite on Deck 11 if you want more space without paying for a large suite. The 24 added in 2024 are 352 square feet.
• A suite if you want access to Richard’s Rooftop, the private deck and bar that CruiseMapper describes as a suite-guest area.

Avoid or think twice:

• Cabins directly below the pool deck or the outdoor sports areas, which can pick up noise early and late.
• Cabins near The Manor or other late-night venues if you go to bed early.
• Cabins at the far forward end if you get seasick.

Where does Scarlet Lady sail in 2026–2027?

Scarlet Lady sails 4- and 5-night Caribbean trips from Miami until April 2027, each with a day at Virgin’s Bimini Beach Club. On April 24, 2027, it crosses to Barcelona, then spends summer 2027 in the Mediterranean from Athens and Barcelona. In fall 2027 it crosses to San Juan for 6- to 8-night Southern Caribbean cruises.

• Winter 2026–27, Miami: 4- and 5-night trips that pair the Bimini Beach Club with Key West, Grand Turk, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica or Costa Maya in Mexico. See our Bahamas cruise guide for the area.
• April 2027, Miami to Barcelona: a 14-night crossing with eight sea days. Our transatlantic cruise guide explains how one-way crossings work.
• Summer 2027, Athens and Barcelona: mostly 7- and 8-night Greek Isles, Turkey and Adriatic trips, with some 10- and 11-night voyages, from late April to late October. Compare the options in our Greek Isles cruise guide.
• Fall 2027, Barcelona to San Juan: Virgin’s first crossing from the Mediterranean to the Caribbean, 12 nights with calls in Tangier and Lanzarote.
• Winter 2027–28, San Juan: 6-, 7- and 8-night Southern Caribbean cruises to Aruba, Antigua, St. Lucia, St. Maarten and Barbados. See cruises from San Juan.
• Summer 2028, Athens: 7-night Greek Isles and Adriatic round trips and 10-night trips from Barcelona to Athens, from May to October.

Sample Scarlet Lady sailings. From-prices per person, checked October 2026.

Departs	Line and ship	Nights	Itinerary	From	Link
Nov 23, 2026	Virgin Voyages, Scarlet Lady	5	Jamaica & Bimini Beach Club (from Miami, Florida)	$647	Check price
Mar 20, 2027	Virgin Voyages, Scarlet Lady	5	True Crime Voyage (from Miami, Florida)	$649	Check price
Jul 23, 2028	Virgin Voyages, Scarlet Lady	10	Mediterranean: Athens To Rome (from Piraeus (Athens), Greece)	$1,750	Check price

Sister ships

Scarlet Lady has three near-identical sisters: Valiant Lady (2022), Resilient Lady (2023) and Brilliant Lady, which took its first voyage in September 2025. Because the ships are so alike, picking one is mostly picking an itinerary and a home port. Scarlet Lady is the oldest, but it’s the only sister so far with the 2024 block of extra suites. For how Virgin compares with a premium line that welcomes families, see Celebrity vs Virgin Voyages.

Scarlet Lady FAQ

How big is the Scarlet Lady cruise ship?

About 110,000 gross tons and 909 feet long, with 17 decks. It carries about 2,770 guests and 1,160 crew.

Is Scarlet Lady adults only?

Yes. Every Virgin Voyages ship is adults only, and the minimum age is 18.

Where does the Scarlet Lady cruise sail from?

Miami in winter 2026–27, then Athens and Barcelona in summer 2027, San Juan, Puerto Rico, in winter 2027–28 and Athens again in summer 2028.

How old is Scarlet Lady?

Fincantieri delivered it in February 2020, and it carried its first guests in 2021. It was refitted in Palermo in November 2024.

Are drinks included on a Virgin Voyages Scarlet Lady cruise?

Essential drinks are: drip coffee, tea, water, soda and juice. Cocktails, beer and wine cost extra unless you buy a bar tab or drinks offer.

Is the Scarlet Lady a good cruise ship?

We don’t publish star ratings or collect reviews. What the facts support: it’s a modern, adults-only ship with an unusually inclusive fare, but it has no kids’ facilities or water park, and its US departures are from Miami and San Juan.