“Are you all rockstars,” the driver asked as we approached the Virgin Voyages cruise terminal in Miami. Although he needed to know this to determine which door to drop us off at, it can also be seen as the unofficial welcome slogan for anyone sailing on the adults-only brand. I recently had the privilege of stepping aboard Virgin’s Valiant Lady ship for the 2024 Celebration Sailing and let’s just say, a time was had.
One of the many brainchildren of Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Group, the cruise line officially launched in 2021 to bring something new and fresh to the market. Just three years later, it has already solidified itself as a favorite for cruise enthusiasts of all backgrounds, especially Black travelers. Not to mention it has been racking up many prestigious travel awards including Travel + Leisure’s 2023 and 2024 World’s Best Mega Cruise Ship, Cruise Critic’s 2023 ‘Best Overall Cruise Line-Large Ship Category’ and Travel Weekly’s 2023 ‘Best Cruise Overall-Adults Only’ to name a few.
“We already go to about 120 destinations with the Panama Canal, West Coast and Alaska coming. In the meantime, we’re very pleased that the ships that we have are busy and full,” Sir Richard Branson tells EBONY from the deck of the Valiant Lady. “And hopefully keep winning awards, that’s what we strive for as well as to keep people coming back. The feedback has been great, I’ve never had negative feedback from anybody. I’ve got a fantastic team of people, and they are a delight.
Stepping onto the big red ship, I was instantly transported into another world. There was music blasting, crew members were dancing, and the other excited passengers were heard letting out cheers as we officially began our 5-night cruise. It was sensory overload but in a good way. To truly paint the picture of a typical Virgin Voyages sailing, it would take days, so instead, I’ll break it down by some of my favorite moments and experiences.
Indulging in gourmet dining at the many restaurants and eateries: For me, one of the things that truly sets this brand apart from some of its competitors is the culinary offerings. On this ship, there were over 20 eateries, including around six sit-down restaurants. My favorite of them all is Gunbae, a lively Korean BBQ experience—the first at-sea.
Our meal started with Asian-inspired cocktails, and then the waitress indulged us with a round of a fun drinking game called 3-6-9. From there, she brought out an assortment of Korean staples like scallion and seafood pancakes, japchae and more. The next course was the BBQ portion, and she grilled up a variety of veggies, seafood and meat. My eyes were bigger than my stomach, but it was all worth it.
Other culinary highlights are: Pink Agave, the brand’s Mexican concept that features one of the most flavorful steaks I’ve ever consumed; a made-to-order pizza parlor; a 24-hour breakfast diner, a ramen counter and so much more.
Taking in world-class entertainment: Cruise entertainment can either be amazing, or it can be overly cheesy. During my sailing, I was able to grab seats for a few of the shows. I started with the company’s show, “Duel Reality,” which is a Cirque du Soleil-reminiscent performance inspired by Romeo and Juliet. There was also a fun drag performance and of course, the signature Scarlet Night. Rather than opt for the standard formal captain’s dinner night, Virgin asks passengers to dawn red outfits for its multi-hour red-hued night of partying and entertainment.
The experience that surprised me the most was the on-board bingo. I’ve always pictured bingo as a bunch of seasoned folks sitting at long tables as someone spins the cage to call the numbers. This was nothing like that. We all gathered in the Red Room theater and two hosts entertained us as a digital system populated the various numbers for our cards. Winners took home prize money ranging from $699 to $2700.
The Beach Club in Bimini, Bahamas: Picture it with me, the Boho vibes of Tulum, mixed with the party atmosphere of Ibiza as powder white sand and clear, blue water serve as your backdrop. That’s almost the perfect description of The Beach Club in Bimini, but honestly you just need to see for yourself.
On our second stop, my best friend and I spent the day simply lying the day away under an umbrella on our beach loungers. Other cruisers took advantage of the pool parties that took place throughout the day, including one featuring dozens of giant pool floats. It was like our wildest childhood fantasies were met with an adult-only environment, which made the day even more memorable.
When hunger came over me, I indulged in a plate of grilled jerk chicken, a cucumber salad and a slice of boozy rum cake. It was the perfect day.
Meeting Sir Richard Branson on board: As a special treat for all of us, we had the opportunity to hear from the brand’s creator himself. He brought along his great friend and recording artist, Boy George, which was an added bonus. Branson took in the cruise like the rest of us. I would see him burning calories in one of the morning spin classes, randomly setting up his chess board with fellow passengers and even doing a special Q&A. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and based on the excited smiles, it was a joy for many others to be able to meet him as well.
Other unique offerings and highlights: Would you ever get a tattoo at sea? Well, several of the folks took advantage of Virgin Voyages’ in-house tattoo parlor, something I’d never seen on a cruise ship until this. On most days, there was a line of folks waiting to get appointments.
Another standout was the daily happy hour on the private rooftop. Although it was only available to people who were staying in suites or were considered VIPs, it was a much-needed reprieve from all the busyness happening on other parts of the vessel.
Last but certainly not least, there was the spa. There’s typically a spa on all cruise ships, but on the Valiant Lady, you can also do a thermal circuit. My friend and I spent over two hours going from the salt room and sauna to the hot tub and cold plunge pools. Also, there was a mud room, steam room, heated marble beds and a wading pool. It was just what the “captain” ordered during our day at sea.