By Nicole Brewer
Greetings globetrotters! I hope you all are having a great summer! Mine literally feels like it’s been flying by. It just over a week until my return to Oman. I’m totally overdue for a review of my first Virgin Voyages cruise last month! I had such an incredible time with my girls and my sister. We were on their Italy, French Riviera & Ibiza week-long cruise, sailing out of Barcelona. Check out my detailed review of the Scarlet Lady below!
Overview
This adults-only Mediterranean itinerary is one of the strongest cruise combinations out there. It was the ultimate choice for a girl’s trip! The itinerary blends Ibiza’s beach-club energy with Tuscany. Rome’s old-world culture enriches the experience, and the ship conveys a boutique-hotel vibe at sea. I found it to be totally my vibe, with its laid-back adults’ playground.
Virgin Voyage’s “no rules, just right” ethos shows up everywhere which is truly appreciated. There are no formal nights, nor forced dining times. The sailors app definitely comes in handy for booking some of the more formal restaurants such as my fave, the Korean restaurant Gunbae and Pink Agave with your friends.
Dining
Virgin Voyages model of unlimited included restaurants (no buffet, no up-charge for the “main” venues) is the single best thing about this ship.
Test Kitchen – Playful, ever-changing tasting menu format. I must admit however it was our least favorite dining experience on the ship. While the pairing were creative, they just weren’t our overall vibe or taste. However, I do recommend the lemon tart dessert but the main courses left more to be desired.
Pink Agave – It offered Modern Mexican with excellent Mezcal pairings; the table side guacamole with chips and chicken enchiladas were definitely my favorites.
The Wake – The steakhouse-style venue with the best sunset views on the aft deck; reserve for the Cannes or Rome evening for the golden-hour effect over the water. Unfortunately, it was fully booked for dinner each night of our sailing but we were lucky enough to enjoy delightful breakfast there on our last morning of the cruise before disembarking.
Gunbae – A Korean BBQ/hot pot concept with staff who genuinely turn dinner into a show (bread-tossing, drum-banging energy). Great for a group night rather than a quiet dinner. We really enjoyed playing the drinking game with a shot of traditional Korean soju.
Ariya by Razzle Dazzle – This was such a pleasant surprise to us as we had no expectations for the newly renovated Ariya by Razzle Dazzle Indian restaurant. I actually had shrimp and grits which was fabulous. Also the cheesecake was beyond delicious.
Pizza Place & The Galley – If offered solid grab-and-go options during the day and night. The fresh pizza was available usually in 5 to 10 minutes and was so fresh. Standouts included
No specialty-dining up-charges, no assigned seating, no dress code — reservations open in the app and fill fast on sea days, so book Test Kitchen and The Wake the moment boarding opens.
Accommodations
Cabins (“Sea Terrace” category, with the private terrace) were compact but exceptionally well-designed. They included sliding glass doors that fully open to the terrace, a shower with genuinely good water pressure, and thoughtful storage for what’s a smaller footprint than legacy cruise lines. However, it got the job done for us.
The RockStar Quarters/Suites class comes with 24/7 butler-style service, a private lounge, and priority disembarkation for port days — worth the upgrade specifically for Ibiza and Rome mornings when getting off early matters. However, a minor gripe that I have is soundproofing between cabins is average. You’ll hear neighbors on either side, especially returning from Ibiza’s late nights.
Staff & Service
This is where Virgin Voyages distinguishes itself most from mainstream lines. The crew (predominantly younger, well-traveled, and genuinely enthusiastic rather than scripted) consistently:
- Remembered names and drink orders by day two
- Handled the Ibiza late-return crowd with patience and zero judgment
- Ran shore excursion logistics for Florence/Pisa and Rome with clear, honest communication about traffic and timing
- Kept the pool deck (“The Beach Club”) lively without being obnoxious
Also, FYI tip is built into the fare, so there’s no awkward end-of-cruise tipping calculus — and yet service didn’t dip because of it. Moreover, I highly recommend a voyage with Virgin Cruises. I’ll definitely be back on one! As a certified travel advisor with Fora, I’m here to assist with your next Virgin Voyages cruise globetrotters!