Four Days at Sea with Virgin Voyages’ Scarlet Lady

From the moment I stepped into the Virgin Voyages cruise terminal, everything was smooth sailing. The embarkation process was seamless, integrating technology and comfort at every turn to create a quick process that got me on the ship in record time. I was greeted on board by attentive and energetic staff. My Sea Terrace stateroom was spacious, with a balcony containing a fun red hammock to sway on in the sunshine. With mood lighting controlled by an in-room tablet, I never wanted to leave! But the Scarlet Lady had too much to offer to stay in my room all night.

Rather than opting for large dining rooms or buffets, all the food on the Scarlet Lady was made to order, with reservations available at six different on board restaurants, there’s no such thing as premium dining–it was all included. Which meant that whether I was in the mood for steak or pasta, Mexican food or something more experimental and unique, I could have it any time. The steak with roasted garlic at The Wake was to die for! And every meal at the Italian cuisine’s Extra Virgin was finished with a shot of Limoncello–I wish every meal ended that way! I couldn’t resist an ice cream cone after dinner from the cleverly named “Lick Me Til Ice Cream” shop.

After dinner came the entertainment. Each night had a different offering, my favorite being the interactive acrobatics show reenacting the story of Romeo and Juliet, “Dual Reality.” I was seated in the front row, right in the middle of the action, and I could feel my heart drop with every twist and turn the performers took. Leaping in and out of the crowd, it kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time! I’ll never look at Romeo and Juliet the same way again. After the show, I’d hit the dance floor at the ship’s onboard club The Manor, or listen to some live music at the cocktail bar On The Rocks. One night, the musician was taking requests and had the whole bar singing to '90s throwbacks. Truly a memorable experience with top tier entertainment!

During the day at sea, I was able to snag a bed right at the poolside. Nothing but sunshine with my toes in the cool water in the middle of the sea, I truly loved my entire experience with Virgin Voyages. When we docked in Bimini, our shuttle to Virgin’s private beach club led us to a private beach and pool with the same top notch service and entertainment all day. I never ran out of options at sea, and I definitely intend to return.

Virgin Voyages is adults-only, making it perfect for a honeymoon or romantic getaway. However, it’s also a great girls trip or group trip option as well, with private dining options for your group. The lively party vibe encourages you to get up and dance, but isn’t in your face the whole cruise, so if you prefer something more low key, this cruise line is for you too. Reach out to me if you want to plan your next voyage with Virgin!

This trip report is part of our ongoing series on travel by cruise. In need of further inspiration? Check out Cameron & Justin Tempest’s guide, A Guide to Disney Cruise Lines.