Curator’s statement
This was my first solo adventure ever. It was the start of my love for travel and seeing the world on my own. It helped me feel alive and gave me so much courage, which even lasted after disembarkation.
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Virgin Voyages is well known for its Lady ships and for being an adults-only line. People know about its fine dining restaurants, the red color scheme, various itineraries, and Scarlet Night—these things are synonymous with the brand. But there are so many more wondrous things about it, especially for solo travelers, or solo sailors as they are known on Virgin Voyages.
Firstly, solo doesn’t mean single. You can be in a relationship and still be a solo sailor. It's not a status but a state of mind. Anyone can be a solo sailor, if you love adventure or even need a change of pace. Virgin Voyages does a good amount of work to make solos feel comfortable and welcome aboard. There are numerous social events planned, including dinners, meet and greets, and games. They also have comfortable solo cabins, which can fit a sailor comfortably. One of my favorite meet-and-greet opportunities was the initial meetup. It took place on embarkment day, shortly before the ship left the port. Some members of the Happenings cast will comfortably encourage solos to meet and connect with each other. On my last itinerary, I made some new friends that I hung out with during my whole voyage.
If you are a solo and weren’t able to get a reservation at one of the restaurants, Virgin Voyages has you covered. Each night, the solos get together to pick where they would like to have dinner together. Sailor Services does their best to get the group into their restaurant of choice. The choice for my first night was Gunbae. Our host made sure we were taken care of and played games with us as a way to help us bond and loosen up with each other. We played a counting game where you couldn’t say a number that had “3” in it or you had to take a shot. I came in third, making it up to the number 52.
Need to know
General tip for anyone traveling: Get travel insurance. You may never need it, but it's comforting knowing that you have it. Also, pack something red for Scarlet Night and don't forget your PJs for PJ night. But mostly, bring a sense of wonderment and fun.
For more inspiration and insider recommendations, visit our cruises page.
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Michael Gilchrist
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