50+ Virgin Voyages Cruise Tips & Tricks

We all need a little help planning our next vacation and it’s important to learn as much as possible before setting sail. That’s why I had to put together this Virgin Voyages cruise tips & tricks article to share everything you need to know before sailing with Virgin Voyages. No one wants to be on a ship and find out they didn’t know to pack certain clothing or they miss  out on something extra because they didn’t know it existed. Virgin Voyages distinctive way of sailing the high seas may just steal your loyalty from some of the other cruise lines out there.  Assuming, of course, that you won’t be sailing with your young kids.

Virgin Voyages Cruise Tips & Tricks:

Before You Board:

1) Screenshot or write down your stateroom number. You’ll be asked for your stateroom # at the port when dropping your bags. You’ll also need it for check-in. My app wouldn’t load once we got to the port. It was a good thing I had a screenshot of the app screen with my stateroom # or I wouldn’t have been able to tell the porter which room to send our luggage.

2) Luggage tags aren’t provided in advance. Other cruise lines will mail (occassionaly) luggage tags or have tags available to print at home. You don’t get luggage tags at all with Virgin Voyages. You’ll provide your stateroom number to the porter when you drop your bags outside the terminal.  Don’t forget the A or Z part of the room assignment. While I found it a bit unsettling to not have my luggage tags attached when I arrived at the port, it turned out to be so convenient. No need to print and attach them yourself. No need to remember to bring your luggage tags, it’s handled right at the terminal.

3) Download the app before sailing and login to your account. You can do so many things in the app.  Complete the check-in process, book shore things (shore excursions), reserve dining and more. You’ll need the app while you’re onboard, so get everything set up before you arrive at the terminal.

4) Pick your boarding time as soon as you book your cruise. You can find this option in the app under the “Before You Sail” section. Select “Check in & get ready to sail” and look for the last section titled “Step Aboard”. You can select your preferred boarding time here. Note that boarding starts later on Virgin Voyages than other cruise lines. You get to stay on the ship later, so boarding starts later in the afternoon. Make sure you complete all the check-in info as well before getting to the terminal.

5) Can I board early? No, Virgin Voyages is strict about their boarding times. You can read more about this in my Love/Hate Virgin Cruise article. Early boarding is available to those in Rockstar Suites, if you purchase the Splash of Romance Package or have Deep Blue Extra’s (Virgin Voyages top tier loyalty program). The earlier boarding time won’t show in the app if you meet these qualifications, you just head to the terminal for boarding to start around 1:30pm.

*If it’s not busy you may be able get onboard early. However, this is a your milage may very type of situation and do you really want to wait outside in the heat?

6) The Splash of Romance Packages sells out. Snag the SOR package in the app under “Add-ons”. This can be found at the “Buy Bar Tab & More” section. The SOR is limited to 90 sailors. The packaging includes perks such as priority boarding, Shake for champagne, Thermal Suite Pass for 2 and more. See all the inclusions here. There is also a Splash for Your Bash package that would be great for a group.

7) Complete your health form the day of sailing. It opened up around 2pm the day prior to sailing for us so you can complete it then. This will be available in the app and you should complete it before checking in at the terminal. It only takes a minute to complete.

8) Start booking restaurants as soon as possible after booking your cruise. Reservations open 45 days in advance or 60 days in advance for those in Rockstar quarters. Dining reservations can be made through the Virgin Voyages App or your First Mate (Travel Advisor). Even if you’re not typically a “planner” you should book at least a few reservations prior to sailing. You can always cancel them in the app later. Reservation times did open up on the app thoughout the cruise as people cancelled.

9) Those in RockStar Quarters don’t have to make reservations in advance. You can make reservations, but you’ll RS agent will be able to get you booked into restaurants. You’re paying for this benefit with your suite. You can always make a reservation and have your RS agent change it later if it will give you piece of mind that dining is booked. You’ll see in your app once the booking window opens “no bookings needed”.

10) Purchase the bar tab in advance. The Bar Tab is pre-purchased onboard credit to spend on premium beverages on the ship and at The Beach Club at Bimini. You’ll receive an extra amount added on based on the tab you purchase. Premium beverages are any beverages that you pay for on Virgin Voyages. This includes alcohol, non-alcoholic cocktails, specialty coffee and pressed juices. There are no additional discounts while cruising and Bar Tabs can only be purchased up until 24 hours prior to sailing. Beware that Bar Tabs are nonrefundable.  If you don’t use your tab, you lose it at the end of the cruise. You could be the fun person buying drinks at the end of your trip to use up the tab though!

$200 Bar Tab: an extra $25 to spend and a total of $225 in drinks to share
$300 Bar Tab: an extra $50 to spend and a total of $350 in drinks to share
$500 Bar Tab: an extra $100 to spend and a total of $600 in drinks to share
$750 Bar Tab: an extra $175 to spend and a total of $925 in drinks to share
$1000 Bar Tab: an extra $250 to spend and a total of $1250 in drinks to share
*Updated July 2024

11) Bring your own wine to save money. You may bring up to (2) 750 mL bottles of wine, sparkling wine or Champagne per cabin in carry-on bags. Don’t pack wine in your luggage or you will experience delays getting your bag. There is a $25 corkage fee to bring your wine to a restaurant. Your Bar Tab can cover this amount. You can always grab an empty glass and fill it up in your room to bringaround the ship. No liquor or beer can be brought on board for consumption on the cruise. You will receive any alcohol purchased at port on the last night of your cruise.

12) Gratuities are included but tip the porter at the terminal. Unlike other cruise lines, gratuities are included in your cruise rate.  You can bring cash for additional tips if you desire. Porters don’t work for VV, so you should tip them when dropping your luggage.

13) Don’t link your debit card as a method of payment. A debit card is an option that you can choose if it makes sense for you, but a $250 hold will be placed on your debit card once you board. It will usually be removed within a few days of disembarking but some banks may take longer. A credit card will still receive the hold but it’s not like a debit card where your available cash will be restricted.

14) Join a Facebook group for your voyages. Most sailings have a dedicated Facebook page you can join to connect with other sailors, ask questions and learn some itinerary tips. Simply search by your Lady ships name and the sailing date to find the group.

**Luggage can be dropped at the Miami V Terminate around 9am. As of March 2024, there is no longer a free shuttle to Bayside Market. There is a free trolley operated by the city of Miami that goes from the cruise port and stops at Biscayne Blvd. Look for the Coral Way Route Trolley.

Once Onboard the Lady Ship:

15) Log onto the ships wifi as soon as you board the ship. You won’t see additional dining reservation times or booking options for fitness classes and special events if you’re not logged into the sailor wifi.

16) Make reservation for group fitness classes as soon as you board. Classes such as HIIT, barre, yoga, spin, and bungee require a reservation and space is limited. The bungee and yoga classes fit up especially quick so don’t wait to book your class. You can also arrive at the class just before it starts and grab a spot in case someone is a no show.

17) Make your tattoo appointment as soon as boarding as these fill up quickly. Virgin Voyages has the first tattoo parlor at sea. There are rotating tattoo artists onboard to give you a souvenir that will last a lifetime. There is a charge for the tattoo, of course. Find out more information about current artists onboard on Instagram @squidink.vv

18) Watch the mandatory safety video in your stateroom or via the app. You’ll need to confirm on your iPad who watched the video. If watching on the app, each person will need to watch the video. Then you can go to your assembly station to quickly check in. If you don’t watch the video in advance, you’ll have to wait for an available iPad at your muster station.

19) Don’t miss FREE champagne. During the Sail Away Party they will have servers walking around with FREE champagne on the 15th and 16th deck by the pool. We decided to hang around on the 16th deck and enjoy a couple free glasses of sparking rosé.

20) What beverages are FREE on board? All essential drinks are included free of charge including filtered still and sparkling water, non-pressed juices, sodas, satchet teas and drip coffee.

21) What if I don’t make dinner reservations? If you forget or simply don’t want to make reservations in advance, you won’t starve. The Galley (VV’s version of a buffet) has plenty of options. You can also “walk-in” at the restaurants or join the virtual queue through the app. If you’re only sailing as a couple, it will be easier especially if you’re okay sitting at the bar.

Additionally, not all reservations open up prior to sailing. More reservation times will become available once boarding begins. The Wake and Gunbae will be more difficult to get as a walk-in if the cruise is sailing at full capacity. I would try to get those reservations in advance, if possible. You can also book dining reservations in person once you’re onboard. Furthermore, people cancel reservations during the cruise and times will become available via the app.

22) Don’t forget to make brunch reservations at The Wake or Razzle Dazzle in advance for sea days. These times will fill up. On port days, you’ll likely still find a lot of times available. We decided to eat brunch on port days and at The Galley on sea days. The Galley was packed on port days but the restaurants still had plenty of seating. It was a nice way to go against the crowds since we didn’t book shore excursions and had time for leisurely breakfasts.  The lunch menu at The Wake begins at noon.

23) The FREE wifi is great for basics such as iMessage, video calls, social media and emails. You can upgrade the wifi for an additional fee if streaming is required. Additionally with Premium WiFi, you may connect up to 2 devices simultaneously. Virgin Voyages uses Starlink PRO and SES Cruise mPOWERED to get the best wifi at sea. Don’t forget to turn off your cellular service!

Bimini Tips:

24) Pack a Koozie for your Beach Club at Bimini day. The beer & seltzer cans are all tall and slim.  Derrick found they would get hot quickly.

25) Pack snorkel and mask for the Beach Club at Bimini. You don’t need to excursion to explore the clear, blue waters. You won’t see much more than some fish at the Beach Club, but you will likely see more sealife if you snorkel next to the pier. There is a beach next the pier that you can stop at on your way back to the ship. You can also snorkel off other beaches around the island if you rent a golf cart or take other tours.

You may also want to consider a Waterproof Phone Pouch, so you can safely take your cellphone into the water and get some photos. 

26) Where to sit at the Beach Club Bimini? If you want to be part of the action during the Pool Party, grab seats by the main pool located to the right side when facing the water.  This is where you’ll find the DJ and pool floats in the afternoon. You’ll also hear the music well by sitting at the beach on this side of the Beach Club.  A quiet spot is getting seats on the left when facing the water. This seating area is located next to Rockstar areas. Check out the hammocks located at the back of the Beach Club on the left side near the second kitchen. More hammocks can also be found in the back corner on the right when facing the water.

**Consider purchasing reef safe sunscreen if you have an excursion at Bimini or any of the other islands. If taking a Shore Thing, you will likely find some on the boat, but it’s always important to bring your own sunscreen.

Dining Tips:

27) Take ship events into account when making dining reservations. Check the all aboard times and “browse the event line-up” (subject to change) in the app to better gauge your desired dining times. For instance, you don’t want to book dinner reservations at 5:30pm on your first day as that’s when the sail away party begins if your ship sets sail at 6pm.

28) Raise the red “ahoy” flag for service at the Dock House and The Galley. You can get drinks and snacks from the Mezze cart at The Dock. You can also raise the flag in the galley for table service. Menus are available via a QR code.

29) Find additional seating at The Galley. We sat at in a small seating area next to Bento, just as you enter The Galley from the starboard side. It wasn’t crowded at 9am and we were able to get a window seat. We sat there a few other times by the window as well.  Inside the main galley area, seating was bursting. Another great seating area is aft outside of The Galley. There were a ton of seats with plenty of shade, cool breezes (most days), and views overlooking the sea. You can still get table service here as well.

30) Don’t miss out on all the food options at The Galley aft on the starboard side as well. You can get eggs Benedict, breakfast paninis, smoked salmon, avocado toast and more from these stations for breakfast. The noodle station was also open early for those needing a fix in the morning. During lunch you’ll also find tacos with chips and salsa and warm paninis. I was stopped by a couple on day 3 as I was carrying ramen to our seat.  They never realized there was another side to The Galley.

31) Watch for additional food options at Diner and Dash. There are rotating options during lunch and dinner. A few of the offerings were ribs, beef and pork tenderloin with various sides to compliment the meat dish.

32) Bento Baby also has a rotating options. A fabulous rainbow roll and teriyaki tofu were a few other options in addition to the standard rolls available daily.

33) ShipEats is Virgin Voyages’s version of room service. You can order several items off the menu which include goodies from your favorite restaurants such as the charcuterie, meatballs and ragu from Extra Virgin. Love the beet hummus from the Dockhouse? Want some popcorn to go with the latest movie? Place a ShipEats order through the app. There is a $7 fee for “on us” items but the fee is waived if you order something that has an additional charge. Add in a $3 espresso to your order if you’re not looking for anything alcoholic or specialty. There is no charge if staying in RockStar Quarters. Also, the sodas delivered are canned and free. You can order extra to keep in your fridge.

34) Finding The Wake is a little tricky. It’s located aft on deck 6 but you access it via deck 7.

35) Take advantage of Quickeze for a quick grab and go option. This is located in The Galley. They had açaí bowls, oatmeal, smoked salmon, granola bars, trail mix, apples, oranges and more for breakfast. There was also a charcuterie, sandwiches, salads and snack mixes for lunch and dinner.

36) Little known eateries are The Dock House/The Dock and Social Club. These are great areas to grab a bite to eat and they aren’t usually crowded. Order from the Mezze Cart and get pita and hummus at The Dock House or enjoy pretzels, hot dogs and popcorn at Social Club.

More Tips:

37) Don’t forget to select all sailors in your party when making reservations for dining, classes and activities. You’ll see the sailors images just above the time slot’s in the app. You will automatically be selected, so just tap on each sailor so they’re added to the booking.

38) What is Sailor Loot? Sailor look is onboard credit that can be used to make purchases on the ship and at the Beach Club at Bimini. Charges include specialty beverages, dining extras, paid activities such as the Grog Walk (Pub Crawl), shopping, Shore Things (excursions), the spa and at the Casino for play only. Sailor Loot can be earned through promotions, booking with a First Mate and MNVV (discussed below). Just remember that any unused funds will not be refunded or rolled over after the voyage ends.

39) Book your disembarkation time in advance. Our 10:30am time was “sold out” the night before the cruise. You can find the disembarkation selection under “Shore Things”. They aren’t going to come find you if you don’t get off at your scheduled time, but it does help VV plan. You MUST be off the ship by 10:30am or whenever the latest disembarkation time is for your sailing.

40) Don’t miss out on all the games onboard. Head to the Social Club to find an extensive board game section, play air hockey or head into the FREE arcade.

41) Close AND lock your balcony door. If it’s not locked or closed properly, the A/C won’t run. Derrick was just closing the balcony door and it became hot in our room quickly.

42) Let your stateroom attendant know when to service your room or to select the “do not disturb” option. The buttons are located in your stateroom closet. The light outside your cabin will change from green to red or blue (nothing selected).

43) Pack clothes for special events. There are several opportunities to dress up and get into the spirit of the events taking place around the ship. These are not themed dining or formal nights like on other ships.  It’s just an opportunity to have fun and dress up. If you don’t want to dress for an event, no problem! Virgin Voyages is a come as you are cruise line. Enjoy the events in whatever outfit you feel comfortable wearing.

• The biggest event on any Virgin Voyages cruise is Scarlet Night. The theme is Virgin’s signature color, red. Bring a red outfit to wear even if you don’t plan to participate in the festivities. People wore everything from simple red t-shirts to red sequenced cocktail dresses and red blazers.
• The Pajama Party will likely take place on the first night of your cruise.  Anything goes from cute jammies to lingerie.
• We Fancy Night is another late night party. Pack your gold and/or sequins for this event.
• If you’re looking for a fun workout, the VHS Workout is a great chance to bust out your 80’s workout gear.

44) Does Virgin Voyages have a dress code? No! You can wear whatever you want around the ship and even in the restaurants. According to the VV website: We always want all of our Sailors to feel comfortable. We encourage you to wear more than a bathing suit if you go to a restaurant and kindly consider shoes, but your style is your style. Who are we to judge? Dress Up. Dress Down. Just Dress.

45) Status match from other cruise line loyalty programs to receive Blue Extras and enjoy benefits from your very first voyage. This offer is only valid through December 31, 2024. You can find more info and the form to status match here.

46) Registration for the Virgin Voyages Sailing Club is automatic after your first sailing. Blue Extra’s will be obtained with 3-4 completed sailings and Deep Blue Extras after 5+ sailings. You can see all the perks here. If you previously held Sea-Blazers status, it will be transferred to the new program.

47) Take advantage of the My Next Virgin Voyages (MNVV) offer. Sadly, VV changed their MNVV policy in July 2024. While it’s not as lucrative as the previous offers, it still a great way to save $ on your next voyage. MNVV can be obtained at Get Lost on Deck 7 Midship or through the app while you’re on the ship. My Next Virgin Voyage onboard offer is a $300 discount off your future booking (it’s the deposit you paid) plus up to $500 in cruise discount and onboard credit (Sailor Loot). The value depends on your cruise length. You have 2 years from the purchase date to book and sail. The cost for MNVV is a $300 deposit and is valid for Sea Terrace and above.

48) More items to pack for your Virgin Voyages cruise….

• Reusable water bottle: Fill stations are all over the ship. VV doesn’t not provide plastic water bottles. There will be cups at the fill stations, however.
• Sunscreen: You’ll be spending a lot of time outdoors.
• Motion Sensor LED Night Light: Great for keeping in your stateroom bathroom
• Hanging Toiletry Bag: The bathrooms are tiny unless staying in an XL Terrace or RockStar Quarters
• Travel hangers: If you plan to pack a lot of outfits for the events. There are a nice amount already in the closet but you may need more.
• Sea sickness bands or motion meds: If you’re prone to sea sickness like I am.
• Power strip without a surge protector: Get extra charging space for your devices.
• Portable fan: Our stateroom would get warm even at night. I ordered this for our next cruise. Lots of people were also crying small fans around the ship.
• Collapsible straws: Virgin Voyages used paper straws which can get soggy in frozen beverages. Bring your own if you don’t like paper.
• Don’t forget the clothing listed above if desired.

49) Use a First Mate (Travel Agent) to book your trip. As a travel advisor I’ve taken advantage of all the tools Virgin Voyages has to offer to help make you trip incredible! I’ve completed all training with Virgin Voyages to earned my Gold Knot (top tier VV training).

50) Purchase the ship travel protection. You never know when accidents will happen (Derrick broke his ankle on our Alaska cruise). The insurance will also cover voyage fare, air, and hotel. Travel protection through Virgin Voyages must be purchased before final payment is made.

51) Can I bring an iron or steamer on Virgin Voyages? NO!!! Irons and steamers are not allowed on cruise ships. Not in carry-on luggage nor checked bags. Your iron and steamer will be confiscated and if its checked luggage, it will delay delivery of your bags. Virgin Voyages probably has the quickest method for delivering luggage to staterooms on any cruise ship company we’ve sailed. You can request a steamer from your cabin attendant or have pressed service for a relatively inexpensive fee with laundry service. We always bring wrinkle releaser and hang the garment in the bathroom while we shower to eliminate wrinkles.

52) Join in the fun with Cruising Ducks.  Started in 2018 by a little girl named Abby, Cruising Ducks is like hide and seek on a cruise ship but with ducks. If you’d like to participate by bringing ducks, there are a ton of options available on Amazon. Hide ducks, find ducks, take ducks or leave ducks – the choice is yours. There are Facebook groups dedicated to cruising ducks. You can join a general group as well as a Virgin Voyages specific group.

53) Luggage storage in Miami. Virgin Voyages recommends using Bounce for storing your bags if you hav a late flight after your cruise.

There are so many great aspects of taking a Virgin Voyages cruise. I hope these tips and tricks were helpful and make your next Virgin Voyages cruise even more memorable. Virgin Voyages wants your vacation to be unforgettable, unexpected and unrivaled!

Make sure to print our packing list for cruise vacations and printable cruise planner.

More articles: 

• Virgin Voyages Miami Roundtrip: 5-Night Riviera Maya Review visiting Cozumel & Bimini
• 30 Things I Loved & Hated About Our Virgin Cruise
• 24 Things to Pack for a Cruise: Plus Printable Packing List for Cruise Vacations
• FREE Printable Cruise Planner (planner for your entire trip)
• Cruising Do’s & Don’ts – Essential Tips for a Great First Cruise