Setting the scene: the comfort of familiar waters
When it comes to vacation planning, most of us stick with what we know.
The same airline.
The same hotel brand.
The same cruise line we sailed ten years ago.
There’s comfort in familiarity. A sense of safety in knowing exactly what you’ll get.
But here’s the question worth asking: Are you choosing what’s best, or just what’s familiar?
Because cruising has changed. Travelers have changed. And expectations have evolved far beyond cruise buffet lines, dress codes, and activities that feel like they were designed decades ago (hint: it’s because they were).
Virgin Voyages exists for the Sailors who’ve quietly wondered if cruising could feel…different. More modern. More flexible. More you.
Spoiler alert: it can.
Why “trusted” no longer always means “best”
Traditional cruise lines earned their reputation by doing one thing very well: serving the masses.
That meant predictable programming, one-size-fits-all dining, rigid schedules, and onboard experiences designed principally around not offending anyone.
And for a long time, that worked.
But today’s travelers want more control, more personality, more individuality, and more authenticity from their vacations. They want flexibility without chaos; luxury without stiffness; fun without forced participation.
That’s where Virgin Voyages steps in. Not to compete with the classics, but to rewrite the rules that those traditional cruise lines are still following.
What makes trying a new cruise brand feel risky
We hear it all the time:
“What if it’s not as organized?”
“What if it’s too different or too young?”
“What if I don’t like it?”
Those concerns are valid. But here’s the reality: Virgin Voyages didn’t reinvent cruising by cutting corners. We reinvented it by questioning everything.
Every decision — from no buffets to no kids to no daily schedules stuffed with filler and annoying PA announcements — was made to improve the Sailor experience, not complicate it.
Different doesn’t mean untested; it means intentionally designed.
Breaking cruise stereotypes, one rule at a time
Let’s talk about the “rules” Virgin Voyages happily broke—and why Sailors love us for it.
No kids onboard
We sail 18+ only. Not as a gimmick, but to create a shared vibe where every space is open to every Sailor, all the time.
No designated “adult hours.”
No avoiding certain venues.
No adjusting your vacation pace.
Just one cohesive onboard experience designed for grown-ups. We don’t exclude families, we cater to the grown-up, multigenerational ones.
No buffets
Instead of sprawling buffets, we offer 20+ eateries included in your voyage fare — with menus designed by award-winning chefs from the best bars and restaurants in New York City, Miami, and more.
No upcharges.
No assigned dining times.
No “specialty restaurant” pressure.
Just order what you want, when you want, and actually enjoy the experience. Our elevated cruise dining is award-winning for a reason.
No fixed schedules
Traditional cruises love structure. Virgin Voyages loves choice. You won’t find mandatory formal nights, early dinner seatings, or rigid daily agendas.
But you will find:
- Flexible dining
- Come-and-go programming like our Festival Stage Acts, which rotate a mix of up-and-coming comedians, singers, magicians, and more through our ships
- Experiences that unfold naturally
- Surprise pop-ups and unexpected entertainment
It’s your vacation. We simply provide the playground. What you choose to do with it is entirely up to you.
No nickel-and-diming
WiFi.
Dining.
Group fitness classes.
Soda and essential beverages.
They’re all included.
Instead of surprising you with a final bill chock full of hidden fees, we build value into the experience from the start—so you can relax instead of doing mental math at sea. That’s why we have more included in our voyage fare than any other cruise line (over $1000 in value, in fact).
The Virgin difference: new, but deeply experienced
Trying a new cruise brand doesn’t mean sailing with amateurs.
Virgin Voyages is backed by:
- Decades of hospitality expertise
- Award-winning service and crew
- Industry-leading ship design
- A brand known globally for shaking up established industries
Virgin didn’t become Virgin by playing it safe. It became Virgin by asking, “Why does it have to be this way?”
The result? Ships that feel modern, intuitive, and refreshingly human.
Why first-time Sailors become loyal Sailors
Here’s what we hear most often after someone tries Virgin Voyages for the first time:
“I didn’t realize cruising could feel like this.”
“I can’t go back to traditional cruises now.”
“This finally feels like a vacation made for me.”
Because once you experience:
- A ship without crowds funneling into one dining hall
- Entertainment designed for adults—not families by default
- A social atmosphere that’s relaxed, inclusive, and genuinely fun
…it’s hard to unsee what cruising could be. And once you’re booked, you’ll be hooked.
New doesn’t mean uncomfortable — it means intentional
Virgin Voyages isn’t trying to be everything to everyone. And that’s exactly why it works.
We design for:
- Curious travelers
- Repeat cruisers ready for something better
- People who value experience over routine
- Sailors who want freedom without friction
If you’ve loved cruising before but felt like it never quite evolved with you—this is your sign to try something new.
How to think about your next cruise differently
Instead of asking, “Which cruise line have I always used?”
Try asking:
- Which one actually reflects how I travel now?
- Which one removes stress instead of adding rules?
- Which cruise line feels designed for my lifestyle, not someone else’s?
Sometimes the most trusted choice isn’t the oldest name — it’s the one bold enough to do things differently.
You won’t lose your status! You’ll bring it with you
One of the biggest reasons seasoned cruisers hesitate to try a new brand isn’t the ship, the food, or the vibe.
It’s loyalty.
After all, if you’ve sailed the same line for years, you’ve earned perks like priority boarding, exclusive access, little upgrades that make traveling smoother, maybe even free drinks. Walking away from that can feel like starting over.
Here’s the Virgin Voyages plot twist: you don’t have to.
Our Virgin Voyages loyalty program is built for travelers who already know their way around a great vacation. That’s why we offer status matching — so your experience actually counts, even if it happened somewhere else.
And yes, we mean really counts.
The Virgin Voyages Sailing Club gets you in on your very first voyage, and from there the perks (which we call Blue Extras and Deep Blue Extras) keep adding up. Free laundry, specialty beverages, priority boarding…all these and more are on your horizon when you bring your loyalty over.
And now, for a limited time, we’re matching airline, hotel, and cruise statuses — an industry-first move that takes your rewards further than ever. See the eligible programs and apply here (it only takes a few seconds to complete).
Final call: familiar is safe, but unforgettable is better
Trying a new cruise brand can feel like a leap. But Virgin Voyages isn’t asking you to give up what you love about cruising—we’re offering an upgrade.
One that’s:
- More flexible
- More inclusive (in all the right ways)
- More modern
- More you
So if you’re ready to trade predictable for memorable, and routine for remarkable, we’ll be right here, red hull waiting. We sail to all the most popular cruise destinations in the Caribbean, Mediterranean, across North America, and up into Alaska (plus some other once-in-a-lifetime places too).
