Are Senior Travelers Welcome on Virgin?
I was hesitant to sail on Virgin because, mistakenly, I thought it was for a younger crowd. I might feel out of place. But I’m glad I overcame my misgivings because that cruise became one of my favorites. I took the plunge on a 7-night round-trip cruise out of Miami on Virgin Voyages’ Valiant Lady. After years of traditional cruises, it completely won me over. If you’re a senior traveler looking for a cruise with a different, relaxed, fun atmosphere, Virgin is worth serious consideration.
Embarkation and the Ship: The ship left at 5.00 pm, so if you are flying in on an early flight you’ll have plenty of time until embarkation. I always recommend you arrive at your destination at least 4 hours before sail time. Otherwise, it might be best to spend a night in Miami just to be on the safe side. We arrived the same day and took an Uber from the airport straight to the port, and the boarding was smooth and stress-free. It’s cheaper than the taxis or the transfers the cruise lines offer.
The ship is smaller, with a passenger capacity of 2770, and it didn’t feel overcrowded. It is beautifully designed, with a modern, vibrant feel. A neat little detail to help you get your bearings, the letter for the starboard side is “Z”, while the port side uses the letter “A’.
Cool little detail: Download the app before you sail. Once onboard the ship, shake it a little and someone will approach you with free champagne! This works only on the first day, but it’s a great way to start a vacation!
I immediately fell in love with the hammock on the balcony and the mood lighting in the cabin. The tablet in the cabin is very cool. You can open and close the curtains, set the mood lighting, order food, and check out the day’s schedule. Be sure to download the app before boarding to get the best experience. You can check in on the app, view the entire itinerary, plan your daily activities and change your dining reservations on a daily basis.
Dining (The Highlight): Virgin nails this. No buffets or rigid main dining rooms; instead, you book reservations at 8+ specialty restaurants, all included in the fare. Standouts included the Korean-inspired Gunbae (fun, interactive grilling), the elegant French-Italian Razzle Dazzle, and great Mexican at the Pink Agave. My favorite was the Test Kitchen, a “culinary lab”, featuring a six-course tasting menu. Everything was high-quality, flavorful, and beautifully presented. No upcharges for the core dining experience, and the service felt personal and unhurried.
I also loved the fact that if you are in need of a snack in between meals, you can easily grab a sandwich, a piece of fruit or a dessert from the casual food spots like the Galley-grab-and-go sushi boxes, The Pizza Place for late night fresh baked made-to-order stone baked pizzas on deck 7, or The Social Club for hot dogs, pretzels or popcorn.
The only drawback that I could see is that you must make your first reservation on the first day you are on the ship. You must head over to deck 5 to the Razzle Dazzle restaurant. Thereafter, you can reserve directly on the app.
Non-alcoholic drinks are also included in your cruise fare.
Virgin Voyages Review – Entertainment
Entertainment and Atmosphere: The shows were creative and high-energy, with nerve-wracking acrobatics, music, and witty performances. There are a couple of shows that could be considered “racy”, but I found them tasteful and great comedy. Scarlet Night was a fun, red-themed deck party with music and dancing. The Pajama Night was also a hoot! The ship has a playful, inclusive vibe. The music ranged from bluesy to 80’s pop, depending on the band playing, and everyone was having a fantastic time.
No kids means a sophisticated, relaxed adult energy, with people of all ages mingling comfortably. People as young as their 20’s and into their 80’s having a great time together.
Virgin Voyages Review of the Ports: Puerto Rico, Puerto Plata, Bimini
Ports and Bimini Beach Club: Port stops are a couple of hours longer than most, up to 7 pm. In San Juan, Puerto Rico, the ship docks right in town. We took a taxi to the Castillo San Felipe de Moro and then wandered down the cobblestone streets. Old San Juan is such a colorful town, full of shops to browse and great restaurants to stop for lunch or dinner. We had the typical “mofongo” a traditional dish made with fried plantains.
We were able to do two shore excursions, including zip-lining in Puerto Plata, and buses took us to the Beach Club at Bimini, their private beach. Your bar tab can be used to purchase drinks, and food is plentiful and readily available. We rented a golf cart on Bimini for independent exploration and snorkeling. Excursions felt well-organized without being overly crowded.
Their private beach Club on Bimini was great fun. Great food and entertainment. Lots of lounge chairs around the beach and the pool if you prefer.
If you want to go through a third party to book your excursions, I can highly recommend these tour operators. They are reliable, reputable and usually cheaper than the cruise lines’ excursions. My favorite for cruises is Shore Excursions Group, they’re based out of Miami and and they only do cruise excursions. They also have a guaranteed return to ship.
Best Travel Insurance for your Cruise
I think it goes without saying that travel insurance is a must nowadays. With flight cancellations and other issues going on around the world it is smart to purchase. It will protect your investment and give you peace of mind while you’re on vacation. I’ve used the three companies I recommend below.
Virgin Voyages Review: Final Thoughts:
Overall Pros:
- Adults-only (18+) environment, it was very enjoyable!
- All dining included. The food was outstanding, and although there was no dress requirement, it was fun to dress up on “Red” night.
- Outstanding service from a genuinely friendly crew.
- Modern, beautiful ship with great wellness options (yoga, spa, fitness).
- I loved that a drink package wasn’t forced on both guests. Each guest can fund their “bar tab” separately. If you run out of your “bar tab”, you can add more to your account.
- The modern happy vibe and entertainment were fun, energizing, and I never felt “old” or out of place.
- Basic WI-FI is included in your cruise fare.
A Few Cons:
- The shore excursions are a bit pricier than most, but they are exclusive and curated just for Virgin.
- Booking the restaurant reservations was a bit confusing the first day, but once I understood the app, it was just fine. If you don’t find your time slot available, keep checking back because they open as people cancel or change.
Feeling happy, refreshed, and dare I say it – maybe a little cool, I disembarked the ship and headed towards the airport. Will I recommend Virgin Voyages for anyone wanting to sail solo? Yes, absolutely. I met several women my age traveling solo and having a great time.
If you’re not sure about Virgin Voyages, try one of their short getaways out of Miami. I am sure you’ll be more than happy you did. Their forte is really the Mediterranean, where they shine with their small port voyages and longer stays. They are now sailing to Alaska out of Seattle as well. I hope this Virgin Voyages Review will encourage you to try their cruises. I honestly didn’t want my 7 day cruise to end!
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Happy Sailing! Evie
Wander with Evie is a cruise and travel website helping travelers 50+ discover, plan and enjoy unforgettable journeys. I am a travel professional with 40 years in the travel industry (now retired), specialize in cruise reviews, destination guides, cruise planning and practical tips for first-time and experienced cruisers. Through personal travel experiences, original photography and helpful resources, I help mature travelers choose the right cruise for them
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