I’m feeling a little bit smug as I sail straight past the queue waiting to board the ship.

It’s 1.30pm and while everyone else is waiting for the official 3.30pm kick-off, I’m already stepping aboard Virgin Voyages’ ship as a ‘Rockstar’. 

Crew members with tattoos, piercings, funky haircuts and plenty of personality are dancing at the entrance, grinning and calling out, ‘Ahoy, Sailor!’ as I walk through.

And just like that, I’m wondering if I’ve been cruising wrong all these years. 

I’ve been on a few, but this isn’t the usual welcome I’m accustomed to.

There’s no formal reception, no stuffy atmosphere and certainly no sense that I’m about to spend the next 13 days being told what time to eat dinner.

Instead, the music is pumping, the crew in party-mode and the whole ship feels more like a glamorous adults-only playground than a floating hotel. 

Being a Rockstar isn’t just about having a fancy cabin.

It’s like having a passport to the VIP side of Virgin Voyages.

Along with priority boarding, I get first dibs on restaurant reservations and entertainment, plus access to Richard’s Rooftop (as in, Branson), an exclusive sundeck that feels like a private members’ club at sea.

There’s even a Rockstar Agent on hand if I need anything. It’s cruising with swagger, and I’m liking it because I’m accustomed to er, steerage class. 

Walking into my cabin (what Virgin calls a ‘sea terrace’) feels like stepping into a sanctuary, rather than somewhere I’m simply dumping my luggage.

It’s surprisingly spacious, with a big double bed that can be separated into two singles, a glam area to get ready, mood lighting and a huge TV.

Almost everything is controlled by a tablet, including the curtains. 

But it’s the balcony that really wins me over.

An impressive 86% of Scarlet Lady’s cabins have one, and they are deeper and wider than on many other ships.

There’s a hand-woven hammock hanging outside (it’s Virgin red), and I immediately jump in and cocoon myself in it.

With nothing but blue sea stretching out in front of me for 13 days, I’m thinking this is going to be dangerously addictive – so, it turns out, is the food. 

It is exceptionally good. There are no huge buffets and no traditional main dining room.

Instead, I can choose from more than 20 eateries, from Korean BBQ and Mexican to Italian, pizza and casual Mediterranean small plates, and it’s all included in the fare (soft drinks are covered, but booze is extra). 

The Wake is the one I keep coming back to.

I descend the grand staircase beneath a dramatic, sculptural chandelier into this glamorous, old-school steakhouse and feel like I’ve wandered into a New York restaurant. 

I’m a sucker for a long, leisurely meal, and The Wake delivers exactly that, with more than steak on the menu.

Tucking into the pan-roasted salmon is wonderfully indulgent as the ship glides through the ocean. 

As a fitness instructor, I’m naturally drawn to the activity offerings.

Virgin has plenty to choose from: yoga, spin and group fitness classes are all included in the fare.

But fitness isn’t something I just squeeze into my holiday; it’s part of the social experience.

I find myself sweating alongside people I’ve just met, having a laugh and then grabbing a coffee afterwards.

It’s one of the easiest ways to make friends on a ship, particularly when you’re travelling solo. 

The social side of this cruise really surprises me.

I never feel like I’m sitting on the sidelines because there are games, live music, shows, DJs, trivia, karaoke and the Social Club.

There are even meet-ups for solo sailors, group activities and plenty of opportunities to strike up a conversation without that awkward ‘so, what do you do?’ small talk. 

And then I walk into the PJ Party.

Yes! An entire ship full of adults in pyjama, boogying to music with cocktails in hand.

It sounds ridiculous being surrounded by people in everything from silky sets to novelty onesies until I realise everyone is committed to the silliness. 

That’s what I like about Virgin. It doesn’t take itself too seriously.

The atmosphere is fun, inclusive and refreshingly open-minded, and the LGBTQ+ community feels completely at home rather than treated as an afterthought. 

Scarlet Lady may be lively and energetic, but Virgin Voyages has clearly thought about how to keep the noise from becoming intrusive, with soundproofing and vibration-reducing technology throughout cabins and public spaces. 

I feel like a fish out of water back on dry land after 13 days at sea.

And yet, it doesn’t feel a moment too long.

This hip, adults-only ship sets the mood from the second I step on board, with on-trend food, late-night sultry shows and even the option to get a tattoo.

Virgin Voyages has truly ripped up the cruise rule book and made cruising cool again.

The essentials

Sabi Phagura was a guest of Virgin Voyages, but don’t expect us to sugarcoat anything — our reviews are 100% independent.

She travelled on the Scarlet Lady’s Solar Eclipse cruise.

The next Solar Eclipse cruise will be onboard Resilient Lady from 28 July and 8 August 2027.

Solar Eclipse: Spain, Portugal, Morocco (11 nights) will be calling at Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca, Málaga, Seville (Cádiz), Funchal, Tangier, Valencia & Barcelona. Prices start from £8,589.56 per cabin. 

For more information, please visit the Virgin Voyages website.


Comment now
Comments

Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google
Add as preferred source