Little Known Facts about Virgin Voyages
Revolutionary Adult-Only Cruising: Virgin Voyages, founded by Sir Richard Branson, offers a unique, adult-only experience with innovative dining, wellness focus, non-typical entertainment for a cruise line, and a sense of community onboard its ships.
Eco-Friendly and Sustainable: Emphasizes sustainability with energy-efficient ships, elimination of single-use plastics, and other various eco-conscious initiatives.
Innovative Amenities and Dining: Features state-of-the-art wellness facilities, specialty restaurants without set dining times at no extra charge, and unique wayfinding systems onboard.
Exclusive Sailor Experiences: Includes secret spaces, special events with the Happenings Cast, and a commitment to celebrating the young at heart.
Virgin Voyages has made quite a splash in the travel industry. With their focus on creating a unique and adult-only cruising experience, the cruise line has quickly gained popularity among adventure-seeking travelers. While many people are familiar with the company's innovative approach, there are still some hidden gems and little-known facts that make Virgin Voyages even more intriguing.
Sailors, Not Passengers: In a departure from the traditional cruise industry terminology, Virgin Voyages refers to its guests as “Sailors" rather than passengers. This change in nomenclature is part of the company's effort to create a sense of community and adventure among its guests. The term “Sailor" reflects the idea that each individual is an active participant in the voyage, contributing to the overall experience onboard.
No Buffet, & No Main Dining Room: Unlike traditional cruise lines that offer buffet-style dining and designated main dining rooms, Virgin Voyages has taken a different approach. They have introduced a concept featuring no set dining times and no buffet to enhance the flexibility and freedom of choice for their Sailors. Instead, Virgin Voyages offers a range of curated dining options, including intimate specialty restaurants of different genres and casual eateries, which are all included in the price of the cruise. Sailors are able to book dinner reservations starting 45-days pre cruise (60-days for Rockstars), which is highly recommended as the ships continue to sell at higher capacity and bookings fill up. This innovative approach to dining allows Sailors to explore different culinary experiences throughout their voyage.
3. Sustainable and Environmentally Conscious: Virgin Voyages is committed to sustainability and minimizing its environmental impact. The cruise line has taken various measures to achieve this goal including designing their ships to be energy-efficient and feature advanced technology to reduce fuel consumption. Additionally, Virgin Voyages eliminates single-use plastics onboard and aims to ban on single-use items across its fleet. These eco-conscious initiatives make it a top choice for environmentally conscious travelers.
4. A Focus on Wellness: Virgin Voyages takes the concept of wellness to the next level. The cruise line offers a state-of-the-art gym, group fitness classes (included in the cruise fare), and even a boxing ring for those who want to stay active during their voyage. Sailors can also unwind at the luxurious spa, which features a hydrotherapy pool, a mud room, and various relaxation areas. The focus on wellness ensures that Sailors can rejuvenate their mind, body, and spirit while cruising. Wellness goes beyond the spa too - Virgin also offers virgin versions of their cocktails with special mocktails at each bar. This is great for Sailors who want to enjoy a delicious drink and socialize without the alcohol.
5. Secret Code for Wayfinding: Virgin Voyages included cues in the design of the ship that help Sailors navigate their way around with different points of reference. One example of wayfinding clues are the numbered “ribs” along the ship’s interior, which allow Sailors to count their way from the front to the back of the vessel as a nod to the ship's construction. These ribs bear numbers, which indicate the ship's structural frame lines. Cabin numbers are also linked to the frame lines, which is why they often seem random. Another little-known wayfinding cue is the color coding on the signs by elevators as well as the carpet in the stairwells. Purple denotes the forward of the ship, red is for mid-ship, and blue is for the aft of the ship. These subtle cues are especially helpful as Sailors are learning their way around the ship.
5.1. And Speaking of Secrets… There May Be Secret Spaces Onboard: Sailors should always keep their eyes peeled for hidden features on Virgin’s ships. One hidden gem can be found by looking up at the Roundabout, which is the winding staircase on the main floor where you board the ship. If you take the stairs to the floor below, there is actually a compass in lights when you look up from the bottom. Sailors looking for extra adventure may be in luck on Virgin Voyages three, soon be four, Lady Ships too. Attending events with Virgin’s Happenings Cast may unlock some special experiences but they’ll be sworn to secrecy, so no spilling the beans on that one.
Virgin Voyages has certainly made a mark on the cruise industry with its distinctive adult-only concept and innovative approach to cruising. From eco-friendly initiatives to unique dining options and a focus on wellness, Virgin Voyages has reimagined the traditional cruise experience.
Reach out here for the most lucrative offer available: $300 off the cruise fare and $600 in Sailor Loot onboard credit on Sea Terrace cabins and above (Lock It In rate and Limited View excluded). This deal must be booked directly with Curated by Laura Poe, so reach out before this offer sails away!
