You might remember that Richard Branson launched a new line of adult-by-design, revolutionary cruises called – of course – Virgin Voyages. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, we had the pleasure to be on board the first of his Virgin Voyages cruise ships, the Scarlet Lady, for a little preview! Well, if like us you are itching to travel, you will be pleased to know that Virgin Voyages have started to accept bookings again on board of the Scarlet Lady which sails the Caribbean, and on board the Valiant Lady which will be cruising on the Mediterranean sea. Of course, they have implemented their safety measures in line with government advice, which you can find here.

In our sneak-peek, we were guaranteed sleek and glamour and an innovative approach to traditional cruise ships. Apparently, Branson has been dreaming about having his own cruise line since he was in his ’20, so we were definitely curious to see what he has come up with. Read more to find out everything you need to know about it!

Richard Branson’s sparkling new gem, the Scarlet Lady, will see Miami as its home port and it will feature exotic itineraries including the Caribbean and Mexico and the Riviera Maya. Don’t worry though, in case you are looking to explore the Mediterranean, Virgin Voyages has already another three ships in construction with master shipbuilders Fincantieri, and those will include itinerary with idyllic names such as ‘Spanish Obsession’ or ‘French Daze & Ibiza Night’. 

In terms of design, Virgin Voyages’ ships are designed to reflect a super yacht’s sleek luxury, featuring spaces designed by some of the top names in contemporary interiors, so definitely not what you expect to find on a cruise ship!

On board, there are more than 20 world-class eateries, varying from Eataly style food halls to street food trucks and to refined gourmet experiences. One of our favourite restaurants was Gunbae, a fun and playful Korean BBQ restaurant where you can play drinking games while you eat, but we also loved Extra Virgin, a refined Italian restaurant and The Test Kitchen, which is part cooking school and part eatery. The champagne bar called Sip was absolutely gorgeous and way too tempting! Oh and definitely #Instaworthy. Of course, all food and basic beverages are included in the Voyage fare, as well as amazing entertainment, tips, Wi-Fi and group fitness classes and workouts.

One of the big changes that Richard Branson wanted to make was to say bye to buffets in order to cut down on food waste. Don’t’ worry though, you will still get as much made-to-order food as you want, in the many food halls and restaurants. Also, every product and material on the ship is sustainably sourced and single-use plastic has been completely banned on board. Yay! 

We also had the amazing opportunity of experiencing the Duel Reality Show in The Red Room, which is designed to be the first transformational multi-form theatre at sea. This unique theatre will enable Sailors to experience different, one of a kind shows every day of their trip. Oh, and did we mention that there is a nightclub on board? It’s called The Manor and its glittery entrance is worth going alone! For who is looking to party the festival-like lineup at The Beach Club at Bimini features DJs such as Mark Ronson, Diplo, MK and Sophie Tukker.

In terms of keeping fit and healthy after all the amazing food offers, the Scarlet Lady features an outdoor running track, yoga, meditation and cycling classes and much more. To relax there is also an onboard luxury spa that features amazing treatments from hot stone massage, seaweed wraps and saunas.

Sailors can currently book for the following dates:

Sailings for Scarlet Lady (Caribbean) October 2020 – July 2021 
Sailings for Valiant Lady (Mediterranean) May 2021 – October 2021

Sailors that are looking to book by June 30th will get up to $500 onboard credit, depending on the type of accommodation selected. Maybe you could spend it in a mixologist class or a tattoo or a piercing at Scarlet Lady’s very own tattoo parlour, Squid Ink. Yes, you heard it right, that’s also on board!

Also, if you purchase a $300 prepaid bar tab and Virgin Voyages will double their usual $50 bonus, giving you $100 extra to spend at any bar on board or at The Beach Club. Just because we all need to have some extra fun right now, right?