Okay, truth time.
When I opened White Lotus Travel Design in 2023, I had never been on a cruise. Not only had I never been on a cruise, I also had little to no interest in going on a cruise.
Growing up as a kid in the 80s, my only points of reference for cruising came from TV. Those were “The Love Boat” (which I did not know at the time was Princess Cruises) and the Carnival commercials where Kathie Lee Gifford sang about a “fun ship cruise” to the tune of “If My Friends Could See Me Now” from the musical Sweet Charity (if you don’t know what I’m talking about, get thee to YouTube and enjoy this extended version).
However, since the focus of my business is helping others go on the vacations of their dreams, I knew I had to do my research and learn about all the major cruise lines in the industry and what the differences are from one line to the next to be able to better serve my clients.
Well, I learned that there are ocean cruise options out there for every type of traveler.
There are cruise lines offering a classic ocean crossing experience, bringing travelers back to the days before commercial aviation, complete with ballroom dancing and formal dress codes. There are cruise lines that have something for the whole family with waterslides, amusement-park-type attractions, and theaters showing live full-scale musicals on board. There are small-ship luxury cruise lines offering yacht-type experiences with only a few hundred passengers on board, high-end cuisine, relaxed country-club-casual luxury, white-glove service, and access to remote ports that larger ships physically cannot reach.
And then, I learned about Virgin Voyages, saw their excellent food, beautiful spaces, adults-only atmosphere, diverse clientele, cheeky vibe, and immediately thought this is for me.
OUR HONEYMOON ABOARD VIRGIN VOYAGES
I opened my business shortly after getting married so the first trip I got to plan for White Lotus Travel Design was my own Honeymoon. My husband Matt and I wanted to go to Europe, and Greece was high on our list. When we started looking into a vacation in Greece, we knew that we would want to visit at least one of the Greek Islands, which meant we would have to either fly or take a boat from Athens during our Honeymoon. We decided that Greece would be the perfect destination to try our first cruise and the adults-only Virgin Voyages seemed to be the perfect option for us.
We started our Honeymoon with a three-night stay in Athens, and I am so glad that we did. Many travelers skip Athens altogether, which I personally think is a mistake. In addition to being the birthplace of one of the oldest civilizations in recorded history and still the site of archaeological wonders such as The Acropolis, Athens is also a modern city with a culinary scene and vibe all its own.
Two restaurants that really stood out to me in Athens are Mani Mani, which serves traditional Greek (specifically Peloponnesian) food in a cozy and comfortable environment, and Cerdo Negro 1985 which is a Greek taverna (with Spanish influence) run by two colorful and friendly Greek brothers in a more casual environment. Our meals at both restaurants were incredible. We also treated ourselves to a hammam visit in Athens to get even more relaxed and ready for our cruise.
VIRGIN VOYAGES’ MEDITERRANEAN ITINERARIES
After evaluating Virgin Voyages’ options in Greece, we chose their “Adriatic Sea and Greek Gems” itinerary aboard The Resilient Lady. This itinerary departed from Athens and took us to Split and Dubrovnik in Croatia, Kotor (in beautiful Montenegro), and Corfu, Greece, before returning to Athens. It was a tough decision to make because each itinerary sounded incredible.
In addition to the Greece-centric sailings on The Resilient Lady, Virgin Voyages offers itineraries that sail the Western Med which depart from Barcelona and visit ports in the south of France, Italy, and the Spanish Islands.
(Spoiler: We had such a good time on our Honeymoon that we already booked our second Virgin Voyage; come find us on the French Daze and Ibiza Nights itinerary (departing on July 7) where we will be visiting Marseilles and Cannes in France, and Mallorca and Ibiza in Spain.)
THE VIRGIN VOYAGES DIFFERENCE
Virgin Voyages has been a disruptor in the cruise industry since their first ship, The Scarlet Lady, made her maiden voyage in 2021. Instead of following the traditional cruising model of having a main dining room on board with fixed seating times (and large buffets), Virgin Voyages’ ships feature high-end specialty restaurants such as The Wake, Pink Agave, Extra Virgin and Razzle Dazzle, as well as The Galley, a food court-style casual dining venue with many different options to choose from. Rather than having to pay an additional fee to eat in specialty restaurants (which is the norm on most other big-ship cruises), Virgin Voyages includes dining in all venues in your cruise fare.
In addition to all dining being included (aside from a couple of specialty items such as a tomahawk steak or a seafood tower), your Virgin Voyages fare also includes Wi-Fi, fitness and wellness classes (there are a LOT of options), onboard entertainment, essential drinks, and all your gratuities. Alcoholic beverages and specialty coffees and teas are not included in your fare but are very reasonably priced (beers cost about $6 each, while a large vodka soda cost about $9, including tax and tip).
Speaking of payment on board, every Sailor (yes, that’s you) gets a bracelet to wear that is used to tap for payments and serves as your room key; it was very nice never having to take my wallet out while I was on board. Each bracelet is made is made from recycled plastics that are pulled out of the ocean which I think is an excellent touch and a great example of Virgin Voyages’ commitment to sustainability. They also ban single-use plastics on board and provide you with drinking water in a glass carafe in your cabin that is refilled regularly (tip: bring a reusable water bottle with you and refill it at stations throughout the ship).
All Dining, Entertainment, Fitness Classes, WiFi, Essential Drinks, and Gratuities are included in your fare
(Photos: Virgin Voyages)
VIRGIN VOYAGES’ ENTERTAINMENT
When we first left the port of Piraeus (just outside of Athens), after a fun sailaway party, we had dinner at Pink Agave (the upscale Mexican restaurant – an instant fave) before going to a performance of Persephone, a gravity-defying, acrobatic and downright sexy take on the Greek myth. There were so many different types of entertainment on board; the large-scale shows had a sort of Cirque du Soleil meets burlesque with a hint of musical theatre vibe to them, which is very different from the Broadway-type shows or musical revues that typically appear on large cruise ships.
In addition to the big shows on board, we attended several smaller-scale performances as well. Our favorite of those was probably “Around the World with the Diva,” a 90-minute drag show performed by The Diva, one of the members of The Happenings Cast (rather than having a traditional cruise director, Virgin Voyages employs an entire team called The Happenings Cast to keep Sailors engaged and entertained, each with their own specialty).
We also got to see other members of The Happenings Cast perform, including “The Hostess Sings Her Secrets” and a 30-minute private magic show that was performed by The Charmer in a secret venue on board. (Hint: see if you can find The Charmer on board during your cruise—you may score yourself an invite!)
BRING ON THE BRILLIANT LADY
Earlier this month, Virgin Voyages announced that the fourth ship in its fleet, The Brilliant Lady, will be making her Mermaiden Voyage from New York City in September 2025. In addition to 5-night sailings from NYC to Bermuda, The Brilliant Lady will also be visiting ports in New England and Canada, sailing down the east coast, and crossing through The Panama Canal (the 16-night Panama Canal crossing is selling fast), before she makes her way to Los Angeles for sailings to Mexico, and eventually Seattle for sailings to Alaska.
As someone who became an instant fan of the brand, I’m already having a hard time deciding which of these Brilliant Lady sailings I’m going to be on (which would you choose? I’m open to suggestions!).
IS VIRGIN VOYAGES FOR YOU?
Let’s face it, not every brand is going to be for every traveler, and the same goes for Virgin Voyages. There’s an ice cream shop on each ship (yes, ice cream is included) that’s called “Lick Me Till… Ice Cream” (read that again). If that made you clutch your pearls or think, “Oh, my STARS!” then Virgin Voyages may not be for you.
However, if you are someone with an open mind and an open heart who enjoys inclusive, welcoming, diverse, adults-only, relaxing vacations with fantastic food, drinks, and destinations, then yes Virgin Voyages is 100% worth looking into. I personally cannot wait to get back on board in July.
