After spending two busy days on The French Riviera, we were very grateful to have our first sea day on this cruise. I learned last year that a sea day is when I will actually (wait for it…) relax, something I’m not spotted doing often.
We treated ourselves to a Rockstar Suite which gave us excellent perks like being among the first to board the ship, access to Richard’s Rooftop (one of our favorite areas to relax in a hot tub), and having a Rockstar Agent who could get us anything we needed while on board like dining reservations and spa appointments.
For this cruise, we opted for a Sweet Aft Suite, which was located at the very back of the ship and had an enormous private terrace. In addition to Virgin Voyages’ signature hand-woven red hammock, the Sweet Aft Suite’s terrace also had two full-size sunbeds and a table with four chairs.
We ordered room service for breakfast a few times during our trip and enjoyed it outside on our terrace (convenient before a morning excursion), something I *highly* recommend everyone do at least once in their life.
We spent half the day on our loungers, reading and listening to the sea and music playing off in the distance.
It was my most relaxing day of 2024.
VISITING MALLORCA
In true Gemini fashion, the most relaxing day of my vacation was followed by the most adventurous day. We were back in Spain now, visiting Mallorca, which I was incredibly excited for. One of Spain’s Balearic Islands, Mallorca is known for beach resorts, sheltered coves, limestone mountains, and Roman and Moorish remains.
The capital city of Palma is where we were docked for the day, but we chose to spend our day outside of the city in the small towns of Valldemossa and Deià.
After wandering around Valldemossa and peeking into some local shops, we visited La Cartuja, an old royal residence turned monastery. The connection to Frederic Chopin and George Sand (they both lived there for a winter) made this beautiful spot even more interesting, but the real highlight was the piano concert in the chapel.
Hearing that beautiful music in that venue—the place where some of it was written—was one of the highlights of our trip.
After the recital, we went to the breathtaking Belmond La Residencia in Deià for lunch. The hotel itself is stunning, but what really made it special was the atmosphere. We sat out on the terrace, enjoyed several fresh Mediterranean dishes, and took in the view of the village and the sea.
This lunch was a great opportunity for me to see the hotel in person and I can now enthusiastically recommend it to clients visiting Mallorca (as a Belmond Bellini Club member, my clients get VIP treatment and amenities here).
EARLY BIRDS IN IBIZA
The next day, we arrived at the chic island of Ibiza. Probably the most famous of The Balearic Islands, Ibiza is well-known worldwide for its vibrant beach clubs and nightlife.
I, on the other hand, am not known worldwide for my vibrant beach clubs and nightlife and instead enjoyed some craft cocktails and an excellent dinner at a rooftop restaurant. The vibe around us was fantastic, the night sky was crystal-clear, and the views of the island from above were gorgeous.
We were back on the ship by midnight and as we were getting back on board, I overheard someone on their way out into the Ibiza night quip, “Here come the early birds!”
The ship stayed overnight in Ibiza—until 5:00 PM the following day—which gave people the opportunity to stay out all night, and many did (Charli XCX was in town). We spent our last day relaxing at Richard’s Rooftop, taking in the strong Ibiza sun and enjoying the food (seriously, Virgin Voyages has some of the best food at sea), in full denial that our vacation was coming to an end the following morning.
WHAT’S NEXT FOR VIRGIN VOYAGES
After making a huge splash with adults-only travelers and first-time cruisers like me, Virgin Voyages is now preparing to launch the fourth ship in its fleet, The Brilliant Lady. The Brilliant Lady is set to have her New York MerMaiden Voyage in September 2025 (visiting Bermuda), followed by another cruise from New York City to Bermuda and a cruise from New York to New England and Canada later that month.
From there, she will head down the east coast to Miami, bringing sailors to various spots in The Caribbean and South America. After a few months in Miami, The Brilliant Lady will transit through The Panama Canal for a 16-night cruise before making Los Angeles her base for some visits to Mexico’s west coast.
After Los Angeles, she will make her way up to Seattle in May 2026 for Virgin Voyages’ long-awaited debut in Alaska. Visiting the northernmost state on a cruise is one of the best (and most popular) ways to do so, and having the Virgin Voyages difference in the region is going to be a game changer.
As for me, I can’t wait to get on board The Brilliant Lady, but choosing which itinerary to go on first was a tough decision.
Since I’ve not spent much time in The Caribbean (aside from one visit to Puerto Rico) and have never been to South America, my husband and I decided that Aruban Sunsets & Calm Cayman Days would be the way to go. It’s an 11-night cruise that goes to Aruba, Colombia (the overnight stay in Cartagena won me over), Jamaica, and The Cayman Islands from March 1-12, 2026.
Perhaps I’ll see you on board… 😏
