I've been on three cruises now, and this was my first time sailing with Virgin Voyages. I won't…read morename the other cruise line, but Virgin absolutely blew it out of the water.
We sailed from Miami to Puerto Plata and Bimini, and I was impressed from start to finish.
THE FOOD was the biggest surprise. It was genuinely incredible. We tried most of the signature restaurants, with Extra Virgin being a standout. Even The Galley impressed me...ramen, tacos, burgers, sushi, ice cream, bagels, everything felt fresh and elevated, not like a typical cruise buffet.
The ship itself was beautiful, modern, and spotless. They were even doing maintenance while in port. The shops, casino, entertainment, and overall vibe were all excellent and very social.
The cabins were also amazing. Everything is controlled through a tablet, lighting, temperature, service requests, dining, maintenance...super convenient and modern.
Embarkation and disembarkation were shockingly smooth. Getting on took longer than getting off. Disembarkation was especially impressive--we just walked off the ship with no lines or stress.
DRINKS: Virgin uses a Bar Tab instead of drink packages. I bought a $350 tab with bonus credit and it lasted about three days of fairly heavy poolside drinking. Cocktails were $11-$16, which felt fair. It also covered non-alcoholic drinks, and I had great coffee and iced lattes every morning.
I basically lived by the pool. The bartenders were fantastic, and the pool deck had a great energy all day.
Scarlet Night was a highlight, super fun club night, though the DJ definitely needed to read the room a bit better.
I also did three spa services (haircut, facial, massage), all excellent. My only complaint is that spa treatments don't include access to the spa facilities unless you pay extra, which feels like it should be included given the price.
In Puerto Plata, we did the waterfall excursion, about a 40-minute drive and 45-minute hike, then sliding and jumping into waterfalls. Lunch was included afterward. Definitely worth it if you don't mind a bit of activity.
Bimini was beautiful, and I loved that the wristbands worked at the beach club bars. The only downside was timing...the DJ didn't start until 1:30 PM, so we spent hours waiting in the sun and left before it even began. Starting earlier would improve the experience a lot.
Overall, Virgin really nails what they're going for: great food, modern ships, fun entertainment, and a social, energetic vibe.
A few small tweaks, but nothing that takes away from how much I enjoyed it. I'll absolutely sail with Virgin again.