Virgin Voyages’ dining and onboard format departs from cruise traditions
An eight-night trip aboard Brilliant Lady highlighted an adults-only experience with restaurant-style dining, wearable cabin access and included Wi-Fi.
Virgin Voyages operates adults-only sailings and replaces several familiar cruise conventions with a different onboard setup. A traveler who spent eight nights aboard Brilliant Lady reported that the experience challenged assumptions formed on previous cruises.
Rather than offering a conventional main dining room, Virgin lets passengers select from multiple restaurants included in the fare. Each venue has a separate menu, culinary focus and atmosphere. The line also substitutes the usual buffet with The Galley, a food-hall concept featuring several stations, including noodles, salads, tacos, bento boxes and burgers.
Guests use wearable bands to unlock cabin doors and access services around the ship instead of relying on standard key cards. Wi-Fi is also included.
Some experiences still carry an additional charge. The dinner-theater production Up With a Twist was priced at $50 per person during the reported trip.
Separately, Sabi Phagura traveled aboard Scarlet Lady for its Solar Eclipse cruise as a guest of Virgin Voyages. Her hosted status was disclosed alongside the account of that sailing.
