The Scoop on Virgin Voyages

In the past, I was never a big cruise person due to how motion sick I get. But when I saw and heard the hype around Virgin Voyages, I knew this was something I had to experience myself. Boy am I glad I did; this cruise was absolutely amazing! I will be breaking my journey down into sections:

Room: my husband and I stayed in a Terrace room. I looked having the terrace to sit out on and drink our coffee in the mornings. In this room, there is a good size bed and closet area to hang up and store your clothing, space to leave your luggage and a safe. They also provide a desk area with a chair and a refrigerator with two water carafes. The bathroom is small but has plenty of storage and the rain shower was the perfect upscale touch.

Insider tip: if you request a steamer when you first arrive and unpack, you can steam all your clothes while you are hanging them up and they will be ready to go. Also, additional hangers can be requested if needed. The bathroom is a bit snug for two, so I would use the desk table area (they have a mirror) to do my hair and makeup (it was better with the natural light as well).

Food: I am a foodie so I was genuinely nervous about the quality of the food onboard. Virgin Voyages did not disappoint. This cruise was made for foodies; seriously, all of your food is included (unless you get a specialty item. We got the tomahawk steak off the specialty menu at the Wake and it was incredible). Not only can you indulge in as much as you would like, you can also order multiple items to try them both. Each restaurant has a unique menu depending on the style of the restaurant, it is important to note that Virgin Voyages does not serve buffets. The closet thing to a buffet style if you can even call it that would be the Galley, which is a food hall. This is the spot to be for breakfast or a quick bite... they even have quick sushi. Diving deeper into the multiple restaurants onboard, each with its own design to fit the custom menu. The Wake is the steak location onboard with windows lining the dining room and multiple delicious food choices. We also did the Wake's bottomless brunch and it was worth every penny (additional charge).

OPA hour at the Dock is another don't miss. They have daily bites and some delicious spritz cocktails; the view and atmosphere was actually one of my favorites. Pink Agave was their Mexican restaurant. Now don't go in thinking street tacos and burritos because if you know the Virgin brand, they do everything in a luxe style. Now I can go on forever talking about the food onboard but I will leave you with my favorite spot: The Test Kitchen. This restaurant is a truly unique experience on a cruise. Think Michelin 5-course meal; every dish is beautifully designed and thoughtfully made. If you are a foodie like me and are used to 5-course crafted meals, this is an absolute must. Or if you have never experienced a luxury dining experience, this is your time to enjoy. Note that these are meant to be enjoyed and enlighten your senses, so if you are looking for a large heavy meal, this is not the place.

Insider tip: there are only a few late night spots open till 2am. Also, be sure to pre-book your dinner reservations every night; although they take walk-ins, you may have to wait.

Bar Tab: your bar tab is a separate charge from your cabin. There are three different price point with extra dollars for each purchased. $300, $200 and $100 packages available. Your bar tab covers alcoholic purchases onboard and at Bimini Beach Club. Your bar tab also covers any specialty coffees you choose to purchase and finally any smoothies or specialty juices. Rockstar suites also get some bar perks.

Sailor Loot: Sailor Loot is used for any events that require additional charges like the onboard pub crawl, bottomless brunch and many more. You can also use your sailor loot towards a spa treatment, blowout or pampering, a tattoo onboard or of course, SHOPPING! If your loot is not used and your bar tab has depleted, then your loot will be used towards your additional bar tab.

Sailors: Virgin Voyage sailors come dressed to impress. Seriously, people are dressed head to toe in style. They bring themed outfits for each night's festivities and make sure not to leave their dancing shoes at home. These sailors come to party and they like to be seen. It is the who's who of cruising.

Insider tip: make sure to look up each night's festivities because there could be a lot of outfit changes needed during your voyage.

Gym: my husband and I both agree that the onboard gyms are very nice. They have a vast array of equipment for use and are set up near the pool so you can get your sweat on, rinse and then relax.

Insider tip: If you are a pickle ball person like me, they do have pickle ball onboard, but they only provide two paddles, so make sure if you are wanting to play with four people to bring your own additional paddles. (Pickleball court is a makeshift court in the basketball area).

Entertainment: I was very impressed with the entertainment onboard. The Duel Reality show is an absolute must see. Scarlet Night was one of my favorite nights dancing around the pool. Also, we just happened upon the magician while walking around the ship and he completely blew my mind. You will absolutely never be bored on Virgin Voyages, there is always something going on. From trivia to karaoke, dance parties to comedy shows. This crew keeps the party going so the fun never stops.

Insider tip: make sure to pre-secure private karaoke rooms, they fill up fast.

What to pack: depending on your length of voyage, I would definitely pack around three bathing suits. Also, because of how stylish the sailors are on Virgin Voyages, I would recommend packing outfits that impress and you feel beautiful in — trust me there is no such thing as over dressing on this cruise. Also, I did bring heels for a few nights, but once the boat went full speed ahead, I would say fancy sandals or cute sneakers are the way to go. Additionally, my husband and I brought onboard liquid IV, which was a total life saver even if you aren't a big drinker. Being out in the sun all day, the liquid IV always rebooted us for the day. For my sea sick friends like myself, I brought sea bracelets, sea patches and dramamine. These all seem to have done the trick for me. I am very sensitive to sea sickness and although I experienced minor symptoms, these helped me to keep going all night to make sure I didn't miss a thing.

Virgin Voyage surpassed my expectations and the food alone is worth going back for, but the atmosphere takes the cake. If you are looking for a luxe cruise with no children, Virgin is calling. If you like additional room and royalty perks, the Rockstar and Suites are definitely worth the additional cost.

This trip report is part of our ongoing series on cruise travel. In need of further inspiration? Check out my guide, A Guide to Traveling Outside Scotland's Tourist Traps.