Sun, Splendor and Sophistication: An Adults-only Virgin Voyages Adventure

Miami-bound: Embarking on the Virgin Voyage Adventure

A pre-arranged transfer from Miami Airport whisked us off to Esmé Miami Beach, our perfect pre-cruise haven. This charming boutique hotel boasts a prime location, just steps from vibrant Española Way and dazzling Miami Beach. The modern design with Spanish flair creates a welcoming atmosphere. My clean and comfy room was a perfect retreat. The rooftop pool truly stole the show. This delightful oasis offers a refreshing escape from the Miami heat with its sparkling pool and spacious cabanas perfect for relaxation.

The friendly and helpful staff ensured a seamless stay. The Esmé Miami Beach restaurants impressed too, including a deliciously satisfying avocado and egg burrito for breakfast pre-cruise. The surrounding area offered even more culinary options. Esmé Miami Beach provided a fantastic pre-cruise experience. Its location, comfort, friendly atmosphere and delicious food made it the perfect base to explore Miami's magic.

Setting sail for adventure: Embarkation Day on the Valiant Lady

Before heading to the Port of Miami for our Virgin Voyage cruise, we explored the Miami Beach area. We grabbed lunch at a Cuban restaurant on Española Way, strolled through the Miami Beach Botanical Gardens, and enjoyed a walk along Miami Beach and Ocean Drive.

Thanks to our late checkout perk at Esmé Miami Beach, we had complimentary luggage storage until our Uber ride to the port at two pm. Embarkation was quick and efficient. We settled into our gorgeous Sea Terrace cabin, met our friendly room attendant within minutes and unpacked before exploring the ship.

After grabbing some drinks, we checked out the boxing ring area with its punching bags, adult swings and ‘seasaw’. Next, we headed to The Dock House for the muster drill check-in and then enjoyed a delicious dinner at The Test Kitchen. I highly recommend making reservations here if you enjoy trying new food and trying the drink pairings. They were fantastic!

Following dinner, we visited the spa to schedule our three-hour thermal suite experience for a sea day and peeked at Squid Ink, the tattoo parlor onboard. Later, we donned our PJs for the party at The Athletic Club Bar & The Net. Due to high winds, the party was moved to The Manor. The PJ party was one of our favorites — a real blast.

Sea-day delights: Culinary adventures & pampering on the Valiant Lady

An early start. We headed to the Redemption Spa at six am for the blissful 3-hour thermal suite experience. It was the perfect way to begin a sea day. The mud room provided a cup of mud to apply, followed by relaxation in a steam room for 20-30 minutes before rinsing off. Additional facilities included hot and cold plunge tubs, a relaxation pool, dry sauna, steam sauna, salt sauna and comfy lounging slippers and robes.

Breakfast at The Galley was phenomenal. No matter the time of day, there was always a delicious meal or snack to choose from, including freshly cooked omelets, French toast, burgers – you name it.

After grabbing a refreshing juice from Gym & Tonic, we headed to The Perch for some relaxation. The hot tubs were at the perfect temperature — not too hot, just lukewarm. We spent the morning lounging in the sun and enjoying poolside cocktails. Lunch followed, and then we headed to an afternoon show in the Red Room: "Around the World with the Diva."

Back in our Sea Terrace cabin, we freshened up before our 5:45 pm dinner reservation at Gunbae. Korean BBQ is a must-do dining experience here, but be prepared. It's interactive and the dining room can get quite loud with the games they play. Nonetheless, the food was top-notch, and it was a fun and delicious evening.

Next, we explored the Social Club & The Arcade before checking out the Food & Drink Festival's Asian Market Galley Take-Over, and there was more amazing food awaiting around every corner.

Virgin Voyages truly knows how to throw a party! The Scarlet Night Party included everyone dressed in red, red lights everywhere, an incredible pool deck transformation featuring an octopus, and even a wedding in the Round About.

A day in Key West: Duval Street, Hemingway, Key Lime Pie & Sunshine

In Key West, we started with an Uber ride to the Southernmost Point for a photo op. We then strolled down Whitehead Street, indulging in refreshing adult slushies. A unique find was the Rooster Cemetery, followed by a tour of the Hemingway Home and Museum, where we spotted the famous Polydactyl cats.

Next, we walked to Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park, exploring the fort and enjoying some time at the beach. We captured another photo op at Mile 0 before some shopping on Duval Street. A visit to Margaritaville was followed by a relaxing dip in the pool at Dante's Key West Pool Bar & Restaurant. We fueled up with delicious sliders and fries before savoring a slice of the best Key Lime Pie in Key West at Kermit's Key Lime Pie Shop.

Back on the Valiant Lady, we ordered room service, enjoying beverages and snacks on our private terrace while relaxing in the hammock. After freshening up for dinner, we treated ourselves to a meal at The Wake. The bone marrow was a must-try, and the view from our table out the aft was an added bonus. To end the day, we enjoyed drinks and a dip in the hot tub at The Perch before catching the thrilling "Duel Reality" show in the Red Room. This show was definitely a highlight – it was exciting and kept us on the edge of our seats the entire time.

Floaties & conch fritters: Bimini fun & beach club paradise

Room service for breakfast was a delightful way to start the day — banana french toast, eggs, bacon and sausage — all enjoyed while watching the ship dock in Bimini from our Sea Terrace.

Disembarking the Valiant Lady in Bimini, we took the free tram to the town center, where we rented a golf cart for $60 for the whole day. It was a fun way to explore the island's seven miles, although our slow cart maxed out at around three mph. We ventured to the end of the island to see the shipwreck, then by the Dolphin House, before chilling out at Radio Beach. Here, we savored some of the island's best conch fritters before heading to the crown jewel: Virgin Voyages Beach Club.

The Beach Club was phenomenal. The music pumped, creating a fantastic vibe. Beautiful, soft white sand stretched out alongside loungers with umbrellas, while the turquoise waters sparkled. Two inviting pools and two bars offered refreshment, with a soda and water station readily available. Free lockers ensured our valuables were secure. Don't miss the floaties party — it's a blast. And the best part? Delicious, all-inclusive food. We shared and tried all 11 delectable dishes.

Back on the Valiant Lady, we indulged in some ice cream from Lick Me Until Ice Cream before grabbing pizza and salad at The Pizza Place. Our final dinner was at eight pm at Pink Agave, another fantastic dining experience with excellent food and an optional tequila pairing.

With efficiency, we packed our bags and placed them outside the door for pickup by 10 pm, ensuring a smooth debarkation process. One last dip in the hot tub with a celebratory "Shake for Champagne" marked the perfect end to our voyage.

Sea to sawgrass: Debarkation, gators & Everglades exploration

Debarkation day arrived. We fueled up with breakfast and a latte at the Grounds Club before seamlessly disembarking the amazing Valiant Lady.

Our post-cruise adventure started with an Uber ride from Port of Miami Terminal V back to Esmé Miami Beach. Thanks to our perks, we were able to check in early. Refreshed, we headed to our pickup location for the Everglades Excursion.

The Everglades lived up to the hype. We spotted alligators on our thrilling airboat ride and learned more about these fascinating creatures at the Gator Show with the Gator Boys. After enjoying some gator bites and fries, we returned to our hotel for an early dinner of pizza and key lime pie. A final dip in the rooftop pool capped off the day before catching an early red-eye flight home.

From paradise to home: Wrapping up the Virgin Voyage Adventure

Our travel day back home went smoothly, with no major delays. Our pre-arranged transfer from Esmé Miami Beach picked us up promptly at four am and whisked us off to the Miami Airport. Unfortunately, a TSA issue resulted in a long line, causing us to wait for an hour to get through security. Thankfully, we still reached our departure gate on time and were airborne shortly thereafter.

The connecting flight from Denver to Spokane went according to plan. We arrived in Spokane on time and drove home, concluding our fantastic adventure.

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This trip report is part of our ongoing series on travel to Miami. In need of further inspiration? Check out Jennifer Lynn Baker’s guide, Cook Islands: Paradise Found in the South Pacific.