In recent years, cruise ships have not only grown in size but also in the incredible variety of restaurants they offer. I remember my first cruise with MSC in 2007; there was basically only one restaurant at night, and that was it. Nowadays? Seriously, you can find far more restaurants on a cruise than in a shopping mall.
However, dining on a cruise ship raises many questions. Is everything complimentary? What do I have to pay for? Are there plenty of options like seafood, Japanese restaurants, and pasta? Is it true that Virgin Voyages doesn’t have a Main Dining Room? Let's delve into some of the most popular questions and topics.
Dietary Needs
According to Virgin Voyages, “Special dietary requests should be submitted at least 45 days prior to sailing. For requests made with less notice, we will make our best efforts to provide your requested accommodation but cannot guarantee our ability to do so. We can arrange to have no sugar and low sodium meals for Sailors with those specific medical dietary restrictions upon request”.
Your best bet to not have any kind of problem is to contact Virgin Voyages - or let us do so - as soon as you book your cruise and inform the company about your dietary needs.
Dress Code
Virgin Voyages likes to emphasize that they don’t have a specific dress code. This often surprises many guests. Given that it’s an adults-only cruise line known for being elegant and luxurious, you might expect them to have a dress code in place, right? Nope.
Even without a dress code, this doesn’t mean guests don’t dress sharply at night. It’s common to see people in jeans and dresses, similar to other cruise lines. During the day, casual attire like shorts and a t-shirt is typical, but you might want to dress up a notch for dinner.
Also, don’t forget to pack a red shirt or outfit for Scarlet Night! This fun party usually takes place once per trip with Virgin Voyages, where everything is themed in red. Everyone dresses in red, and guests often end the night by jumping together into the swimming pool.
Room Service: meet Ship Eats with Virgin Voyages
Room service with Virgin Voyages, known as Ship Eats, operates a bit differently from most cruise lines. You can order food not just to your room but anywhere on the ship if you're using your band! Orders are placed through the app, and the process is straightforward. During less busy times, food typically arrives within ten minutes, but during dinner hours, it might take up to an hour.
Ship Eats isn’t free, but it’s reasonably priced. There’s a flat $10 fee for any order. Here’s an interesting point: if you order items that have a cost associated with them, you only pay for those items and aren’t charged the $10 fee! So, if you order something optional like a beer or a specialty coffee, you’ll end up paying about $8 for your entire room service.
What have we learned about this, friends? Always order a specialty item when using Ship Eats.
Virgin Voyages & no Main Dining Room
Yes, you read that right: there isn’t a main dining room aboard Virgin Voyages. This is a departure from the norm for cruise lines. While Royal Caribbean has a Main Dining Room and Disney Cruise Line offers Rotational Dining across different establishments, Virgin Voyages does things a bit differently.
Virgin Voyages features about 20 different complimentary restaurants on their ships. You can simply choose any of them for dinner - simple, right? Most of the restaurants aboard Virgin Voyages are free, with the exception of one non-complimentary restaurant on the Resilient Lady. However, each restaurant also offers a selection of food items and drinks that are not included in your cruise fare and require an additional payment.
The Galley
Virgin Voyages truly stands out from most cruise lines. They don’t have a Main Dining Room, and they also skip the traditional buffet you’d find on Carnival, Royal Caribbean, or Disney Cruise Line. Instead, Virgin Voyages offers something called The Galley, which is essentially a large plaza filled with kiosks and small establishments that resemble food trucks. You visit one of these, order what you want, grab it, and you’re all set.
The Galley features a dedicated bakery and pastry shop, a panini shop, a burger grill, a taco shack, a sushi bar with bento boxes, a noodle bar, a soup and salad stand, and a 24-hour American diner. While it’s similar to a buffet, The Galley has its own unique twist.
Restaurants aboard Virgin Voyages
As mentioned before, nearly every restaurant aboard Virgin Voyages is complimentary, though some menu items may incur an extra charge. This means you have a wide range of options, from Korean to Mexican, American, and much more.
It's a good idea to make reservations for some of these restaurants, as they can get busy depending on the time of day. You can book a spot through the Virgin Voyages App or with a First Mate starting 45 days before departure. Guests staying in Mega RockStar and RockStar Quarters can make reservations starting 60 days before their cruise.
As you will notice in the following list, there aren’t a lot of places that are dedicated to breakfast aboard Virgin Voyages. The Galley is your go-to for a casual and diverse breakfast experience. Razzle Dazzle also offers breakfast, but it can get crowded sometimes.
The Best Restaurants aboard Virgin Voyages
Extra Virgin
Type: Italian, dinner.
One of the top-tier restaurants aboard Virgin Voyages is an Italian establishment with a classy ambiance, available for dinner only. It's a good idea to book a spot months in advance, as it tends to get quite crowded. Also, make sure to come hungry: Extra Virgin offers a five-course meal with a generous selection of dishes, including seafood pasta, grilled sea bass, potato gnocchi, and more. It's frequently praised by critics and Reddit users as one of the best restaurants on board.
Test Kitchen
Type: “unusual” food, dinner
The test kitchen is exactly that: a test lab where you, dear guest, are the experiment! Wait, that sounds more dramatic than it really is. At The Test Kitchen, simple ingredients like corn or cucumber are combined with meats, pasta or fish to create innovative dishes you won't find elsewhere. The best part? The dishes are usually excellent, as The Test Kitchen receives great reviews online and is ranked among passengers' favorite restaurants aboard Virgin Voyages.
Not only is this a place to try something completely new and delicious, but the entire atmosphere and experience are also worth it. The element of surprise adds to the excitement. Be sure to book a spot as soon as possible!
Pink Agave
Type: Mexican, dinner
I’m a simple man. I see a Mexican restaurant, I put it on top of the list. Well, it also helps that Pink Agave offers great food that goes beyond the traditional burritos and offers one of the sexiest atmospheres in all Virgin Voyages. The restaurant transports you to the streets of Mexico City with its modern décor, energetic DJ, and a menu divided into three categories: small plates, medium plates, and large plates.
The small plates serve as starters - be sure to try the guacamole, which is out of this world. For the main course, you can choose from options like black bean soup, roasted duck, seared shrimp, and ribeye steak. Oh yeah, make sure to book a spot there as soon as possible.
More Restaurants aboard Virgin Voyages
Razzle Dazzle
Type: vegetarian, american, brunch, dinner.
This is a classic restaurant onboard Virgin Voyages, offering a bit of everything to guests. You can find burgers and fried chicken here, but also a lot of vegetarian dishes like a roasted heirloom cauliflower. This is also one of the spots for breakfast.
The Wake
Type: steak, brunch, dinner.
The Wake is a traditional steakhouse aboard Virgin Voyages. They offer a range of options from Filet Mignon to New York Strip and Lamb Chops. Some guests report that your experience at The Wake can vary. It's either a great time or just a so-so one. While the meat is good, the overall atmosphere may feel quite simple compared to Virgin Voyages' usual standards. However, if you're looking for something classic and straightforward, this restaurant won’t disappoint.
Gunbae
Type: Korean BBQ, dinner.
This is a teppanyaki-style restaurant aboard Virgin Voyages. According to most guests online, the food can be hit or miss, but the atmosphere is often the main attraction. You’ll sit with six to eight other guests at a circular table while the chef prepares the food right in front of you. One fun aspect is the drinking mini-games, and you also get complimentary sake! The menu includes options like stir-fried vegetables, pork belly, short ribs, and more. This is a very popular restaurant, so be sure to book in advance.
The Pizza Place
Type: pizza, lunch, dinner.
Pizza + cruise = a great combo. I love a good pizza, and I am happy to say that this specific… pizza place… offers some tasty options! You can select a pizza from the menu or completely customize your pizza as you desire (just take it easy with the pepperoni… or don’t). The Pizza Place stays open until 2am, and it’s a great option for those that love to party all night.
The Social Club
Type: snacks, lunch, dinner
The Social Club looks awesome. Located right next to the arcade and gaming areas, it’s near several foosball tables, air hockey tables, and classic arcade machines (including Mortal Kombat!). The restaurant offers quick bites and snacks, such as nachos, chicken wings, and hot dogs. That’s everything you could want while enjoying a game with friends.
Lick Me Till… Ice Cream
Type: ice cream
One of the best ice creams on any cruise line is found aboard Virgin Voyages! The six flavors rotate frequently, but everything here is delicious. They offer classic options like chocolate and vanilla, but don't miss out on the espresso ice cream and the brown butter financier. I love trying different and unusual flavors, so this place is perfect for me.
There are also several small kiosks and quick-service stations aboard Virgin Voyages, including:
- The Dock House and The Dock (snacks)
- Grounds Club (snacks)
- Sun Club Cafe (poke bowls)
Does Virgin Voyages have a Drink Package?
The answer is: no.
Some guests find it unusual that an adults-only cruise line doesn’t offer a traditional drink package, but that’s the case with Virgin Voyages. You can’t pay in advance for unlimited access to beer or cocktails, which can be a downside for some.
However, while Virgin Voyages doesn’t provide a drink package, they do offer a similar option called the Bar Tab.
Bar Tab
Virgin Voyages offers many fun free perks for guests, including basic Wi-Fi and complimentary soda and non-pressed juices. However, premium drinks like specialty coffee, beer, cocktails, and wine are not included in your cruise fare.
That’s where the Bar Tab comes in handy. The Bar Tab is essentially a prepaid card that allows you to load money in advance and use it to pay for specialty drinks while you're onboard.
Here is the twist: you get $50 for every $300 you load in your Bar Tab. Here is the twist #2: you can’t load a Bar Tab in any other amount. So, essentially, if you decide to have a Bar Tab, you need to pay $300 up front, which will give you $350 in drinks. The Bar Tab can only be purchased before your cruise (up to 24h before your cruise) and you can’t buy it once you are onboard.
One advantage of the Bar Tab is that it’s not tied to a single passenger. You can share it with a friend, your significant other, or even a complete stranger.
So, is the Bar Tab worth it? It depends. For a single passenger on a short trip, $350 in drinks might be way more than needed, so it’s a good idea to plan ahead and estimate how much you'll drink each day. The Bar Tab is often a better option for larger groups that can share it or for longer cruises of 6 nights or more.
Here’s a summary of the Bar Tab:
- You need to purchase it before your cruise.
- You must load at least $300 onto it. You receive a $50 credit for every $300 spent.
- The Bar Tab credit can be used by anyone.
