PR: GIfted overnight press stay

Sian Victoria © - The Manor Mirrored Infinity Room, Virgin Voyages

Virgin Voyages Sea Terrace Cabin, Entertainment & Restaurants

Awarded the Cruise Critic Editor's Pick for the Best New Cruise Ship in 2021. The Virgin Scarlet Lady Cruise launched in 2020 and embodies the very idea of luxury. The adult-only cruise can accommodate up to 2,770 passengers and travels from Miami to the Caribbean, docking in Bimini, Costa Maya, Key West, and St Croix - to name just a few.

In early 2020 just before the pandemic hit the UK. I was kindly invited to experience an overnight press stay on this beautiful cruise line as it docked in Dover with a stay in the trendy and snug sea terrace cabin. The experience included live onboard entertainment and an evening meal followed by breakfast and lunch the next day.

If you're seeking a lavish millennial cruise experience, the Virgin Voyages Scarlet Lady may just be for you. From a VIP top deck, over twenty bars and restaurants to choose from, outdoor pools, a relaxing spa, a running track and even a tattoo studio, the cruise has everything on board.

The press trip itinerary

Sian Victoria © - The Roundabout, Virgin Voyages Scarlet Lady

Sian Victoria © - Firework display, Virgin Voyages Scarlet Lady

Sian Victoria © - The Manor, Virgin Voyages Scarlet Lady

Firstly, the press trip experience consisted of checking into a Sea Terrace Cabin for an overnight stay. Followed by champagne and mingling on the glitzy roundabout while the DJ mixed vinyl. Groups of the press then departed to their assigned restaurant. Mine was an evening meal at Pink Agave restaurant. After enjoying a selection of small plates, we all met in the Red Room for a live performance of Duel Reality.

Shortly followed by fizz in the Sip Lounge and posing for snaps in the star-studded walkway to The Manor. We popped back for more live performances in a nightclub arena-style venue and then headed outside to watch fireworks go off in view of the white cliffs of Dover. In the early hours of the morning, we had the munchies, so strolled The Gallery to indulge in a vegan burger from the many late-night food vendors available onboard.

The next morning, we enjoyed avocado on toast at The Wake. Before exploring the many decks and ending our experience with lunch at Razzle Dazzle Restaurant. For a video of the experience and plenty of photos keep on reading to find out more.

The Decks

Sian Victoria © - The Dock House, Virgin Voyages Scarlet Lady

Sian Victoria © - Virgin Voyages Scarlet Lady

Sian Victoria © - Pink Agave entrance, Scarlet Lady

The $2.55-billion-dollar ship boasts 17 decks, each with cabins and some form of entertainment to ensure you have plenty to do while enjoying your stay onboard. On Deck 5, you'll come across the cruise's very own Redemption Spa.

However, most attractions are on Deck 6 and 7, where you enter the boat. It’s here where you’ll find a multitude of restaurants offering an extensive variety of cuisines alongside retail shops, the ‘Squid Ink’ tattoo studio, a vinyl shop, an ice cream parlour and even a casino.

With such a wide variety of activities and things to see and do, you certainly won't find yourself feeling bored whenever you’re not sunbathing beside the pool. So come and explore the decks and see what you can get up to during a sail on the Virgin Voyages Scarlet Lady cruise ship.

The Sea Terrace Cabin

Sian Victoria © - Sea Terrace Cabin, Scarlet Lady

For our overnight stay experience, my partner and I was in the Sea Terrace Cabin. There are cabins in this range for 2 to 4 people, making this cabin a great choice if you're booking onto the cruise with a group of friends. The 225 square foot room is space-savvy and had all the facilities you may need during your short cruise trip experience.

With pops of red furniture, trendy décor and mood lighting, the cabin had a millennial vibe and contemporary feel. The cosy sofa was great to sit and relax on in the day while watching a show on the flat-screen TV. On an evening the sofa is then converted by the staff into a comfy bed, then back to a sofa while you’re out enjoying breakfast the next morning.

The perfectly compact bathroom has a rainfall showerhead as well as handy toiletries and great selfie lighting to help you get ready ahead of a glamourous evening on board.

Perhaps the best part of the cabin was the balcony, although we stayed docked in Dover. I imagine that being able to sit on the balcony of a morning as the cruise sailed across the waters would be wonderful. Plus, the balcony even came with a red hammock, which was a fun touch and my partner’s favourite feature.

Deck 6 The Roundabout

Deck 6 where you’ll find the atrium is the main event of the ship, boasting a whole host of attractions to entertain you during your stay. Walk up the glamorous roundabout staircase, designed to give you that ‘Virgin rockstar’ VIP experience, and discover what's onboard.

Everything on the ship has a contemporary, trendy feel to appeal to the millennial generation, with attractions specifically geared to younger travellers. This is quite clear with the tattoo studio ‘Squid Ink’ and the ‘High Street’, a set of retail shops, allowing you to browse big designer names and treat yourself while you explore the ship.

Have a few drinks of an evening in the rock’s martini and cocktail bar, while trying to resist the tempting lights and sounds of the open-plan casino.

Deck 7

Sian Victoria © - The Social Club Diner, Scarlet Lady

Sian Victoria © - Gunbae, Virgin Voyages Scarlet Lady

The attractions and activities don't stop there. Go up the spiralling staircase to Deck 7 to discover what else the cruise has on offer. The Manor is one of if not the most beautiful aspects of the cruise, with the walk to the entrance complete with glittering lights and mirrors that make a perfect Instagram photo. You get to enjoy your favourite music in this nightclub space and dance the night away as you sail to your next destination.

The deck has plenty of options for you to sip on some classic cocktails. Try a glass of champagne in the Sip Lounge or visit the Draught Haus, where a variety of beer is served on draught to be enjoyed while looking out to sea.

To satisfy a craving for a bite to eat, visit The Dock House Bar. This Mezze Lounge and Bar serves a collection of delectable Mediterranean tapas dishes to be enjoyed on an afternoon on the ship.

If drinking isn't your thing, you might instead be interested in the Voyage Vinyl record shop. Perfect for music lovers, this shop has all the records, so have a look through what's on offer while listening to the music played by the shop's DJ.

Though the cruise is adult-only, you may still be a kid at heart, so why not pop down to the deck's arcade? The gaming area has a variety of retro and modern games for you to try your hand at any time of the day and is a unique touch from the cruise that highlights its attempts to appeal to younger generations.

The Red Room – a live performance space

Sian Victoria © - Duel Reality, Scarlet Lady

On the buzzing 6th deck, you'll also come across The Red Room, a live performance space. Enjoying a spot of entertainment on an evening will make your Virgin Voyages experience all that more memorable.

During my press trip experience, I watched a ‘Duel Reality’ performance, produced by the 7 Fingers. The performance was truly unique, as a fast-paced, contemporary retelling of the classic story of Romeo and Juliet - with a mesmerising circus infusion. The performers were unbelievably talented, with two groups showcasing death-defying acts designed to shock and entertain the audience throughout.

As they performed a variety of stunts and dances, I couldn't look away throughout the entire show as I didn’t want to miss a second. I'd recommend checking out the performances hosted in this space as you certainly won't leave disappointed.

My video at the end of this post will give you just a glimpse of what to expect from this show put on by some amazing energetic and athletic performers.

Evening meal at Pink Agave restaurant

Sian Victoria © - Pink Agave, Scarlet Lady

Try some delectable flavours at the Pink Agave restaurant on the 5th deck. Infusing dishes with sensational Mexican flavours, this eatery has a menu that's sure to have something for everyone. Serving up small plates of ‘Elevated Mexican’ food, choose from authentic dishes like tamales, tortas and memelas for an unforgettable culinary experience.

The restaurant made sure to cater to those who are vegan and vegetarian. So, for my partner and me eating vegan was no problem. It was their first official opening night to the public when I visited so there was a little confusion on our table with staff at first regarding vegan and gluten-free options due to language barriers but that soon got resolved.

Our table enjoyed a variety of flavoursome Tex-Mex style dishes finished off with a vegan brownie presented on a palm leaf. And something that I thought was particularly special about this restaurant, was the unique touch of sitting you with a large group of strangers and serving the food at the same time to encourage conversation and help you get to know each other.

This isn't something you find at everyday restaurants, so while you are on a cruise this is a lovely way to make new friends and share your onboard experience with them. Through this, I chatted to and have stayed connected with some lovely cruise travel bloggers.

Late-night munchies strolling The Gallery

Sian Victoria © - The Gallery Food Hall, Scarlet Lady

On Deck 15, towards the top of the ship, you'll come across The Gallery – the cruise's very own twist on the buffet hall without the buffet and known as the ‘floating fresh food market’. Made up of a variety of food vendors serving a variety of tasty cuisines night and day, you'll be spoilt for choice.

To name just a few, ‘Noodle Around’ serves ramen and Asian-inspired dishes, ‘Diner & Dash’ offers up all-day breakfast plates and ‘The Sweet Side’ gives you a range of breakfast pastries of a morning and desserts of an evening to satisfy your sweet tooth. Head on up to the deck any time of day and see what takes your fancy.

After a night packed with entertainment and fireworks, we spent the early hours strolling The Gallery trying to decide where to eat. We chose to have vegan burgers and fries from the 24/7 diner which was a naughty treat to end a memorable night on our first Virgin cruise.

It was great to discover that there are no food buffets on board. Something that’s usually a popular feature with cruises. Helping to reduce food waste while ensuring all food is deliciously diverse, fresh, made to order and personalised for each dietary requirement.

Breakfast at The Wake

Sian Victoria © - The Wake, Scarlet Lady

Perhaps the grandest restaurant on the ship, The Wake is primarily a steak and seafood restaurant, featuring an upscale menu that echoes the lavish setting of the eatery, with the standout piece being the glamourous staircase in the centre of the restaurant, making it a popular Instagram selfie spot.

We headed to The Wake for breakfast and sat down with a view of luxurious décor and a large window beside me, which I’m sure on sail days diners will be treated with gorgeous sea views. For vegans on the menu, I enjoyed avocado on toast and a glass of orange juice. Fresh and warm pastries were offered to each table too.

A simple favourite of mine ‘avocado toast’ was beautifully presented and made even better with the sophistication of the restaurants' surroundings making The Wake a lovely place for dressing up for the occasion and fine dining onboard.

The ship has menus created by a variety of Michelin-starred chefs. So, you’ll be in for a culinary experience day and night wherever you choose to eat onboard.

Lunch at Razzle Dazzle Restaurant

Sian Victoria © - Razzle Dazzle, Scarlet Lady

After breakfast, we worked up an appetite exploring the main decks to see the many attractions the ship has to offer to help us work up an appetite for our lunchtime reservation at Razzle Dazzle restaurant on the 5th deck.

Specifically designed to be vegan and vegetarian-friendly, this eatery has a variety of dishes that are plant-based and truly delicious. The monochrome setting with splashes of bold colour emphasised the contemporary, trendy, and vibrant feel of the ship aimed at millennials. Serving familiar favourites for breakfast and dinner this diner is home to a sassy Drag Brunch and exciting cocktails.

For starters, I enjoyed a unique creamy and flavoursome mushroom dish, followed by a juicy meat-free ‘beef’ burger with fries. For desserts, there were cookies, but these were snapped up fast so were unavailable.

With a menu coined ‘naughty or nice,’ Razzle Dazzle is a veggie-forward restaurant. I imagine I’d make multiple reservations here for either breakfast or dinner during 4-5 days of sailing. It’s the perfect place to go when craving comfort food onboard.

The state-of-the-art Gym and Spa

Sian Victoria © - Gym, Virgin Voyages Scarlet Lady

Sian Victoria © - Redemption Spa, Scarlet Lady

If you're keen to do some exercise while on your trip, there's a training camp on deck 16, for group fitness sessions if that seems like something you would enjoy. Alternatively, there is a ‘build & balance’ gym consisting of a selection of state-of-the-art equipment to be enjoyed and utilised at your own pace.

The floor to ceiling views of the sea within the gym is particularly memorable and motivating helping to create a sense of tranquillity while working out.

Also on deck 15, you'll find The Tune-Up medispa. Enjoy a spot of relaxation while treating yourself to a mani-pedi, and even give yourself a wellness treatment in this calming spa.

A brief walk around the Redemption spa ten minutes before the departure is all I had time for. But it looks like the perfect place to escape to truly unwind and recharge. Here you’ll find a Thermal Suite featuring a mudroom, steam room, salt room, hot and cold plunge pools, and heated marble benches to work on some much-needed self-care.

The rooftop Aquatic club & Athletic club

Sian Victoria © - Pool deck, Virgin Voyages Scarlet Lady

Sian Victoria © - Fitness deck, Virgin Voyages Scarlet Lady

On deck 16 you'll find the Athletic Club, which boasts a training camp, a boxing camp and even a basketball court to ensure there's no shortage of physical exercise for you to engage in on the trip if it takes your fancy.

There's even a runway jogging track on the top deck, which is a unique feature to find on a cruise ship. And, after you've completed your workout, stop by for a fresh juice or frozen drink at the Gym and Tonic juice bar.

Or head to the Perch, an outdoor wellness space where you can enjoy quiet time and sunrise yoga. At night the space is transformed into a social gathering hotspot to watch the sunset and drink cocktails.

The Aquatic Club consists of a pool deck that truly embodies the idea of poolside tranquillity. Take a dip in the circular pool under the warm sun before sitting back and relaxing on comfy sunbathing beds in the beautiful surroundings of the ship and enjoy the ocean as the backdrop.

If you fancy getting your hair styled and coloured, or your beard, and brows trimmed you’ll find ‘Dry Dock’ a salon and beauty parlour as well as ‘Stubble & Groom’ a Gentleman’s barbershop onboard to ensure you look in ship-shape during your sail.

If the snug cabins are not for you and you’re sailing with a bottomless budget, then the Rockstar Quarters may take your fancy instead. ‘Rockstar’ sailors have individually themed suites with private terraces, daily bar tabs, priority service agents, early bookings and reservations at the spa and restaurant and members-only access to Richards Rooftop and VIP events. Perfect if you like to live it large.

So, there we go, a rundown of some of the highlights I was able to experience on my overnight press stay on this millennial-focused cruise ship. It’s certainly a cruise I’d choose to sail on to experience the ship properly. To have full use of the facilities such as the gym and spa, watch more energetic performances and try out the other restaurants onboard. And of course, to enjoy poolside while sailing to each destination.

With short sailings from Miami to the Caribbean and a selection of memorable stops along the way. This cruise line couldn't be more idyllic and is worth experiencing whether you’re a newbie cruiser or frequent sailor. I’m sure you’ll appreciate how Virgin Voyages are attracting a new generation with their vibrant cruise experience.

To see more from my Scarlett Lady cruise experience. Watch the video below.

To conclude

Thank you for watching. Let me know if you have been on the Virgin Voyages Scarlet Lady Cruise ship or if you were on this press trip. I’d love to know what you thought. This is the first cruise ship by Virgin and it has received many mixed reviews. Honestly I had a wonderful time as I had nothing to compare it to as this was my first cruise experience.

There were a few problems at first with boarding and room keys not working. But staff were very pro-active at getting issues resolved. My visit was the first time they had opened to the public. So it’s understandable that there was going to be a few problems at first. Especially since there were so many press in attendance.

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