Thinking about booking a Virgin Voyages cruise? I recently sailed the Eastern Mediterranean aboard the Resilient Lady, and it was hands-down one of the best cruise experiences I’ve had — stylish, adult-only, and refreshingly different from the usual big-name lines. In this 2025 review, I’ll share everything from food, entertainment, and cabins to what it’s really like to cruise as a non-American traveler on Virgin Voyages.
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Make sure to check out my tips for the cruise: Resilient Lady Mediterranean Review(2025): Best All Inclusive Cruise
Introduction: Why I Chose Virgin Voyages
I recently returned from a 7-night Mediterranean cruise on Virgin Voyages’ Resilient Lady, and even before I disembarked, I was already planning my next one. This adults-only cruise line had been on my radar for over a year, and when I saw a rare Black Friday deal—just $99 per night per person for an inside cabin—I knew it was the perfect time to try something new.
The itinerary featured several Eastern Mediterranean ports I’d never visited before, and the cruise offered an all-in-one package that included Wi-Fi, gratuities, and basic beverages. That alone made it stand out from my previous cruise experiences, like my Celebrity sailing in Jan 2025 where daily tips added up to $144 for 8 nights.
Virgin Voyages launched its first ship in 2021 (Scarlet Lady), followed by Valiant Lady, Resilient Lady, and soon Brilliant Lady. My sailing was aboard their newest and largest ship, Resilient Lady, which can accommodate up to 2,770 passengers and weighs in at 110,000 gross tons.
Having spent a combined 131 days at sea on ships like Peace Boat, Norwegian Spirit, and Celebrity Cruises, I approached this trip with high expectations—and Resilient Lady delivered in surprising ways.
Book your first Virgin Voyage and get $150 Bar tab!
Virgin Voyages Itinerary Highlights: Split, Dubrovnik, Kotor, Mykonos
Our 7-night Eastern Mediterranean cruise included four ports: Split and Dubrovnik in Croatia, Kotor in Montenegro, and Mykonos in Greece, along with two full sea days.
Split, Croatia
I visited here back in 2015 and was excited to return. The city is walkable from port and filled with charming alleys, Roman ruins, and seaside cafés.
Dubrovnik, Croatia
Famous for its Old Town walls, this was a major highlight. I managed to walk the full wall circuit in just under 90 minutes under breezy May weather—no sweat, literally!
Kotor, Montenegro
Sailing into the fjord-like Bay of Kotor was breathtaking. We used Virgin’s complimentary shuttle from the tender port to the Old Town. Pro tip: check if your SIM or eSIM includes Montenegro.
Mykonos, Greece
Beautiful, windy, and perfectly photogenic. May temperatures were a comfortable 75–82°F (24–28°C), with dry air that made shore excursions pleasant without needing constant breaks.
Unlike some cruise lines that make port access difficult or rely heavily on paid excursions, Virgin Voyages made it easy to explore on our own. At each stop, the key attractions were within walking distance or reachable by free shuttle.
What Makes Virgin Voyages Different
Here’s what really sets Virgin Voyages apart from other cruise lines:
Adults Only: No kids, ever. All guests must meet the legal drinking age at embarkation.
No Buffets: Instead of a standard cruise buffet, Virgin offers “The Galley”—a food hall-style concept with small made-to-order portions and grab-and-go items.
No Main Dining Room or Fixed Times: You can dine whenever and wherever you want, as long as you make a reservation.
Gratuities, Wi-Fi, and Basic Drinks Included: Unlike traditional cruise lines that upcharge for everything, Virgin’s pricing is more transparent.
Fitness & Wellness Focused: The ship has jogging tracks, multiple gyms, and even free workout classes.
No Constant Announcements: The experience is app-driven, meaning you’ll rarely hear public announcements interrupting your day.
Unique Aesthetic: Think more W Hotel than Marriott. Clean lines, cool tones, neon signage, and sleek design throughout.
There’s definitely a learning curve—but that’s what makes it fun. I’ll explain more in the app section later.
Check out Virgin Voyage on Cruise Direct
Virgin Voyages cabins 2025: Central Sea Terrace Balcony
Originally, we booked an interior cabin at the Black Friday rate, but to our surprise, we were upgraded to a Central Sea Terrace Balcony stateroom—a mid-ship location with an ideal view.
What stood out:
Modern aesthetic with clean lines, ambient lighting, and minimalist decor. It felt like a boutique hotel, not a typical cruise room.
Rainfall shower, strong water pressure, and decent space for toiletries.
Smart controls via a tablet: lights, AC, curtains, and even on-demand movies.
Balcony hammock (a VV signature) where we often enjoyed late-night snacks or just the breeze.
Ample outlets and USB ports—no adapter needed for most devices.
Virgin also includes pink beach towels and sarongs in each room, which you can take off-ship. But beware: if you lose them, you’ll be charged $50 each.
The mattress was firmer than expected—which we loved—but some Reddit threads complain it’s “too hard.” Guess that’s cultural difference, we’re Taiwanese, we like firm mattress, soft ones are bad for your spine. Virgin uses Matermoll mattresses from Italy, which seem to divide opinions. Fun fact: the bed is technically two twins pushed together, but we didn’t notice the split at all.
Book your first Virgin Voyage and get $150 Bar tab!
Virgin Voyages Restaurants Review
Dining on Resilient Lady is arguably one of the cruise’s strongest selling points. You get access to over 20 eateries, including six main reservation-only restaurants and a wide array of casual options.
Check out my full review of the 13 meals we had in the restaurants
My favorites:
The Wake: Classic American steakhouse with an upscale feel.
Extra Virgin: An Italian trattoria with housemade pasta, delicious appetizers, and great wine pairing.
Test Kitchen: A multi-course experimental dining experience that blends science and fine dining—more of a show than just a meal.
Pink Agave: Upscale Mexican with bold flavors and moody interiors.
Other spots worth mentioning:
Razzle Dazzle: A quirky vegetarian-forward American diner with colorful dishes.
The Pizza Place: Made-to-order pies with a crispy thin crust.
We skipped Gunbae the Korean BBQ because obviously I’m not flying 12+hr from Taiwan to enjoy Asian food on an western cruise.
The Dock & Dock House: Tapas-style bites with Mediterranean vibes. Didn’t try it this time, such a shame.
There is a staffed parlor offering daily flavors. And yes, there’s even bubble tea on board—I only realized this after the cruise and still regret missing it!
I plan to write a full review about the eateries on board, from an Asian’s perspective.
Check out Virgin Voyage on Cruise Direct
Virgin Voyages Entertainment & Nightlife
Virgin Voyages ditches the traditional Broadway-style main theater for something much more intimate, immersive, and edgy. Instead of a central venue, shows are spread across different parts of the ship, and many rotate weekly.
Some of our favorite performances included:
Lola’s Library – A sultry, speakeasy-style cabaret with burlesque and live vocals. We watched it twice!
Diva Fever – A drag show that brought down the house. Campy, colorful, and cleverly choreographed.
Bingo with a Twist – Hosted by the ship’s drag performers. Even if you’re not a bingo fan, the sass and energy make it fun.
Random Pop-Ups – Think: acrobats, live jazz duos, spoken word poetry, and a roving magician.
Miss Behave Show: Interactive, lively performance that delights everyone in the room.
One caveat: the performance spaces are small. Shows like Lola’s Library don’t have seating for everyone, so it’s often standing-room only unless you arrive early. Also, entertainment is very English-language-centric, so non-native speakers might find it harder to fully enjoy.
The Virgin Voyages App: A Must-Have Onboard Tool
The Virgin Voyages app is your cruise lifeline.
You’ll need it for dining reservations, checking daily activities, reserving workout classes, and even tender boat times.
There are very few announcements, so don’t expect someone to remind you of time changes or disembarkation info.
Activity schedules are also displayed on large screens in public areas, and printed versions are available—but only in select spots.
If you don’t like using your phone on vacation, this could be frustrating. But once you’re used to it, it’s very efficient.
⚠️ Pro tip: Make restaurant reservations 45 days before your sailing and book fitness classes early on embarkation day—popular options like spin and bungee fill up fast.
Book your first Virgin Voyage and get $150 Bar tab!
Virgin Voyages Benefits
✅ Here’s what I loved about the cruise:
Stylish, Instagrammable design in every corner of the ship.
Longer port stays: We consistently had more time ashore than other ships in port.
Free group workouts and two gyms onboard.
No surprise service charges when ordering drinks.
LGBTQ+ friendly and very solo traveler–friendly, with designated solo rooms and meetups.
Check out Virgin Voyage on Cruise Direct
Cons of Virgin Voyages
As much as I enjoyed Resilient Lady, no cruise is perfect. Here are a few thing people may not like:
Small pool: It looks sleek but is more for dipping than swimming.
Limited soup options: Only The Wake had clam chowder, and The Galley had a daily soup, which I discovered late in the sailing.
Set menus: Unlike traditional cruise lines with rotating menus, each restaurant on VV keeps the same menu all cruise.
Desserts were hit or miss: Many were mousse-based, those in the galley looks pretty much the same throughout the trip and not everyone (like me) prefers that style.
Requires a lot of research: From restaurant reservations 45 days out to understanding the app system and tender schedules, there’s a steeper learning curve than usual.
If you’re traveling with parents or non-English-speaking guests, you might find yourself doing a lot of hand-holding throughout the trip.
Who Should Sail with Virgin Voyages
I’d recommend Virgin Voyages for:
Travelers in their 30s–50s who want a modern, stylish cruise experience.
People who appreciate well-designed spaces, great food, and a bit of nightlife.
LGBTQ+ travelers, solo cruisers, and couples without kids.
Adventurous travelers who enjoy discovering things on their own, using apps, and making advance plans.
On our cruise, we saw a wide range of ages—from 20s to 80s. So don’t let age stop you, but do set your expectations accordingly.
Will You Get Seasick in the Mediterranean?
I cruised the Med in both January and May this year. On this May sailing with Virgin, the ship was impressively stable, likely thanks to newer ship design and moderate weather. I barely felt any motion for most of the journey.
Only on the last day or two near Athens did we notice slight rocking—nothing serious. There was no slamming sensation when docking either (which I’ve felt on older ships like Peace Boat).
Not sure where to stay in Athens? Explore this Hotel Map to easily find and compare the best hotels in the heart of the city
Not sure where to stay in Athens? Explore this Hotel Map to easily find and compare the best hotels in the heart of the cityIs Virgin Voyages Worth It?
Absolutely—if you know what to expect.
Virgin Voyages isn’t your typical cruise line. It’s not a party boat, despite what some people think. It’s also not for those who want hand-holding and routine. But if you’re open to something cooler, younger, more design-forward, and you’re okay doing a little prep work, Resilient Lady might just become your new favorite ship.
From the hammocks to the gelato, to the stylish rooms and longer port stays—it exceeded my expectations in more ways than one.
Book your first Virgin Voyage and get $150 Bar tab!
🛳️ I’ll definitely be sailing with Virgin again.
Viator: Best of Athens Half Day Private Tour
✦ Ready to book? Check current Virgin Voyages sailings and deals via CruiseDirect or Virgin Voyages Official Site.
Also read my tips for your next VV cruise: Virgin Voyages Resilient Lady (2025): Expert Cruise Tips
Celebrity Infinity Mediterranean Cruise Experience: Full Review & Photos
Mediterranean Celebrity Infinity Review (2025): Amazing Food, Fun Shows
8 comments
I am new to cruises but the resilient lady mediterranean looks incredible and so much fun!
It sure is! Cruising is so much fun.
This cruise sounds amazing—especially with those Eastern Mediterranean ports! Split, Dubrovnik, Kotor, and Mykonos are all places I’ve been wanting to explore. I haven’t sailed with Virgin Voyages yet, but the adults-only vibe, no tipping policy, and included Wi-Fi really set it apart. Thanks for the honest review—definitely bookmarking this for future cruise planning!
Thanks for your comment! You should give it a try!
You had me at bubble tea! This cruise sounds like a great mix of relaxation and cool places to explore. I love that it’s adults-only too. Definitely bookmarking this for later!
I should have tried it! I didn’t even walk close to the cafe that sells the bubble tea cuz I am not interested in coffee.
Okay, WOW. There are so many things to love! I love that this is adults only and no fixed times for meals. And no annoying announcements is also a bonus LOL. I’m sold!!
Adult only is the best part!