From Royal to Virgin

August

Pros: The Drinks, Food, Parties, Rooms with hammocks

Cons: Small pool

Recommended: Yes

So now that were back. It was one of the best trips we took. The staff were just incredible both on and off the ship. Virgin really knows how to party and set up the entire ship for them to enjoy everywhere. The food was incredible and easy to get, especially in the galley. I prefer how virgin does different individual restaurants instead of one main dining hall, so you can really change up where you want to eat. The rooms were nice and modern looking. The bathrooms are a nice size too and a decent amount of storage if you unpack your bags. 95% of the rooms on the ship have a balcony on the deck with a hammock and they are soooooo comfortable. There are bars everywhere and different unique rooms to hang out in. Shows were not as over produced as royal, but I thought the 4 we wernt to were all very good. The ONLY thing i would say was a negative was the main pool was rather small so It got pretty croweded. But they had plently of lounge chairs all around the deck and hot tubs all over the place.

Review of Virgin Cruise Lines.

April

Pros: Staff, crew and amenities.

Cons: The entertainment was not for me.

Recommended: No

The medicinel balls, free weights, jump ropes etc should be removed from the gym. My room on the 14th deck was below the gym and we constantly heard things dropping on the floor above us. Upon going to the gym it appeared the things listed above were the reasons for it.

First time Virgin Sailor

January

Pros: No kids; The cabin ipad control system was fabulous; the streaming choice of movies and shows in cabin; the rainshower and glass enclosure for shower was awesome; loved the long times in port; no annoying announcements; no photo hounds; no pressure to spend money onboard; our cabin steward came and went and we never saw her hardly - awesome!; the balcony hammock; the ice-cream parlor for no charge; no gratuities; no pressure to shop at certain stores in port; the ship was spotless and one of the cleanest I've ever been on; crew seemed to be truly happy and enjoy their jobs; loved the sailor bracelet but did need to have a catch to help it stay on better;

Cons: Lack of food options at the Dine and Dash in Galley. With limited seating at the specialty restaurants, we ate in the Galley several nights and were disappointed in the lack of options - really only one dinner option was available if we didn't want a burger or salad.; Entertainment quality was not great and seating was so limited.; Lack of storage options in cabins; Embarkation process was horrible - waited in line forever outside on sidewalk to just drop my bags off. This could have been handled so much better.; Beach towels should have been at the gangway for guests to take ashore and return. We had to go to pool deck each morning to get some to take ashore,; The length of dining experience in specialty restaurants was crazy long. It took several hours to eat at each of them.; Bed comforter slid around and we fought with it all night; food was a little foo-foo for us. We would have loved some regular options in specialty restaurants.;

Recommended: Yes

See pros and cons list.

Winter cruise

January

Pros: Staff , food , all included food and drinks , pool deck not over crowded

Cons: Learning way around ship

Recommended: Yes

Absolutely love not having announcements every 15 minutes like other cruises . Will go on this cruise line again

Fun Cruise!!

December

Pros: Beautiful, clean ship. Non stop entertainment. Friendly staff. Good food in speciality restaurants.

Cons: Excursion companies were disorganized and poorly run in DR and St Croix.

Recommended: Yes

Ship is beautiful and clean. Lots of areas to sit and enjoy with friends or alone. Disappointed in Virgin's private island Bimini's food and cleanliness of restrooms.

Fall Transatlantic

November

Pros: Clean ship & Vibrant Crew

Cons: Still some app problems and repetitious entertainment.

Recommended: Yes

Couple of land tours were poorly handled and crowded lines in venues. A lot of repeated entertainment onboard. Some weather related and others were for it being a longer cruise than what they normally do.

Best Cruise Ever

September

Pros: Beautiful new ship. Fantastic Crew. Above average food choices. Tips were included in cruise fare.

Cons: A bit clunky prodedure with boarding but got through it.

Recommended: Yes

Absolutely the best cruise we have ever been on. State of the art ship with an over the top crew. No set dining time and table (love it) and superb food selections. Loved the hammock on our balcony! Also liked that the tips for the crew normally extra on other cruises are included in the fare. Entertainment was ourstanding and varied. Can't state enough positive things about this cruise.

Western Mediterranean Cruise in July 2022

July

Pros: Everything! The food, the service, the ship's decor, the entertainment, the technology

Cons: Ship to shore launch process, the quality of the two bands

Recommended: Yes

This was my 4th cruise and it was BY FAR the best one I have been on. Firstly, I think Virgin looked at the overall cruise experience from a passenger perspective and designed the ship and the crew processes around that. The embarkation process was easy. My single studio cabin was so functionally designed that it actually felt spacious. When you check-in they give you a nautical themed waterproof wrist band with an RFID tag that is used for everything - no need to carry a room key or a wallet on board. And it is used as a personal identifier to disembark and embark for shore excursions. The food is fantastic! No buffets! There are an exceptionally large amount of outdoor lounging areas; many semi hidden for privacy - all over the ship. Again, these areas were well done in the furniture design. Like the cabin, there was clearly a lot of thought put into the design from a passenger perspective. The staff all seem 'happy'. I asked several and all said it was the best company to work for. Lastly, the overall experience is adult and trendy/modern. All the house music is current. The onboard entertainment has adult / sexual undertones as this is an adults-only cruise. The only entertainment 'miss' was both the house band and the guest band were 'eh'. Note my cruise was a mostly couples cruise - few singles and few groups. We were also only 800 passengers out of a 2400 capacity.