is Virgin Voyages a good cruise line? (our full and HONEST review of our experience)

here's a breakdown of our first experience on virgin voyages adults only cruise line
for behind the scenes + daily life
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We’re Doug and Jamie - an aussie / american couple who love adventures, good food and exploring new places. For the past few years we have be using what we’ve had to explore more of Australia - which wasn’t much. But in 2020 we upgraded Doug’s work van and it now doubles as our home on wheels part time. 2022 was the year we decided it needed a makeover so we jumped into a big van build series over the winter, ready to hit spring in our new setup! Our hope for this channel is to grow a community of likeminded people and to inspire others to jump in the drivers seat of their own life (pun intended) and create their own magic. And after surviving life in one of the most lockdown cities in the world the last few years, we are back in action ready to share our adventures!
#virginvoyages #cruiselife

[@ripwashington7948]

You guys have me reflecting on my first ever cruise last year. I originally chose Carnival but I was offended that everyone in a cabin was required to buy drink packages. Then I became obsessed with whatever upcharges I might possibly face. Virgin seemed like it might be a simpler experience. Our 2nd Virgin Cruise should be considerably less stressful. Having never cruised before, we didn't know what to expect or how to behave. Having not been on vacation before and spending so much money doing so had me trying to see and do everything. I left with the feeling of not having seen enough. Your approach sounded a lot more practical. Listening to y'all describe your 3 days onboard (ours was 5) cast a fresh perspective on our experience last year. I especially liked that you appreciated the Galley offerings as well as the restaurants. Not much was said about the Galley in other reviews. Finally, we packed as much as we could last year in 2 22 inch carry-ons and 2 personal item bags (flying Southwest). I think we packed 2 personal items bag too many. Too much effort involved trudging those bags between home, flights, hotels, ship and back home again. I'm forced to face the fact I'm not 27 anymore. At 67 just walking down the pier when we arrived in Mexico revealed we exerted more effort than we were prepared for. Good times nonetheless. Thanks for the excellent review! 👍

[@adventurewithdj]

oh thanks rip, We are happy it was able to help a bit. yeah, the feeling of needing to see and pack for everything sometimes makes a vacation feel more stressful than just a quiet weekend at home doesn't it 😅 hope you do try it again and just relax with it, that is something that Doug took away from it, we aren't 18-21 anymore no need to be at the club every night or whatever, just slower travel. and at 67 that's even more incentive to find a good spot on the deck with a view and chill! thanks for watching the episode and the feedback! enjoy your next vacation!

[@mermaidmaca]

The hammock is amazing. How can you say it's a bit of a gimmick. It's the most comfortable thing ever. We absolutely loved the hammock. That was our thing.

[@adventurewithdj]

hahaha nice guys, each to there own i guess!

[@kchasteen]

A couple of tips: -Suitcases fit under the bed for storage. -There are muffins and breakfast pastries at the Grounds Club on Deck 7 in the early part of the day - it changes to cookies in the afternoon. - You mentioned feeling rushed. We started with a 5 day, then 6, then 7. Then we did a 4 day - you're right, it feels rushed. We won't do less than 7 from now on so we get a chance to chill. We're doing 16 days in Nov on a transatlantic - can't wait! Once you've sailed Virgin and liked it, it'll be hard to love another line. The 'no kids' aspect really changes the environment, more than just not having little bodies around.

[@adventurewithdj]

oh Wow thanks Kchasteen for these, yeah good call on the suit cases!! yep we were just looking at some tickets and day dreaming of a 7 dayer 😂 Thanks for the tips ❤❤

[@darrenmacinnis1931]

I spent hours on the “gimmick “ hammock. So comfortable I fell asleep in it.

[@adventurewithdj]

hahah nice, we’re glad someone enjoyed them!! The views were great out there!

[@darrenmacinnis1931]

@@adventurewithdj bogan.

[@ltburks]

Y’all provided some useful info. You should definitely do a longer voyage if you haven’t already. Thanks for sharing though!

[@adventurewithdj]

thanks! yeah more cruising would always be welcome haha

[@emmabourke6565]

Fantastic and very balanced review. We've cruised with Celebrity, RC and Princesd in the past but we've finally booked a 12 night Virgin cruise later this year. Speaking from experience, it definitely takes a few days to know your way around and get into the ship vibe I think youre spot on when you said it was like being in a movie trailer and not the movie Looking forward to that Smores desert now😂 Thanks for all the info❤

[@adventurewithdj]

Thanks, Emma!! enjoy your cruise mate! first thing first when you get on board just grab a smore straight away and enjoy the vibe of the ship haha. and yeah hopefully the review helped speed up that process of getting into it and you can enjoy the "movie" rather then just the "trailer" lol. have fun out there!! thanks for watching 😁

[@SapphireBlueTravelExplores]

Good job guys. We have done 4 royal Caribbean cruises and only 2 have docked at all ports on itinerary. We have our first P&O cruise later this year. Considering an MSC cruise in our next Europe trip. You guys almost made a virgin trip appealing, the other videos I have seen about virgin cruises were not as positive… especially for an middle ager like me😂 Good works guys.

[@adventurewithdj]

Thanks guys! oh wow, so I guess missing port is a pretty standard experience for other cruise liners huh? I guess when it comes to who is on board and how they behave it would all depend on the time of the year and the region but for this one if defiantly had a very even spread of ages if not leaning more to the matureer side 😁😁

[@monw8408]

Oh question why did think the hammock was a “gimmick?” It was just nice to sit on my own private balcony with or without cloths lol!!! I even fell asleep. I was in room 9178a It was the best!!! No noise just sea waves. I can’t wait till the next one!!!

[@adventurewithdj]

haha fair enough, i mean if you liked it all good. we didn't find it as comfy as putting our feet up on another chair and resting our drinks on a table beside us at arm's reach.

[@monw8408]

@@adventurewithdj haha 🙂

[@tracywalker244]

I don’t know why but I thought this video was very helpful maybe it was all the details that you provided. I’m sailing in August out of Miami on the Valiant Lady and will definitely check out the s’mores and pizza 🤗 Thanks for the video!

[@adventurewithdj]

No worries at all!! this is the kind of stuff we like to hear before going on a trip so glad it was helpful!! There are lots of other helpful tips and experiences from others in the comments! The more the merrier as it’s really an individual thing! Hope you have the best time on the valiant lady in August!! Wish we were going too 😝

[@monw8408]

Also remember if you can’t get a reservation at anything don’t worry stand in line and or go to guest services. A thing you buy with your card will be a hold and won’t drop off till after your trip. There is a 250 deposit that you’ll see. They can wash your laundry for you for 30 dollars. DONT choose 50.00 because it’s the same amount of time wash two days before the end of your trip. When the ship is at a port all spa treatment is cheaper. Takes abut most times to get your luggage prepare for that. After the disembarkation it’s very crowded. Go eat and be prepared to be in line forever. Oh I tipped my guy incharge of our room upfront because I knew after the trip I wanted to make sure I had enough for my three days in Miami which turned into 2 extra because of hurricane barrel. I was on the cruise June 30-July 5 I love virgin never looking back. Don’t forget your promo to book your next cruise while you’re on the ship. 200 on the game drum link won a guy over 23000 haha I’ll be ready next time. Next time I’m taking one suit case and a purse. It was my first cruise. Kids18-26 can go for free during a certain time this year. At the Mexican restaurant we ordered ever starter and it was worth it. Next cruise in October for Halloween ✅✅✅

[@m5nsx399]

If you think that ship was big and hard to find your way around sail a Royal Caribbean Oasis class ship or the new Icon of the Seas-Those ships have 3X as many passengers and dwarf all other ships. That being said after six cruises on those ships we are ready for our first all adult Virgin cruise in October. The smaller ship without kids will be a nice change of pace.

[@adventurewithdj]

yeah I'm sure they are like shopping malls right? Once you have got the layout they seem really easy to get around? nice! enjoy the smaller, quieter cruise guys!

[@indivijewelthoughtz1150]

how did you not know about the muster video? it was on immediately once we turned the tv on. and... well... i did watch videos prior to boarding.

[@adventurewithdj]

On p&o we mustered in person so we had no idea about the video until an Ipad was put in our hand 😅

[@FilthyDubbzStep]

Another corker of a video - really awesome to hear your views on the cruise. It's no P&O ;) But I loved your insights and another tremendous video!

[@adventurewithdj]

ohhhhh thanks mate! we will have to do a one for one p&o 😁😁

[@cheryl1766]

great informative video..they sound like a good mob to cruise with. I've been on 2 cruises on the Pacific Jewell to New Caledonia..although an old ship its not the best nor the worst. had to laugh about the wait for Pizza..same on the Jewell BUT we had to pay for it. bests tiip is to pick your room and close to the lifts. PJ's drinks package was reasonable too also be very nice to your bar staff and wait staff and they will look after you..on the 2nd cruise (a year later) a waiter greeted me by name and i was taken aback ..he said you were here last year and your order is Ouzo and cola ,light on the cola ...mind blown. we did leave a nice tip for him and our room staff who were exceptional once they knew i was sea sick, they would check on me hourly and bring water and dry biscuits . The food was far from great and in fact i mainly lived on lollies on the 2nd cruise bur i am fussy..we did a kitchen tour ..that was pretty mind blowing the production that goes on below. highly recommend no one leaves from Melbourne as its trecherous ..Sydney sail away is absolutely beautiful..what else? oh dont be put off by the kids in future as they go to kids club and you hardly see any ..except for breakfast and dinner..have a later dinner and avoid them completly lol

[@adventurewithdj]

This is so helpful and informative too Cheryl! Thanks for your input. Seems like you are welllll experienced in the cruising department! More than us complete newbies!! A kitchen tour would be so awesome! I would love to get a behind the scenes look of that! I think we will have to try a PJ cruise one day!! And luckily for me (Jamie) I am a big Lolly girl 🤣🤣🤣 Doug said the same thing about the staff on his first P&O cruise about how they will look after you if you are kind and friendly! but I am so shocked he remembered your name and drink 😅 this happened to me after being away from the states for so long I would go home to the same local pub and they remembered my drink from years ago 😂 so impressive!!

[@warrencramer4516]

Sounds like overall it was a positive experience! Question tho, in terms of quietness in the room at night, could you hear your neighbours? And also, I noticed you mentioned on last week's episode about the lack of lifeboats to the amount of people that were on there? What's the go? Overall though, I think I would definitely consider doing Melb>Burnie>Sydney!

[@adventurewithdj]

it was 😁 honestly the rooms felt like they were sound proofed I'm sure they are not but that is how it felt. Jamie can be a pretty light sleeper and she didn't have an issue. as for the lifeboats vs people, I'm sure there was enough and we are just being silly. we didn't go around and count them all haha. yeah, its definitely a cruise worth trying, especially in the warmer region!

[@cheryl1766]

@@adventurewithdj those boats around the outside are Tenders for taking guest to port when bays arent deep enough to dock..there are other inflatble life boats they would use as well as the tenders in an emergency.

[@monw8408]

I could only hear my neighbors while I was on the balcony

[@annetteevans1281]

I felt like this review was good but a little negative for no reason in some areas. But each to their own.

[@adventurewithdj]

fair enough, thanks for watching and your feedback! - I suppose you could say something similar about anything opinion based (including your comment) but at the end of the day our goal was to give an HONEST review, not just a positive review and not just a negative review. I think many experiences are filled with pros and cons. and what bothered someone or was a con to someone else might not be a bother to another. which is the great thing about reviews. you can hear someone elses experience and decide whether or not the things that they didn't like would be things you also wouldn't like, or maybe it wouldn't be an issue for you. either way - you get to hear pros and cons from other perspectives and make an informed decision taking in that insight. and that's all we were trying to achieve here.

[@monw8408]

Hi I would say now that you have info from all the videos listen to no one and go on this ship and experience it for yourself. I meet some solo travelers that chose virgin for their first cruise and loved it. The food well we all don’t have the same taste in food. I didn’t like the marshmallow desert haha I loved the ice cream and certain other deserts… so many things to try. Oh don’t forget karaoke that was a great way to make friends I sang bohemian rhapsody and that’s what I was remembered for the whole trip. Met some great people. Go with an open mind and don’t waste your money try everything 🎉

[@annetteevans1281]

⁠​⁠@@monw8408I have been on virgin voyages last year and it’s amazing. I only found the kareoke getting to the end of the cruise unfortunately. I’ll be back on next year. All in all , there’s something for everyone to give them an enjoyable holiday.

[@allegrosotto2126]

A Greek cruise would be nice cos at least the food would be better 😂

[@adventurewithdj]

🤣😂😂😂😂😂