If you are comparing Virgin Voyages for 2026 or 2027, here is the short answer. Your fare covers dining at more than 20 onboard eateries, basic beverages, entertainment, group fitness classes and Wi-Fi. Every guest must be at least 18. Alcohol, specialty coffees, spa treatments, shore excursions, casino play and shopping cost extra. And under current VoyageFair Choices fares, service gratuities are billed separately at $20 per Sailor per night prepaid, or $22 settled onboard.
That last point matters more than any other line in this guide, because it changed. Virgin built its early reputation on tips being included, and plenty of comparison articles still say so. They are out of date. If you are pricing Virgin against another line, put the gratuity on the correct side of the ledger before you decide anything.
Virgin Voyages at a glance
| Question | Current answer |
|---|---|
| Is it adults-only? | Yes. Minimum age to book and sail is 18. |
| Is dining included? | Yes, across 20+ eateries. |
| Are the specialty-style restaurants included? | Yes. Virgin does not use the traditional extra-fee specialty model for its main venues. |
| Are gratuities included? | No. A separate service gratuity applies under current VoyageFair Choices fares. |
| Is Wi-Fi included? | Yes, with the tier and device allowance set by your fare. |
| Are drinks included? | Basic beverages yes. Alcohol and premium drinks no. |
| Is there a drink package? | Not a conventional unlimited package. Virgin uses prepaid Bar Tab credit. |
Fare terms change. Check Virgin’s current inclusions and VoyageFair Choices policy against your own booking before you rely on any comparison, including this one.
What Virgin Voyages actually is
Virgin Voyages is an adults-only line built around a boutique-hotel-at-sea idea rather than a traditional cruise structure. The differences are structural, not cosmetic:
- No children’s clubs or teen programs, because there are no children onboard
- No conventional main dining room with assigned tables or fixed seatings
- No traditional self-service buffet
- No formal-night requirement
- Restaurant-style, made-to-order dining across multiple concepts
- App-based reservations for dining and entertainment
Everything else you would expect is still there: pools, a serious gym, shore excursions, cabins across several categories, live entertainment. What changes is how those pieces are packaged. If you want to see where Virgin sits against the rest of the market, our guide to choosing a cruise line compares contemporary, premium, luxury, river and expedition lines side by side.
What is included in the fare
| Item | Included? | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Dining | Yes | More than 20 onboard eateries, covered by the voyage fare. |
| Specialty-style restaurants | Yes | The Wake, Gunbae, RazzleDazzle, Extra Virgin and similar venues do not generally carry a separate cover charge. |
| Basic beverages | Yes | Soda, still and sparkling water, drip coffee, tea, milk and standard juices. |
| Alcohol | No | Beer, wine, cocktails and champagne are purchased separately. |
| Wi-Fi | Yes | Included on every sailing. Speed and device allowance depend on the fare tier. |
| Entertainment | Yes | Shows, live music and most onboard events. |
| Group fitness | Yes | Gym access and many group classes. Personal training and some wellness services cost extra. |
| Gratuities | Separate line item | $20 per Sailor per night prepaid, $22 onboard, all cabin categories. |
| Shore excursions | No | Virgin calls them Shore Things. Purchased separately. |
| Spa treatments | No | Massages and salon services cost extra. |
One distinction is worth holding onto, because it explains most of the confusion travelers run into onboard. “Included” covers the standard version of a thing, not every version. Drip coffee is included; a barista-made flat white is not. Dinner is included; the wine you order with it is not.
The dining model is the real differentiator
On most mainstream ships, the good restaurants cost extra. You either pay per venue or buy a dining package, and the main dining room is the default. Virgin inverts that. The restaurant concepts are the default, and they are in the fare.
- No fixed dining assignment. No set table, no early or late seating.
- No traditional buffet. The Galley is a food-hall format with made-to-order stations.
- Several distinct concepts. Depending on the ship: The Wake, Gunbae, RazzleDazzle, Extra Virgin, Test Kitchen and a range of casual venues.
- Reserve early. Popular restaurants and shows fill quickly. Book through the app as soon as your window opens.
For someone used to Royal Caribbean, Norwegian or Celebrity, this is a genuine saving — you can eat somewhere different every night without buying a package. For someone who likes walking into a familiar dining room and being shown to the same table, it will feel like work. Both reactions are common and neither is wrong.
Gratuities: what changed, and why it matters
Under current VoyageFair Choices fares, gratuities are not folded into the advertised price. Virgin lists a service gratuity of $20 per Sailor per night prepaid, or $22 per night if you settle onboard. The rate is the same regardless of cabin category.
Virgin’s position is that the total cost of the vacation did not change, because fares were adjusted down by roughly the same amount when the charge was separated out. Once the service gratuity is covered, you are not expected to tip again on drinks, dining or spa services.
Two practical consequences. First, on a seven-night sailing for two, that is roughly $280 prepaid — real money that belongs in your comparison, not a footnote. Second, older bookings may still sit under legacy fare rules where gratuities were bundled. Your confirmation documents control. If you are comparing an existing reservation against a new 2026 or 2027 quote, confirm which structure each one uses before concluding that one is cheaper.
Wi-Fi, drinks and the Bar Tab question
Wi-Fi is included on every sailing, but the tier follows your fare. Base fares carry basic access suited to messaging and social media; Essential adds broader browsing; Premium raises speed and device count. If you need to work at sea, check the device allowance on your specific fare rather than assuming.
On drinks, the included list is genuinely basic: still and sparkling water, soda, drip coffee, tea, milk and standard juices. Beer, wine, cocktails, specialty coffee, fresh-pressed juice, smoothies, mocktails and energy drinks are all extra.
Virgin does not sell a conventional unlimited beverage package. Instead it offers Bar Tab, prepaid credit toward alcoholic and premium drinks, sometimes with a bonus for buying ahead. Three things to know before you prepay:
- It is use-it-or-lose-it credit, not a refundable balance
- Bonus levels change by promotion and purchase window
- It rewards people who were always going to drink. If you have a glass of wine with dinner and nothing else, paying as you go is usually cheaper
This is the opposite of how unlimited packages work elsewhere, and it is one of the few areas where Virgin can end up costing more than a mainstream line for a heavy-drinking group. Worth modeling honestly before you book.
Cabins
- Insider — interior, no view
- Sea View — window or porthole
- Sea Terrace — balcony, with Virgin’s red hammock
- RockStar Quarters — suites with added privileges
- Mega RockStar Quarters — top suites, expanded space and benefits
Sea Terrace is the popular choice with couples, and the hammock is a large part of why. It is not automatically right for everyone — a solo traveler focused on itinerary and price is often better served by an Insider cabin and the money spent ashore. If you are weighing categories generally, our cruise cabin guide covers how inside, oceanview, balcony and suite decisions actually play out.
Virgin Voyages vs. a traditional cruise line
| Feature | Virgin Voyages | Typical mainstream line |
|---|---|---|
| Children | None. Adults 18+ only. | Welcome, with programming by age. |
| Dining structure | Restaurant-style across included venues, flexible reservations. | Main dining room plus buffet and casual venues. |
| Specialty dining | Included in the fare. | Usually an extra charge or a package. |
| Buffet | None. Food-hall format instead. | Standard on most ships. |
| Dress code | Casual throughout. No formal night. | Varies. Formal or dress-up evenings are common. |
| Wi-Fi | Included, tier set by fare. | Often sold separately or tiered. |
| Gratuities | Separate service gratuity, $20/$22 per night. | Daily gratuities or service charges, amounts vary. |
| Atmosphere | Adults-only, social, restaurant-led. | Ranges from family mega-ship to quiet premium. |
Virgin wins for travelers who specifically want adults-only, want restaurant variety without dining fees, and do not miss formal nights. A mainstream line wins for families, for people who enjoy conventional cruise programming, and for anyone who wants a wider choice of ships and itineraries. If Norwegian is on your shortlist, compare Virgin’s included dining against a current Free at Sea offer rather than against NCL’s base fare — the two structures are not comparable at face value.
Virgin Voyages vs. an adults-only all-inclusive resort
This is the comparison we field most often, because the two products attract the same traveler for different reasons.
Choose Virgin if you want to wake up somewhere new, eat across several restaurant concepts and have entertainment between ports. Choose an adults-only resort if you want one beach, a slower routine, and a beverage model that genuinely includes alcohol. That last difference is the one that decides most of these conversations: at a resort the drinks are in the price, and on Virgin they are not.
If the resort side appeals, our adults-only vs. family resort comparison and the all-inclusive guide cover what those packages actually include.
What it really costs
Do not compare advertised fares. Build the whole number:
- Voyage fare and fare tier
- Taxes and fees
- Service gratuities at $20 or $22 per person per night
- Bar Tab or pay-as-you-go drinks
- Shore Things
- Flights and transfers to the port
- Pre- or post-cruise hotel nights
- Travel protection
Virgin often comes out ahead for a couple who would otherwise buy a dining package, a Wi-Fi plan and fitness classes separately. It often comes out behind for a group that drinks heavily, because there is no unlimited package to cap that spend. Our guide to what a cruise really costs walks through the same exercise for mainstream lines, and travel protection is worth pricing at the same time rather than later.
Who it suits, and who it does not
Strong fit: couples and honeymooners; adults who want a child-free ship; food-focused travelers; friend groups and bachelor or bachelorette parties; resort regulars curious about cruising; anyone who prefers casual evenings.
Poor fit: families with children; travelers who want a traditional buffet and main dining room; anyone who enjoys formal nights and Broadway-style production shows; groups who expect unlimited alcohol in the fare; travelers who would rather stay at one beach resort all week.
For honeymoons specifically, Virgin gives you movement and variety where a resort gives you calm and simplicity. Our honeymoon planning guide works through that trade-off in more detail, and the Honeymoon Guide and Matchmaker can narrow it down based on what you both actually want.
So is it worth it?
The useful question is not whether Virgin is expensive. It is which of its included features you will actually use, and what you would pay for those elsewhere. A couple who eat at a different restaurant every night, use the Wi-Fi, take the fitness classes and value a ship with no children on it will find the value obvious. A couple who would have been just as happy in the main dining room with a drink package will not.
Price the fare tier, the gratuities, the beverage plan, the cabin and the itinerary as one number, then compare that number to a comparable sailing on another line. That is the comparison that tells you something.
Compare Virgin against the alternatives
Cruise Planners – Neal Lewis & Associates can price Virgin Voyages alongside Norwegian, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Princess or an adults-only all-inclusive resort using your dates, budget, travel party and the things you actually care about — food, nightlife, pace, cabin and destination. There is no planning fee, and we can flag promotions, group opportunities and onboard credit where they apply.
Request rates and information and tell us your dates and who is traveling. Prefer to browse first? Start with Find the Right Cruise or the Advanced Cruise Search.
Virgin’s Bar Tab is a genuinely different model from the unlimited packages the mainstream lines sell. Our guide to cruise drink packages explains how the two compare and when each one actually pays off.
Frequently asked questions
Are gratuities included on Virgin Voyages?
Not under current VoyageFair Choices fares. A service gratuity of $20 per Sailor per night applies when prepaid, or $22 per night settled onboard. Older bookings may follow legacy rules where gratuities were bundled into the fare.
How old do you have to be to sail Virgin Voyages?
Eighteen. Every Sailor must be at least 18 to book and sail. Children and teens are not permitted onboard.
Are the specialty restaurants really included?
Yes. Venues such as The Wake, Gunbae, RazzleDazzle and Extra Virgin are covered by the voyage fare rather than carrying a cover charge. Premium beverages ordered with your meal are still extra.
Does Virgin Voyages have a drink package?
Not a conventional unlimited package. Virgin sells Bar Tab, prepaid credit toward alcoholic and premium drinks. It is use-it-or-lose-it, so it suits travelers who were already planning to drink.
Is Wi-Fi included?
Yes, on every sailing. The speed and number of devices depend on whether you book Base, Essential or Premium.
Does Virgin Voyages have a buffet?
No. The Galley is a food-hall format with made-to-order stations rather than a traditional self-service buffet.
Is Virgin Voyages a party cruise?
It is social and nightlife-oriented, but that varies a lot by sailing. A short Caribbean voyage with a large group demographic feels very different from a longer Mediterranean itinerary with heavy port time.
Is Virgin Voyages good for first-time cruisers?
It can be, if you like casual dining and modern entertainment and want no children onboard. If you were picturing a traditional buffet and main dining room, look at other lines first — our first-time cruise guide covers what to expect.
Is Virgin better than an adults-only all-inclusive resort?
Neither is universally better. Virgin gives you several destinations and shipboard entertainment. A resort gives you one beach, a simpler routine and alcohol genuinely included in the price.
Inclusions, fare structures and gratuity policies change. Details here reflect Virgin Voyages’ published policies at the time of writing and should be confirmed against your own booking documents before you rely on them. Cruise Planners – Neal Lewis & Associates does not control supplier pricing or promotions.
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