Best New Cruise Ships for Adults

Table Of Content

• A sea change for all
• No Dress Code, No Set Dining Times, No Buffet
• Exclusively Adult experiences
• Rediscover your passion for travel on Scarlet Lady!
• Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport
• Ship speed
• Related Cruises

Plus, there's no option for hot food that you plate yourself and take back to your room if there are no seats because you have to have a table to order food at The Galley. Sometimes you just need those steam-tray eggs, grabbable bagels and premade pancakes, and you don't want a waiter-served meal. Scarlet Lady also has a supper club experience called It's a Ship Show, which takes place in The Manor. Virgin describes the experience as a mashup of an old-school variety show and a late-night talk show, with dinner, comedy and music. You'll want to make your dinner reservations as soon as you get on board.

A sea change for all

That's OK because the communal dining and drinking games (you don't get the full experience if you don't play) aren't as much fun without a group. One of the most common questions among those planning a cruise is, Are drinks included? Virgin Voyages has gone the extra mile with its inclusions and offers a range of free basic beverages that include branded sodas to all passengers.

No Dress Code, No Set Dining Times, No Buffet

A major cruise line is testing a monthly subscription service - TheStreet

A major cruise line is testing a monthly subscription service.

Posted: Mon, 11 Mar 2024 07:00:00 GMT [source]

While more announcements aren't the answer, I'm sure Virgin Voyages could figure out unobtrusive ways to give sailors a helping hand. Virgin's private resort is located on North Bimini Island and at a short bus transfer from the docking pier. This is a 750-acres (3 km2 / 1,2 mi2) beachfront resort-casino-marina-hotel complex operated by Genting Group (Malaysia-based multinational corporation). Following the June 2019-issued US Government ban on the USA to Cuba group travel, Virgin Voyages revised all scheduled itineraries by replacing Havana. The new/revised itineraries have late-night call port departures (including at midnight). In early-April 2021 was announced that following multiple delays, Scarlet Lady's Maiden Voyage (August 6, 2021) will start a mini-season in the UK.

Exclusively Adult experiences

I wouldn't even bother to sit out there – except for the striking red hammock hung from hooks bolted into the bottom of the balcony above. At 6 feet tall, I could stretch out completely and rock with the waves as the ship made its way through the Caribbean. Its presence made a forgettable, utilitarian room desirable and memorable. It had one upright chair in the corner and a vegan leather stool under the table that doubled as desk and vanity. The table is next to a unit housing the mini-fridge and two small shelves, but there is no additional storage. Here, you'll also find a touch-screen pad where you can adjust the lighting and temperature of your room.

ABOUT VIRGIN VOYAGESVirgin Voyages is a global lifestyle brand committed to creating the world’s most irresistible holiday. Featuring spaces designed by some of the top names in contemporary design, the Scarlet Lady will be Adult-by-Design, a sanctuary at sea for the 18+ traveller. A dose of ‘Vitamin Sea’ will be naturally intertwined across the entire ship, with well-being activated through a mix of high-energy moments coupled with relaxation and rejuvenation. The Scarlet Lady will also feature alluring entertainment and 20+ world-class intimate eateries on board. Scarlet Lady will sail from Miami to the Caribbean in 2020, hosting more than 2,770 sailors and 1,160 amazing crew from around the world. A high percentage of accommodations feature ocean views and a vast majority of those include a balcony, which Virgin calls a Sea Terrace.

Rediscover your passion for travel on Scarlet Lady!

Located in the front and back zones, get epic ocean views from any angle — from inside your cabin to the terrace hammock, that most, but not all, offer. With endless views from the back of the ship whether you're relaxing at the terrace champagne table, or gazing at the waves directly from your indoor Peek-a-Boo shower window, there's no such thing as a bad view in this suite. The full size, fully-stocked bar (complete with mixology equipment, obviously) - this suite begs for you to indulge the rockstar deep within.

The decor is music (rock-and-roll) themed, with a retro-futuristic design, a color palette of deep blues with iridescent dichroic elements in the cabin's bathroom. Massive Suite has a separate bedroom that doubles as a music room (fitted with electric guitars and an amplifier). Keeping with the music theme, each of the 78 suites boasts a record player. Debuting in 2021, Scarlet Lady is the first of four Virgin Voyages cruise ships. With her truly unique outline, colour scheme and deck plans, you’re sure to notice her in any Caribbean port - not to mention the iconic mermaid emblazoned on her bow in contrast to the flying lady of Virgin Atlantic airways. She is about to change your cruise perspective with a host of firsts including being the first ship specifically designed for, and exclusive to, adults aged 18 and older.

Ship speed

She has 28+ years of maritime service (as of 2019), including on commercial fishing vessels, ferryboats and large cruise liners (15+ years). MS Scarlet Lady staterooms (a total of 1408 passenger cabins for 2770 guests/ max capacity is 2860) include 78x Suites, 1030x Balconies, 95x Oceanviews and 105x Interiors. The staff and crew (total 1160 people) are accommodated in 813 crew cabins. This magnificent three-bar area will regularly host ground-breaking shows and enthralling performances before transforming into an electrifying nightclub. The Manor boasts an expansive two-story space designed with a sexy 70’s punk vibe.

In addition, you will need to check in for your cruise online, fill out the appropriate information and select an arrival time for embarkation day. Outside Training camp is a boxing ring, props for alfresco body weight exercises, a sports court for basketball and an adult playground with swings and a seesaw. Back on Deck 15 by the wellness pool is another open-air workout space – especially good for show-offs since everyone lounging in that area can watch you sweat. Scarlet Lady doesn't overwhelm you with scheduled activities when the vessel is at sea. Instead, the ship becomes your playground for you to enjoy however you like. But the real casual-dining winner is The Pizza Place, churning out oven-fresh pizzas day and night in a light and airy space.

In April 2024, the ship will sail an epic 14-night transatlantic cruise to Barcelona, which will be Scarlet Lady's homebase at least through October 2024. From Spain, it will sail seven-night itineraries to ports in Italy, Spain and the French Riviera, all with overnights on the party island of Ibiza. If nothing else, you will want to wear red – whether that's a red cocktail dress or jumper, shirt, accessories or bathing suit. The Roundabout is the place to be after dinner; look out for flash performances and crew members with invitations to secret parties. Pretty much every night there's a themed party in The Manor or out on deck, but the ones you need to pack for are the PJ Party and Scarlet Night. Scarlet Lady's first-night pajama party is optional, but if you do want to get your Virgin vibe going on day one, pack a pair of party PJs and head to the Athletic Club bar on the first night.

The ship successfully completed the Mediterranean sea trials in November navigating between Genoa and Marseille and back. On Nov 27, the 69-year-old Richard Branson, together with his family (wife Joan and kids Holly and Sam) boarded the vessel in Marseille. The boat has 17 decks, of which 13 are passenger-accessible and 9 with cabins. To find out the latest on Virgin Voyages' health and safety protocols, including those around COVID-19, visit the cruise line's cruise wellness page.

The majority of Scarlet Lady's cabins percent, to be exact -- will offer balconies. Better yet, said terraces will all feature custom-designed, handwoven hammocks. These hammocks do more good than just relaxing your stressed-out body; they were purchased from Yellow Leaf, an organization that fosters women's empowerment and community transformation in rural Thailand. Scarlet Lady will offer nine eateries, several of which are unique in the cruise industry.

We've teamed up with World Famous Tattoo Ink, Soho Ink and Freshly Inked Magazine to open our own tattoo studio on board. The historical roots of tattoo art can be traced back to sailors celebrating nautical milestones like a first time crossing the equator, crossing the atlantic or mementos of epic voyages. Inspired by that beauty and tradition, we celebrate creative self-expression, tales of adventure and unforgettable life experiences. The vessel will have a huge variety of cruises available in the coming months.

The "Summer Soiree" sailings (3-4-day cruises to nowhere roundtrip from homeport Portsmouth England) were open for booking (to UK residents only) on April 13, 2021. As part of the company's sustainable travel policy, Virgin Voyages banned single-use plastics and there is no buffet food on the ships. All shipboard food is made-to-order - to reduce waste and lower energy consumption and emissions. Savings are reinvested into fresh (locally sourced) top-quality products, exotic ingredients, highly trained staff, and clean technologies.

Virgin Voyages Begins Cruises from Miami, Florida With Scarlet Lady

Table Of Content

• crew member death
• Unique Restaurants
• Included with your cruise fare:
• Explore More Mainstream Cruise Lines
• Offerings
• The Irresistible Med from Barcelona

On many cruise ships, I'll go to a show, sit in the back and leave after 10 minutes. On Virgin, I was fully captivated for the length of the performance and often came out raving about the experience. I appreciate how the line has hired diverse performers in terms of race, size and gender expression, and how its shows do not shy away from mature language and sexual themes (both gay and straight). I did not have the normal dinner experience at Extra Virgin, the ship's Italian restaurant, due to the themed sailing I was on, but I still got to try some of the venue's popular dishes. Previous cruisers tell me Extra Virgin is a surprise favorite because Italian restaurants are so ubiquitous, but Virgin's version delivers with fabulous dishes.

crew member death

Often, these big main dining rooms are included in the fare, whereas the smaller "specialty" restaurants, which typically offer a more intimate and upscale experience, come with an extra charge. In its place is a soaring, box-like entertainment space called the Red Room that can transform into all sorts of configurations to allow for different types of unusual performances. Wrapping panoramic views from the corner of the ship are emphasized by design choices in this suite. Enjoy custom interior wicker chairs in this, the highest and biggest of the Cheeky Corner terraces, meant to maximize sea views - in this case, the wake view.

Unique Restaurants

Staff are cheery (wait for your first “Ahoy”) and empowered – sleeves rolled up, tattoos on display, piercings and stylish haircuts de rigeur. There’s a vibe onboard this ship like no other, almost like you are a specially invited guest. That’s a “rockstar” in Virgin parlance, and really that’s how the ship and the crew make you feel. As well as offering unrivalled dining options, Virgin Voyages also revolutionise how you spend your time onboard. With their new concept Vitamin Sea, Virgin Voyages mix your onboard activities into a balance of detox and retox, to makes sure you go home truly rejuvenated and refreshed.

Included with your cruise fare:

At the same time, Scarlet Lady may turn out to be just a tad too cool for many people in my generation, even for those of us looking to have some fun. But you'll pay a lot more in "extras" if sailing on Freedom of the Seas, where specialty restaurants, gratuities and Wi-Fi are not included in the fare. I also was impressed with the pasta dishes at Extra Virgin, the ship's Italian eatery. I ordered a side of carbonara to accompany my main course, a porcini-rubbed New York Strip steak, just to test it. I was pleasantly surprised to see the dish was made with bucatini, the long, narrow tube-like pasta that is considered proper for carbonara but often isn't used at Italian restaurants.

The highlight of the stage shows is Duel Reality, a modern acrobatic retelling of Romeo and Juliet that is at first confusing but quietly becomes a moving, powerhouse of a performance. What guests will be buzzing about the most, however, is Never Sleep Alone, a theatrical sex therapy cabaret show that must be experienced to be believed. The line advises passengers to come as they are, whether it's a sparkly dress or jeans and a T-shirt.

I was also impressed how the cruise line creates parties and events that everyone shows up for and gets into. On other cruise lines, a deck party might attract a couple hundred guests, but on Virgin's Scarlet Night, pretty much everyone turns out. If you want to feel like a rockstar, you can rent one of the private cabanas on Deck 16.

The Irresistible Med from Barcelona

Virgin Voyages Invites Remote Workers to Spend a Month Aboard Scarlet Lady This Summer - TravelPulse

Virgin Voyages Invites Remote Workers to Spend a Month Aboard Scarlet Lady This Summer.

Posted: Thu, 07 Mar 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]

With Scarlet Lady, Virgin Voyages has ripped up the rule book with a cruise ship experience that caters for a demographic that may have never thought of cruising as a vacation option. Onboard Scarlet, Lady Virgin Voyages transport sailors to a hedonistic adults’ playground where every moment is filled with excitement or relaxation depending on how you like it. Moving away from classic Broadway productions, the entertainment onboard is more akin to a festival lineup, with immersive, contemporary shows developed by world-famous producers, choreographers and directors. As well giving you the chance to sample fresh flavours from all over the globe while sunning it up in the Caribbean, Virgin Voyages are revolutionising cruise cuisine in more ways too. Banning single use plastics such as cutlery, packaging or straws from their food preparation and serving methods, Virgin Voyages are not only looking to make dining at sea clean for your body, but also for the oceans.

Best dining. Best nightlife. And counting.

As much as I'm not a fan of buffets, sometimes I just want to eat quickly and get on with my day. Scarlet Lady is a ship for independent travelers who don't need their hands held or want to be told what to do by a cruise director (there isn't one). While I loved the lack of announcements over the intercom system or at the end of shows, I did feel like it was easy to miss out on things on board. The public spaces on the ship invite you to grab a friend, a drink and chill for a while. The minimum age to sail Virgin is 18 years old, and the ship embraces its adults-only status.

Additionally, every standard cabin will come fitted with an astounding in-room entertainment system, including a beautiful 4K TV and minibar. With no kids, no buffets, and no limits, find out how Virgin Voyages are pushing luxury cruising into the 2020’s. I particularly loved Gunbae, a Korean barbecue eatery with circular tables built around specially engineered flameless grills where servers cook Korean-style seafood and meat in front of you. These same servers also lead you in Korean drinking games (the first round of shots of Korean soju is on them). Often cruise lines offer special rates that cannot be displayed to the general public.

On Deck 6, men can get a shave at Stubble and Groom, while women can get blowouts for Scarlet Night at Dry Dock. Also here is Virgin Voyages' groundbreaking tattoo parlor, Squid Ink, where you can pay inflated rates for the bragging rights of having gotten a tattoo at sea. For your other bodily needs, The Tune Up offers medispa treatments, manicures and pedicures by the pool on Deck 15. The menu of JoJo loose leaf teas offers a nice selection of caffeinated and herbal teas. It works well when the venue is relatively quiet; you don't have to queue for food or worry about food sitting around or contaminated tongs. On the other hand, when it's busy and you just want a quick meal before your tour, it can be hard to flag down a server and your food can take 20 minutes to arrive.

Over Six Dozen People Sickened On Scarlet Lady - Cruise Law News

Over Six Dozen People Sickened On Scarlet Lady.

Posted: Sun, 15 Oct 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]

At brunch, the spicy avocado toast gets high marks, and the cucumber-melon salad was a refreshing starter. Oddly, the restaurant had no jam for my British-style chocolate-chip scone and I had to make do with butter. While practically no one uses the daybed layout, the arrangement means you're sleeping on a couch cushion rather than a plush mattress. My bed on Scarlet Lady was not the comfiest I've had on a cruise, but the sheets and duvet were fine and I slept well. I had the same experience at The Dock after a late excursion; several of us waited far too long for a waiter to appear and take our order – even though a server had escorted me outside five minutes prior.

This is a notch above the standard water-tea-coffee offerings in most other lines. Naughty sex talk also was the theme of a one-woman cabaret show called Never Sleep Alone that took place last night in the ship's The Manor nightclub (transformed into a cabaret lounge). Raunchy and heavy on audience participation, it involved "resident sexologist" Alex Schiller, who claimed to have slept with more than 4,000 people, offering up tips on how to make sure you're never lacking for a partner in bed at night. In short, it feels like the sort of cruise ship that young people would want to sail on, even if, in the end, it doesn't draw as many young people as some might have expected (early word is the average booker is in her or his 50s). And that may be what makes it the perfect ship for somewhat older people like me who miss the wilder and crazier days of their youth. Nothing marks a life-bending vacation experience, like coming home with body art that will bring you back to a time when you were truly living.

The partially sunk wreck of SS Sapona (concrete-hulled steamship that ran aground in 1926) is located just a few miles off the island's southern coast. In regard to onboard gratuities, the company has "No Tipping" policy, which means all gratuities are included in the base cruise fares. Also included in basic fares are beverages, all eateries, group fitness classes. Customers are able to hold staterooms for 24 hours with no money down once they've placed a 20% non-refundable deposit.