Thank you to Malika Bowling for this story and review of the Virgin Voyages Resilient Lady
Photos credit Malika Bowling
In the demand for cruising, it seemed that there was an unserved segment.
Enter: Virgin Voyages – the adults-only cruise line for foodies, fitness fanatics and fun for grown-ups.
Virgin has addressed many of the objections some have had about cruising and fixed the issues.
Eschewing the overrated Caribbean, I booked Virgin’s 7-day Adriatic Gems cruise, visiting Croatia and Montenegro before returning to the Greek island of Corfu. On embarkation day, I anticipated a long wait, but it was only about five minutes from the time we walked to the tent to getting on board, which was a nice surprise.
Stateroom: Unlike many cruise ships, the majority of cabins on Virgin Voyages come with a balcony. Unique to Virgin Voyages is the signature red hammocks that you will use more than you think. The room felt spacious once we tucked our luggage under the bed. Plus the counter that spanned about half the room was perfect for setting things like laptops, books and other smaller items like jewelry. You’ll get two large containers of water each day in your room. One of the coolest things was the electronic buttons for Do not Disturb or Service Requested.
Ship: Virgin launched its first ship in 2021, so everything is relatively new. Elevators were spaced out enough and plentiful enough that wherever I was on the ship I never had to wait long. The pool is quite small, so don’t think you are going to be doing any laps in there, it is more for lounging. One thing that I loved is that entitled cruisers can’t hoard loungers by placing towels on them. They’ll be removed by staff after 40 minutes.
The top features a basketball court, swings, see-saws and other lounging areas if you prefer relaxing over party vibes.
Shows: There were several magic shows on board, one a funny duo that kept the audience laughing and another solo performer who uses deduction to impress the audience with funny guesses and quips. Since the venues are not huge (which is actually a bonus for seeing the performers) many of the shows repeat at least once during the cruise, so if you don’t get to see them the first go round, you have the opportunity to catch it the next go round.
Lola’s Library was a combo of cabaret, acrobatic feats, and theatre. Do make sure to get there about 10 minutes before showtime to get a good seat as all seating is first- come first serve. Pro Tip: head upstairs for the best view.
Food:
The ship has a handful of fine dining restaurants that operate almost as stand-alone restaurants with their own dedicated manager and staff. It is best to have reservations but if you show up, it is quite easy to get seated.
Extra Virgin – The Italian restaurant features steaks and pastas. While it was good, it didn’t knock our socks off. The beef carpaccio was a terrific start. Our server was a bit absent but overall, a decent meal.
Gunbae – This Korean Barbecue spot is designed to be an experience, not just a meal. Note that you will need to dine with others (we had six others at our table). While this is a fun experience for some, if you have regular access to Korean barbecue where you live, you may want to spend your night dining elsewhere. The staff has a drinking game of sorts set up and when you lose you must do a shot of sake.
Pink Agave – The elevated Mexican cuisine here was impressive. Start with the shrimp and chips and guac. The smoked pork and duck covered in mole sauce left us wanting more. I wished we had gone there another night instead of Gunbae or Razzle Dazzle.
Razzle Dazzle – One of two restaurants open for brunch, Razzle Dazzle is somewhat of a healthy dining option, especially at brunch. At dinner, they offer more comfort food options like fried chicken. Though I did have a snapper entree that was on the healthy side. If I had to do it again, I’d do this for brunch but skip dinner.
Test Kitchen – For the more adventurous eaters, check out Test Kitchen which looks like somewhat of a food lab. Opt for a seat with a view of the meal prep. The steak and elk were so soft you could cut them with a butter knife. Cocktails were interesting too. The dessert was a mandarin ice cream served inside of an orange. This is a THE spot for creative dishes with an artful presentation. It may not be the best choice if you are not an adventurous eater.
The Wake – By far, the best dining experience on the ship. We ate here three times during our weeklong cruise. Though I was disappointed, even with Rock Star status we couldn’t get a table by the port window, it was still a wonderful experience. The decor is much more high-end than Extra Virgin and the food is spectacular from lamb and steak to fish. There is even an ice display of all the shellfish. We even opted for the pay option of meaty oysters to kick off both dinners. Brunch was equally impressive with clam chowder and poached shrimp too.
The Galley – Virgin Voyage’s answer to a buffet, these stations feature Asian, Mexican, breakfast all day, paninis and more.
Pizza Place – There are several pizza options on the menu here and you can get pizza until 2 am. The smallish (4 slices per pie) are the perfect late-night snack.
Lick me Til – This ice cream spot features a multitude of ice cream flavors and they change them out daily.
Ports:
There are two sea days and there were plenty of activities to keep busy during those days. You can immerse yourself in shows, events like a Mezcal bingo game (yes, they really have that on the ship), exercise classes and more.
Dubrovnik – Our first Croatian city, we wished we had skipped breakfast and dined at one of the cute cafes around town. But walking along the cobblestone streets and taking in the sights, we had a fascinating time just taking in all the picturesque spots.
Spit – Though we purchased a city tour, this is another port where you could simply walk around. Unless you are a huge history buff and want to know lots of detailed facts, save your money for Kotor tours.
Kotor – This city in Montenegro is the place you want to participate in shore excursions. There is a gorgeous blue bay where you can swim and excursions will take you to see this unique colored water. Plus, another excursion took us to taste mussels freshly caught and cooked in front of us.
Corfu – If checking off a Greek island is on your bucket list, this is it. Corfu is also the place to do your shopping for gifts for friends and family. There are plenty of shops for souvenirs. We got some cute kid’s outfits, jewelry and playing cards.
Overall, Virgin Voyages cruises are ideal for foodies looking for a refined experience. While Virgin may give off scantily clad 20-something vibes, the reality is an age range of 30s to 50s in the majority of this cruise. I can’t wait to sail with them again!
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