Virgin Voyages seems to successfully achieve what plenty of previous cruise lines tried and failed. They managed to make cruising “sexy” and “mainstream” for the younger generation. They ditched tipping and the buffet and made every food, wi-fi and basic drinks free. The onboard atmosphere and the service get a lot of praise. While it’s for the “young at heart”, not all ages are welcome: the minimum age is 18.
That said, it’s hard to find a 4+ nights long cruise for less than GBP1,000. So, when you can spend 14 nights onboard a ship famous for its onboard experience for around that price, it’s definitely eye-catching. That’s why prices for the Scarlet Lady’s upcoming Atlantic Crossing from Miami to Barcelona in April 2024 are a certified highlight. Prices go as low as £900 (~€1,047) – a fare you usually pay for seven nights or less on this ship.
Here are the prices per cabin category:
- Inside cabin: £900 (~€1,047) (US$1,131)
- Outside cabin: £1,049 (~€1,220) (US$1,318)
- Balcony cabin: £1,179 (~€1,372) (US$1,482)
As mentioned above, the fare includes the voyage with taxes, tips, all food onboard and basic drinks such as water, drip coffee, juices, sodas and tea.
The Route
The Scarlet Lady departs Miami on April 21, 2024, and arrives in Barcelona on May 5, 2024.
- April 21, 2024: Miami, USA (18:00)
- April 22-30: At Sea
- April 31: Funchal (Madeira), Portugal (08:00-18:00)
- May 1: At Sea
- May 2: Málaga, Spain (09:00-22:00)
- May 3: At Sea
- May 4: Palma de Mallorca, Spain (08:00-18:00)
- May 5: Barcelona, Spain (06:30)
The Ship
Virgin Voyages has identical ships with the Scarlet Lady and the Valiant Lady already in service. In the coming months, they will be joined by Resilient Lady and you don’t have to wait long for Brilliant Lady.
Virgin Voyages took delivery of its first ship, Scarlet Lady named after a Virgin Atlantic Airbus A340 in early 2020. As the company’s April 1, 2020 launch turned into an unintentional April Fools’ joke (except for the funny part), the ship rested until 2021 when it could finally start carrying the “young-at-heart” (except for the youngest).
They call inside cabins Insider cabins, which have three versions. You can see the standard version below, there is a Social Insider cabin with sleeping and seating space for 4 and solo travellers also have a nice cabin for themselves. Outside cabins are known as Sea View and come in standard (see below) and solo versions. Balcony cabins got the name Sea Terrace and you can see the seabed in the background.
But you won’t need to spend your time in your cabin (even if the free wi-fi is tempting). There are 20+ free restaurants and many bars where you can eat and drink. If you eat too much, there is a gym, a running track and an athletic club. When it comes to relaxation, there are pools, jacuzzis, a game arcade and other delights – you can even get a tattoo onboard. And of course, Virgin invests a lot in its daytime and evening entertainment/activities.
The Flights
We recommend allowing a day before your embarkation day, even if you arrive from the US. If something goes wrong, you’ll miss your entire cruise.
It’s too early to look for flights for next April as most airlines start selling flights a year before or even later.
Cover Picture: ©Virgin Voyages