It feels like we’d been waiting years for this moment to arrive. In February 2020 we spent a night onboard Scarlet Lady in a cold and wet Dover, where we had a brief chance to take a look at Virgin Voyages‘ first-ever cruise ship. Ever since then we couldn’t wait to get back on board and explore the ship at our leisure during a proper sailing, and finally, Patrick and Sam managed to book themselves on and spend four nights sailing around the South Coast on one of Virgin’s immensely popular Summer Soirée sailings. Find out what Patrick made of his second experience onboard Scarlet Lady in his cruise review.
Itinerary
Portsmouth / Cruising the South Coast / Portsmouth
How was the embarkation process with Virgin Voyages?
Discounting the slow covid testing process pre-embarkation, we found boarding the ship in Portsmouth extremely smooth. After being given a fashionable piece of wearable tech – known as a seaband, we were whisked on board for the start of our adult-only 4-night voyage.
Tell us about the accommodation on Scarlet Lady
My central sea terrace, one of 1330 cabins on the normally 2,800-passenger ship was well located on deck 11 of this 17 deck ship. The décor of the cabins is true Virgin Voyages style – modern, classy with regular splashes of red. This has to be one of the most tech advanced cabins I’ve experienced so far, with an in-cabin tablet to control everything from room service to the popular ‘get it on’ mode that turned the lights down, shut the curtains and played some seductive tunes. That’s not the only cheeky hint at intimacy you’ll find on Scarlet Lady. In each cabin you’ll find a ‘Time To Play’ kit for sale, I’ll leave its contents to the imagination, but let’s just say you can tell this is an adults-only ship… The cruise line’s not just for virgins, evidently. I must also mention the handwoven hammocks on each sea terrace, I initially thought this was a bit of a gimmick but having enjoyed a siesta or two during this sailing I have to say I’m certainly sold on the idea.
How did you find the ship in general?
The first ship in Virgin Voyages’ growing fleet, Scarlet Lady has a capacity for 2,770 sailors (aka passengers) across 1,330 cabins. Everything on this ship is designed to wow, but the best thing for me was the entertainment. Extremely creative performances ranging from immersive acrobatics to a chart-topping indie band.
As you’d expect from any cruise ship that spends much of its time on the ocean, the upper decks boast a large number of outdoor activities from a giant chessboard, to a huge hot pool and outdoor gym. For those dare devils, be sure to check out The Net located at the aft of deck 16. A bungee style rope mesh net where you can view the wake of the ship.
The star of the show is the Aquatic Club which features a plunge pool and Club bar serving up cocktails of all varieties, here you’ll find poolside DJs, impromptu musical performances and the occasional pool party.
What was the food like on Scarlet Lady?
We experienced some great food and drink over the four days, including steaks at the Wake, vegetarian burgers in Razzle Dazzle, Korean sharing plates in Gunbae, tasting dishes in Test Kitchen and some fantastic Mexican cuisine at Pink Agave. You won’t see the traditional cruise buffet with over 20 food choices onboard, you can eat what you want when you want. Some other must-visit spots include Lick me ‘Till Ice Cream – Ice cream shop, The Pizza Place and Sun Club Cafe for those poke bowl fans.
I was a huge fan of the various bars and lounges on board, with my favourite being the Loose Cannon which was tucked away on deck 7 and decked out like the inside off an old wooden ship. You could sample one of their many libations while tackling one of the various board games on offer.
Don’t be scared to go off-piste when ordering at the bar. Whilst all the bars have their own menu’s offering carefully crafted drinks to suit the ambience we’d recommend asking your bartenders to knock up one of their special concoctions. Champagne lovers won’t have to travel far, just a quick shake of the phone and a secret Champagne button is revealed and, with just one press, a bottle of Moët Chandon will be delivered to your location.
What is the entertainment like on Scarlet Lady?
Scarlet Lady has the ability to surprise you at so many turns from its immersive entertainment to its onboard tattoo studio. Die-hard cruisers who are used to a set-time traditional cruising experience may find it a little disorientating at first. Virgin Voyages swap out the classic Broadway cruise productions for more immersive performances. One of the stand-out shows called Duel Reality – an extremely well-choreographed and breathtakingly athletic take on Romeo and Juliet had me on the edge of my seat. Another interesting and rather nerve-racking show aptly named Never Sleep Alone is certainly not for the faint-hearted but again not to be missed. We also had the pleasure of watching an indie band from Manchester perform on quite a few occasions, they were certainly a crowd-pleaser.
Does Scarlet Lady offer any fitness & recreational facilities?
Scarlet Lady offers some of the best gym facilities I’ve had the chance to experience at sea. I’m by no means a gym freak but I like to start my day with a cheeky workout, especially when the rest of my day is likely to be spent indulging in the copious amounts of dining options available onboard. The B-Complex gym features the ultimate well-being and fitness experience with its Build, Bike and Balance rooms, all with spectacular ocean views. If you’d prefer to be taking in some sea air then head to the Athletic Club on deck 16 where you can summon your inner Rocky, shoot some hoops on the basketball court then refuel at the cold-pressed juice bar. I must not forget to mention the runway dedicated jogging track, which unlike most cruise ships sits above any walkways, so ducking and diving can be kept in the boxing ring.
Any tips for someone looking to cruise on Scarlet Lady?
Virgin Voyages don’t do drinks packages, however, you can purchase a Bar Tab before you set sail. The best thing is Virgin Voyages are very generous with their bar tabs, in fact, if you purchase a $300 prepaid bar tab they’ll top you off with an extra $50 to spend at any bar on board or even at The Beach Club at Bimini if you’re on one of their Caribbean itineraries. This offer seems a no brainer really, I mean, you’re not exactly going to turn down free money are you.
Final thoughts on Virgin Voyages’ Scarlet Lady
Possibly a sensory overload for some traditionalists but having been wowed on a 4-night cruise to nowhere it was only fair I give her another try. I had barely unpacked my bags before booking a voyage in the Med next year on board her sister ship Valiant Lady. To put it simply, I want more.
