The experience was, fittingly, brilliant. To give you a sense of why, here are seven things we loved about the experience and why, after the fact, it\u2019s hard to imagine cruising with anyone else.<\/p>\n
Brilliant Lady Is Thoughtfully Designed<\/span><\/h2>\nLet\u2019s start with the ship itself, Brilliant Lady<\/em>. This is Virgin Voyages\u2019 fourth and newest ship. And while it\u2019s technically the smallest of the four, as Virgin likes to say, they \u201cput it on a diet\u201d so it could fit through the Panama Canal, its smaller size doesn\u2019t take anything away from the experience.<\/p>\nBrilliant Lady<\/em> is thoughtfully designed, and one thing that stood out right away was how close you are to everything at any given time. In the public areas especially, you\u2019re always within a short walk of a glitzy bar, a spot to grab a coffee or smoothie, or somewhere to sit back and relax.<\/p>\n![\"Virgin](\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP\/\/\/yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7\")
Brilliant Lady at Taino Bay. Credit: Tyler Glatt<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\nThe vibe (which we\u2019ll get into more below) speaks for itself. But the layout of the ship just worked. Even though the voyage was fully booked, there was always space to move around and unwind without feeling crowded, and always in settings that felt elevated and intentional.<\/p>\n
And to that end, the stateroom was pretty special, too. The best feature was the hammock on the balcony. I spent more hours than I\u2019d like to admit relaxing in it, watching Caribbean sunsets and our sailaways from the different ports of call.<\/p>\nStateroom on Virgin Voyages' Brilliant Lady. Credit: Tyler Glatt<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\nRelated: Virgin Voyages Sailing Club: Guide to Status Tiers, Benefits, and How to Earn Points While Cruising<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\nAn Unmatched Boutique Hotel Vibe<\/span><\/h2>\nThis Virgin Voyage didn\u2019t feel like a massive, impersonal cruise ship, it felt more like checking into a boutique hotel with a distinct personality. There\u2019s a sense of style and intention in every space, from the design to the music to the overall energy, that makes it feel elevated but still fun.<\/p>\n
Instead of blending into a generic experience, it felt like I was stepping into something curated and a little bit indulgent. By the second day, it wasn\u2019t about being on a cruise at all, instead it felt like I was just living somewhere cool for a week, and that feeling continued on to the very end.<\/p>\n
And by the end of the trip, I found myself thinking that I could extend the voyage another week.<\/p>\nThe Wake restaurant aboard Virgin Voyages Brilliant Lady. Credit: Jon Nickel-D'Andrea<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\nWhen you check into a boutique hotel, the check in agent is also an expert on the city and places to go. The restaurant feels like it\u2019s got a vibe you\u2019d want to spend time in. It might even have a chill spot during the day that opens up to a cool night club at night. That\u2019s exactly what this ship was like.<\/p>\n
When you\u2019d talk to your wait staff, they\u2019d tell you all about their home towns and countries. When I danced until 2 AM at the Manor, the next morning there was an 80\u2019s workout. I took in a chill concert at the base of the roundabout which, the next morning, became the main artery for getting throughout all the ship\u2019s social spaces.<\/p>\n
Every restaurant and space has been curated with design and uniqueness at the forefront. Each of the ship\u2019s restaurants was designed to feel a bit glamorous and a bit relaxed, not an easy feat to pull off. You can go from having a multiple course Michelin star inspired dinner to having a slice of pizza the next.<\/p>\n
Those same spaces are designed for hanging out during all hours of the day, and even though the ship holds over 2,000 people, not a single piece of furniture had worn out corners or torn fabric. Everything was well maintained and taken care of on the daily.<\/p>\nVirgin Voyages during Scarlet Night. Credit: Jon Nickel-D'Andrea<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\nUnique and Unexpected Entertainment<\/span><\/h2>\nI went in expecting a stereotypical cruise setup \u2014 fixed showtimes, big productions, everything mapped out in advance \u2014 but that\u2019s not really how it played out. Some of the best moments were things I just kind of stumbled into: a performance I wasn\u2019t planning on, a space that suddenly came alive, something happening that didn\u2019t feel overly programmed.<\/p>\nThe Manor aboard Virgin Voyages Brilliant Lady, decked out for Murder in the Manor. Credit: Jon Nickel-D'Andrea<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\nIt felt less like following a schedule and more like just wandering into whatever looked interesting. Instead of planning my nights around shows, I mostly just let the night unfold \u2014 and somehow that ended up being more memorable than anything I could\u2019ve booked ahead of time.<\/p>\n
I remember the first night I didn\u2019t want to go to the electric party because I didn\u2019t think I was ready for an intense nightclub “thumpy thumpy” vibe. When I showed up, I found a mix of all ages and genders, all just kinda vibing out to themselves and with their friends. I ran into people I met that morning at the pool and we ended up dancing together for an hour. It was exactly what I needed.<\/p>\nThe Manor during Electric Night aboard Virgin Voyages Brilliant Lady. Credit: Jon Nickel-D'Andrea<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\nThe last full day at sea the show that was going on at the Red Room was the same one that I saw on day two, but there was a concert going on at the roundabout, I just headed down to Deck 6 and checked it out. I hung out in the back with a Negroni and after about 45 minutes I headed out. It was exactly the right amount of social vibe that I needed before heading to bed.<\/p>\n
Food and Coffee That Were Above Par<\/span><\/h2>\nOne of the many things that had previously turned me off from pursuing any cruises was the idea that food was going to be generally a let down. Most of our acquaintances and clients on our travel agency had mentioned two things I do not care for in life: making lines in a buffet and eating what I can best describe as slop.<\/p>\n
I was very pleasantly surprised to learn that\u2019s not the Virgin way.<\/p>\nRestaurants aboard Virgin Voyages Brilliant Lady. Credit: Ben Nickel-D'Andrea<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\nThere are multiple restaurants onboard with very distinct vibes and menus, making it easy to alternate when you\u2019re eating at any point. Even if you return to the same venue, the menu is varied enough that you wouldn\u2019t necessarily have to repeat any dishes unless you truly wanted to. For lunch, you can choose a sit-down restaurant or head to The Galley, which is a kind of food court offering from grab-and-go items to prepared to order dishes. This is also where I could refill my reusable tumbler with all the soft drinks my heart desired \u2014 another plus for the no nickel-and-diming team.<\/p>\n
As an unexpected plus, this helped me a ton with moderating my food intake while trying to stay in shape. Many of the restaurants were happy to serve half-portions of their dishes, which further helped me feel good about my choices as well as minimizing food waste, which I\u2019m all about.<\/p>\nFood items at restaurants on Virgin Voyages Brilliant Lady. Credit Ben Nickel-D'Andrea<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\nThe best thing? While sit-down dinners can be scheduled through the Virgin Voyages app, you certainly do not have to, as they hold some tables at all venues for walk-ins. When we did that, we didn\u2019t have to wait more than 15-20 minutes, and when we were just walking in for dessert alone, we didn\u2019t have to wait at all, as most restaurants have a separate area for quick dining.<\/p>\n
I do enjoy good coffee as much as I enjoy eating quality meals, and the specialty coffee on Virgin Voyages did not disappoint. I\u2019m not a fan of drip, but I do appreciate that, just like with all dining options onboard, it\u2019s included with your fare.<\/p>\n
All coffee on Virgin is from Chicago-based roaster Intelligentsia, which I\u2019d had on land many times and enjoyed so I knew I would onboard too. This felt like a great partnership with a smaller provider that can still supply great-tasting smaller batch, single origin coffees that consistently do not disappoint and make you feel like you\u2019re not having a pre-packaged, mass-produced experience. They also use several top-of-the-range Victoria Arduino espresso machines throughout the ship so you know you\u2019re getting a quality shot every time you order your cup of joe.<\/p>\n
And speaking of cups, don\u2019t forget to ask them to serve it on a ceramic cup instead of the default paper cup \u2014 a great way to enjoy the best taste of your coffee without any intrusive flavors like cardboard.<\/p>\nCoffee from Intelligentsia served on Virgin Voyages. Credit: Ben Nickel-D'Andrea<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\nSpecialty coffee is an up-charge, but it is priced fairly at same or below than what I normally pay for a latte or cappuccino in most U.S. cities, so I was absolutely happy to splurge for these drinks every morning and sometimes for a pick-me-up after lunch.<\/p>\n
Baristas were friendly and happy to accommodate any customizations and the menu was good enough to keep changing my order every day without feeling repetitive. I also very much appreciated that there was a coffee omakase where we got to try coffee based adult beverages in the evening while enjoying a chat with a coffee connoisseur in a small-group setting, further proving that caffeination is not an afterthought in these voyages.<\/p>\n
You Can Socialize as Much or as Little as You Want<\/span><\/h2>\nOne of my biggest concerns going in was the social side of cruising \u2014 whether it would feel forced or awkward or unavoidable. I\u2019m not generally a high-energy social butterfly, so I need moments of downtime interspersed with the action.<\/p>\n
On Virgin Voyages, there\u2019s always something happening, especially at night, but it never feels like you\u2019re being pushed into it. I found that I could ease into a drink at The Dock House with the chillest vibe, then wander into something livelier like a live music session at The Roundabout, or just call it a night without feeling like I was missing out.<\/p>\n
That balance \u2014 having energy without the expectation that I had to partake in \u2014 ended up being a welcome surprise to me.<\/p>\nOn the Rocks. Credit: Tyler Glatt<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\nFor all of those times where I felt like checking out and retreating to a more secluded space, I had access to Richard\u2019s Rooftop. This is a space exclusive to where I found quieter corners to lay in the sun in one of the beach day-beds, dip in one of the hot tubs or just have a drink by the bar. While still definitely a socializing space, you can dial it up or down depending on your mood.<\/p>\n
An Intentional Focus on Health and Wellness<\/span><\/h2>\nI\u2019ve been on a healthier journey in the past couple of years, and as someone who spends about half of the year in hotels, this is generally something I struggle with. Many hotels, including some you would consider fancy, barely have any space or equipment to write home about.<\/p>\n
That was not the case on this Virgin Voyages sailing. I was even spoiled for choice when it came to choosing how I wanted to work out. From the general gym that\u2019s split into a aerobic area (think treadmills and bicycles) and muscle building area (with weight lifting equipment), to other areas throughout the ship helping you get some exercise in.<\/p>\n
On the top-most level you can find The Runway, which is a running and walking track around the stacks with the most gorgeous views. On the outdoor decks, you\u2019ll find The Sports Court, a multi-sports area where you can get some basketball or pickleball while at sea, or The Training Camp where you will find a boxing ring, a few punch bags and ropes for functional training. Beyond the equipment provided, there\u2019s also a wide array of generally instructor-led group classes like HIIT workouts, spinning classes, yoga sessions and stretching.<\/p>\nThe Athletic Club. Credit: Tyler Glatt<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\nA Curated List of Memorable ‘Shore Things'<\/span><\/h2>\nAn equally important part of any cruise is your experience off the ship. And even though I\u2019d personally visited a handful of the ports Brilliant Lady<\/em> stopped at on this voyage, something I really appreciated was the range of \u201cShore Things,\u201d Virgin Voyages\u2019 term for excursions.<\/p>\nThe options at each port, which you can browse and book in the Virgin Voyages app, were generally fairly priced. A lot of the more adventure-focused Shore Things also felt more unique than what I\u2019ve seen on other cruise lines. For example, I had the opportunity to hike Mount Liamuiga in St. Kitts, which ended up being one of the most memorable excursions I\u2019ve ever done. I also appreciated that it was sanctioned by Virgin Voyages, so if anything had gone wrong, the ship wouldn\u2019t have left without me.<\/p>\nThe trek up Mount Liamuiga in St. Kitts. Credit: Tyler Glatt<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\nBeyond the more adventure-focused options, there were plenty of ways to relax as well, including beach days, food experiences, ziplining, and more. There was no shortage of options, and everything was easy to browse and book in the app.<\/p>\n
Was every Shore Thing perfect? No. Jon and Ben weren\u2019t too impressed with a food tour they did in the Dominican Republic, but Virgin Voyages acted quickly to make it right. And that, more than anything, was noticeable.<\/p>\n
The vast majority of crew members genuinely seemed to want to go above and beyond to make the experience as good as possible. That was pretty special.<\/p>\nAntigua harbor. Credit: Tyler Glatt<\/em><\/enter><\/figure>\nFinal Thoughts<\/span><\/h2>\nTo distill the Virgin Voyages experience into a single word, it\u2019d be \u201cbrilliant.\u201d<\/p>\n
Before hopping onboard, only one of us (Tyler) had any experience at sea, and he\u2019s cruised several times. The other two of us (Jon and Ben) had never sailed at all. But by the end of the voyage, all of us walked away finding it hard to imagine cruising with anyone else. The memories we made will last a lifetime. Really, the experience was just that good.<\/p>\n
Plus, there are a lot of brand synergies between Virgin Voyages, Virgin Hotels, and Virgin Atlantic. If you\u2019ve stayed with the hotel brand or flown the airline and loved it, there\u2019s a good chance you\u2019ll find a lot to like at sea, too.<\/p>\n
Is it for everyone? No. But if you haven\u2019t tried it, it\u2019s absolutely worth seeing if it\u2019s for you. At least, that\u2019s our take. And we\u2019ve each already got our sights set on future voyages.<\/p>\n
Read more:<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n- Booking Virgin Voyages With Points: How to Book, Current Availability, and If They\u2019re Worth the Splurge<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n
- Virgin Voyages Announces Four-Ship Meetup at Sea \u2014 Here\u2019s When This Nautical Event Is Happening<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n
- Virgin Voyages Announces Two Loyalty-Focused Red Hot Sailing Club Voyages for 2027<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Page Contents<\/p>
- Brilliant Lady Is Thoughtfully Designed<\/a><\/li>
- An Unmatched Boutique Hotel Vibe<\/a><\/li>
- Unique and Unexpected Entertainment<\/a><\/li>
- Food and Coffee That Were Above Par<\/a><\/li>
- You Can Socialize as Much or as Little as You Want<\/a><\/li>
- An Intentional Focus on Health and Wellness<\/a><\/li>
- A Curated List of Memorable ‘Shore Things'<\/a><\/li>
- Final Thoughts<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
In March 2026, three members of the AwardWallet team had the opportunity to sail on the Virgin Voyages Red Hot Sailing Club voyage out of Miami aboard its newest ship, Brilliant Lady. The experience was, fittingly, brilliant. To give you a sense of why, here are several things we loved about the experience.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":103,"featured_media":259694,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_wpscppro_dont_share_socialmedia":false,"_wpscppro_custom_social_share_image":0,"_facebook_share_type":"","_twitter_share_type":"","_linkedin_share_type":"","_pinterest_share_type":"","_linkedin_share_type_page":"","_instagram_share_type":"","_medium_share_type":"","_threads_share_type":"","_google_business_share_type":"","_selected_social_profile":[],"_wpsp_enable_custom_social_template":false,"_wpsp_social_scheduling":{"enabled":false,"datetime":null,"platforms":[],"status":"template_only","dateOption":"today","timeOption":"now","customDays":"","customHours":"","customDate":"","customTime":"","schedulingType":"absolute"},"_wpsp_active_default_template":true},"categories":[12054],"tags":[12624,12628],"coauthors":[36499,36498,36432],"class_list":["post-259118","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-tips","tag-paid-travel","tag-travel-experience"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/259118","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/103"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=259118"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/259118\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":259710,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/259118\/revisions\/259710"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/259694"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=259118"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=259118"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=259118"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=259118"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
Brilliant Lady<\/em> is thoughtfully designed, and one thing that stood out right away was how close you are to everything at any given time. In the public areas especially, you\u2019re always within a short walk of a glitzy bar, a spot to grab a coffee or smoothie, or somewhere to sit back and relax.<\/p>\n The vibe (which we\u2019ll get into more below) speaks for itself. But the layout of the ship just worked. Even though the voyage was fully booked, there was always space to move around and unwind without feeling crowded, and always in settings that felt elevated and intentional.<\/p>\n And to that end, the stateroom was pretty special, too. The best feature was the hammock on the balcony. I spent more hours than I\u2019d like to admit relaxing in it, watching Caribbean sunsets and our sailaways from the different ports of call.<\/p>\n Related: Virgin Voyages Sailing Club: Guide to Status Tiers, Benefits, and How to Earn Points While Cruising<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n This Virgin Voyage didn\u2019t feel like a massive, impersonal cruise ship, it felt more like checking into a boutique hotel with a distinct personality. There\u2019s a sense of style and intention in every space, from the design to the music to the overall energy, that makes it feel elevated but still fun.<\/p>\n Instead of blending into a generic experience, it felt like I was stepping into something curated and a little bit indulgent. By the second day, it wasn\u2019t about being on a cruise at all, instead it felt like I was just living somewhere cool for a week, and that feeling continued on to the very end.<\/p>\n And by the end of the trip, I found myself thinking that I could extend the voyage another week.<\/p>\n When you check into a boutique hotel, the check in agent is also an expert on the city and places to go. The restaurant feels like it\u2019s got a vibe you\u2019d want to spend time in. It might even have a chill spot during the day that opens up to a cool night club at night. That\u2019s exactly what this ship was like.<\/p>\n When you\u2019d talk to your wait staff, they\u2019d tell you all about their home towns and countries. When I danced until 2 AM at the Manor, the next morning there was an 80\u2019s workout. I took in a chill concert at the base of the roundabout which, the next morning, became the main artery for getting throughout all the ship\u2019s social spaces.<\/p>\n Every restaurant and space has been curated with design and uniqueness at the forefront. Each of the ship\u2019s restaurants was designed to feel a bit glamorous and a bit relaxed, not an easy feat to pull off. You can go from having a multiple course Michelin star inspired dinner to having a slice of pizza the next.<\/p>\n Those same spaces are designed for hanging out during all hours of the day, and even though the ship holds over 2,000 people, not a single piece of furniture had worn out corners or torn fabric. Everything was well maintained and taken care of on the daily.<\/p>\n I went in expecting a stereotypical cruise setup \u2014 fixed showtimes, big productions, everything mapped out in advance \u2014 but that\u2019s not really how it played out. Some of the best moments were things I just kind of stumbled into: a performance I wasn\u2019t planning on, a space that suddenly came alive, something happening that didn\u2019t feel overly programmed.<\/p>\n It felt less like following a schedule and more like just wandering into whatever looked interesting. Instead of planning my nights around shows, I mostly just let the night unfold \u2014 and somehow that ended up being more memorable than anything I could\u2019ve booked ahead of time.<\/p>\n I remember the first night I didn\u2019t want to go to the electric party because I didn\u2019t think I was ready for an intense nightclub “thumpy thumpy” vibe. When I showed up, I found a mix of all ages and genders, all just kinda vibing out to themselves and with their friends. I ran into people I met that morning at the pool and we ended up dancing together for an hour. It was exactly what I needed.<\/p>\n The last full day at sea the show that was going on at the Red Room was the same one that I saw on day two, but there was a concert going on at the roundabout, I just headed down to Deck 6 and checked it out. I hung out in the back with a Negroni and after about 45 minutes I headed out. It was exactly the right amount of social vibe that I needed before heading to bed.<\/p>\n One of the many things that had previously turned me off from pursuing any cruises was the idea that food was going to be generally a let down. Most of our acquaintances and clients on our travel agency had mentioned two things I do not care for in life: making lines in a buffet and eating what I can best describe as slop.<\/p>\n I was very pleasantly surprised to learn that\u2019s not the Virgin way.<\/p>\n There are multiple restaurants onboard with very distinct vibes and menus, making it easy to alternate when you\u2019re eating at any point. Even if you return to the same venue, the menu is varied enough that you wouldn\u2019t necessarily have to repeat any dishes unless you truly wanted to. For lunch, you can choose a sit-down restaurant or head to The Galley, which is a kind of food court offering from grab-and-go items to prepared to order dishes. This is also where I could refill my reusable tumbler with all the soft drinks my heart desired \u2014 another plus for the no nickel-and-diming team.<\/p>\n As an unexpected plus, this helped me a ton with moderating my food intake while trying to stay in shape. Many of the restaurants were happy to serve half-portions of their dishes, which further helped me feel good about my choices as well as minimizing food waste, which I\u2019m all about.<\/p>\n The best thing? While sit-down dinners can be scheduled through the Virgin Voyages app, you certainly do not have to, as they hold some tables at all venues for walk-ins. When we did that, we didn\u2019t have to wait more than 15-20 minutes, and when we were just walking in for dessert alone, we didn\u2019t have to wait at all, as most restaurants have a separate area for quick dining.<\/p>\n I do enjoy good coffee as much as I enjoy eating quality meals, and the specialty coffee on Virgin Voyages did not disappoint. I\u2019m not a fan of drip, but I do appreciate that, just like with all dining options onboard, it\u2019s included with your fare.<\/p>\n All coffee on Virgin is from Chicago-based roaster Intelligentsia, which I\u2019d had on land many times and enjoyed so I knew I would onboard too. This felt like a great partnership with a smaller provider that can still supply great-tasting smaller batch, single origin coffees that consistently do not disappoint and make you feel like you\u2019re not having a pre-packaged, mass-produced experience. They also use several top-of-the-range Victoria Arduino espresso machines throughout the ship so you know you\u2019re getting a quality shot every time you order your cup of joe.<\/p>\n And speaking of cups, don\u2019t forget to ask them to serve it on a ceramic cup instead of the default paper cup \u2014 a great way to enjoy the best taste of your coffee without any intrusive flavors like cardboard.<\/p>\n Specialty coffee is an up-charge, but it is priced fairly at same or below than what I normally pay for a latte or cappuccino in most U.S. cities, so I was absolutely happy to splurge for these drinks every morning and sometimes for a pick-me-up after lunch.<\/p>\n Baristas were friendly and happy to accommodate any customizations and the menu was good enough to keep changing my order every day without feeling repetitive. I also very much appreciated that there was a coffee omakase where we got to try coffee based adult beverages in the evening while enjoying a chat with a coffee connoisseur in a small-group setting, further proving that caffeination is not an afterthought in these voyages.<\/p>\n One of my biggest concerns going in was the social side of cruising \u2014 whether it would feel forced or awkward or unavoidable. I\u2019m not generally a high-energy social butterfly, so I need moments of downtime interspersed with the action.<\/p>\n On Virgin Voyages, there\u2019s always something happening, especially at night, but it never feels like you\u2019re being pushed into it. I found that I could ease into a drink at The Dock House with the chillest vibe, then wander into something livelier like a live music session at The Roundabout, or just call it a night without feeling like I was missing out.<\/p>\n That balance \u2014 having energy without the expectation that I had to partake in \u2014 ended up being a welcome surprise to me.<\/p>\n For all of those times where I felt like checking out and retreating to a more secluded space, I had access to Richard\u2019s Rooftop. This is a space exclusive to where I found quieter corners to lay in the sun in one of the beach day-beds, dip in one of the hot tubs or just have a drink by the bar. While still definitely a socializing space, you can dial it up or down depending on your mood.<\/p>\n I\u2019ve been on a healthier journey in the past couple of years, and as someone who spends about half of the year in hotels, this is generally something I struggle with. Many hotels, including some you would consider fancy, barely have any space or equipment to write home about.<\/p>\n That was not the case on this Virgin Voyages sailing. I was even spoiled for choice when it came to choosing how I wanted to work out. From the general gym that\u2019s split into a aerobic area (think treadmills and bicycles) and muscle building area (with weight lifting equipment), to other areas throughout the ship helping you get some exercise in.<\/p>\n On the top-most level you can find The Runway, which is a running and walking track around the stacks with the most gorgeous views. On the outdoor decks, you\u2019ll find The Sports Court, a multi-sports area where you can get some basketball or pickleball while at sea, or The Training Camp where you will find a boxing ring, a few punch bags and ropes for functional training. Beyond the equipment provided, there\u2019s also a wide array of generally instructor-led group classes like HIIT workouts, spinning classes, yoga sessions and stretching.<\/p>\n An equally important part of any cruise is your experience off the ship. And even though I\u2019d personally visited a handful of the ports Brilliant Lady<\/em> stopped at on this voyage, something I really appreciated was the range of \u201cShore Things,\u201d Virgin Voyages\u2019 term for excursions.<\/p>\n The options at each port, which you can browse and book in the Virgin Voyages app, were generally fairly priced. A lot of the more adventure-focused Shore Things also felt more unique than what I\u2019ve seen on other cruise lines. For example, I had the opportunity to hike Mount Liamuiga in St. Kitts, which ended up being one of the most memorable excursions I\u2019ve ever done. I also appreciated that it was sanctioned by Virgin Voyages, so if anything had gone wrong, the ship wouldn\u2019t have left without me.<\/p>\n Beyond the more adventure-focused options, there were plenty of ways to relax as well, including beach days, food experiences, ziplining, and more. There was no shortage of options, and everything was easy to browse and book in the app.<\/p>\n Was every Shore Thing perfect? No. Jon and Ben weren\u2019t too impressed with a food tour they did in the Dominican Republic, but Virgin Voyages acted quickly to make it right. And that, more than anything, was noticeable.<\/p>\n The vast majority of crew members genuinely seemed to want to go above and beyond to make the experience as good as possible. That was pretty special.<\/p>\n To distill the Virgin Voyages experience into a single word, it\u2019d be \u201cbrilliant.\u201d<\/p>\n Before hopping onboard, only one of us (Tyler) had any experience at sea, and he\u2019s cruised several times. The other two of us (Jon and Ben) had never sailed at all. But by the end of the voyage, all of us walked away finding it hard to imagine cruising with anyone else. The memories we made will last a lifetime. Really, the experience was just that good.<\/p>\n Plus, there are a lot of brand synergies between Virgin Voyages, Virgin Hotels, and Virgin Atlantic. If you\u2019ve stayed with the hotel brand or flown the airline and loved it, there\u2019s a good chance you\u2019ll find a lot to like at sea, too.<\/p>\n Is it for everyone? No. But if you haven\u2019t tried it, it\u2019s absolutely worth seeing if it\u2019s for you. At least, that\u2019s our take. And we\u2019ve each already got our sights set on future voyages.<\/p>\n Read more:<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Page Contents<\/p> In March 2026, three members of the AwardWallet team had the opportunity to sail on the Virgin Voyages Red Hot Sailing Club voyage out of Miami aboard its newest ship, Brilliant Lady. The experience was, fittingly, brilliant. To give you a sense of why, here are several things we loved about the experience.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":103,"featured_media":259694,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_wpscppro_dont_share_socialmedia":false,"_wpscppro_custom_social_share_image":0,"_facebook_share_type":"","_twitter_share_type":"","_linkedin_share_type":"","_pinterest_share_type":"","_linkedin_share_type_page":"","_instagram_share_type":"","_medium_share_type":"","_threads_share_type":"","_google_business_share_type":"","_selected_social_profile":[],"_wpsp_enable_custom_social_template":false,"_wpsp_social_scheduling":{"enabled":false,"datetime":null,"platforms":[],"status":"template_only","dateOption":"today","timeOption":"now","customDays":"","customHours":"","customDate":"","customTime":"","schedulingType":"absolute"},"_wpsp_active_default_template":true},"categories":[12054],"tags":[12624,12628],"coauthors":[36499,36498,36432],"class_list":["post-259118","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-tips","tag-paid-travel","tag-travel-experience"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/259118","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/103"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=259118"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/259118\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":259710,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/259118\/revisions\/259710"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/259694"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=259118"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=259118"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=259118"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=259118"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"Virgin](\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Virgin-Voyages-Puerto-Plata-scaled.jpeg\")
![\"Virgin](\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Virgin-Voyages-Editorial-1-scaled.jpeg\")
An Unmatched Boutique Hotel Vibe<\/span><\/h2>\n
![\"The](\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_7488-750x563.jpg\")
![\"Virgin](\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_7890-750x563.jpg\")
Unique and Unexpected Entertainment<\/span><\/h2>\n
![\"The](\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_7653-1-750x563.jpg\")
![\"The](\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/IMG_7981-750x563.jpg\")
Food and Coffee That Were Above Par<\/span><\/h2>\n
![\"Restaurants](\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/452129A0-DBDF-4B0C-9230-DE3550EEF0D8_1_102_o-750x250.jpeg\")
![\"Food](\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/38C0A86E-F712-4DF3-9642-69702D401B92_1_102_o-750x200.jpeg\")
![\"Coffee](\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/B21E8220-74F2-4539-82F7-D5F7397BED88_1_102_o-750x250.jpeg\")
You Can Socialize as Much or as Little as You Want<\/span><\/h2>\n
![\"Brilliant](\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/VV-Bar-scaled.jpeg\")
An Intentional Focus on Health and Wellness<\/span><\/h2>\n
![\"Brilliant](\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/VV-Fitness-scaled.jpeg\")
A Curated List of Memorable ‘Shore Things'<\/span><\/h2>\n
![\"Mount](\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/VV-Hike-scaled.jpeg\")
![\"Boats](\"https:\/\/awardwallet.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/VV-Hike2-scaled.jpeg\")
Final Thoughts<\/span><\/h2>\n
\n