Booking a Virgin Voyages cruise is straightforward once you understand the system — but there are more decisions to make than on a traditional cruise line, because Virgin Voyages gives you real choices that affect your flexibility, your dining access, and the perks you receive onboard. This guide walks you through every step, from choosing your sailing to completing your booking and preparing for embarkation day.
Step 1: Choose Your Ship, Itinerary, and Dates
Start at virginvoyages.com or work directly with a certified First Mate. Virgin Voyages currently operates four ships — Scarlet Lady, Valiant Lady, Resilient Lady, and Brilliant Lady — across Caribbean, Mediterranean, Alaska, and special itinerary sailings. Use the voyage planner to filter by departure port (Miami, San Juan, Barcelona, Athens, Los Angeles, Seattle, New York), voyage length, and destination region. Have two or three sailing options in mind before you start the booking process.
Step 2: Choose Your Cabin Category
Virgin Voyages offers five cabin categories: Insider (windowless), Sea View (window), Sea Terrace (private balcony with hammock), RockStar Quarters (suite), and Mega RockStar Quarters (flagship suite). For most first-time Sailors, the Sea Terrace is the right choice — private balcony, hammock, and the quintessential Virgin Voyages experience at a price that makes sense. If budget is the primary driver, Sea View and Insider deliver the full ship experience at lower entry prices.
Step 3: Choose Your Fare Tier (VoyageFair Choices)
For Sea Terrace and below, all bookings made after October 7, 2025 use the VoyageFair Choices system: Base, Essential, or Premium. This is the most important booking decision you will make, because it determines your flexibility, your dining reservation window, and what WiFi and Bar Tab you receive.
*Base: You select a cabin type but Virgin Voyages reserves the right to reassign your specific cabin up to 7 days before sailing.
RockStar and Mega RockStar suites are outside the VoyageFair system and include full flexibility plus dining reservations opening 120 days out.
Step 4: Add Gratuities
Since October 7, 2025, gratuities (~$20 per person per night) are shown as a separate line item at checkout. You can prepay them at a slight discount or pay onboard. Prepaying is worth it: it locks in the current rate and removes a line item from your final onboard bill.
Step 5: Book Through a First Mate
Booking through a certified Virgin Voyages First Mate costs you nothing extra and unlocks additional Sailor Loot (onboard credit) not available when booking direct. Joel and Erin at CruisePlanner.pro are certified First Mates. When you book through them, you access exclusive promotions, cabin selection guidance, and pre-voyage planning support — all at zero additional cost.
Step 6: Prepare for Your Pre-Voyage Tasks
After booking, your Virgin Voyages voyage to-do list includes: download the Virgin Voyages app, complete online check-in (opens 60 days before sailing), set up your onboard account, link bookings with travel companions, and open your dining reservation window when it unlocks (15, 45, or 60 days out depending on your fare tier). We cover all of these in detail in our separate planning guides.
Insider Tips from Joel and Erin
- Always book through a First Mate. It costs nothing and unlocks Sailor Loot unavailable direct. Joel and Erin are certified First Mates who have sailed Virgin Voyages and know the system inside out.
- Choose your fare tier based on flexibility needs, not just price. The jump from Base to Essential (for the 45-day dining window) is the single highest-value upgrade in the booking process.
- Book early for the best cabin selection. Specific Sea Terrace sub-types — XL, Central, Forward — sell quickly on popular sailings. Book early and choose your specific cabin at the Essential or Premium fare tier.
Ready to Book?
Joel and Erin are certified First Mates. Let them walk you through the full booking process and make sure you get the most from your Virgin Voyages voyage from the moment you book.
Book your Virgin Voyages cruise at CruisePlanner.pro — and let us guide your entire booking experience
