Yes, I said 46 Insider Tips! No gatekeeping here, so here we go… Last week, I detailed my sailing on Virgin Voyages’ Comedy Fest and shared some Insider tips.  That list wasn’t all-encompassing, so I am listing those tips here and adding additional tips for sailing on Virgin Voyages. As all four ships are nearly identical in layout and have similar menus and activities, these should apply to all of the ships. As amazing as sailing on Virgin Voyages is, there are things you can do to ensure you get even more out of your vacation. So…here are the 46 must-know Insider Tips for sailing on Virgin Voyages.

Booking

• Book a Rock Star or Mega Rockstar suite to get a black bracelet and special perks that come with Rockstar status (see below).
• Repeat sailors get Blue Extras or Deep Blue Extras, which provide free coffees, laundry service, a cocktail party, early boarding, and a bar tab.
• Book a Sea Terrace cabin (balcony) and confirm in advance that the cabin has a hammock. The hammocks are the best.
• When onboard, purchase a My Next Virgin Voyages Voucher. With a $150 deposit, a placeholder is reserved for another cruise within the next two years. Currently, when you buy this, you also get $150 to $250 off the fare and $150 to $250 in shipboard credit, depending on the length of the sailing. These are transferable and can be used when booking with a First Mate (Travel Agent).
• Shore Things Excursions and wifi are cheaper if purchased prior to sailing.  Purchasing an enhanced premium WiFi package in advance of sailing also gives you free premium WiFi on a second device. For example, your cabinmate can use this for their phone as the second device on the plan.
• Virgin Voyages has a Refer-a-sailor program. If another sailor who has never sailed with Virgin Voyages before books a sailing using your refer-a-friend link, you both get a $150 free bar tab. First Mates can also book using your refer-a-friend link, so you still get credit.
• If you purchase a bar tab prior to sailing, you will receive a bonus bar tab.
  
• Like airfares, cruise pricing changes. It never hurts to ask if your fare has come down and get it repriced prior to sailing.

Cabins

• In your cabin, the tablet controls the lighting.  There are special themed mood lighting settings, such as ‘Let’s Get it On’. Play around with them!

• There are no irons in the cabins, but you can message sailor services in the app, and you can get a steamer delivered.

• One of the best ways to get a better cabin for less is by bidding on a level upgrade.  Check out www.virginvoyages.com/upgrade to check your eligibility. Depending on your current cabin, you can bid up to suites.   The bid is the total price for everyone in the cabin, and there is no extra charge for taxes. You don’t necessarily have to bid high to win the upgrade.

Dining

• Dining reservations become available 45 or 60 days prior to sailing, depending on your cabin type. Reservations open at midnight. Schedule a reminder on your calendar for shortly before midnight. Then, go into the app and book all your reservations at midnight to help ensure you get the days and times you want. Only a percentage of reservations are made available in advance. If you don’t get what you want, make the rest of your reservations as soon as you board the ship.
• Make reservations for brunch at Razzle Dazzle and The Wake. This can be done in the app prior to sailing.
• Each bar has its own signature cocktails. Try them!
• If you shake your phone, the app will allow you to have champagne delivered wherever you are on the ship.
• If you find you have bar tab remaining at the end of the sailing, order a bottle of champagne to your cabin and take it home.  It can be packed in your checked luggage.
• Get free champagne at the sailaway party.
• As water is free on the ship, bring a refillable water bottle. You can start by filling it with the supplied and refilled water containers in your cabin. Take it with you around the ship and on excursions.
• To avoid the $10 fee for Ship Eats room service delivery, order a drink for at least $10 (for which you can even use your bar tab), and the room service delivery fee will be waived.
• In The Galley, there are little signs on each table. If you raise the flag on the sign, someone will come take your drink and food order, so you don’t need to walk around to each food area. They will deliver it to your table as well!
  
• Food not to miss:
  • At Extra Virgin – affogato for dessert!
  • In The Galley – the avocado toast, the fries, and the s’mores dessert jar.
  • In The Wake – the twice-baked potatoes and the steak sauce.
  • In The Social Club – the pretzels with cheese sauce and the brittle.
  • When first boarding the ship, The Dock is a great place to hang out and have a Mediterranean snack.
  • In Razzle Dazzle, one word – Bacon! Get the sweet and spicy bacon at brunch.
  • At Gunbae – the DakgangJeong crispy chicken appetizer. Also, I like to eat here on the first night of the cruise so I can meet people early on and make new friends.
    
  • The Sun Club Cafe on deck 16 –  great Poke bowls and spicy popcorn.

Activities

• In the app, favorite all activities and shows that you’re interested in and add the ones you’re planning to attend to your personalized schedule. Restaurant reservations and excursions (Shore Things) are automatically added to your personalized schedule.
• Be sure to catch Magic with The Charmer on Sea Days for an intimate up-close magic show.  You may even get an invite to a secret event.
• In the casino, scan your bracelet at the slot machine before you play, so your play can be rated for comps. At table games, the dealers will automatically scan your bracelet.
• If this show is on your ship, catch Misbehave. It’s a combination of a game show, a circus act, audience participation, and a comedy show. It’s wacky and fun.
• Sailor Services on deck 5 has free decks of cards if you ask.
  
• In the casino, you can cash in sailor loot on your account for gambling chips.  They can’t be cashed out, but can be used to play with.  So keep betting them until you lose them while keeping the regular chips you receive when you win. You may come out ahead!

Ship Spaces

• There is a really nice sitting space outside on deck 7, where the board games are stored outside The Social Club. You can even bring the games out there (see photo above).
• Deck 16 is a great place to stand over the pool for the sailaway party and Scarlet Night pool party. It has great views and will keep you dry.
• The amazing red hammocks that are on the balconies are sold in the store on board.
• This is an odd one.  There are large porthole windows in the casino.  Around the portholes are large metal frames.  Beware of them when walking between the table games and the windows.  Many people (including me) bump into them repeatedly! Your shoulders will thank you.
• In The Manor, there is a great semi-round both as soon as you walk into the main room on the left. The seat is comfortable, semi-private, close to the bar, offers a great view, and lets you exit quickly after a show.
  
• There is a puppy playroom on deck 17!   Ok, there isn’t, but there should be!  Virgin Voyages, are you listening???

Rockstar Status

If you have Rockstar status, check out the following:

• Trade out bottles of alcohol you don’t want in your suite for types of alcohol you do want.  Your suite attendant will do it for you. No need for good alcohol to go to waste!
• Rockstars pay no fees in the casino for gambling money charged to their ship account.
• Be sure to visit Richard’s Rooftop for happy hour, where you can get free drinks.  The outdoor beds there are so comfortable.
• Rockstars can enter shows early and avoid the line.  There is even a separate Rockstar line to buy bingo cards. They can also skip most of the line to reboard the ship at ports. 
• In Bimini, there’s a separate Rockstar shuttle to and from the beach club, so no need to wait in line for the regular shuttle.
  
• You can take home the unused alcohol bottles in your suite.

There are 46 must-know Insider Tips for sailing on Virgin Voyages. Ok, so there were really only 45 things (although I still want puppies!). I was going for brevity. 🙂 Hopefully, these will help make sure you have even smoother sailing on your next Virgin Voyage.

If you are considering booking a sailing, please reach out, as Miles Man can help you book a paid sailing or use miles and points to get you an amazing deal!

What other tips do you have when sailing on Virgin Voyages? Please comment below. I’d love to hear them!

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