Winning over a whole new audience to cruising, as the star of Channel 5’s reality docu TV series The Cruise, Virgin Voyages Scarlet Lady has ripped up the cruise playbook and thrown it overboard.
From the moment you board, this Virgin Voyages cruise feels different. Part of it is down to the Scarlet lady’s design, which doesn’t comprise cookie cutter deck destinations (a tattoo parlour, yep they have that), and part is down to the entertainment and choice of eateries.
The ship’s livery is distinctive, with the outside areas predominantly grey and red. The interior is somewhat more glitzy, and instagrammable. Instead of a staid atrium, there’s the Roundabout, a bustling lobby with vinyl record store and coffee shop.
Is hotel hipster chic a thing? If it is, this might be it.
The casual atmosphere and upbeat nature of the staff is a major plus point. There’s no formal night, which will delight many, but there is a dress to impress policy for Scarlet Night, wherein everyone is encouraged to wear red. There’s suitably colourful activities around the ship.
TLR turned sailors (Virgin’s pet name for guests) for Scarlet Lady’s UK-centric inaugural season, as part of its Summer Soiree season saling out of Portsmouth, before the ship relocated to its new homeport in Miami.
Scarlet Lady’s homeport for 2022 is Miami Florida
For 2022 Scarlet Lady is offering four and five night cruises out of Miami, taking in Nassau, Puerto Plata, Cozumel and Beach Club at Bimini, prices start at $960 per cabin.
Virgin Voyages sister ship, Valiant Lady, is sailing out of Portsmouth, before transitioning to Barcelona in May 2022.
Virgin Voyages third cruise ship, Resilient Lady, will begin sailing this summer, initially out of the Athens port of Piraeus.
Virgin Voyages clearly hopes its novel approach will appeal to non-cruisers – but we suspect it’ll also appeal to cruise veterans looking for something different. The Scarlet Lady can accommodate just shy of 3000 passengers and virtually all cabins have an outside balcony. It’s classed as a mid-size vessel, but feels spacious and airy.
The main deck area is a glorious Beach Club
One big difference between the Scarlet Lady (and Valiant Lady) and rival cruise ships is the deck area. Rather than go for a conventional sundeck, the ship has created a beach club. A powerful sound system accompanies early morning aerobics. There’s also a secondary wellbeing pool area.
There’s around 20 dining options onboard the Scarlet Lady, six of which are premium dining destinations, and you’ll struggle to visit them all. We tried, of course. The food is so good, and the choice so varied, it would have been a shame not to put in the effort.
The fact that these restaurants are included in the price you pay is a significant bonus. They are equal to, if not superior to, other lines premium pay options.
The Galley food court, used for breakfast, lunch and afternoon snacks, goes beyond the usual. There’s a ramen noodle bar here which has an irresistible Spicy Tonkotsu, but do try out the Bento boxes, breakfast burritos and the sensational pastries.
The dining choices genuinely surprise: the much vaunted Test Kitchen has a laboratory vibe and serves an experiential six course tasting menu that pushes the gastronomic envelope: mushroom mouse in the shape of a mushroom, beef with chocolate, blue cheese ice cream. Not every course is a hit, but it sure makes a change from Beef Wellington.
Then there’s the vegetarian-forward Razzle Dazzle – its plant-based cooked breakfast is an absolute treat, and a great way to start the day. If you have a sweet tooth, try the Fairy Toast – a brioche slice topped with sweet sprinkles.
The Wake is a premium steak and fish restaurant, with predictably spectacular views. You enter via a winding staircase, it’s all very grand.
The Gunbae Korean BBQ is a dining at sea first
In what’s a cruise line first, there’s also Gunbae, a Korean BBQ, where octopus, Squid, pork belly and vegetables are cooked over a flameless grill – delicious! We didn’t need too much encouragement to join in with the complimentary Korean soju drinking game starter.
One of the best dressed restaurants onboard is the Pink Agave, a Mexican with interiors designed by Tom Dixon. Don’t plan on dining late. Come 10pm, the restaurant opens up its dance floor and a DJ hits the decks. There’s also an Italian, Extra Virgin.
The Dock House Open-Fire Grill is snack-tastic
While there’s no premium attached to these many dining options, all are included in the price, you will need to book on the dedicated app. All charges are made to your room using the Feeling Nautical wristband. There are no drinks packages though.
Fancy a light lunch? The Dock House Open-Fire Grill does a superb selection of tapas, with meat and seafood skewers grilled to order. There’s also The Pizza Place, the Pretty Fly for a White Pie (with a combo topping of Mozzarella, ricotta, parmesan and garlic) is to die for.
Virtually all cabins have an outside balcony
Our cabin, was smart and relatively spacious, with a high level of fixtures and fittings. The balcony features a hammock, and a small table – not quite large enough to accommodate an indulgent in-cabin champagne breakfast.
Entertainment options range from classic arcade machines and casino to cabaret. The Red Room Theatre is no hackneyed haven for show tunes. The stunts and athleticism of Montreal’s The 7 Fingers troupe had everyone gasping.
The Red Room theatre is no place for showtunes
The ship has free Wi-Fi, although when we were onboard it was almost comically slow. During the Risky Quizness pub quiz, our host encouraged players to use their smartphones, jokingly pointing out that pages wouldn’t load fast enough to be of any use.
There’s no shortage of places to chill. The Scarlet Lady literally has a dive bar. The Loose Cannon is dressed with diving paraphernalia, but it’s more notable for its rock ‘n’ roll jukebox, beer choices and excellent cocktails. It’s a great place to meet before heading off to eat, or winding down later in the evening.
The Manor Nightclub has its own glitzy ambience; inside is a stage for live music and dance floor. Entrance is via a mirrored walkway, perfect for social posts.
Need to work off your meals? The ship also has two well equipped gyms, and a running/walking track up top. There’s also the Athletic Club, an outside boxing area with a retro-Venice beach aesthetic, including punch bags and weight training. There’s also the Redemption Spa, with mud and salt rooms, and a hydrotherapy pool.
Virgin Voyages Scarlet Lady Verdict
Fun, frivolous and feisty, there’s nothing predictable about Virgin Voyage’s Scarlet Lady. With some of the best dining experiences we’ve had at sea, and a refreshing, contemporary ambience, this is cliché-free cruising. We had a ball. You will too.
Islay distillery Ardbeg has announced a limited edition single malt whisky, with accompanying graphic novel, to celebrate its titular Ardbeg Day on June 3. The new release, Ardbeg Heavy Vapours, is the first time ever that Ardbeg has distilled its whisky without a purifier, allowing the heaviest vapours to rise up the still during the…
Visitors to The Macallan Estate this summer are being offered an immersive theatrical experience like no other, as performers dramatise the real-life story of Janet Harbinson, who ran the estate during the Interwar period, before taking a unique tour of the distillery. This all-new Pioneers Experience will reveal the backstory to The Macallan’s 485-acre estate,…
British watchmaker Marloe has introduced its first GMT watch collection, a pair of limited edition £699 timepieces: the Marloe GMT Day and GMT Night. Traditional Greenwich Meantime watches are designed to display two time zones simultaneously. They feature an additional hand that points to a 24-hour time scale on the bezel, allowing the wearer to…
The Luxe Review 
Winning over a whole new audience to cruising, as the star of Channel 5’s reality docu TV series The Cruise, Virgin Voyages Scarlet Lady has ripped up the cruise playbook and thrown it overboard.
From the moment you board, this Virgin Voyages cruise feels different. Part of it is down to the Scarlet lady’s design, which doesn’t comprise cookie cutter deck destinations (a tattoo parlour, yep they have that), and part is down to the entertainment and choice of eateries.
The ship’s livery is distinctive, with the outside areas predominantly grey and red. The interior is somewhat more glitzy, and instagrammable. Instead of a staid atrium, there’s the Roundabout, a bustling lobby with vinyl record store and coffee shop.
Is hotel hipster chic a thing? If it is, this might be it.
View deals on upcoming Virgin Voyages cruises here.
The casual atmosphere and upbeat nature of the staff is a major plus point. There’s no formal night, which will delight many, but there is a dress to impress policy for Scarlet Night, wherein everyone is encouraged to wear red. There’s suitably colourful activities around the ship.
TLR turned sailors (Virgin’s pet name for guests) for Scarlet Lady’s UK-centric inaugural season, as part of its Summer Soiree season saling out of Portsmouth, before the ship relocated to its new homeport in Miami.
For 2022 Scarlet Lady is offering four and five night cruises out of Miami, taking in Nassau, Puerto Plata, Cozumel and Beach Club at Bimini, prices start at $960 per cabin.
Virgin Voyages sister ship, Valiant Lady, is sailing out of Portsmouth, before transitioning to Barcelona in May 2022.
Virgin Voyages third cruise ship, Resilient Lady, will begin sailing this summer, initially out of the Athens port of Piraeus.
Virgin Voyages clearly hopes its novel approach will appeal to non-cruisers – but we suspect it’ll also appeal to cruise veterans looking for something different. The Scarlet Lady can accommodate just shy of 3000 passengers and virtually all cabins have an outside balcony. It’s classed as a mid-size vessel, but feels spacious and airy.
One big difference between the Scarlet Lady (and Valiant Lady) and rival cruise ships is the deck area. Rather than go for a conventional sundeck, the ship has created a beach club. A powerful sound system accompanies early morning aerobics. There’s also a secondary wellbeing pool area.
There’s around 20 dining options onboard the Scarlet Lady, six of which are premium dining destinations, and you’ll struggle to visit them all. We tried, of course. The food is so good, and the choice so varied, it would have been a shame not to put in the effort.
The fact that these restaurants are included in the price you pay is a significant bonus. They are equal to, if not superior to, other lines premium pay options.
The Galley food court, used for breakfast, lunch and afternoon snacks, goes beyond the usual. There’s a ramen noodle bar here which has an irresistible Spicy Tonkotsu, but do try out the Bento boxes, breakfast burritos and the sensational pastries.
The dining choices genuinely surprise: the much vaunted Test Kitchen has a laboratory vibe and serves an experiential six course tasting menu that pushes the gastronomic envelope: mushroom mouse in the shape of a mushroom, beef with chocolate, blue cheese ice cream. Not every course is a hit, but it sure makes a change from Beef Wellington.
Then there’s the vegetarian-forward Razzle Dazzle – its plant-based cooked breakfast is an absolute treat, and a great way to start the day. If you have a sweet tooth, try the Fairy Toast – a brioche slice topped with sweet sprinkles.
The Wake is a premium steak and fish restaurant, with predictably spectacular views. You enter via a winding staircase, it’s all very grand.
In what’s a cruise line first, there’s also Gunbae, a Korean BBQ, where octopus, Squid, pork belly and vegetables are cooked over a flameless grill – delicious! We didn’t need too much encouragement to join in with the complimentary Korean soju drinking game starter.
One of the best dressed restaurants onboard is the Pink Agave, a Mexican with interiors designed by Tom Dixon. Don’t plan on dining late. Come 10pm, the restaurant opens up its dance floor and a DJ hits the decks. There’s also an Italian, Extra Virgin.
While there’s no premium attached to these many dining options, all are included in the price, you will need to book on the dedicated app. All charges are made to your room using the Feeling Nautical wristband. There are no drinks packages though.
Fancy a light lunch? The Dock House Open-Fire Grill does a superb selection of tapas, with meat and seafood skewers grilled to order. There’s also The Pizza Place, the Pretty Fly for a White Pie (with a combo topping of Mozzarella, ricotta, parmesan and garlic) is to die for.
Our cabin, was smart and relatively spacious, with a high level of fixtures and fittings. The balcony features a hammock, and a small table – not quite large enough to accommodate an indulgent in-cabin champagne breakfast.
Entertainment options range from classic arcade machines and casino to cabaret. The Red Room Theatre is no hackneyed haven for show tunes. The stunts and athleticism of Montreal’s The 7 Fingers troupe had everyone gasping.
The ship has free Wi-Fi, although when we were onboard it was almost comically slow. During the Risky Quizness pub quiz, our host encouraged players to use their smartphones, jokingly pointing out that pages wouldn’t load fast enough to be of any use.
There’s no shortage of places to chill. The Scarlet Lady literally has a dive bar. The Loose Cannon is dressed with diving paraphernalia, but it’s more notable for its rock ‘n’ roll jukebox, beer choices and excellent cocktails. It’s a great place to meet before heading off to eat, or winding down later in the evening.
The Manor Nightclub has its own glitzy ambience; inside is a stage for live music and dance floor. Entrance is via a mirrored walkway, perfect for social posts.
Need to work off your meals? The ship also has two well equipped gyms, and a running/walking track up top. There’s also the Athletic Club, an outside boxing area with a retro-Venice beach aesthetic, including punch bags and weight training. There’s also the Redemption Spa, with mud and salt rooms, and a hydrotherapy pool.
Virgin Voyages Scarlet Lady Verdict
Fun, frivolous and feisty, there’s nothing predictable about Virgin Voyage’s Scarlet Lady. With some of the best dining experiences we’ve had at sea, and a refreshing, contemporary ambience, this is cliché-free cruising. We had a ball. You will too.
View deals on upcoming Virgin Voyages cruises here.
Ready to set sail in style? Here are the best luxury cruise deals for 2023…
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Comics and drams: Ardbeg launches limited edition Heavy Vapours whisky, with new graphic novel
Islay distillery Ardbeg has announced a limited edition single malt whisky, with accompanying graphic novel, to celebrate its titular Ardbeg Day on June 3. The new release, Ardbeg Heavy Vapours, is the first time ever that Ardbeg has distilled its whisky without a purifier, allowing the heaviest vapours to rise up the still during the…
Discover the secrets of whisky Warehouse No 7 with The Macallan Estate Pioneers Experience
Visitors to The Macallan Estate this summer are being offered an immersive theatrical experience like no other, as performers dramatise the real-life story of Janet Harbinson, who ran the estate during the Interwar period, before taking a unique tour of the distillery. This all-new Pioneers Experience will reveal the backstory to The Macallan’s 485-acre estate,…
First dual time True GMT watches from British Marloe Watch Company take flight
British watchmaker Marloe has introduced its first GMT watch collection, a pair of limited edition £699 timepieces: the Marloe GMT Day and GMT Night. Traditional Greenwich Meantime watches are designed to display two time zones simultaneously. They feature an additional hand that points to a 24-hour time scale on the bezel, allowing the wearer to…
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