Late Nights and Longer Stays Make Virgin Voyages the Port Authority

Dinner starts at 10 pm on Mykonos and the nightclubs in Ibiza rarely open before midnight. While guests book cruises because they want to soak in the Caribbean sun, they also want to drink in the island culture. In Europe, they want to stare at Gaudi’s masterpiece buildings and maybe into the eyes of a handsome stranger across the bar – which can be hard to do with a 4 pm curfew.

 

Most cruise line schedules require guests to return to the ship well before happy hour, missing out on the lively evening culture of the destinations they traveled so far to see. Combined with multiple days at sea, it makes for a lovely vacation, but with little local color.

 

Nearly every Virgin Voyages sailing features a late stay or an overnight, so Sailors can wake up for coffee in Corfu and bask in the final rays of a Santorini sunset. Virgin Voyages’ adults-only environment means nobody needs to come back to the ship for their afternoon nap – unless they want to – and gives Sailors the chance to spend all day seeing the sights and all night being a sight to be seen.

 

Virgin Voyages’ port-intensive itineraries mean sailors can see more of the world and less of the sea. Even with the jam-packed entertainment schedule, fitness classes, and casino, fewer days at sea mean more days on the sandy beaches of Caribbean islands, exploring historic destinations, or in glamorous European cities. Virgin Voyages’ Mediterranean itineraries from Barcelona and Athens nearly all feature only one sea day, allowing Sailors to have true, immersive experiences at every port of call.

 

Many Virgin Voyages sailings start from San Juan, giving ships a head start on exploring the furthest depths of the Southern Caribbean. Eight-night itineraries visit seven different islands, including Barbados, Martinique, St. Lucia, and St. Kitts. Sailors can stay late into the night in Aruba to spend more time understanding why the motto is “one happy island,” or dance salsa at all hours during an overnight in Cartagena, Columbia.

 

The island of Ibiza comes alive at night and no visit would be complete without dropping into the iconic nightclubs and doing a bit of celebrity spotting during star-studded DJ sets. Sailors who want to stay out until the wee hours don’t need to fret about missing the boat because most sailings from Barcelona stop for a sleepover (or no-sleep-over) in Ibiza. Sailings from Athens generally feature an overnight in Mykonos, where mid-afternoon mezes stretch into sunset cocktails and late-night meals that spill into cobblestone streets, and nobody should need to rush the slow pace.

 

Book a cabana on the beach or stretch out on a lounger by the pool: All Caribbean itineraries sailing from Miami stop at Virgin Voyages’ exclusive Beach Club at Bimini. It has the creature comforts of an all-inclusive, a resident DJ spinning upbeat vibes, a food grove with a menu of local favorites, leaving Sailors rested and rejuvenated for their packed days – and nights – in ports. Most importantly, the Happenings Cast – Virgin Voyages’ own version of a cruise director, but a dozen times better, because it’s a team of 12 – brings their energy and events along with.

 

With exclusively adult, superyacht-inspired lady ships featuring signature red hammocks on every balcony (exclusive to our brand!) and a focus on offering nothing less than exceptional service, our unique vision has been defying Sailors expectations since we first hit the water. And now that we’ve become the first brand to sweep the entire large ship category for the 2023 Cruise Critic Cruisers’ Choice Awards, as well as take home Condé Nast Traveler’s Best New Cruises in the World and Travel + Leisure’s #1 Best Mega Ship. Our elevated and epic itineraries are curated with adults in mind and create a place where the only youthful energy comes from Sailor’s inner-child running free. And while a lot of travel companies like to trick you with (extra) low prices in their headlines — nickel and diming Sailors later — every voyage provides over $1,000 of value which includes access to all the premium dining at our 20+ eateries with menus curated by Michelin star chefs, group fitness classes, WiFi, gratuities, award-winning entertainment, and a soda and drinks package. First Mates enjoy our Brilliant For You benefits, including 16% commission on voyage fares, plus 10% on bookables, bar tabs, and no NCFs. For more information or to sign up to be a Virgin Voyages First Mate, travel advisors can visit www.FirstMates.com.