Virgin Voyages: A Mediterranean Cruise
We sailed the Mediterranean on Virgin Voyages’ Scarlet Lady, traveling from Barcelona to Rome for a fun, adults-only summer escape. As an 18+ ship, it offers a lively atmosphere with a sleek, modern design.
This was our first time cruising with Virgin Voyages, though we’ve previously sailed with Celebrity, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, and Carnival (Celebrity amongst the top for us). When it came to dining, we were genuinely impressed. The ship’s restaurants served some of the best meals we’ve had at sea, easily surpassing many other cruise lines. Our top picks were Extra Virgin (Italian), Lucky Lotus (Chinese), and Gunbae (Korean BBQ).
Our only notable critique was the breakfast buffet, which felt mediocre compared to the excellent lunch and dinner options. The Wake offered an outstanding sit-down breakfast, but reservations were hard to come by and walk-ins weren’t guaranteed.
Entertainment on board was modern, edgy, and refreshing. We highly recommend catching the shows, especially Duel Reality, a bold, acrobatic twist on Romeo and Juliet that keeps you on the edge of your seat.
In terms of service, guest relations didn’t feel as warm or polished as what we’ve experienced on other lines. The staff skewed younger and seemed less seasoned in guest interaction.
Overall, it was a memorable and thoroughly enjoyable experience. We would absolutely sail with Virgin Voyages again.
Our Travel Itinerary
Stays
Spent three nights at the Yurbban Passage Hotel & Spa in Barcelona, booked directly through the hotel.
Embarked on a seven-night journey aboard the Scarlet Lady from Barcelona, with stops in Palma de Mallorca, Cannes, Ajaccio (Corsica), Florence (via Livorno), and Rome (Civitavecchia). The cruise was booked directly during Virgin Voyages’ Black Friday sale.
Disembarked in Rome and enjoyed a three-night stay at the Residenza Piranesi Boutique Hotel, reserved via Booking.com.
Excursions
Barcelona: Guided tour of La Sagrada Familia with skip-the-line access (Viator)
Girona & Figueres: Small-group tour featuring Girona and the Dalí Museum, including hotel pickup in Barcelona (Viator)
Palma de Mallorca: Bike tour exploring the old town, Cathedral and Parc de la Mar (Viator)
Nice, Èze & Monaco: Full-day tour from the Cannes port (Virgin Voyages excursion)
Corsica: Petite Train tour (booked in person at kiosk)
Florence:
Accademia Gallery priority entrance ticket (Viator)
Roundtrip transfer from Livorno to Florence (Virgin Voyages excursion)
Rome:
Guided tour of the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel & St. Peter’s Basilica (Viator)
Cooking class near the Spanish Steps featuring homemade fettuccine and tiramisu (Viator)
Guided tour of the Colosseum with Arena access, plus the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill (Viator)
Other Travel Bookings
Flew with British Airways from Los Angeles Airport to Barcelona, including a layover at London Heathrow.
Airport transfer in Barcelona arranged through Yurbban Passage Hotel & Spa
Uber from the hotel to the Barcelona port
Transfer from Civitavecchia port to the hotel arranged through Residenza Piranesi Boutique Hotel
Hotel-arranged transfer from the Rome hotel to the airport
Flew with British Airways from Rome Airport to Los Angeles, with a layover at London Heathrow.
Helpful Tips
Order euros from your bank before you travel. Banks may need a few business days to process foreign currency requests, so plan ahead.
AVOID currency exchange kiosks whenever possible. If you need cash, use an ATM instead, opt to be charged in the local currency (decline the conversion offer, your home bank will usually provide a better rate), and consider withdrawing a larger amount to minimize per-transaction fees.
In Rome, carrying euros was essential for certain transfers. Some services did not accept card payments.
Bring a shawl. We traveled during a summer heat wave, but some churches and cathedrals still didn’t allow exposed shoulders or bottoms above the knees. I ended up buying a shawl in Barcelona, and it worked perfectly.
Don’t be afraid to rent a scooter. We used Lime scooters in Rome to get from our hotel to the Colosseum and the Vatican. It was so much fun, and cheaper than taking a taxi.