Virgin Voyages Menus made a bold pledge to transform the cruise business when it first entered the market in 2020. When I traveled, I was pleasantly delighted to find that Richard Branson’s cruise line lived up to the expectations, particularly when it comes to the culinary selections and scarlet lady restaurants.
Dining on Virgin Voyages Menus is an experience unto itself. Not many non-luxury (i.e., non-all-inclusive) cruise lines provide as much free meals as this one. You won’t find this feature on other popular ships. In fact, all aboard restaurants are free for patrons to eat at. (The lone exception is a dinner theater-style affair that happens inside Resilient Lady’s nightclub.)
The absence of buffets on Virgin ships is another distinctive feature of their dining offerings. Rather, they contain sections of food courts with many counters and kiosks. While some choices require you to order in person, others will send servers to your table and inquire about your preferences.
It is also remarkable how varied it is. The restaurant menus of Virgin Voyages include a variety of dishes, such as Italian, Mexican, and Korean, in addition to vegan selections and a little amount of molecular gastronomy. When it comes to quality, well, let me just say that it’s on par with any fancy waterfront restaurant where getting a reservation usually requires you to “know a guy”.
Dining options on Virgin Voyages
Dazzlingly beautiful
Salutations, vegetarians. Razzle Dazzle is a veggie-forward concept created by Eric Kim Haugen, a judge on Food Network’s “Big Restaurant Bet.” The name comes from the perplexing black-and-white paint scheme used on World War I ships. The restaurant serves supper and breakfast, and its menu offers inventive options for sailors who avoid meat.
Try the nutty gazpacho with cucumbers, peppers, marcona almonds, and roasted garlic croutons for breakfast, or the avocado toast with sriracha, watermelon radish, finger lime, and toasted seeds. Or, try the Impossible burger with poblano salsa, paprika veganaise, avocado, and fries. (A salad may be used in place of the fries, which are tasty and adorable presented in a container that resembles a smashed black Solo cup.)
Vibrant Agave
A fashionable ship wouldn’t be the same without a Mexican eatery. Via an illuminated glass archway, Pink Agave welcomes you into a dimly lit, opulent area that evokes memories of bygone Miami. The restaurant’s menu, which features a lot of mezcal and is developed by renowned chef and legend of the Phoenix culinary scene Silvana Salcido Esparza of the Barrio Cafe, features premium Mexican cuisine.
Superior Virgin
Resilient Lady’s Italian eatery, Extra Virgin, is a comfortable although rather posh setting. There are five dishes served in true Italian fashion: antipasto, affettati misti (an Italian cured meat plate), secondo, pasta, and dessert. So, be sure to arrive hungry.
The pancetta, tomato sauce, and smoked mozzarella perfectly accompany the delicious braised little meatballs, which you won’t want to miss. After that, order the vegetarian Brussels sprouts with polenta, chilies, and hazelnuts, along with the affettati misti cheese platter, which includes Parmesan, Romano, and Gorgonzola. The truffle butter sauce, mushroom, and spinach paired with potato gnocchi is a beautiful dish.
Test Kitchen
Test Kitchen is a restaurant with a lab-like aesthetic that emphasizes presentation with a hint of molecular gastronomy. The chefs Matt Lambert of The Musket Room in New York City created the two menus, which rotate to provide unique experiences on each cruise.
There are just a few basic products on the menu, such as maize, salmon, beetroot, asparagus, strawberries, shrimp, or lamb, and a dish made to go with each. Tagliatelle pasta with jumbo shrimp and tomatoes in lobster broth; sugar-marinated salmon with cucumbers; beetroot ravioli with pesto and cashews; cornbread with spreadable garlic and onion-corn custard; asparagus sorbet with a sauce composed of egg yolk, cream, and Champagne, topped with ginger; and a strawberry dessert are a few examples.
The Kitchen
The Galley is your best bet for grab-and-go food or other informal alternatives. The Galley is the closest thing Virgin’s ships have to a buffet, without the self-serve layout (apart from the prepackaged grab-and-go products). It is designed to resemble a food court. You may choose to sit down and wait for a waiter to come to you to take your order, or you can belly up to one of many counters that are creating options like sushi from Bento Baby, salads from The Daily Mix, and tacos from Let’s Taco Bout It.
FAQs
Can you eat as much as you want on Virgin cruises?
Absolutely, as all meals are included in the cruise ticket, you may eat as much as you want while sailing with Virgin Voyages. Additionally, throughout your voyage, you are free to visit as many restaurants as you want and order as many foods from the menu as you desire. ShipEats may also be ordered whenever you’d like.
How often is it possible to reserve a restaurant on Virgin Voyages?
A sailor is limited to one reservation per night. However, the Galley serves late-night food, so you may stop over if you’re yearning anything more after supper.
Is tipping prohibited on Virgin Voyages?
Can I give the onboard crew a gratuity extra? We’ve already taken care of our crew members that are on board. So don’t worry — we’ll cover the tips. You are, of course, welcome to leave our Crew with further tips if you so choose.
Is food complimentary on cruises?
There is always free food available on board, which comes in a variety of varieties and tastes. On most lines, drinks are limited to tap water, iced tea, and some juices; additional charges apply for most other beverages. Tea and coffee are free of charge, however specialized coffee drinks are often not.
Is it possible to eat for free every day on a cruise?
On a cruise, breakfast, lunch, supper, and snacks are all included at no cost. This gives you access to all of the free dining areas on board. Included in your cruise cost, main dining restaurants provide flexible menus that accommodate a range of palates and dietary requirements.
