Ahoy! Last weekend I had a chance to spend a night on a brand-new ship from Virgin Voyages – Scarlet Lady. I was over the moon as recently I have dreamt of a cruise holiday, so I thought this experience would help me to understand what cruising is like these days! A few years back I used to think cruises were boring, designed mainly for older people, and generally a peaceful type of holiday. Well this is 100% not the case here! Scarlet Lady is an adult-only, luxury party ship. The aim of Scarlet Lady is to attract the younger audience- the modern traveller who enjoys stylish restaurants, fun entertainment, great music and parties. I personally fell in love with this red beauty from the moment I walked in. Let me tell you all about it and show you around!
Accommodation
There are 1330 cabins and 78 Rock Star suites aboard the Scarlet Lady. My room was a Sea Terrace. The room was quite small but comfortable and it had all I needed – a sofa bed, in-room entertainment with 43″ + 4K flat-screen HDTV, a mini bar, a glam area, a wardrobe and a little bathroom. At first, I didn’t understand where the bed was. I walked around, confused as to why there was only a sofa bed, haha. Turned out the “sofa bed” is actually a Seabed, the first-ever transformational cabin bed, specially engineered and handcrafted by Walter Knoll in Germany. The concept of the Seabed came from the convivial nature of cruising and gives sailors more space for social gatherings in the cabin. Virgin Voyages sailors can enjoy their cabin in two distinct ways as a place to revel or a place to relax. I think it’s a great idea! When we came back from the party our Seabed was already converted for us into a very comfortable bed. I slept so well! Another great feature is the mood-matching lights, that automatically adjust to enhance the time of day based on where the ship is in the world, reflecting the blue seas and the gold to purple sunsets of the Caribbean waters. How dreamy! I certainly liked them the most in flamingo pink!
It’s also worth mentioning that each Sea Terrace cabin has a private balcony that features custom-designed hammocks, hand-woven by artisans from Yellow Leaf – a social enterprise that fosters women’s empowerment and community transformation in rural Thailand. Imagine sipping your morning cuppa, sitting in a hammock in the Caribbean sun, ah!
During my one-night stay on the ship, I also had a look at the Mega Rock Star Massive Suite and it was epic. It was huge, even had its own music room! How cool! My personal favourite thing was the marble-clad bathroom with a Peek-a-Boo shower area that overlooks the bedroom and out to the ocean. So magical! There are only two Massive Suites aboard the Scarlet Lady, each with a private huge terrace and a hot tub. Can you imagine how amazing it could be to enjoy this place with your friends in a sunny Miami or the Caribbean? I mean wow!
RESTAURANTS & BARS
Forget the boring buffets, this is not what Scarlet Lady is about. There are 20+ world-class intimate eateries and luxury bars on board. Of course, during my one night stay I couldn’t check them all out, but I did try a couple and would love to show you my favourites!
First we’ve headed to the Sip for a little sip of champagne…I absolutely loved this Champagne Lounge. The decor was so beautiful! It was a perfect way to begin the night.
After a couple of glasses of champagne, we have decided to check out other bars and restaurants. I personally fell in love with the Dock House as it gave me my favourite bohemian and Mediterranean feel. This place is perfect to relax and have some dips and mezze.
Another place that got my attention was The Wake, a glamorous restaurant serving steaks and seafood, and Pink Agave, that transports sailors to the vibrant streets of Mexico City. Loved its vibe!
The Wake
Pink Agave 
We had dinner at Test Kitchen, a laboratory-like eatery, that is part cooking school and part restaurant. I found it a very interesting experience and I loved the food. Every dish was truly special.
I also got to try Razzle Dazzle which is a vegetarian-forward restaurant. We had such a delicious brunch there. It was hard to decide what to eat as the menu looked great and there was a huge choice!
Other on-board eateries include Gunbae – a lively Korean BBQ, and Extra Virgin, the ship’s trattoria serving regionally inspired, deeply rooted Italian culinary traditions. More casual alternatives include the The Pizza Place and Lick Me Till Ice Cream (which serves complimentary scoops) – and many more!
ENTERTAINMENT
I don’t know where to start here as it was such a fun night! First, we got to watch a show in The Red Room – the first transformational multi-form theatre at sea. We watched the ‘Duel Reality’, which is a modern take on Romeo and Juliet. The show and effects were incredible! I had lots of fun! There was also another show at night in the same room, which then turned into a huge party! Here’s some snaps from this fun night!
We also got to experience The Manor – a mind-blowing nightclub with the most spectacular entrance. It was seriously calling for a little photo shoot! I decided to go with Virgin’s signature colour and put my favourite red dress on! Do I look like a Scarlet Lady? Haha
WELLNESS & FITNESS
Now let’s talk about probably my favourite part of the ship! What I loved about Scarlet Lady was the incredible, luxurious Redemption Spa featuring a hydrotherapy pool, mud room, salt room, cold plunge pools, quartz beds, and rejuvenating spa treatments.
Don’t think it’s only a place to relax though! By night, sailors can complete their well-being journey by attending one of the voyage’s evening spa parties where a killer DJ will transform the spa’s thermal suite into a mermaid hideaway extravaganza.
Wellness is a major focus for Virgin Voyages and along with the spa there’s also the B-complex gym, The Perch – an outdoor yoga space, The Runway-outdoor running track, a training centre, and much more.
Let’s also not forget to mention the outdoor well-being pool. Of course, we didn’t get to enjoy it due to the weather, but here’s how it looks. There’s also a Gym and Tonic bar right next to the pool that serves fresh cold-pressed juices and handcrafted cocktails.
GROOMING SPACES
There are also grooming spaces on the ship! There is the Mani Pedi Spa– a nail salon with the most beautiful views, The Dry Dock– a blow dry and hair styling beauty bar complete with hair nourishing and scalp treatments designed by Softroom, Stubble and Groom– a barber, and the first ever tattoo studio on board a cruise ship called Squid Ink. And look how stylish these places are! No need to worry about manicure or pedicure when travelling on the Scarlet Lady!
SUSTAINABILITY
Virgin Voyages has partnered with Climeon, a Sweden-based technology company, with a goal to significantly reduce carbon dioxide emissions by converting engine waste heat into clean electricity. The company has also banned single-use plastics on board. I think it’s a great initiative!
To sum up, I had an absolutely amazing time on a Scarlet Lady ship. I have only one question now. When am I going on a cruise holiday?
If you fancy checking their packages yourself or book your stay, you can do it here. You can also get a cheeky up to $400 bar bonus! I hope to see you there!
Post in collaboration with Virgin Voyages