I Sailed Virgin Voyages With My Adult Children—Here's What I Loved and What I Didn’t

Erica Lamberg

Sat, April 4, 2026 at 1:10 PM UTC

For nearly every year of our lives as a family, we've taken at least one major vacation—and more often than not, it's a cruise. I've always appreciated the "unpack once" convenience and the streamlined nature of life at sea, which bundles meals, entertainment and quality time into one seamless itinerary. Over the years, lines like Norwegian, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, and Disneywere our go-to choices. However, as my children grew older, my priorities shifted toward amenities that catered to older teens and, eventually, young adults.

Now that my children are out of college and in the workforce, their vacation schedules are anything but flexible. I wanted to organize a four- or five-night holiday family trip that would allow us to truly reconnect. After weighing our options, I returned to my favorite travel hack: the short-haul cruise. After consulting with my husband, son and daughter, we collectively decided on one major requirement: we wanted a sailing experience without any children on board.

My husband and I had sailed on Virgin Voyages' Scarlet Lady two years ago and loved the vibe. Now that both of our children are over 18, it felt like the perfect time to bring them into the fold. Between the "adults-only" atmosphere and the overall value I found when pricing out three cabins, it checked every box on our list. Plus, with my daughter already living in Miami, we were able to skip her round-trip airfare and head straight to the terminal for our most grown-up family getaway yet.

The Overall Vibe

Experienced cruisers know to arrive the night before, especially in winter or during the holidays. I chose the InterContinental Miamifor our pre-cruise stay. My son arrived on a flight from New York, while my daughter took a rideshare to the hotel. I used points to book two rooms: one on the Club Levelfor my husband and me, and a double room for my son and daughter to share. The Club Levelwas a fantastic choice for us, as we took full advantage of the complimentary cocktail hour and the bountiful breakfast buffet. Of course, the kids slept late and preferred the a la carteofferings fromthe Starbucks in the lobby.

We took a quick Uber to Terminal Vat PortMiami, arriving just in time for our 1:45 p.m.boarding window. We booked three cabins in a row on Deck 14of Scarlet Lady , which created a super-fun dynamic for the group. While three separate cabins might seem like a splurge, it was money well spent—and I don't regret a single dime. Since this is our one big family vacation of the year, providing everyone with their own space ensured we all stayed comfortable (and on speaking terms!). Plus, every balcony features that signature red hammock—a trademark Virgin Voyagesamenity that we all put to good use.

One major perk of a later boarding time on Virgin Voyagesis that your cabin is ready the second you step on board. There's no dragging around heavy carry-ons or backpacks that weigh a ton while you wait for your room to open. Within 15 minutes of arriving at the terminal, we were officially on the ship, had dropped our belongings in our Deck 14staterooms, and were headed straight to lunch.

Virgin Voyagesoffers a unique cruise experience that is especially well-suited for families with children over the age of 18. "Unlike traditional cruise lines that often focus heavily on younger families and children's programming, Virgin Voyages creates an environment designed entirely for adults—making it an ideal setting for parents and their grown children to connect in a more mature, relaxed way," says Lisa M. Lee, a travel advisor and owner of Taking Off For Travel LLCin New Jersey.

I wanted to share some highlights of my amazing Scarlet Lady sailing.

What I Loved: The Dining Experience

I really dislike ship buffets and do my best to avoid them when I sail. Virgin Voyages doesn't have typical buffets but offers a dining concept called The Galley, which was a big plus for me. Here, crew members are at each food station and serve the food, so the experience didn't feel like a traditional buffet model.

Stations included custom salads, soups and noodles, a deli, burgers, pizza and several hot entrees, plus a carving station. The desserts were equally impressive. A special treat was a popsicle cart with frozen treats, which is something I have yet to see at sea.

For dinner, there are several sit-down restaurants. Since we had three separate cabins, we were able to link our reservations through our apps and could make dinner bookings together. When the reservation window of 45 days opened, I quickly booked tables for four at the specialty restaurants each night. The nice part about this policy is that you don't have to purchase a dining package or worry about extra charges; all dining is included, except for limited add-ons which are clearly defined on the menus.

We dined at The Wake, a steakhouse; Extra Virgin, the Italian venue; Pink Agave, the Mexican restaurant; and Razzle Dazzle, which has an Asian fusion theme. I must say each meal was amazing, and my entire family said the dining reminded them of being in a cool and trendy restaurant in either Miamior New York. Additionally, the service was exceptional. Our dietary restrictions were accommodated efficiently and accurately. Guests are permitted to order whatever they like from the menu, including multiple appetizers, sides, main courses and desserts. We did not encounter any limitations and were able to sample several dishes, all of which were delivered courteously to our table each night.

Loved: Fellow Passengers and The Social Vibe

Virgin's policy of not allowing guests under the age of 18 ensures a tranquil environment throughout the ship, including public areas such as hallways, elevators, pools and entertainment venues. While I enjoy spending time with children, I wanted peace while traveling with my own adult children—without other minors present. This calmer environment enhances the overall experience. Sailing with Virgin offers a unique atmosphere that I am sure you will appreciate if you want to travel without kids.

"We see families traveling with their adult children not out of obligation, but by choice," says Nicole Huang, SVP of Fleet Experiences atVirgin Voyages. "There's something really special about that shift. You're no longer in a parent-and-child dynamic; you're reconnecting as adults. What we're seeing more and more is that it's less about planning activities and more about rediscovering each other in a completely new way."

The guest demographics were diverse and enhanced my sailing experience. Interactions in common areas, such as elevators and restaurants, were friendly and enjoyable compared to previous cruises I have done. The cruise included couples, families, mother-daughter pairs, groups of friends and solo travelers. The atmosphere was inclusive and pleasant.

Loved: The Activities

The activities and excursions are also thoughtfully curated with adults in mind. From wellness classes and fitness programs to immersive shore excursions, everything is designed to appeal to the adult passenger. "This creates opportunities for meaningful shared experiences that go beyond the typical family vacation," says Lee.

Another major advantage is the atmosphere on board. "With no children allowed, the environment is calm, stylish and distinctly adult," she continues. "The ship's aesthetics reflect a modern, sophisticated design, and the overall vibe is more relaxed and refined. This allows families with adult children to enjoy each other's company without the noise and distractions often found on more family-oriented cruises."

Entertainment on board also reflects this adult focus. The shows are creative and often feature mature themes, while events like the signature "Scarlet Night" party offer a lively, high-energy experience that appeals to an older crowd. "These moments create lasting memories that feel fresh and exciting for both parents and their adult children," Lee explains. "Spending time with your children as adults is very different from when they were young—it becomes about shared interests, deeper conversations and growing together through new experiences."

Didn't Love: The "Bar Tab" System

Unlike most cruise lines that offer a drink package you can buy in advance, Virgin Voyagesdoes things differently. Although they include soda, filtered coffee , tea and water in your cruise fare, alcohol is handled through a unique system.

Instead of conventional unlimited drink packages, Virgin uses a Bar Tab. Guests can prepay in tiers ranging from $200 to $1,000 and are awarded bonus credits; higher tiers provide increased bonuses of up to 25%. This Bar Tab covers any crew-prepared drink on Scarlet Lady or at The Beach Club at Bimini, and the credit is simply deducted with each order. It's a straightforward concept, and you are essentially working off a "prepaid" tab.

Given our group of four, estimating our drinks wasn't easy. We received $300 in onboard credits as booking incentives and subsequently purchased $1,000 in Bar Tabs, which provided an additional $250 bonus credit. By the end of the cruise, we still had over $500 remaining. We realized we had bought a bit too much, but thankfully, we discovered that guests could purchase bottles of wine with any remaining credits on the final night. We bought six premium wines to take home; it was nice to have an option to use the leftover credit instead of losing it.

Didn't Love: Small Spaces That Sometimes Couldn't Meet Demand

Scarlet Lady's pool deck offers an enjoyable atmosphere with cool music and comfortable seating. I was generally able to find shade, and the staff at both the pool and the bar were courteous and accommodating. However, the pool deck often felt overcrowded, particularly on sea days.

As a writer, I was extended access to Richard's Rooftop, an exclusive space reserved for suite-level guests known as "Rockstars." This area provided a much more tranquil environment; although it lacks a pool, it features hot tubs and premium sun loungers. One thing I should share: I found the proximity of the ship's designated smoking area, which is adjacent to one side of the Rooftop, to be somewhat bothersome.

Another concern was that certain entertainment performances took place in smaller venues. As a result, we were unable to attend one or two shows due to the very long lines. Guests often began lining up more than an hour prior to showtime, and by the time we arrived, all seats were occupied and there was no standing room available. While I can't offer a direct solution, I wanted to share these observations so other families can plan accordingly.

Yes, I Just Booked Another Virgin Voyages Cruise

The pros far outweighed any cons on this vacation. The trip was an ideal escape and created the perfect setting to connect with our adult children. "A Virgin Voyage offers a chance for families to evolve their relationships, enjoy new adventures side by side, and create lasting memories in an environment designed specifically for adults," says Lee. "In this way, it's more than just a vacation—it's an opportunity to grow together and celebrate a new stage of family life."

We loved our cruise so much that I already booked another sailing for later this year. I am counting down the days until my sailing on Brilliant Lady, the newest ship in Virgin's fleet.

This story was originally published by Parade on Apr 4, 2026, where it first appeared in the Travel section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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