8 Ways To Get And Spend Virgin Voyages Sailor Loot

If you’re planning a Virgin Voyages cruise, there’s one thing you absolutely need to know: Sailor Loot. While Virgin Voyages is famous for its inclusive perks and adult-only vibe, some extras aren’t covered, and knowing how to use Sailor Loot can make all the difference.

In this article, I’ll reveal exactly what Virgin Voyages Sailor Loot is, how to earn it, and the smartest ways to spend it on board, so you won’t miss a single perk.

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What Is Sailor Loot On Virgin Voyages?

Sailor loot is onboard credit for sailors to enhance the cruise experience by covering several expenses. Some expenses include excursions (or “shore things”), rejuvenating spa treatments, premium beverages, and more, which I’ll cover in detail below.

The sailor’s loot credit will be available to you as soon as you embark on the cruise. You’ll use the Virgin Voyages app 📲 to track your sailor loot balance, making it easy to enjoy onboard.

Important Limitations On Sailor Loot

Pre-Boarding Purchases: If you purchase a shore thing or bar tab before boarding the ship. This cost will not be deducted from your sailor loot balance. You’ll have to pay it out of your pocket.
Onboard Restrictions: Once onboard, sailor loot cannot 🚫 be used for any pre-voyages purchase (commonly known as “My Next Virgin Voyages”).
Balance Carryover: Most people think the unused balance is carried over to the next cruise. Unfortunately, any remaining Sailor Loot balance will not 🚫 transfer even on back-to-back sailings.
No Cash-Out Option: You can’t 🚫 cash out the Virgin Voyages Sailor Loot balance. Ensure you fully use it, otherwise, you’ll lose it all.

How Do You Get Sailor Loot On Virgin Voyages?

Technically, you cannot buy sailor loot like you would with a bar tab (I’ll cover their differences below). I’ve found two effective methods to get sailor loot:

First option: A First Mate is a travel agent who specializes in Virgin Voyages and can offer special promotions that include sailor loot credit. This is my preferred method because a First Mate often has other credit offers and has assisted me in changing cabins when needed.
The second option: Purchase the “My Next Virgin Voyages” offer while onboard 🚢. This offer is only available onboard, and I highly recommend taking advantage of it.

What is MNVV Sailor Loot on Virgin Voyages?

The MNVV, which stands for My Next Virgin Voyage, is basically a placeholder deposit you can purchase while you’re onboard a Virgin Voyages cruise.

Here’s how it works:

You put down $150, even if you haven’t decided on your next cruise plans yet.
You’ll have up to two years to choose your next trip.
If you decide not to use it, you can transfer it to a friend or family member instead.
When you book your next cruise using your MNVV, you’ll receive Sailor Loot, which is Virgin’s name for onboard credit. The amount of Sailor Loot you get depends on the length of your future sailing, with longer trips usually coming with a bit more to spend.

How Much Sailor Loot Can You Get?

In the past, I was able to get $600 of Sailor Loot (which I loved), as shown in the Add-ons picture below. However, in the current MNVV offer, the amount of Sailor Loot you can get varies depending on the length of your trip:

It starts at a $150 credit (trips from 4-5 nights)
A $200 credit (trips from 6-8 nights)
A $250 credit (trips over 9 nights).

Note: Nonetheless, booking through a First Mate, you might get additional sailor loot credit, as you see in my Add-ons picture below.

My next virgin voyages exclusive onboard offer joenidcorner — *My Next Virgin Voyages Exclusive Onboard Offer (new offer is $150 placeholder)*

virgin voyages add ons sailor loot for onboard use joenidcorner — *Virgin Voyages Add-ons Screenshot*

Note: Sailor loot is assigned per person, not per cabin. Whoever is the primary sailor in your cabin will get the credit. Ensure you link 🔗 your account to your cabinmate if you are the primary sailor and you’re the one covering the expenses. Failing to do so means any purchases made by your cabinmate onboard will be charged to their credit card in the Virgin Voyages app.

Can you use sailor loot to pay for a sailor in another cabin?

Yes, you can use Sailor Loot to pay for another sailor in a different cabin, but just make sure you scan the wristband that holds the Sailor Loot credit.

Bar Tab vs. Sailor Loot: Key Differences

The Bar Tab is a pre-paid option that exclusively covers premium beverages (both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks). The Sailor Loot is more versatile than the bar tab because it can be used for drinks and also covers things like shore things, spa treatments, and premium beverages.

Note: While Sailor Loot is more flexible, you cannot buy it like a Bar Tab. Also, you cannot 🚫 use Sailor Loot to buy a Bar Tab.

Can I bring wine on Virgin Voyages?

Yes, you’re allowed to bring up to two 750ml bottles of wine per cabin on your Virgin Voyages trip. If you’d like more tips on what to know before sailing, you might be interested in the post about Virgin Voyages hacks.

Ways to Spend Your Virgin Voyages Sailor Loot

1. Drinks Beyond the Bar Tab

While sailing, any available balance in your Bar Tab will cover premium drinks purchases until it’s fully depleted. After that, any additional drink goes into your Virgin Voyages Sailor Loot balance. Ways to spend it:

If you’re celebrating a special occasion 🎉 or just want to enjoy a glass of champagne. You can shake your phone onboard to reveal a secret bottom that allows you to order a Moët Champagne 🍾. A crew member will deliver it right to you anywhere you are on the ship!
During my October 2024 sailing on the Valiant Lady, they had an “opa hour” at The Dock House (from 3:30 pm to 5:30 pm). You can use your sailor loot to enjoy Kleo Patra cocktails 🍸 and bites.
Drip coffee and basic beverages are complimentary. However, you can use your sailor loot for upgrades like espresso coffee ☕️, premium teas 🫖, smoothies, or cold-press juices.

virgin voyages the dock house opa hour menu joenidcorner — *The Dock House “Opa Hour” Menu*

virgin voyages grounds club too joenidcorner — *Ordering Expresso Coffee at Grounds Club Too*

For those who love culinary drink pairings 🍹, you can explore the Sip and Savor Menu offered in the dining restaurants. I highly recommend the drink pairing “Cocktail 35” in The Test Kitchen. Because in this restaurant, you’ll have more time 🕟 to enjoy dishes and drinks.
Enjoy a bottomless brunch drink option (mimosa, rosé wine, or Filthy Bloody Mary) at The Wake.

Note: While on the ship, you can check your purchases and the remaining balance of your bar tab and sailor loot through the Virgin Voyages App. Once you deplete the bar tab and sailor loot, your credit card linked to your VV app profile covers any other purchases.

2. Dining Upgrades

On some of the main dinner menus, you’ll find the specialty “Treat Yourself”, an upgraded dish designed to enhance your dining experience. You can use your Virgin Voyages Sailor Loot to cover the additional fee. Unfortunately, I haven’t tried any Treat Yourself upgrades because they don’t offer vegan and gluten-free dishes on board.

virgin voyages aquatic club pool joenidcorner

DON’T FORGET TO READ:

Must-Know: Virgin Voyages Tips for an Amazing Experience

3. Onboard Experiences

Another way to use your Sailor loot is by booking onboard experiences. If you want to participate, ensure you book them as soon as you gain access to Virgin Voyages Wi-Fi 🛜 because some are very popular and fill up quickly.

Grog Walk is a perfect activity for anyone, especially for solo sailors looking to connect with other cruisers. Typically, the Grog Walk occurs on the sailing night and ends at the pajama party.

Note: The Happening cast hosts this experience and takes participants to different bars for drinks. This is a perfect opportunity to meet the happening cast. If they like you, you might gain access to Virgin Voyages’ secret 🤫 onboard experiences.

Afternoon Tea experience at the Sip Lounge, which includes not only tea 🫖 but also pastries 🍰. However, I haven’t tried it because none of their pastries are vegan and gluten-free, and I find it too pricey to spend $19 for just the tea.

4. Shore Things

Once onboard, any “shore thing” you book using the Virgin Voyages Wi-Fi will be charged to your sailor loot balance. Any shore thing booked before boarding will be charged to the credit card 💳 on your sailor file.

Tip: The shore things open 120 days before embarkation (135 days for 🎸Mega RockStar and RockStar Quarters). If there’s any shore thing you really want to book. I highly recommend not waiting until you’re onboard because some get booked quickly.

Shore things vary per trip and port location. I don’t book shore excursions because the ports I’ve visited during my Caribbean trips have plenty of wonderful places to explore. For instance, Taino Bay Puerto Plata cruise port offers free pool access (which is gorgeous!). At Bimini port, we always head to the Virgin Voyages Beach Club because there is no additional fee to visit the facilities.
If your trip stops in the Bimini Beach Club 🏖️ and you’re celebrating a special occasion 🎉, you can use your sailor loot to rent a Cabana.

virgin voyages dominican daze puerto plata ports pool joenidcorner — *Taino Bay Puerto Plata Port Pool*

virgin voyages bimini beach club the main house joenidcorner — *Virgin Voyages Bimini Beach Club Entrance*

5. Spa and Beauty

Redemption Spa offers massages, facials, acupuncture, body treatments, and access to a thermal suite. The thermal suite consists of different rooms: a sauna, a salt therapy room, a mud room, and cold plunge pools. This is my favorite way to relax onboard, and you can use sailor loot to cover any spa experience.

Note: The price for a thermal suite differs between sea days and port days (port days are cheaper).

Curious if the Thermal Suite experience is worth it? You might want to check out my post about the Virgin Voyages Redemption Spa to see if it’s your vibe.

virgin voyages redemption spa interior joenidcorner — *Redemption Spa*

Another way to use your sailor loot is to visit The Tune Up for a rejuvenating manicure 💅 and pedicure. The location is hidden (in my opinion), you’ll find it by the aquatic pool on deck 15.
If you want to prepare for Scarlet Night, visit the Dry Dock, where you can use your sailor loot for a fabulous hair blowout. If you need a professional face shave service, go to the Stubble & Groom, the onboard barbershop.
Want to create a permanent memory of your Voyages? Visit Squid Ink, the dedicated tattoo and piercing studio onboard.

6. Shopping With Virgin Voyages Sailor Loot

Virgin Voyages High Street on Desk 6 is the sea shopping street 🛍️. High Street opens when you’re at sea, everything is duty-free, and you can use your sailor loot to make purchases. You’ll find luxury jewelry 💍, sunglasses 🕶️, tote bags, essential personal items like feminine products, and over-the-counter medications.

Tip: If you spot something you love, buy it right away! Merchandise is limited onboard and might not be available when you decide to buy it.

7. Ship Eats fee

Ship Eats is the 24-hour room service option to order food and drinks from the Virgin Voyages app or cabin tablet. There is a $10 fee 💸 that you can cover with your sailor loot.

Tip: If you order items totaling $10 or more, the $10 fee can be waived, and you’ll only pay for the item price instead.

8. Virgin Voyages Sailor Loot Casino

The good news about Virgin Voyages is that you can use your Sailor Loot to play in the casino. However, any winnings from playing with your sailor loot can be cashed out.

Bottom line

In my opinion, Sailor Loot is truly useful because it covers a lot of expenses, but remember, you can’t 🚫 buy Sailor Loot as you buy the Bar Tab. If you’re lucky to get Sailor Loot credits, the most important thing to remember is that if you don’t use them, you’ll lose them.

Keep track of your spending through the Virgin Voyages app and spend every last cent of your credit onboard.

For a complete guide on what every first-time sailor should know before stepping on board, especially if this is your first Virgin Voyages trip. Check out my post What to Know Before Going on a Cruise: Virgin Voyages Hacks.

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