What to Know Before Going on a Cruise: Virgin Voyages Hacks
🕒 Updated: May 2, 2025 | Published: April 25, 2025 | Written by: Joenid
Cruising for the first time might feel overwhelming, but understanding what to know before going on a cruise is essential for making your trip as enjoyable and stress-free as possible
Having cruised several times, I’m here to share my insights and experiences to help you navigate this exciting journey with ease.
This guide focuses specifically on Virgin Voyages, reflecting my many adventures with this cruise line, but I promise there are valuable tips here for any cruise line. We dive into everything from choosing the right trip to preparing for boarding day, enjoying your time on board, and smoothly handling disembarkation.
*This post reflects my personal experiences and opinions. It is not sponsored or paid for by any company.
What to Know Before Going on a Cruise: Choosing a Trip
Booking The Right Cruise Itinerary
Research the cruise line’s trip offerings before choosing your itinerary. I have noticed that shorter cruises with Virgin Voyages often attract younger crowds, who tend to have a more active and lively vibe. If you’re seeking a relaxed atmosphere, consider:
- Opt for a longer cruise.
- Avoid spring break or summertime.
How Early Should You Book A Cruise?
Typically, it’s recommended to book a cruise at least 90 days in advance, because most of the time prices tend to increase. After booking, I suggest tracking your cruise fare, as prices may fluctuate. If you notice a price drop, you can reach out to the cruise line for an adjustment.
Tip: Consider booking your trip through a First Mate, which is the Virgin Voyages travel agent. These experts monitor prices daily and can help you save some cash.
Here are a few more reasons to book early, as part of what to know before going on a cruise:
- Cabin selection. Booking early allows you to choose the best cabin before it becomes unavailable. When selecting your Virgin Voyages cabin:
- Avoid being near noise-prone areas like the Galley (Deck 15) or The Manor (Deck 7).
- Some balcony cabins are cheaper because they may have an obstructive view.
- Restaurant time selection. To dine at your preferred times, book early. Dining reservations on Virgin Voyages open 45 days before embarkation (60 days before for Mega RockStar and RockStar Quarters).
Perfect balcony view, Pink Agave entrance, and pool at the Virgin Voyages cruise
What To Know Before Going On A Cruise: Pre-Cruise
Passport Rules For Cruising
On Virgin Voyages, if you are sailing on an eligible closed-loop sailing from Miami, you might be allowed a passport requirement exception and allowing you to sail with your birth certificate and government ID. However, I don’t recommend traveling without your passport. It’s essential, especially if you find unexpected circumstances that require you to fly home unexpectedly. To be on the safe side, ensure your passport is valid at least 6 months beyond your trip.
Download The Virgin Voyages App
As soon as you book your trip, the next step in your pre-cruise preparation is downloading the Virgin Voyages app. Familiarizing yourself with this app is crucial because you’ll rely on it for both pre-cruise and onboard bookings. Don’t forget to use your booking reservation number, passport, and credit card details for a smooth check-in process.
Traveling To Cruise Port Plans For Boarding Day
- Arrive Early: Plan to fly or drive into the cruise departure city a day before embarkation to avoid travel mishaps.
- Parking Tips: If you’re driving to the departure city, take a photo of the location of your parked car before boarding the cruise.
What’s Not Allowed To Pack For A Cruise
For security reasons, there are certain items that cruises don’t allow to be brought on board. This includes illegal drugs, weapons, or anything that poses a fire hazard. To avoid surprises, make sure to review the Virgin Voyages cruise prohibited items before boarding.
Cruise Boarding Time
When you book your cruise trip, it’s essential to choose your boarding time while checking in via the Virgin Voyages app. General boarding time typically starts at 2:15 pm. However, if you want to board earlier, there are three ways to get priority boarding.
- Book a RockStar Suite or a Mega RockStar Suite.
- Purchase a Splash of Romance. For a fee of $250, this package grants you priority boarding, typically at 1:45 pm (right after the Rockstars group).
- Achieve a Deep Blue Extra status. If you’re part of this group, you’ll board right after the Splash of Romance group.
DON’T FORGET TO READ:
What To Know Before Going On A Cruise: Boarding Tips
- Luggage: On Virgin Voyages, as soon as you board the ship, your cabin is ready for you. However, if you check your bags, be sure to keep your passport and a carry-on filled with essentials handy. Pack items like a swimsuit, hat, and sunscreen in your carry-on because your checked bags may take some time to reach your cabin.
- Cruise Exploration: After boarding the ship, take the opportunity to explore all decks. Walking around not only allows you to familiarize yourself with the ship’s floor plan but also allows you to locate dining areas, theaters, and pools.
- Use the stairs to avoid the crowded elevators.
- If you need to use elevators, opt for the elevators located in the AFT, which tend to be less busy.
- Stair Color Meaning: Exploring a cruise ship for the first time might be confusing, but you can make it easier by using the stair color coding to help you locate yourself on the ship.
- The purple stairs are located on the front side of the ship.
- The red stairs represent the mid-level.
- The blue stairs represent the AFT (back side).
- Phone use on a cruise ship: To avoid unwanted data roaming, set your phone to airplane mode. The good news is that Virgin Voyages includes complimentary access to basic Wi-Fi, which works for checking your mail, but you might opt for a premium paid version if you plan to work remotely from the cruise.
What To Know Before Going On A Cruise: Onboard Experience
- Sail away party: Participate in the sail-away party since it’s a good way to kickstart your trip with a complimentary flute of champagne. The sail away party starts on Deck 15 by the pool, and once you get your complimentary drink, I recommend you make your way to Deck 16 for a stunning view of the departing port city.
- Get to Know the Happening Cast: Unlike traditional cruise lines, which have a cruise Director leading all cruise activities, Virgin Voyages features a unique group known as the Happening Cast. Each Lady Ship has its own cast, and they have their own characteristic in charge of entertaining the sailors during the entire trip.
- Dining: There’s no set schedule for dining on Virgin Voyages. However, specialty restaurants fill up quickly, and I recommend you reserve your dining before your boarding day. Other options if you missed reserving your dining before boarding.
- Once you board, visit the sailor services on Deck 5 to secure a dining spot.
- Keep tracking the Virgin Voyages app, sometimes, space gets open when other sailors cancel their reservations.
- If you decide to show up at a restaurant without a reservation, be prepared to wait for a seat, and potentially you’ll be seated sharing a table with other diners or enjoying a spot at the bar.
- Account Settlement: Track your onboard account daily via the Virgin Voyages app, and if you see any discrepancy, make sure to resolve it before the day of disembarkation to avoid long lines.
What To Know Before Going On A Cruise: Explore The Port
When planning your cruise, consider how you’ll explore the port. There are two ways: booking a cruise excursion or exploring on your own.
- Cruise excursions are good because they have everything scheduled for you, and if you book via the cruise line, they warrant your return to the ship on time.
- Exploring on your own is typically more affordable, and staying close to the cruise port allows for a more relaxed experience since you control your schedule.
Ensure you research port safety and transportation options. Some ports, like my recent visit to Costa Maya, are safe to do on your own. Others, like Puerto Plata Cruise Port, are well equipped with outstanding facilities and attractions to spend a relaxing port day.
Shops at Taino Bay at Puerto Plata, Amora Costa Maya Sign at cruise port, and Virgin Voyages Pool Party at Bimini
Tip: Anytime you visit a new cruise port, always follow the ship’s time instead of the local time. This simple trick makes sure you get onboard before the ship’s departure time.
What To Know Before Going On A Cruise: Disembarkation Day
Virgin Voyages has the flexibility to allow you to disembark no later than 10:45 am, which is excellent because you don’t have to rush to get off the ship on the last day. Typically, I have enough time to enjoy breakfast at The Galley or a delicious brunch at Razzle-Dazzle.
If you have a flight early on disembarkation day and are worried about time, I recommend you select a specific disembarkation time to ensure you have a smooth exit from the ship.
Check every corner and drawer
Inspect every corner and drawer of your cabin before you leave. I’ve accidentally left behind souvenirs before, and once you are off the ship, there is no going back.
Luggage Options for Disembarkation
- You carry your luggage outside the ship.
- Virgin Voyages crew will handle your luggage for you. If you opt for this option, you must place your luggage outside your cabin no later than 10:00 pm the night before the disembarkation.
To wrap up
Having in mind what to know before going on a cruise can greatly elevate your overall experience, but you may find it overwhelming if you don’t prepare well for your cruise trip.
Remember that being on vacation is all about enjoying time exploring new places. Focus on these essential tips to have a smoother start, an enjoyable journey, and an easy return.
