Does Virgin Voyages Have Drink Packages? Bar Tab & Drink Prices Explained
In early 2020, Virgin Voyages launched their first ever cruise ship, the Scarlet Lady. Since they set sail, they have been making “waves” in the cruise industry by doing things a bit differently - all restaurants, gratuities, and tips are included! However, one of the most stark differences is that they do not have an unlimited beverage package.
This may turn some people off immediately, especially die-hard cruisers, and I think it has a lot to do with the mindset of having to pay per drink. One of the allures of cruising is the all inclusive mentality! It is one of only vacations where you can anticipate your entire spend, and have it paid for, before even stepping foot on the ship.
Virgin Voyages has an answer to a drinks package, and they call it the Bar Tab:
Offering Bar Tab, versus a drinks package, means the choice stays with the Sailor so they can order what they want when they want it, featuring the best prices on land and/or at sea, inclusive of gratuity, for the brands offered. We will always have a single-digit option inclusive of gratuity for bubbles, rose, white, red, house spirits and/or beer in every outlet. 70% of our wines by the glass are less than $15 versus 59% of the other premium cruise lines, 46% of the urban restaurant and 57% of the boutique hotel. Not to mention that soda, non-pressed juices, drip coffee, tea, and both still and sparkling water are included in our voyage fare.
- Virgin Voyages Website
We were skeptical of the bar tab, but found that it was not as earth shattering as it seemed. The process of purchasing drinks onboard Scarlet Lady is the same as any other cruise line. When you want a drink, you go to any bar and tap your sea-band to purchase a drink. All tips are included, so no receipts or mental math are needed. The prices were much more realistic to what you may find on land, and much cheaper than other cruise lines (if you’re not utilizing a drinks package). Beers ranged from $5-$10, cocktails $10-$15, and standard wines $9-$13. There were plenty of premium selections available, with bottle discounts if you wanted to go that route.
Reminder: As a gold certified First Mate travel agent with Virgin Voyages, Freestyle Travelers is ready to make your cruise booking effortless and memorable. From helping you secure a reservation at Pink Agave to other onboard experiences, we're here for you. Simply use our booking link to embark on your next Virgin Voyage, and we'll ensure you're well taken care of every step of the way.
If you’re feeling like saving a few bucks, or are picky when it comes to your wines, each stateroom is allowed two 750ml bottles of wine to be carried on with you during embarkation.
Below is an example of the standard beer pricing onboard - this was at the Draught Haus, but this was the standard pricing found at any bar:
How it stacks up:
Based on how long you are sailing, the drink prices and frequency of ordering, the bar tab makes a lot more sense than the traditional cruise ship booze package for some passengers. For our 5 day sailing, we added $300 to our bar tab, and Virgin Voyages “topped us off” with an additional $100 in bar tab - for a total of $400 to use between the two of us.
The bar tab is added to your on board account - if you want your cabin mates to share your bar tab, you will have to front the entire onboard bill for everyone in the stateroom. Otherwise, every sailor will need to purchase their own individual bar tabs. To add a bar tab to your booking, you will need to call Sailor Services or your travel professional prior to sailing (don’t forget to ask about current bar tab promotions).
For our first time sailing on Virgin Voyages, we wanted to use our bar tab in the same way we would normally use an unlimited drink package on any other cruise line, like Norwegian or Celebrity. We did not try to ration our drink purchases, or get sucked into the “I am paying for this” mentality (although that was still there each time I tapped my sea-band). Jonathan mostly drank beers, and Nicole mostly cocktails, so we only ended up spending an additional $100 on top of our bar tab. We liked that the bar tab allows you to take a day off of drinking and not feel like you are wasting your money, whereas on the fifth day of a NCL cruise we would be calculating how many more drinks we have to buy to “get our moneys worth” out of the drink package.
All in all, this bar tab system was not as difficult or confusing than we thought. For someone that has never experienced a traditional cruise, this system is standard. However, to the seasoned cruiser, it’s a new mindset to accept, but the drinks were fabulous and definitely worth it!
Which do you prefer: a pricey unlimited drinks package, or a bar tab to pay per drink? Let us know in the comments!
We are here to help! As a gold certified First Mate travel agent with Virgin Voyages, Freestyle Travelers is ready to make your cruise booking effortless and memorable. From helping you secure a reservation at Pink Agave to other onboard experiences, we're here for you. Simply use our booking link to embark on your next Virgin Voyage, and we'll ensure you're well taken care of every step of the way.
