Photo: Virgin Voyages
What’s changed on Virgin Voyages, and what hasn’t
Gratuities came out of the fare. Fares split into tiers. MNVV rules changed twice. Costco started selling Virgin. If you sailed in 2023 and are deciding whether to come back, here is every change that matters, dated, with my honest read on each one.
The short answer
- The core product has not changed. Adults only, every restaurant included, no buffets, no formal nights, no added gratuities on drinks or spa, and the same four ships. (Virgin Voyages)
- What changed is how you pay for it. Since October 7, 2025, gratuities are a separate line ($20 per Sailor per night prepaid, $22 on board) and Sea Terrace and below cabins are sold in three fare tiers with different dining windows, Wi-Fi and change rules. (Virgin Voyages)
- My read: the total cost of an Essential fare is close to what you paid before. The people who feel the change most are Base-fare bookers who did not realize what they gave up, and loyal sailors watching perks they value get restructured. Both are avoidable with the right booking.
The changelog
VoyageFair Choices (Base, Essential, Premium)
One fare for standard cabins. Dining reservations opened 45 days out for everyone, 60 days for RockStar Quarters.
Sea Terrace and below cabins are sold as Base, Essential or Premium. Base is non-refundable with no name, cabin or date changes, Basic Wi-Fi for one device and a 15-day dining window. Essential is closest to the old fare: Classic Wi-Fi, 45-day dining window, date changes with a Future Voyage Credit, name changes for Sailors two through four. Premium adds Premium Wi-Fi for two devices, a 60-day dining window, an included Bar Tab and a priority pre-voyage support line. RockStar and Mega RockStar Quarters now book dining 120 days out. (Virgin Voyages press release)
Who it affects: Anyone booking a standard cabin. Bookings made before October 7, 2025 keep their original terms, and Virgin’s My Account FAQ now lists a 60-day dining window for them (120 for RockStar). (Virgin Voyages My Account FAQ)
My read: Essential is the right default for most of my clients. Base is for people who are certain of their dates, do not care which cabin they get, and will not mind booking dinner two weeks out. Premium pays for itself on longer sailings if you would have bought Wi-Fi and a Bar Tab anyway. I sailed the Top 100 First Mates voyage in January 2026 where every cabin was on a Base fare: we got into every restaurant, but rarely at the time we wanted. If dining matters to you, I do not recommend Base or Lock It In. I run the all-in math for every client before they pick.
Gratuities unbundled
Gratuities were included in every fare.
For bookings made on or after October 7, 2025, a service gratuity of $22 per Sailor per night is added to your onboard folio, or $20 per night if you prepay. The rate is the same in an Insider cabin and a Mega RockStar suite. Virgin still adds no gratuity to drinks, spa or dining. Bookings made before that date keep gratuities included. (Virgin Voyages)
Who it affects: Everyone booking now. A couple on a 7-night sailing pays $280 prepaid or $308 on board.
My read: Virgin framed the change as choice: pay for the flexibility and perks you want, not a bundle. Whether a like-for-like Essential booking costs more than it did depends on the sailing and the promotion running that week. The honest advice: compare the all-in total, not the headline fare, and prepay. My gratuity checker tells you what your booking owes.
MNVV placeholders stop being transferable
A My Next Virgin Voyage placeholder bought on board could be transferred to another name once.
Placeholders bought on or after August 6, 2026 cannot have the name changed. The Sailor who bought it must stay the lead Sailor on the booking it is applied to. Placeholders bought before that date keep their original terms. (Virgin Voyages MNVV)
Who it affects: People who used to buy MNVVs as gifts, or buy several to pass to friends.
My read: This closed a loophole, and I understand why. If you are buying one, buy it for a trip you will take yourself. My full MNVV explainer covers the current terms.
MNVV “sail anytime”
Earlier in 2026, sailors were told the voyage itself had to fall within a set window after purchase.
You have two years from purchase to convert the placeholder into a booking, and the terms set no separate deadline for when the voyage departs. This applies to existing placeholders too. (Virgin Voyages MNVV, updated October 27, 2026)
My read: Good news. If you have an MNVV sitting unused, 2028 sailings are in reach.
Razzle Dazzle becomes a different dinner on each ship
Razzle Dazzle, the plant-forward restaurant, served dinner on every ship.
Brunch is still Razzle Dazzle fleet-wide. At dinner, Scarlet Lady runs Lucky Lotus (Chinese-inspired), Valiant Lady runs Ariya (Indian, with chef Maneet Chauhan, after her 2026 refit), Brilliant Lady runs Rojo (Spanish), and Resilient Lady keeps the original Razzle Dazzle. (Dinner concepts by ship: Virgin Voyages; details on my restaurants guide)
Who it affects: Plant-based sailors who relied on Razzle Dazzle at dinner. Every restaurant still has plant-based options, but the dedicated room is gone on three ships.
My read: I have eaten at Lucky Lotus and Rojo and liked both. Razzle Dazzle brunch, the part most sailors come for, is untouched. I have not yet eaten at Ariya.
Virtual dining queues
If a restaurant is full, you join its waitlist in the app and get a notification when your table is ready, instead of standing outside. Rolled out across the fleet in July 2026. Virgin is also testing opt-in shared tables on Resilient Lady. (Virgin Voyages app)
My read: A real improvement, and the reason Base-fare dining is more workable than it sounds. See my dining reservations guide for how to use it.
Virgin leaves Portsmouth
Portsmouth, UK was a Virgin homeport from 2021.
Valiant Lady’s August 27, 2026 departure was the last scheduled sailing from Portsmouth. Virgin’s European season shifts to the Mediterranean from 2027, and the company has said Portsmouth is “definitely on our mind” for the future but has no return date. (The News, Portsmouth)
Who it affects: UK sailors who liked driving to the ship. For 2027, Virgin’s European season sails from Mediterranean ports, so you are flying.
Sailing Club perks extended through 2028, Status Match returns
Blue Extras and Deep Blue Extras were guaranteed through December 31, 2026.
Both tiers are extended through December 31, 2028. You join the Sailing Club after one eligible voyage, get Blue Extras on your third and fourth, and Deep Blue Extras (a $100 Bar Tab, Premium Wi-Fi where available, priority boarding, two specialty coffees a day) from your fifth. Virgin ran a Status Match for other programs’ elites from September 24 to October 31, 2026. (Virgin Voyages loyalty FAQ; Sailing Club)
My read: Extension is good. The open question loyal sailors keep asking is what comes above Deep Blue. There is no announced answer. I will update this the day there is one.
Costco Travel starts selling Virgin
Costco Travel now sells Virgin Voyages, with a Digital Costco Shop Card after the cruise and a launch shipboard credit for sailings booked by November 25, 2026. The fare is Virgin’s published fare either way. (Costco Travel)
My read: I wrote a full, fair comparison: Costco Travel vs. a First Mate.
Brilliant Lady’s fall 2027 Los Angeles season reworked
Virgin cancelled Brilliant Lady’s October 30, 2027 Halloween sailing for a private charter and replaced two 7-night Mexican Riviera sailings (November 6 and 20, 2027) with four 3- and 4-night California Coast and Mexico cruises. Affected sailors were offered a price-protected move to another 7-night LA sailing with extra Sailor Loot, or a full refund, with a decision deadline of November 19, 2026. (Virgin Voyages, as reported by Cruise Hive)
My read: If you are booked on one of these, do not let the deadline pass. I track every cancelled and changed sailing on this page.
Small charges sailors notice
- Distilled water for CPAP machines. Virgin’s FAQ says to bring your own in unopened, labeled packaging, or request it through the Accessibility and Medical Request Form at least 14 days before sailing. (Virgin Voyages accessibility FAQ) Since August 2026, sailors have reported being told there is a small charge, about $5 per sealed bottle, for distilled water supplied on board; Virgin’s FAQ does not state a price either way. My advice is the same as Virgin’s: request it on the form 14 days out, and pack a sealed carton in your carry-on as a backup.
- Bar Tab bonus tiers change with promotions. Current bonus levels are on my Sailor Loot vs Bar Tab guide.
Photos: Derek Gebelhardt
What has not changed
- Adults only, 18 and over on every sailing.
- Every restaurant included, with no specialty surcharges and no buffet.
- No formal nights and no dress code beyond “Keep it Red” on Scarlet Night.
- Essential drinks (water, soda, drip coffee, tea), group fitness, Wi-Fi at a level set by your fare, and Ship Eats room service are included.
- No gratuity added to drinks, dining or spa. (Virgin Voyages)
- The same fare whether you book direct, through Costco or through a First Mate. (Costco Travel vs. a First Mate)
How I handle this for clients
- I compare the all-in total (fare, gratuities, Wi-Fi, Bar Tab) across Base, Essential and Premium before you choose, in writing.
- I check your booking date against every policy on this page, because legacy bookings keep legacy terms.
- When Virgin announces a change, I tell affected clients what it means for their specific booking, not just that something changed.
Quick answers
Is Virgin Voyages more expensive than it was in 2024?
The fare and gratuities are now separate, so the headline fare looks lower and the total looks about the same on Essential. Compare the all-in number. Base is cheaper but non-refundable with a 15-day dining window.
Do I still get gratuities included if I booked before October 7, 2025?
Yes. Legacy bookings keep gratuities included and now get a 60-day dining window.
Did Virgin get rid of Razzle Dazzle?
Brunch is still Razzle Dazzle on every ship. Dinner in that room is now a different concept on three of the four ships.
Can I still use an MNVV I bought in 2025?
Yes, within two years of purchase to book, on any sailing open for sale. Pre-August 6, 2026 placeholders also keep their one-time name change.
Is Portsmouth coming back?
Not on the published schedule. Virgin has said it is open to returning.
Sources I checked
Virgin changes its policies often. I checked these on November 8, 2026, and you should confirm anything time-sensitive with me before you rely on it.
- Virgin Voyages, VoyageFair Choices FAQ
- Virgin Voyages, VoyageFair Choices press release
- Virgin Voyages, Dining FAQ
- Virgin Voyages, My Next Virgin Voyage (updated October 27, 2026)
- Virgin Voyages, Loyalty Programs FAQ
- Virgin Voyages, Sailing Club
- Virgin Voyages, Accessibility FAQ
- Costco Travel, Virgin Voyages
- The News (Portsmouth), August 28, 2026
- Cruise Hive, October 28, 2026
- Reddit threads used as the news hook only: gratuities r/VirginVoyages: “prepaid service gratuities rant” (180 comments); CPAP water r/VirginVoyages: “distilled water cpap now charging” (186); Sailing Club r/VirginVoyages: “sailing club benefits extended through december” (48); Costco r/VirginVoyages: “booking with costco travel” (73); Ariya r/VirginVoyages: “loving the new valiant lady ariya” (63)
At Ease Travel Co. is an independent travel advisory affiliated with Fora Travel, a Virtuoso member agency. Virgin Voyages, Scarlet Lady, Valiant Lady, Resilient Lady, Brilliant Lady, Sailor Loot, Scarlet Night and My Next Virgin Voyage are trademarks of Virgin Voyages. This guide is independent advisor commentary and is not endorsed by Virgin Voyages.
Not sure if Virgin is still worth it?
Send me the year you last sailed and what you loved about it. I will tell you honestly what is different now, what it costs all-in on each fare, and whether the trip you remember is still on offer. I have sailed Virgin seven times since 2023 and I keep this page current.
Derek Gebelhardt, At Ease Travel Co. · derek@ateasetravel.co · 202-802-0990. Virgin sets the fare, so the same cabin, fare type and promotion is the same fare with me as on virginvoyages.com, and I charge no planning fee. Eligible bookings made at least 121 days before sailing also get Virtuoso Sailor Loot, which I confirm in writing before you pay.