MICCHECKJIM

Can Virgin Voyages actually work for every age — or is it only really built for one type of traveller?

That’s what we set out to test on this trip, with three generations of the same family on board: Susie (74), Louise (46), Florence (18)… and me, Jim from MCJ Wanderlust. This is Part 1 of our series, and it covers Day 1 on Virgin Voyages Scarlet Lady, including: first impressions, expectations vs reality, a look inside three different cabin types (including a rare solo insider), a CEO sailaway speech, and ending the night with Mel C at sea.

The big question: is Virgin Voyages good for families (as long as everyone’s 18+)?

Virgin Voyages is adults-only (18+), which instantly makes it different from a traditional “family cruise”. But it also creates a really interesting sweet spot: adult kids + parents + grandparents can actually travel together without the ship feeling like a kids’ club.

So we decided to test it properly — not just “did we like it?”, but did it work across ages:

• Would Susie (74) enjoy the energy, the shows, and the food without burning out?
• Would Florence (18) feel out of place if most people were older?
• Would Louise (46) feel stuck in the middle trying to keep everyone happy?
• And could we do it all without turning the week into a logistical nightmare?

Day 1 was all about expectations — and honestly, the answers were brilliant.

Susie (74): “I’ll be fine… as long as I can have my nana nap.”

Susie had never been on a cruise before, and her expectations were refreshingly simple: have fun, enjoy being together, and try not to get swept away by the sheer volume of food.

Two things were on her mind straight away:

1) Energy levels

She’s up for the music, the shows, the “Virgin weirdness”… but only if she can pace herself.

Her strategy was perfect:

• enjoy the days
• take a nap in the afternoon
• then come alive again for dinner and entertainment

If you’re travelling with someone older (or you are the older one), this is a proper takeaway: Virgin Voyages can work brilliantly if you treat it like a festival you can dip in and out of.

2) Food overwhelm (in the best way)

Susie had watched a lot of Virgin Voyages YouTube (including The Doddles) and had one genuine concern:

“I don’t think I’m going to be able to get through that much food…”

Day 1 also set up one of the biggest “multi-gen” themes: Virgin’s food is a shared experience. Everyone obsesses over different things — and that becomes part of the fun.

Susie was most excited for:

• Pink Agave (Mexican)
• “new” foods she doesn’t normally get at home
• and basically anything that isn’t… Dorset.

Florence (18): “My expectations are party, drink, and sweet things.”

Florence being newly 18 is the entire reason this trip was possible. Virgin is adults-only, and until recently she wouldn’t have been allowed onboard — which is exactly why this is such an interesting test.

Her excitement was immediate and very honest:

• frozen daiquiris
• porn star martinis
• PJ Party
• Scarlet Night
• meeting people her age
• and finding the best sweet stuff onboard (patisserie + gelato)

But she also had a real worry that I think loads of families will relate to:

“What if there’s nobody my age?”

Virgin does attract plenty of younger adults, but Florence nailed the nuance: even if there are younger people, they might be mid-20s, not 18.

So we made a plan to stack the odds:

• trivia
• college games
• social events where you naturally meet people
• and anything that isn’t just “sit at the pool and hope”.

If you’re thinking about bringing an 18–20 year old onboard, Day 1 already gives the key insight: Virgin can work, but you need to be intentional about how they find their people.

Louise (46): “I’m slightly terrified I can’t keep up with Florence.”

Louise is the glue in this experiment — the one trying to make sure everyone has a good time without getting dragged into chaos.

Her excitement was very “classic Virgin Voyages”:

• Bingo with a Diva
• Extra Virgin (the Italian restaurant)
• The Dock (and the small plates)
• the little rituals and recurring favourites that make Virgin feel like a “club” rather than just a cruise

But her fear was also real:

• Florence wanting to stay up until 5am
• energy management across generations
• and whether the ship vibe feels different in Europe vs the US sailings we’ve done before

This is the heart of the series: not just “is the cruise good?” — but can three different ages enjoy the same cruise without anyone feeling left behind?

Cabin tours on Day 1: Solo Insider vs Sea Terrace vs Seriously Suite

One of the most useful parts of Day 1 is how many cabin types we got to see in the same sailing, because most people only ever experience one.

1) Seriously Suite (RockStar)

Louise and I were in a Seriously Suite, and the first reaction was basically:

“Oh, it’s nice… I like it.”

It’s visibly bigger than a standard Sea Terrace, with:

• a bigger bathroom
• a more premium feel
• a slightly larger terrace (with that extra “hammock space” that somehow matters more than it should)

Then we did what all RockStars do:

• Richard’s Rooftop
• a drink
• a hot tub
• and waited for the carnage to begin.

2) Sea Terrace (Susie’s cabin)

Susie’s Sea Terrace was exactly what most people want:

• hammock
• simple layout
• fridge for wine (crucial, apparently)
• everything she needs, nothing she doesn’t

And honestly? For most travellers, this is the cabin type that hits the sweet spot between price and experience.

3) Solo Insider (Florence)

This is the one people search for.

A solo insider cabin is rare to see properly on YouTube, and it’s a genuine question people have:

• Can you do Virgin Voyages solo?
• Is an inside cabin claustrophobic?
• Is it worth it if you’re trying to keep the cost down?

We’re going deeper into this later in the series, but Day 1 sets it up perfectly: you can absolutely do it, especially if you’re the type of person who treats the cabin as a sleep pod and lives around the ship.

Sailaway in Lisbon: CEO speech + why this sailing felt special

Day 1 also included a sailaway speech from Virgin Voyages’ CEO, which made this sailing feel a bit “event” rather than just another departure.

The big takeaway from the speech was simple: Virgin’s brand is built around crew and experience — and whether you love or hate the Virgin vibe, they’re all-in on it.

Then it was:

• Deck 16
• drinks
• sailaway energy
• and the night ramping up fast.

Dinner at Pink Agave (dessert only… because I forgot to film)

We went to Pink Agave for dinner — one of the most searched restaurants on Virgin Voyages — and in classic Jim fashion…

I forgot to film it.

So all you get is dessert.

Which is probably the most “me” thing imaginable.

Mel C at sea: the perfect Day 1 finale

Ending Day 1 with Mel C onboard is one of those moments that makes Virgin Voyages feel totally different from traditional cruising.

It’s not just “a show”.

It feels like the ship turns into a floating venue.

And for a multi-generational trip, it’s also the kind of moment where everyone can share the same experience — even if they’ve spent the day doing totally different things.

Day 1 verdict: does Virgin Voyages feel multi-generational so far?

After one day, the early signs were very good:

✅ Susie: excited, not intimidated, already planning naps and Mexican food

✅ Florence: hyped, slightly nervous about meeting her age group (fair), ready to go full send

✅ Louise: excited, mildly terrified, already lining up Bingo with a Diva and Italian food

✅ Me: basically just happy watching the chaos unfold

But it’s only Day 1.

Coming in Part 2: workouts, more food, Scarlet Night… and reality checks

In Part 2, we go deeper into the stuff that actually determines whether this works long-term:

• bungee workouts
• more food
• Scarlet Night
• energy levels across the generations
• and whether the ship vibe helps or hurts when you’re trying to keep everyone happy