The Only Pre-Cruise Watchlist You Actually Need

Before my first sailing with Virgin Voyages, I did what most first-time sailors do:

I fell down a very deep YouTube rabbit hole.

There are a lot of Virgin Voyages videos out there — ship tours, food reviews, Scarlet Night breakdowns, packing lists, app tutorials, cabin tours, and hot takes of every kind. Some are brilliant. Some are entertaining. A few are genuinely essential.

This post exists for one reason: to save you time.

Rather than watching everything, I ranked the 10 Virgin Voyages videos that genuinely helped us the most before our first sailing — based on:

• How useful they were in practice
• How often we re-watched them
• How much stress or confusion they removed once onboard

This is not an algorithm list.

It’s a real pre-cruise watchlist.

How This List Is Ranked

These aren’t ranked by views or popularity.

They’re ranked by:

• Practical value onboard
• Clarity for first-time sailors
• How often we thought “I’m glad we watched that”

If you only watch a handful of Virgin Voyages videos before sailing, start here.

#10 — Scarlet Night Explained (Kelsey June Cruises)

Scarlet Night is the most talked-about event on Virgin Voyages — and one of the most misunderstood.

This video does an excellent job of:

• Explaining what Scarlet Night actually is
• How it unfolds across the ship
• How to participate without overthinking it

It’s especially useful coming from someone who understands the inner workings of the Happenings cast.

Why it makes the list:

It removes uncertainty around Virgin’s most hyped night.

#9 — Common Virgin Voyages Mistakes (See More Seas)

Virgin Voyages breaks a lot of cruise “rules” — and that’s exactly where people get caught out.

This video walks through:

• Dining misunderstandings
• Cabin assumptions
• App confusion
• Small mistakes that snowball onboard

Why it makes the list:

It helps you unlearn traditional cruise thinking.

#8 — Boarding the Raunchiest Cruise at Sea (Cruise With Ben & David)

This is an older video, but it still holds up.

Ben and David bring:

• Honest reactions
• Professional cruise experience
• A grounded take on Virgin’s adult-only vibe

Why it makes the list:

It gives you context for who Virgin Voyages is really for — and who it isn’t.

#7 — First-Time Virgin Voyages Review (Empty Nest Besties)

This one stood out because it’s not overly polished.

It’s:

• Genuine
• First-time focused
• Calmly observational

They talk through what surprised them, what worked, and what didn’t — which is often more helpful than expert-level advice.

Why it makes the list:

It mirrors the mindset most first-time sailors are actually in.

#6 — First-Time Virgin Voyages Tips (Where in the World Is CL)

If there is such a thing as a Virgin Voyages encyclopedia, this is it.

Christine has sailed Virgin Voyages extensively and breaks things down with clarity, patience, and zero hype.

This particular video is invaluable if:

• You’ve never cruised before
• You’re unsure what’s “normal” on Virgin vs other lines

Why it makes the list:

Depth, accuracy, and calm authority.

#5 — How to Book Dining & Shows Properly (The Weekend Cruiser)

The Virgin Voyages app is powerful — and occasionally infuriating.

This video explains:

• What to book
• When to book it
• What not to panic about

Even on recent sailings, these tips still applied.

Why it makes the list:

It prevents one of the most common first-day frustrations onboard.

#4 — 20 Things You Can (and Can’t) Do on Virgin Voyages (5 Hungry Travelers)

This video shines because it shows:

• Activities people don’t always mention
• What’s actually worth prioritising
• A slightly different demographic perspective

Why it makes the list:

It broadens your mental model of what Virgin Voyages offers beyond parties and food.

#3 — What Virgin Voyage Pros Do Differently (The Doddolds)

This was hard not to put higher.

Mark and David consistently produce:

• Calm
• Thoughtful
• Deeply observant Virgin Voyages content

This video, in particular, helps you think like a repeat sailor from day one.

Why it makes the list:

It upgrades your experience without adding effort.

#2 — What to Pack for Virgin Voyages (Where in the World Is CL)

Packing mistakes are incredibly common on Virgin Voyages:

• No red for Scarlet Night
• No pyjamas for PJ Party
• Missing small but critical items

This video isn’t flashy — but it’s hugely practical.

Why it makes the list:

It quietly prevents regret.

#1 — Boarding Virgin Voyages: A Complete Series (The Doddolds)

This takes the top spot for one reason: immersion.

Their multi-part embarkation series doesn’t just tell you what happens — it lets you feel it:

• Boarding day flow
• Early ship energy
• How the experience unfolds naturally

By the time you sail, nothing feels alien.

Why it’s #1:

It prepares you emotionally as well as practically.

Final Thoughts

If you watch every video on this list, you will:

• Board calmer
• Make better decisions
• Miss fewer moments
• Enjoy Virgin Voyages sooner

I wasn’t paid to make this list.

None of these creators sponsored it.

It’s simply what helped us the most.

If you think I’ve missed a must-watch video, add it in the comments — these lists evolve, just like the ships do.