Most Virgin Voyages content focuses on the big moments: Scarlet Night, the parties, the food… the headlines.
This is different.
This is a simple, real-time Deck 16 walkthrough — filmed first thing in the morning while I was jet-lagged — designed to break the ship down deck-by-deck so you can actually picture where you are (and stop feeling like you’re missing half the ship).
If you’re sailing soon, Deck 16 is one of the most useful decks to understand early. It’s where the ship’s energy clusters, but it also hides some of the quietest, most under-used spaces.
▶️ Here’s the original video (Deck 16 walkaround)
(Embed the video here.)
What’s on Deck 16 on Virgin Voyages?
Deck 16 is basically the top-level “life deck”:
- Hot tubs and daybeds (often quieter than you’d expect)
- The catamaran net / wake views at the aft (rear)
- Basketball / pickleball court
- Outdoor gym equipment + boxing/punch bag area
- The main pool area below and nearby bar points
- Sun Club Café (my favourite lunch spot on the ship)
- Richard’s Rooftop (RockStar / Mega RockStar access)
- Cabanas (bookable, often “sold out” on sea days)
- One of the ship’s two smoking areas
And yes — I know it’s a ship, not a boat. I’m trying.
The quick Deck 16 route (so you can orient yourself)
If you want the “mental map” without overthinking it:
- Start aft (rear): catamaran net, wake views, hot tubs, quieter beds
- Walk forward along the deck: daybeds, courts, gym areas, showers
- Loop near the pool zone + bars: this is where Sail Away energy gathers
- Stop at Sun Club Café for lunch
- Cut through Richard’s Rooftop if you have access
- Return past the cabanas and back to the hot tubs / sports bar area
That’s the deck.
The best hidden value on Deck 16
These were the “game changers” from actually being there:
1) The aft area is weirdly quiet
The beds at the rear often don’t get used, even on sea days.
Same story with the hot tubs in the evening.
If you want sun, space, or a calmer vibe, start here.
2) Deck 16 is one of the best “sea day” decks
Because there’s so much seating, you can usually find something — especially if you’re not trying to be right next to the pool peak zone.
3) The showers are genuinely useful
There are small showers dotted around the deck — perfect after pool time or when you’ve been sweating in the sun.
4) The pop-up bars you want for Sail Away are here
If you’ve watched your Sail Away video: the quieter champagne point is around the Deck 16 pool zone. People crowd the obvious places; these are often calmer.
Sun Club Café: my favourite lunch on the ship
If you only take one thing from this post:
Sun Club Café is elite.
- Poke bowls
- Bao buns
- Dips / lighter lunch plates
- Easy, quick, and consistently good
I mention the tuna poke bowl for a reason.
If you’re trying to avoid the Galley crowds and still eat well, this is the move.
Richard’s Rooftop (RockStar + Mega RockStar only)
If you have access, this is what to know:
- It’s open all day
- Plenty of seating
- Two large hot tubs
- “Trampoline cabana” style daybeds
- It never felt truly busy when we were there
Best perk: you can ask crew to bring lunch from Sun Club Café up to Richard’s Rooftop.
That’s a seriously underrated comfort.
Also: there are two sushi items exclusive to Richard’s Rooftop (worth trying once).
The cabanas: expensive, always “booked”, rarely seen in use
This was one of the strangest things.
Whenever we checked, they looked fully booked — but we rarely saw them actively being used.
If you’ve rented one and it felt worth it, it’s genuinely useful intel for other sailors (and I’d love to hear it).
Quick practical tips for Deck 16
- Morning is best for filming and exploring (quiet, empty, clear views)
- Aft is best for calm sunbeds + hot tubs + meeting people without chaos
- Deck 16 is a brilliant “reset deck” when the rest of the ship feels busy
- If you’re trying to understand the ship quickly: learn one deck per day
That’s the entire logic of this series.
MICCHECKJIM 
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