Surprising Parts About My First Adults-Only Cruise With Virgin Voyages - Goodfest

After my first cruise in 2022, I didn’t think the vacation style was for me.

My inaugural sailing aboard Royal Caribbean’s Wonder of the Seas felt like Kid Central. From the waterslides and splash pads to the carousel and escape room, many of the ship’s activities and amenities were geared toward children.

While more experienced cruisers might be able to tune them out, I found it tough to relax with kids running around screaming on the pool deck. By the end of the trip, I was ready to give up cruising altogether.

Then, I heard about Virgin Voyages, a luxury, adults-only cruise line that first set sail in 2021. I thought sailing on an upscale ship free of children might change my mind about cruising, so I booked a seven-night Mediterranean cruise in August 2023 on Virgin Voyages’ Valiant Lady ship. I stayed in a cabin with a balcony. The starting rate was $5,910, though Business Insider received a media rate for the weeklong cruise.

My second cruise was far better than my first. I sailed in peaceful luxury from Spain to Italy and France, and the ship was full of surprises.

The first thing that struck me was the ship’s unique and alluring aesthetic.

An indoor deck glowed on the Virgin Voyages cruise ship.

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

The ship was more stylish than I could have imagined. Multicolored lighting, iridescent panels paired with bold artwork, and modern furniture gave it a futuristic and glamorous feel. Pops of Virgin’s signature bright red dotted the decks, from furniture to accent pieces.

Colorful glows, from pink and purple to blue and green, lit the decks and elevators. I felt as if I were surrounded by rainbows. Simply wandering the ship renewed my sense of childlike wonder, yet no kids were in sight.

My cabin felt more spacious than I thought it would.

A composite image of the author sitting on a bed in a cruise ship cabin and standing on the cabin's balcony with the ocean in the background — The reporter in her cabin and on the balcony.

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

I was prepared for my 225-square-foot cabin to feel at least a bit cramped, especially since I traveled with a friend. So I was surprised when multipurpose furniture and clever storage hacks left us both with enough floor space to stretch and move around.

The queen-size bed transformed into a couch during the day, an ottoman was tucked underneath the desk instead of a chair, and the nightstand was thin and light, making it easy to move out of the way when not in use. A large wall mirror facing the balcony made the space feel bigger and brighter.

The balcony had a side table, two chairs, and a big, netted hammock. Three years later, I still reminisce about how peaceful I felt curled up in that hammock in the middle of the sea.

I didn’t expect to find a playground on a ship for grown-ups.

An empty deck on a cruise ship with a black seesaw, swings, and a red staircase — The playground at sunset.

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

The last thing I expected to find on an adults-only cruise ship was a playground. But it wasn’t just any playground — everything was jumbo-sized, from the seesaws to the swings. It was clearly built for grown-ups.

The cruise ship playground was filled with fun activities, including a human-sized chess set, a boxing ring, and gymnastics equipment. Nearby, a net suspended above an ocean view made me feel like I was on a catamaran.

If there had been children around, I wouldn’t have felt comfortable taking up space on this playground. I remember feeling weird as the only adult in a round of laser tag during my first cruise. But on this kid-free ship, I felt free to enjoy these activities surrounded by only adults.

Going on the swings and playing competitive games made me feel like a kid again. Simply playing refreshed my state of mind in a way I didn’t expect, and I think all adults could use it on vacation.

There was no shortage of play indoors, either.

A composite image of the author in sunglasses drives a car in an arcade with blue lighting behind her and a black shelf full of board games with wood floors. — The reporter played arcade games on the cruise ship.

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

When I wanted to beat the heat, I headed inside on deck seven, where I found a retro-style arcade and a game room full of board games, puzzles, decks of cards, and large tables to play on.

The board game selection was nostalgic — I spotted childhood favorites like Mouse Trap, Candyland, and Cranium.

I never thought I’d see a tattoo parlor on a cruise ship.

A tattoo parlor with red chairs and a port hole window with a view of the ocean on the right and a counter top and shelf on the left — Squid Ink is a tattoo shop inside the cruise ship.

Virgin Voyages

While wandering the indoor shopping strip on deck six, I was surprised when I spotted a tattoo shop called Squid Ink. Virgin Voyages says it’s the first cruise line to offer tattooing on board. According to Cruise Gear, tattoo pricing starts at about $150.

I love getting tattooed, so seeing the shop excited me, but I resisted the urge to get one on this trip.

I expected to see a lot of day drinkers on board, but the communal decks were calm during the day.

A pool deck on a cruise ship with a large whirlpool on the right and a bar on the left — Cruisers relax on the pool deck.

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

On my first cruise, I spotted many people drinking and partying throughout the day, so I expected to see even more of that on an adults-only cruise. But the communal decks were surprisingly calm when the sun was up. It was easy to relax by the pools — one had music playing, while the other was quiet.

I talked to a bartender about my differing experiences, and they said Mediterranean cruisers tended to be less interested in partying than Caribbean cruisers.

The last thing I expected from my adults-only cruise was to feel like a kid again. And that was the best surprise of all.

An aerial view of the author smiling on a large, netted swing — The reporter enjoying a swing on the cruise ship.

Joey Hadden/Business Insider

On a luxury ship without kids, I expected to enjoy my adults-only cruise more than my first cruise. But I didn’t expect the Virgin Voyages cruise to make me feel like a child myself.

Playing for hours surrounded by rainbows and eating whatever I wanted without thinking about money allowed me to let loose in a way I hadn’t in over a decade.

I would definitely cruise with Virgin Voyages again, and maybe next time, I’ll get some fresh ink.