Virgin Voyages Scarlet Lady
5 Day Dominican Daze Cruise - September 29, 2023
Virgin Voyages Scarlet Lady in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic.
After years of sailing on traditional cruise lines, we were excited to finally experience something completely different: Virgin Voyages!
We’re sailing on Scarlet Lady for a 5-night Caribbean cruise from Miami with stops in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic and The Beach Club at Bimini. We'd heard so many people rave about Virgin's adult-only experience, included specialty dining, unique entertainment, and relaxed atmosphere. Now it’s finally our turn to see what all the excitement was about!
Itinerary
Fri - Sept 29th - Miami, FL
Sat - Sept 30th - At Sea
Sun - Oct 1st - Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic
Mon - Oct 2nd - At Sea
Tue - Oct 3rd - Bimini, Bahamas
Wed - Oct 4th - Miami, FL
Embarkation Day
Embarkation at Virgin Voyages' Terminal V in Miami was incredibly smooth. After parking in the garage connected to the terminal, we were inside and onboard in no time.
We stopped at The Draught Haus shortly after boarding for our first drinks of the cruise. There we hopped on the Virgin Voyages app and adjusted dining reservations and reserved shows.
From there, we stopped at Sip Lounge for another drink before heading to our Sea Terrace cabin. Our luggage arrived shortly afterward, giving us plenty of time to unpack, complete the required safety drill through the Virgin Voyages app, and get settled.
Our first impression? We really liked it!
The cabin felt modern, bright, and surprisingly spacious. The bathroom itself was on the smaller side, but it featured one of the best cruise ship showers we've experienced, complete with a rainfall showerhead, glass door, and no clingy shower curtain.
The bed was comfortable, although firmer than what we're used to on Princess Cruises. One thing that definitely exceeded our expectations was the air conditioning. It gets wonderfully cold, but there's one catch: make sure you completely close and lock the balcony door after stepping outside, or the air conditioning won't kick back on. (Ask me how I know.)
We found there was plenty of storage throughout the cabin, although we would've appreciated a little more space in the bathroom. We also loved being able to control the lights, curtains, and TV using the in-cabin tablet, which was incredibly convenient.
And then there's the famous red hammock! Before this cruise, we honestly thought it was more of a gimmick than something we'd actually use. We couldn't have been more wrong. Whether we were enjoying sail away, relaxing with a drink, or simply taking in the ocean views, we found ourselves using it every day. It quickly became one of our favorite features of the Sea Terrace.
Once we were unpacked, we headed to The Galley for a light lunch before continuing to explore the ship. We wandered through On the Rocks and eventually discovered one of our favorite hidden gems onboard: The Loose Cannon, Virgin's nautical-themed pub.
At 6:00 p.m., Scarlet Lady sailed away from Miami, and complimentary champagne was served around the ship at several venues including Sun Club Café, The Aquatic Club, and Gym & Tonic. It was a fun way to officially kick off our first Virgin Voyages adventure.
Before dinner, we stopped by The Red Bar for a cocktail before our reservation at Razzle Dazzle, Virgin's colorful vegetarian-forward restaurant that also offers plenty of delicious options for meat lovers.
To start, we shared the Old Bay Chicken Wings and Nashville Hot Cauliflower, both of which were packed with flavor. For our entrées, I ordered the Slow Cooked Short Lamb Shank, while Jay chose The V-Fried Chicken. We couldn't resist dessert either, so we finished the meal with a creamy Vanilla Bean Crème Brûlée and the Rum Apple Cake. It was a fantastic first dinner onboard and a great introduction to Virgin Voyages' included specialty dining.
After dinner, we explored the ship, caught the lively Around the World performance in The Manor, and headed to the famous PJ Party. Mother Nature had other plans, though, so the party was moved indoors to The Manor due to rain. Even with the venue change, everyone showed up in their pajamas ready to dance, and it was the perfect way to end our first night aboard Scarlet Lady.
Sea Day #1
We started our first sea day with breakfast in The Galley. One thing we quickly learned: if you're planning brunch, don't show up between 11:00 a.m. and noon, as many of the food stations temporarily close while switching over from breakfast to lunch.
The rest of the morning was spent exploring more of the ship. We checked out The Social Club, where we discovered the TVs weren't showing football which was disappointing, relaxed at The Dock, played a few games in the arcade, and enjoyed the peaceful atmosphere at The Dock House.
That evening, we had reservations for It's a Ship Show in The Manor, Virgin Voyages' signature dinner theater experience on Scarlet Lady.
As the show unfolded around us, we enjoyed a delicious multi-course meal. I started with the Roasted Vegetable Salad before the Pan-Seared Sea Bass, while Jay chose the Burrata & Roasted Cherry Tomatoes followed by the Parmesan-Crusted Chicken. For dessert, we both had the Baileys Dark & White Chocolate Mousse, which was the perfect sweet ending to the meal.
The combination of comedy, live music, acrobatics, and audience participation made It's a Ship Show unlike anything we'd experienced at sea. It was one of the most memorable evenings of the cruise and quickly confirmed that Virgin Voyages' entertainment truly lives up to the hype.
Tomorrow we'll arrive at our first port of the cruise: Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic. Not only is it our first port of this sailing, but it will also be our first visit to the Dominican Republic, making us even more excited to explore somewhere completely new.
Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic
After breakfast in in The Galley, we met our guides from Puerto Plata Transfers, Taxi and Tours for one of the most memorable excursions we've ever done: The 27 Waterfalls of Damajagua. If you're visiting Puerto Plata, we can't recommend this excursion enough!
After purchasing tickets at the entrance, we were fitted with helmets, life jackets, and provided bottled water before beginning the approximately 45-minute uphill hike. Be sure to bring sturdy water shoes, or you can rent a pair onsite.
The hike definitely gets your heart pumping, but the reward is well worth it.
Once you reach the waterfalls, the adventure begins. You'll climb, slide, and jump your way down through a series of beautiful waterfalls and natural pools before enjoying a short walk back to the entrance.
Unfortunately, phones aren't allowed on the course, but professional photographers accompany each group. We purchased the photo package for $45, which included 92 photos and videos on a flash drive. It was absolutely worth it and gave us the chance to fully enjoy the experience without worrying about our cameras.
This quickly became one of our favorite cruise excursions, and we'd absolutely do it again!
After returning to town, we enjoyed lunch before walking through Pink Street and the famous Umbrella Street, two colorful spots that are perfect for photos.
We made our way back to Taino Bay and returned to the ship just in time for the Deep Blue Extras Party at On the Rocks. Before the cruise, we had status matched into Virgin Voyages' Deep Blue Extras program, which gave us access to this exclusive cocktail party along with several other onboard perks. It was a fun opportunity to mingle with fellow Deep Blue Extras sailors before getting ready for dinner.
That evening, we enjoyed dinner at The Wake, Virgin Voyages' elegant steakhouse and seafood restaurant.
I started with the Wedge Salad before enjoying a perfectly cooked Filet Mignon, while Jay chose the Clam Chowder followed by the New York Strip. For dessert, I ordered the refreshing Meyer Lemon Cheesecake, and Jay couldn't pass up The Wake, the restaurant's signature dessert.
After dinner, we headed to The Manor for Ben Price's Magic Show, followed by the incredible acrobatic production Duel Reality in The Red Room. Both shows were outstanding and highlighted just how much Virgin Voyages invests in unique, high-quality entertainment.
And yes... another late-night stop for pizza before bed.
Sea Day #2
I started the morning with the energetic VHS Workout in The Manor, which was just as fun as it sounds, while Jay slept in.
After working up an appetite, I met up with Jay and we headed back to Razzle Dazzle for their famous Bottomless Brunch, which ended up being one of our favorite meals of the cruise.
I ordered the Razzle Dazzle Breakfast, a hearty plate with scrambled eggs and potatoes while Jay opted for the fresh and refreshing Açaí Bowl. It was the perfect way to refuel before spending the rest of the day enjoying everything Scarlet Lady had to offer.
The afternoon was wonderfully relaxing. We spent time at The Dock, enjoyed a mezze snack of grilled shrimp and hanger steak at The Dock House, and browsed the onboard shops.
As the day went on, we watched the crew slowly transform the ship for what would become one of the highlights of the voyage: Scarlet Night.
Before the festivities began, we tested our knowledge during Salty Trivia at The Social Club, then stopped by the Glam Station to add a little extra sparkle to my Scarlet Night outfit.
Dinner that evening was at Extra Virgin, Virgin Voyages' Italian restaurant.
I started with the Ribollita, then ordered both the Bucatini all Carbonara and the Potato Gnocchi, giving me the perfect excuse to sample more of the menu. Jay chose the Beef Carpaccio to start, followed by the Mini Meatballs and the Porcini-Rubbed New York Strip (not pictured). For dessert, we shared an Affogato, which was a nice way to end the meal before heading off to enjoy Scarlet Night.
As darkness fell, Scarlet Lady completely transformed… The Octopus Goddess made her grand appearance, music filled every deck, pop-up performances appeared throughout the ship, and everyone dressed in red joined the celebration. Although weather forced the famous pool party indoors, the energy never slowed down.
We finished the night bouncing between On the Rocks and The Manor with new friends, dancing until late into the evening.
Bimini, Bahamas
After sleeping in, we enjoyed lunch in The Galley before finally stepping ashore in Bimini.
Virgin Voyages' complimentary shuttle trolley made getting to The Beach Club at Bimini quick and easy.
We spent a relaxing afternoon enjoying the beach, soaking up the Bahamian sunshine, and taking advantage of one of Virgin Voyages' signature experiences before heading back to Scarlet Lady.
Back onboard, we relaxed by the pool before returning to our cabin to pack.
One of our favorite moments of the cruise was watching sail away from our own balcony while relaxing in Virgin Voyages' iconic red hammock. It was the perfect way to soak in the last evening of an incredible sailing.
Before dinner, we decided to try one of Virgin Voyages' fun hidden features by shaking our phones for champagne. (Cruise Tip: when you're connected to the ship's Wi-Fi, open the Virgin Voyages app and give your phone a shake. Enjoy what happens next!)
We wrapped up our cruise with one last dinner at Pink Agave, Virgin Voyages' included Mexican restaurant.
I started with the Camarón Amarillo, while Jay chose the Papas con Chorizo. For our entrées, we both ordered the Bistec Marinero en Escabeche, and to end the evening on a sweet note, we shared the Tacos de Chocolate for dessert.
After dinner watched the entertaining VV Cabaret at On the Rocks, purchased a My Next Virgin Voyage placeholder (because we already know we'll be back!), experienced the wonderfully bizarre Untitled Danceshowpartything, and wrapped up our cruise dancing at Studio 72 in The Manor.
Miami, FL
And just like that, our first Virgin Voyages cruise had come to an end. After one final breakfast in The Galley, we disembarked around 10:15 a.m. and headed home to Fort Lauderdale.
Fortunately, there’s no time for the cruise blues, because we’re setting sail again in 10 days on board the Margaritaville at Sea Paradise. Until then, happy cruising!
