We’re now on Day 3 of Virgin Voyages’ MerMaiden Voyage of the newest ship in the fleet – Brilliant Lady – from Miami, which includes three ports of call — St. Maarten, Tortola, and Virgin’s Beach Club at Bimini in the Bahamas.
If you’ve been following along, in my Day 1 report I covered embarkation, my stateroom, and dinner at Pink Agave. In Day 2’s recap, I dove into Virgin’s beverage policy, Wi-Fi, and which things are free (and which aren’t), along with a look at dinner at The Wake, the ship’s steakhouse and seafood restaurant. So if you haven’t checked those out yet, go back and read them first — this one picks up where those left off.
Today marks the second of two back-to-back sea days since leaving Miami, and judging by the daily schedule (which you’ll find at the end of this post), there’s no shortage of things to do onboard — especially for those who don’t plan to post up by the pool all day.
Since we’re still sailing toward our first port, I figured it’s the perfect time to share my thoughts so far — my first impressions of Virgin Voyages, the ship, and a few things I’ve already decided I love (and a few I don’t).
Things I Like (A Lot)
Dining Done Right
Hands down, one of Virgin’s best moves was tossing the traditional main dining room overboard. No fixed menus, no forced seating, no awkward small talk with strangers (more on that later, as it has been a thing for me). Instead, there’s a collection of unique restaurants — each with its own theme and menu — and they’re all included. No surcharges, no “specialty” upcharges. Just good food, good service, and good variety.
I had steak last night at The Wake, and tonight I’m heading for Italian at Extra Virgin (get it?). Every meal so far has been outstanding — and it’s such a refreshing change from the same old cruise dining formula.
The Galley — Virgin’s Anti-Buffet
Forget dirty hands touching shared serving tongs, line cutters, and a mile long line for leather-like roast beef. The Galley takes the concept of a buffet, gives it a makeover, and turns it into a kind of food hall. You’ll find multiple themed stalls serving up everything from all-day breakfast and burgers to tacos, sushi, and salads. You can order directly at the counter, or just raise the little flag at your table and someone will come take your order and bring your food right to you.
Oh, and let’s talk about bacon — glorious, daily, unlimited bacon. Unlike some other lines (looking at you, Carnival), Virgin doesn’t ration it like it’s a precious metal. The Galley also has grab-and-go stations stocked with reusable bento boxes filled with fresh items like fruit, sandwiches, and sushi, perfect for taking back to your room or enjoying outside.
No Kids — Enough Said
Virgin’s adults-only policy might be my favorite thing ever. No crying babies, no kids cannonballing into the pool, no teens blasting TikToks during dinner. Just grown-ups enjoying their vacation the way it was meant to be — in peace. It changes the entire atmosphere onboard.
No Cruise Director or Annoying Announcements
This one deserves its own standing ovation. As I mentioned in my Day 1 report, there’s no cruise director on Virgin Voyages. Instead, there’s an entertainment team and The Diva, who hosts some events, but there’s no one barking over the PA every hour reminding you about the “gold by the inch” sale or pushing bingo cards.
In fact, there hasn’t been a single announcement all cruise long. None. The muster drill reminders on embarkation day were pre-recorded, professional, and that was it. Even the captain hasn’t interrupted to deliver a “voyage update.” It’s amazing. The quiet is honestly surreal — no sales pitches, no fake pep talks, no forced enthusiasm from a cruise director who thinks he’s Ryan Seacrest.
Entertainment That Delivers
I’ve spent literally hundreds of days at sea and most ship entertainment can best be described as “a bad high school musical with fog machines.” But not here. Virgin’s shows are edgy, loud, creative, and really freaking entertaining. The talent is professional, the production is slick, and the energy is off the charts. The main theater shows are so popular they’re repeated multiple times throughout the cruise — often once at night and once in the afternoon — so everyone gets a chance to catch them. And yes, you will hear an occasional f-bomb during a show. It’s Virgin after all.
The Little Details
Everywhere you go, you’ll find hand sanitizers cleverly integrated into the décor instead of just slapped onto walls like pandemic leftovers. It’s clean, stylish, and practical — a small thing, but one that says a lot about Virgin’s attention to design.
Things I Don’t Love (So Far)
It’s not all perfection — there are a few things that bug me.
Cabin Location Fail
When I upgraded from a Slightly Smaller Sea Terrace to a Central Sea Terrace cabin, I lost the ability to choose my location. Bad move on my part — because my cabin is directly under the gym. Every morning at 8 a.m. sharp, there’s a group fitness class that shakes the ceiling. Between the music and the thumping, it’s a built-in alarm clock I never asked for. Lesson learned — if you like sleeping in, avoid choosing a cabin under the gym.
Casino Blues
The casino being non-smoking is a huge plus — but it’s small. Really small. When it’s crowded, finding an open slot machine can feel like hunting for Easter eggs on Halloween. And while I appreciate the smoke-free air, I could do without the $5 service charge every time you transfer money from your ship account to a machine. That’s one fee that adds up fast.
A Surprise Gift
After spending some time sitting out on the wrap-around promenade deck people-watching, I returned to my stateroom and found a little surprise waiting on my bed — no, not one of the infamous “pineapple people” — but Virgin Voyages swag celebrating this MerMaiden Voyage.
Inside was a tote bag, a floatable VV cork keychain, and a MerMaiden towel. A thoughtful touch, especially since this is the first official sailing from Miami. It’s a small little gesture that goes a long way.
Compare that to when I sailed on MSC World America’s maiden voyage earlier this year, where passengers got absolutely nothing to mark the occasion — not even a postcard.
Hello, Lady Luck!
Before starting the evening festivities, I headed down to the casino with cash in hand (because, again, $5 transfer fee — no, thank you). Unfortunately, luck still wasn’t on my side. I bounced between machines, switched up denominations, and tried everything short of being one of those obnoxious players who thinks banging on the screen, slapping it like a doctor trying to get a newborn to cry, or tapping a precise section of the glass in hopes it will bring the symbol you need, to make it pay off. Nothing. I haven’t seen anyone hit a big jackpot yet, either — the occasional small win here and there, but no hand pays.
Later, I went to The Red Room, Virgin’s main two-level theater, for tonight’s production: Out of Time — a “high-energy, time-travel adventure featuring Dr. Victoria Vortex and her time machine.” The show jumps through eras — “from the prehistoric age to the roaring ’20s, ancient Rome, and the Wild West — blending music, dance, lasers, and laughs into one wild ride.” It was a hit. Like every show so far, it was packed, and for good reason.
Another show, Murder in the Manor, was canceled due to a cast illness and replaced with Duets, which I’ll catch later this week.
Dinner at Extra Virgin
Dinner tonight was at Extra Virgin — Virgin’s Italian restaurant with a clever name.
I didn’t have a reservation, but I figured I’d take my chances and walked in around 8:30 p.m. The host smiled, asked if I was dining solo, and within seconds I was being escorted to a table wedged neatly between two other groups — one couple clearly in the honeymoon phase, and a group of four who were already on their third round of Lemoncellos. At this point, it’s become a bit of a trend — me, the solo diner, stuck right in the middle.
Still, both tables were friendly, and after my initial attempt to stare off into the distance pretending to look invisible, they drew me into conversation. We talked about our favorite cruises, what we liked about Virgin so far, and the usual gripes about other cruise lines. It was actually a fun dinner… that is, until she appeared.
A few tables away, an “influencer” (and I use that term very loosely) was turning her dinner into a full-blown Broadway production. Light ring? Check. Two cameras? Check. Mini tripod? Check. Her poor mother sitting there looking like she’d rather be thrown overboard? Double check. Every plate that came out was filmed from twelve angles — sideways, upside down, slow motion, fast motion — every which way imaginable. At one point, the blinding white light lit up the space like a police interrogation room.
Look, I respect content creation — but for the love of pasta, dim it down when people are trying to enjoy their dinner. Influencers really are the mosquitos of modern travel: they hover everywhere, buzz around simply to annoy you, and just when you think they’re gone — they show up again, lighting rig in tow.
Anyway, onto the meal — which, thankfully, made up for all of that nonsense.
Extra Virgin Menu
My server, who was excellent, started me off with a warm basket of focaccia bread served with olive oil and balsamic. It was light, fluffy, and so addictive.
Next came the meatballs, baked in a little cast-iron skillet, with a rich tomato sauce. They were soft, tender, and packed with flavor. The sauce was so good I used the focaccia to mop up every last drop.
Then came the chicken cacciatore, served bone-in and literally falling off the bone in a rustic sauce full of vegetables. It was hearty Italian comfort food. My mother was a horrible cook, and her feeble attempts at this dish were always a huge fail, so to have a really good cacciatore is a big win for me!
For my pasta course, I went with the pappardelle with bolognese — wide ribbons of fresh pasta coated in a thick, meaty sauce that was absolute perfection.
To pair with everything, I ordered (several) Negroni — because when in Italy (or, you know, Italian-themed restaurant on a ship), it’s practically law. It was strong, bitter, and exactly what I needed after losing in the casino earlier.
By dessert, I was full but couldn’t resist the trio of sorbets — limoncello with vodka, mango, and strawberry. The limoncello was my favorite — sweet, tart, and just boozy enough to make you feel like you’re getting away with something. All three were smooth, refreshing, and the perfect finale to a fantastic meal.
Service was spot-on throughout — attentive without being overbearing. Unlike the night at Pink Agave, nothing felt rushed, and my server timed everything perfectly.
So yes, Extra Virgin absolutely nailed it. And while I may still be haunted by the glow of that influencer’s ring light every time I close my eyes, at least I’ll have fond (and very full) memories of one of the best meals I’ve had so far on this MerMaiden Voyage.
Winding Down
After dinner, I walked around the ship for a while. Bars were full, music was playing, and everyone seemed to be in good spirits. I managed to grab an empty seat at one of the bars for an after-dinner drink, then made my way back toward my stateroom.
On the way, I stumbled upon a stash of cereal bars and licorice, which obviously became my midnight snack. I took them back to my balcony, climbed into the red hammock, and let the motion of the ship lull me into near sleep.
These hammocks are easily one of the most underrated features onboard.
Tomorrow morning we’ll be arriving in St. Maarten around 8 a.m., with all aboard at 5:30 p.m. I can’t wait — it’s one of my favorite ports, and I’ve got a few stops in mind already.
More tomorrow — and as always, thanks for following along on the MerMaiden Voyage of Virgin Voyages’ Brilliant Lady from Miami!