Step aboard Virgin Voyages' adults-only, luxury cruise ship, which has 17 decks, a tattoo parlor, and a playground for grown-ups

Earlier this month, I took my first cruise with Virgin Voyages, a relatively new cruise line that I've been hearing about from friends and other travelers for the last couple of years.

Virgin Voyages launched in 2021, according to its website. Since then, the cruise line has won several awards, including five from Cruise Critic for its cabins, dining, service, and ships in 2023.

Virgin Voyages has four "lady" ships: Scarlet Lady, Valiant Lady, Resilient Lady, and Brilliant Lady. A representative from Virgin Voyages told Insider that the ships are pretty much identical, aside from some differences in artwork and entertainment.

I cruised on Valiant Lady, which began sailing in March 2022. Like the other ships, it can hold more than 2,700 guests.

The ship has 1,408 cabins and suites, according to the cruise line. I booked a mid-tier stateroom with a balcony — a step above sea-view cabins, which only have a window. Insider received a media rate for the cruise.

The room was 225 square feet, including the balcony. I thought the cabin made great use of the tiny space while including luxury details, from smart controls to a private terrace.

My ship sailed round-trip from Barcelona, Spain, to ports in Italy and France, including Toulon, Ajaccio, and Marina di Carrara. The cruise ended with an overnight stop in Ibiza.

According to Virgin Voyages, the ships are 912 feet long and pack in 17 decks filled with cabins, restaurants, and communal spaces.

During my cruise, I never got bored. From shops and swimming pools to game rooms and swing sets, I thought there was so much to do.

The lower three levels are only accessible to crew members and the top deck is only accessible from the outdoor portion of deck 16, I learned during my voyage.

Sparkling details like light projections in the elevator and iridescent panels along the staircase made me feel luxurious while getting around the ship.

Hot stone massages, hydrating skin treatments, and indoor pools can all be found on deck five at Virgin Voyages' Redemption Spa.

These treatments and amenities come at an additional price. Massages and facials start at $155 and passes to access amenities start at $39.

A reporter at The Points Guy recently called Virgin Voyages' wide range of entertainment the best on any cruise line. During my cruise, I thought it was easy to see why. There were dance parties, live music, comedy shows, and more.

Many of the venues for these events are on decks six and seven, including the Red Room for performances; On the Rocks, a music bar; and the Manor, a nightclub and theater.

From personal pizzas to juicy steak dinners, there's plenty to eat on decks 5-7.

There are more than 20 restaurants and eateries on the ship, according to the cruise line. Food and drinks are included in the price of the ticket, save for alcoholic and specialty drinks as well as select menu items in some establishments.

On High Street, I found a plethora of products from luxury brands including Louis Vuitton, Dior, Fendi, and Bulgari.

The strip also has a store dedicated to the Virgin brand that sells records and other merchandise.

Virgin Voyages' ships are the first-ever cruises where you can get a tattoo onboard, according to the cruise line. According to Cruise Gear, tattoo pricing starts at around $150.

On deck seven, I found the arcade. It was a narrow, dark room with neon lights and games lining each side. Here, I raced cars and battled with buttons. It was so much fun.

On the same floor, there was a larger room packed with tables for playing board games and puzzles, which were stacked on shelves around the space. I spotted decks of cards and a wide variety of nostalgic games from my childhood, including Mouse Trap, Cranium, and Operation.

I thought the Dock was the most relaxing space on deck seven. It's an outdoor lounge at the back of the ship full of beds and sofas. The Dock serves small Mediterranean-inspired plates and hosts events.

I went to the Dock for a stargazing event. Guests got comfortable and looked up at the night sky while crew members told stories about the stars.

Most of the rooms on these decks have their own balcony. Mine was on deck 12.

The Aquatic Club is on deck 15 and has two pools separated by a bar — the main pool and the Well-Being Pool.

For a beach club vibe, I recommend the main pool because it's bigger and has music playing all the time. I was surprised to find that the pool felt relatively smaller than on a typical cruise ship, in my experience. But it was never too crowded to use — even in the afternoons — so this didn't bother me at all.

On the other side of the deck, The Well-Being Pool is smaller and has seating and jets in the water, so it felt to me like an extra-large whirlpool. But like the main pool, this one was never too crowded to go in either. And unlike the main pool, it was quiet, making it ideal for relaxing and cooling off.

The Galley is Virgin Voyages' food hall. Similar to a typical cruise ship buffet, there are several stands with a wide range of offerings. But unlike most buffets, servers make the plates and hand them to the customers.

In the Galley, I had tacos, sushi, desserts, and breakfast foods. There's also a burger grill, a noodle bar, a panini shop, and a popsicle stand.

Additionally on deck 15, there's a standalone restaurant called Gunbae that serves family-style Korean barbecue dishes.

B-Complex is the gym onboard Virgin cruise ships. They have free weights and machines as well as fitness classes from yoga to spin sessions.

I don't like to work out on vacation unless it's a fun activity that makes me forget I'm exercising at all. So I didn't use the gym. But I thought B-Complex's offerings were consistent with gyms I've been to at home while offering a much better view — the ocean.

On deck 16, the Athletic Club is home to an outdoor training center with strength and gymnastics equipment as well as a boxing ring.

The playground was my favorite part of the ship. Against the backdrop of the sunset over the ocean, I bounced on seesaws and pumped my legs on large, netted swings with the breeze on my face. It made me feel like a kid again.

The playground area had a basketball court and other more unexpected offerings like foosball and a gigantic chess board.

The net reminded me of a catamaran. From the outside, I didn't think stepping onto it would be scary. But as soon as I did, my gut dropped. So I immediately got on all fours and crawled to the other side. With butterflies swarming in my stomach, I thought this activity was way more thrilling than I was expecting.

Richard's Rooftop is the VIP lounge on Virgin Voyages' cruise ships. The rooftop is reserved for passengers staying in suites — known as "Rockstars" by the cruise line.

Virgin Voyages gave Insider access to Richard's Rooftop, and I thought it was the most relaxing place on the ship.

It's packed with cabanas, loungers, and whirlpools. It also has a bar and lounge-side service.

On deck 17, the track is the perfect place to run — or walk, if you vacation like me — with constant views of the wide-open ocean.