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

Joey HaddenMar 20, 2024, 23:16 IST

Business Insider's reporter cruised on board Virgin Voyages' Valiant Lady, a luxury, adults-only ship.Joey Hadden/Business Insider

I sailed on a luxury, adults-only Virgin Voyages cruise ship called the Valiant Lady.
It can hold more than 2,700 guests with unique amenities like a tattoo shop and an adult playground.

In August 2023, I took my first cruise with Virgin Voyages, a relatively new luxury cruise line I've heard about from friends and other travelers for the last couple of years.

Virgin Voyages launched in 2021 as an adults-only cruise line, according to its website. Since then, it's 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 Business 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.

Virgin Voyages ships sail in Europe and the Caribbean. I took a seven-day Mediterranean cruise that left out of Barcelona.

Valiant Lady docked in Ibiza.Joey Hadden/Business Insider

I booked a room with a balcony that typically costs about $5,910 for two people on my itinerary.

The author's stateroom and balcony.Joey Hadden/Business Insider

But a lot of the fun takes place in the ship's communal areas.

Lounging areas on deck 16 of Valiant Lady.Joey Hadden/Business Insider

To get up and down the ship's many decks, elevators take guests to 13 of the 17 levels.

An elevator (L) and a staircase (R) onboard Valiant Lady.Joey Hadden/Business Insider

The fun starts on deck five, the lowest deck with staterooms. It also houses the ship's spa.

The spa on deck five.Joey Hadden/Business Insider

Upstairs, decks six and seven are packed with communal spaces, including several show venues.

A band plays for guests at On the Rocks.Joey Hadden/Business Insider

These lower decks also house many of the ship's restaurants and eateries, including fine dining rooms and an ice cream shop.

Eateries on Valiant Lady's lower decks.Joey Hadden/Business Insider

On deck six, High Street is a strip of high-end shops that is reminiscent of a mall.

High Street shops on deck six.Joey Hadden/Business Insider

On the same deck, Valiant Lady has a tattoo parlor called Squid Ink.

Inside Squid Ink, the tattoo parlor.Virgin Voyages

Upstairs, deck seven is a gamer's paradise.

The author races in the arcade (L). Some of the board games on the ship.Joey Hadden/Business Insider

Deck seven also has an outdoor lounge known as the Dock.

The Dock during a stargazing event.Joey Hadden/Business Insider

Decks 8-14 hold nothing but staterooms.

A hallway lined with staterooms.Joey Hadden/Business Insider

Up on deck 15, there are two pools surrounded by lounge chairs and whirlpools.

The main pool (top) and the Well-Being Pool (bottom).Joey Hadden/Business Insider

Inside deck 15, there's the Galley, a large dining space with several eateries similar to a buffet.

The taco stand in the Galley.Joey Hadden/Business Insider

There was also a gym in the indoor portion of deck 15.

Cruisers workout onboard Valiant Lady.Joey Hadden/Business Insider

But I think you can get a more fun workout upstairs on deck 16.

The outdoor training center in Deck 16's Athletic Club.Joey Hadden/Business Insider

The deck has a playground for adults with gigantic netted swing sets and seesaws ...

The ship's adult playground.Joey Hadden/Business Insider

... and a wide variety of games and sports, like a giant chess board.

The playground's chess board.Joey Hadden/Business Insider

For thrill-seekers, there's a net you can walk — or crawl — around with a view of the ocean below.

The net on deck 16.Joey Hadden/Business Insider

In my opinion, deck 16 is home to the most relaxing spot — Richard's Rooftop.

The author lounges on Richard's Rooftop.Joey Hadden/Business Insider

Lastly, the top deck, 17, holds the runway, a bright-red track that circles the ship.

The runway, a running track on deck 17.Joey Hadden/Business Insider

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