This April, I was invited by Virgin Voyages to Miami for a sailing onboard Scarlet Lady. This trip was a mixture of Virgin Voyages and Virgin Atlantic travel agents. The trip was a chance for us to experience sailing from Miami with Virgin Voyages, with the highlight being a day at Virgin Voyages Private Beach Club, Bimini, in the Bahamas.
Table of Contents
Flying from Terminal 3 with Virgin Atlantic
Our journey began like most do at the Airport. Virgin Atlantic operates most of its London flights to the USA from Terminal 3 at Heathrow, and it always makes a wonderful first impression to see the terminal lit in the iconic Virgin Atlantic shade of Red and Purple.
The flight to Miami was as perfect as they come; the seat next to me was empty, so we had plenty of space to spread out, which makes a world of difference when flying long haul, as economy cabins arenโt as generous as they used to be.
Meal service was excellent, drinks service generous, and, seeing as I didnโt have to drive the other side, I certainly made the most of the alcohol for a change.
The main meal was a flavorful grilled chicken curry, and one thing I appreciate about flying with Virgin Atlantic is how generous the meal service is. We had pretzels and drinks within an hour of take-off, a main meal, an ice lolly around 6 hours in, and a pre-landing afternoon tea. Tea, coffee, and alcohol service were frequent and never too much bother for the cabin crew.
I now take my laptop and iPad loaded with games, movies, and TV to watch, but it’s great to see the onboard entertainment system jam-packed with options as always.
Arriving at Miami International
Transiting through Miami airport was pretty uneventful, and it wasn’t long before we were at our hotel for the night, the Croydon Hotel on North Beach, Miami.
It is a beautiful hotel, loaded with amenities, and an excellent choice for those looking for something on the quieter side of Miami. It has its own rooftop pool, which, sadly, I didnโt get to see, but it is a welcome addition in the Florida heat.
The highlight, however, has to be happy hour, with unlimited cocktails for one hour each day. We made the most of that hour for sure.
Book your Virgin Voyages Cruise Today
If you would like to book your Virgin Voyages Cruise today, you can use the below link to see the latest offers and self-service your booking. Any bookings made using this link will be linked to Magical Traveller (it will say Sold and Serviced by Kieran Miller at the top); you will have complete control over your booking and can pay Virgin Voyages directly.
If you book using our Book and Go link by clicking the image below, we will add bonus sailor loot to your account as a thank you, $25-$200, depending on cruise duration and cabin purchased. Sea Terrace cabins receive $100 on sailings four nights or more as a guide. An email will be sent within 24 hours from Magical Traveller confirming the loot will be added within 30 days before you sail.
If you would like to add hotels and accommodation, don’t hesitate to contact us, and we can make your cruise a fully ATOL-protected holiday.
Moxy Hotel Miami Hotel Tour
It wasnโt long until it was time to head to the Moxy South Beach for a tour and our meal for the evening. Itโs a fantastic hotel, but you can read the full trip report from our time there on this linkโฆ. (LINK COMING SOON).
Sunrise over Miami
The following morning, I was awake early, a mix of jet lag and pre-cruise excitement. So I took the early start as a chance to film the sunrise from my hotel, followed by a walk two blocks towards the beachfront for that Miami Beach moment. There is something magic about sunrise and sunset in Florida; the sky creates the most beautiful colourscape.
I took the chance to fly my drone for a bit along the beachfront, allowing me to get some photos and footage of the gorgeous cityscape of Miami and the beach.
Hotel Croydon Miami Room Tour
After an hour of enjoying the beautiful sea air, it was time to head back to our hotel to freshen up and shower before breakfast. You can view a room tour here:-
Breakfast was served table buffet-style for our group, and the food was simply incredible. We had a mix of American staples and some Miami spins on classics like Mexican eggs Benedict loaded with chorizo. Needless to say, I left breakfast stuffed ahead of our first day onboard Virgin Voyages.
Check-in for Virgin Voyages is later than most cruise lines, with the first embarkation usually starting at 1:30 pm for Rockstar guests. Before we headed onto the ship, we had a fun activity planned, something I think is the perfect pre- or post-cruise activity when sailing from Miami.
Jetboat Tour of Miami Harbour
We headed to the Port of Miami, where we first saw Scarlet Lady, which always looks iconic regardless of which port she is in. But before we boarded her, we headed for a speedboat tour of Miami Port.
This was such a fun trip; our hosts were hysterical in that theme park humour sort of way, and pointed out all the highlights in port and further out, where we sailed past the celebrity houses on their mini private islands.
It was an exhilarating trip, wind and sea sweet, so donโt expect to come off looking glamorous and ready for the catwalk, but it was a lot of fun and something I would highly recommend.
Sailing from Miami with Virgin Voyages from Terminal V
We then made our way to Terminal V, Virgin Voyages’ very own terminal at Miami Cruise Port. This allows them to offer their signature service from when you drop your bags right to when you are welcomed onboard by the happenings cast. I always feel it makes a big difference when sailing when the cruise line manages the terminal; the service is much smoother.
I always love the playful wording with the Virgin brand; it just sets the tone for a fun, relaxed, and suitably adults-only cruise.
I quickly stopped at my cabin to drop my backpack off, another fantastic feature of sailing with Virgin Voyages: cabins are available as soon as you get on the ship. I watched the safety briefing, which in itself sets the tone for your cruise as it’s a music video rather than the usually dull safety briefing, and took the first of many relaxing sits in the hammock on my Sea Terrace.
A Tour of Scarlet Lady
We had a quick tour of the ship’s public spaces before the majority of the other guests made it onboard, and the venues started to fill up. I decided to grab a bite from one of my favourite spots onboard Sun Club Cafe, where you can get Poke Bowl and Boa Buns.
After relaxing in my cabin for a bit, it was time to get dressed for our group’s cocktail reception and the ship’s sailaway party. Our group met at the Athletic Club at the aft of the ship, which offers fantastic panoramic views of Miami, honestly an iconic backdrop for any sail away, and Virgin Voyages does have the prime spot overlooking the city.
The solo meet up was happening at the same time, and it’s fantastic to see first-hand how great a job Virign does to make sure that solo sailors are always looked after.
Virgin Voyages Sailaway Party
The sail-away party is always a highlight for me; it really does set the mood for what I know is going to be an incredible voyage.
The sail-away begins with the only announcement you will hear during the whole voyage (save for any safety announcements) from the captain, who will welcome you onboard, give an overview of our voyage and route, and announce the welcome drinks.
This is 30 minutes of unlimited sparkling wine from all pool deck bars as the ship is sailing away; it’s not a bad way to start your voyage, right?
Then, the Happenings cast introduces themselves; these will be the entertainment hosts for your voyage, and each member will have a unique role.
The foodie, for example, will host all food events onboard, so if you want the lowdown on the best food events, that’s the person you want to look for.
Whereas the gamer will host most of the onboard quizzes, you also have the influencers; this team usually welcomes you to all parties onboard Virgin Voyages and are there to help set the mood, ensuring you arenโt the first person on the dance floor.
You can read our full happenings cast guide here
Book your Virgin Voyages Cruise Today
If you would like to book your Virgin Voyages Cruise today, you can use the below link to see the latest offers and self-service your booking. Any bookings made using this link will be linked to Magical Traveller (it will say Sold and Serviced by Kieran Miller at the top); you will have complete control over your booking and can pay Virgin Voyages directly.
If you book using our Book and Go link by clicking the image below, we will add bonus sailor loot to your account as a thank you, $25-$200, depending on cruise duration and cabin purchased. Sea Terrace cabins receive $100 on sailings four nights or more as a guide. An email will be sent within 24 hours from Magical Traveller confirming the loot will be added within 30 days before you sail.
If you would like to add hotels and accommodation, don’t hesitate to contact us, and we can make your cruise a fully ATOL-protected holiday.
Dinner at Gunbae
Our first meal of the voyage would be at Gunbae, the only Korean Barbecue at sea. This is a fantastic social meal, especially for couples, as you are sat in booths of six, so it’s the perfect chance to get to know people.
The food is cooked in front of you on the barbecue grill, offering a mix of seasoned meats and vegetables. My highlight has to be the chicken bites; honestly, I could come here and easily just have those.
You can view the full menu here
Virgin Voyages PJ Party
After our meal, I got changed for the PJ Party. This event has taken on a life of its own. It used to be a small event hidden away on the ship but has now become an entire event thatโs grown to take over the Athletic club at the aft of the ship.
Everyone gets decked out in their favourite PJs, be they sexy, cosy, or for fun, and dances to 90/00s throwback songs.
The happenings cast intermingle with the sailors, culminating in a song from The Hostess and the Diva, with The Foodie passing out Cookies to everyone. Itโs the perfect start to your voyage; it’s casual but fun.
Time for Bed with a Pizza
Jet lag was getting the best of me, so I decided to head to bed (it was still 1:30, so not that early), but I had to complete our Virgin Voyages tradition and get a Pizza from The Pizza Place on day one of our cruise, I know itโs technically day two now, but the day doesnโt pass until you sleep.
I returned to my cabin with my Egg and Truffle Pizza and put on a film, reminiscing on a wonderful first day onboard Scarlet Lady.
The next day was a day in Key West, which I have been looking forward to visiting for a long time. Be sure to check back for that post once itโs live.