The good news first: the four Lady Ships are near-identical, and there aren’t many genuinely bad cabins on any of them. In 100+ nights on board we’ve never had a noisy cabin, but that’s partly because we know which spots to avoid. Here’s what we tell our clients when they ask us to pick a cabin.
Use this alongside our deck plans for Scarlet Lady, Valiant Lady, Resilient Lady and Brilliant Lady.
First, a quick tip on cabin numbers
On Virgin, cabins on opposite sides of the ship share a number. Cabins ending in A are on the port (left) side and cabins ending in Z are on the starboard (right) side, so 9112A and 9112Z are mirror images. The first digit is the deck, so 9112A is on Deck 9.
1. Deck 8, if you’re a light sleeper
We generally avoid booking Deck 8. It sits just above The Roundabout and some of the ship’s loudest venues, such as The Dock, where there’s often live music, and it’s also above The Manor, the nightclub. Central Sea Terraces on Deck 8 are the ones we hear about most: you can sometimes hear The Roundabout at night. If you go to bed early, pick a higher deck.
2. Underneath The Manor and The Red Room
Be careful of cabins directly beneath The Manor and The Red Room, the main theatre. Even when The Red Room isn’t hosting a late-night show, the team may be rehearsing or doing a technical changeover after hours, so you could hear noise late at night. Check the deck plan above and below your cabin before you book.
3. Deck 14
We also tend to avoid Deck 14 where we can. It sits under the pool deck and The Galley, so you can sometimes hear the crew setting up and moving loungers, and early-morning rehearsals for events such as Scarlet Night. To be fair, we’ve never had a complaint from a client up there, but it can be a little louder. If you want a quiet life, the decks we book most for our clients are Decks 10 to 13. Our deck plans for each ship (linked above) show every venue, so you can see what’s around your cabin.
4. Forward cabins on tender days
If your itinerary has tender ports, where the ship anchors offshore instead of docking, cabins towards the front of the ship can hear the anchor going down first thing in the morning. It makes a very effective alarm clock.
5. Near the smoking area, if smoke bothers you
The outdoor smoking area is on the port side, roughly between midship and aft. Smoke doesn’t usually drift down to the cabins, but it sometimes can. If you’re sensitive to it, think about the starboard side. We tend to avoid the issue altogether and book starboard.
6. The forward-most balconies (no hammock)
Where the ship narrows at the bow, the cabins closest to the front get a different balcony layout, and some have an egg chair instead of the famous red hammock. That includes some XL Sea Terraces, so be very careful which XL you book if the hammock matters to you. For most of our clients, it does.
7. XL Sea Terraces: lovely, but think about location
We’ve stayed in an XL Sea Terrace and loved the extra bathroom space. It fixes the one complaint we have about Virgin cabins, which is the bathrooms: the standard ones are stylish but snug. The downside is that XLs are right at the very front of the ship, so you’re a long walk from the popular spots like The Roundabout, The Galley and the pool. If you don’t mind the steps, it’s a great cabin. If you do, a standard Sea Terrace midship is the better pick.
8. Limited View Sea Terraces, unless you know what you’re getting
They’re the cheapest way to get a balcony, but the view is partly blocked. Fine for a port-heavy Med cruise when you’re ashore most days, less so for a transatlantic or a Caribbean sailing with lots of sea days. They also can’t be booked with a My Next Virgin Voyage placeholder.
9. The slightly smaller Sea Terraces
Some Sea Terraces have a slightly smaller balcony than the rest. The cabin inside is the same, but like Limited View cabins they can’t be used with an MNVV. If you’re planning to use one, or want room for two in the hammock and a chair, go for a standard Sea Terrace.
10. Lock It In fares, if any of this matters to you
A Lock It In rate is cheaper because Virgin picks your cabin for you, closer to sailing. That’s how people end up in exactly the spots on this list. If you’re a light sleeper, need to be near the lifts or really want the hammock, pay a little more and choose your cabin.
What about seasickness?
Virgin’s ships tend to sail quite slowly, so motion is rarely much of an issue. If you’re worried, the lower and more central you are, the less you’ll feel, so a Central Sea Terrace is worth the extra. Just steer clear of Deck 8 if you’re a light sleeper.
Every cabin type, in one table
| Cabin | Our verdict |
|---|---|
| Insider | Great value if you’re rarely in the cabin. Insider guide |
| Sea View | A window, no balcony. Worth it over an Insider for natural light. |
| Limited View Sea Terrace | Cheapest balcony, but a blocked view and no MNVV. |
| Slightly smaller Sea Terrace | Same cabin, smaller balcony, no MNVV. |
| Sea Terrace | Our pick. Full balcony, hammock, MNVV-friendly. |
| Central Sea Terrace | Best for motion. Avoid Deck 8 if you’re a light sleeper. |
| XL Sea Terrace | Bigger bathroom, but right at the front. Check for the hammock. |
| RockStar Quarters | Suites with perks, including free ShipEats delivery. |
The cabin we recommend
Nine times out of ten, we recommend a standard Sea Terrace. You get a full, unobstructed balcony with the hammock, it works with My Next Virgin Voyage placeholders, and you’re not paying a premium for Central or XL. Pick one midship on Decks 10 to 13, ideally on the starboard side, and you’re set. It’s what we book for ourselves.
Honestly, we very rarely get complaints about cabins on Virgin. When we do, it’s almost always a cabin near The Manor or above The Roundabout, which is exactly why we steer clients away from them.
New to Virgin’s cabin names? Our Virgin Voyages cabins guide, Sea Terrace guide and Insider guide explain every type, and the Virgin Voyages glossary decodes the rest.
FAQs
What is the best cabin on Virgin Voyages?
For most people, a standard Sea Terrace midship: a full balcony with the hammock, eligible for My Next Virgin Voyage offers, without the premium of Central or XL.
Do all Virgin Voyages balconies have a hammock?
Most Sea Terraces do. Some of the forward-most balconies, including some XL Sea Terraces, have an egg chair instead, so check the exact cabin.
Which side is A and which is Z on Virgin Voyages?
Cabins ending in A are on the port (left) side and cabins ending in Z are on the starboard (right) side.
Are Deck 8 cabins noisy on Virgin Voyages?
They can be. Deck 8 sits above The Roundabout, The Dock and The Manor, and Central Sea Terraces there can sometimes hear The Roundabout at night. Light sleepers should go higher.
What is the best deck on Virgin Voyages?
We book most of our clients on Decks 10 to 13, away from the nightlife on Deck 8 and the busier decks above.
Which side of the ship is best on Virgin Voyages?
Either is fine, but the smoking area is on the port side, so if smoke bothers you, go for starboard (cabins ending in Z).
Can I choose my cabin on Virgin Voyages?
Yes on most fares. On a Lock It In rate Virgin assigns it for you, closer to sailing.
Is a Limited View Sea Terrace worth it?
Only if you’ll be ashore most days and don’t plan to use an MNVV. Otherwise, a standard Sea Terrace is better value.
Book your Virgin voyage with us
Tell us how you like to sleep and what matters to you, and we’ll pick the cabin for you before you pay a penny.
We’re award-winning Virgin Voyages Gold Tier First Mates with 100+ nights on board, located in the heart of Newport. Call or WhatsApp 07307 602030, or get a free quote. See our bonus Sailor Loot when you book with us.