Quick answer: Virgin Voyages runs a calendar of themed and event sailings on top of its normal voyages. Expect comedy festivals, a late-summer food and drink festival, Halloween and festive sailings, loyalty voyages for Sailing Club members, podcast and true-crime sailings, solar eclipse voyages and the one-off Sisters at Sea fleet meet-up. The events sit on top of everything you’d normally get on board, and dates change every year, so check the current schedule before you book.
One of our favourite things about Virgin is that no two sailings feel quite the same. Themed sailings take that further. Across our 100+ nights on board we’ve sailed Virgin’s UK Comedy Fest (Valiant Lady from Portsmouth, August 2026), sailed during the Festival of Senses (Brilliant Lady, September 2026) and joined a Sailing Club voyage from Portsmouth back in 2024. Next up, we’re booked on the 2027 solar eclipse voyage and on Valiant Lady’s Arctic Circle voyage from Amsterdam in August 2028.
After a few years of running them, Virgin really knows how to do themed and special sailings. Alaska is another good example: it isn’t a themed voyage as such, but Virgin puts on loads of extra events, Happenings and guests. This guide explains each type of event sailing and who it suits, and we refresh it as Virgin announces new dates.
What is a Virgin Voyages themed sailing?
A themed sailing is a normal Virgin voyage with an extra layer of programming: guest performers, special dinners, talks, workshops or parties tied to the theme. Your included restaurants, fitness classes, entertainment and Bimini beach days are all still there. You don’t have to join in with the theme if you’d rather not, but most people booked on a themed voyage want to.
Virgin lists these as “specialty” or themed cruises on its website. Fares depend on demand, like any Virgin sailing, and popular events can sell out quickly, so compare a themed sailing with nearby dates before you book.
Comedy Fest sailings
Virgin’s Comedy Fest sailings bring a line-up of stand-up comedians on board, with multiple shows across the voyage on top of the usual entertainment.
We sailed the UK Comedy Fest on Valiant Lady from Portsmouth in August 2026, calling at Zeebrugge, Amsterdam and Hamburg, and it was great fun, with lots of comedy acts. The crowd was split fairly evenly between people who’d booked a comedy cruise and people who’d booked a Virgin cruise, so some weren’t typical Virgin Sailors. Events weren’t too busy, but you did need to queue about 30 minutes beforehand for a good seat. Our tip: open the Planner in the Virgin Voyages app, browse the Event line-up and tap Add to Planner on the sets you want, so they show up in My Day. Read our full write-up: Virgin Voyages Comedy Fest from the UK.
That summer 2026 season was Virgin’s last from the UK, and none of the sailings currently on sale (through 2028) return to Portsmouth, so watch for any future Comedy Fest dates from its other homeports. We’ll add them here when Virgin announces them.
Who it suits: groups of friends, couples who love a night out, and anyone who’s seen enough production shows to last a lifetime.
The Eat & Drink Festival and Festival of Senses
Food is a huge part of Virgin, so a food and drink festival makes perfect sense. In 2026 Virgin ran its Eat & Drink Festival across all four ships on selected sailings from late August to late September, built around a new “Festival of Senses” theme. Highlights included:
- A Feast for the Senses: The Manor transformed into a sensory gallery of food and drink films you could taste as you watched
- A Sensory Dinner Series: a limited-numbers dinner at The Wake
- Color Me Curious: a three-course, colour-inspired dinner at Extra Virgin with each course paired to a cocktail
- A beer masterclass at Draught Haus on sea days
- A refreshed, phone-free speakeasy with a new cocktail programme and menu
We sailed during the Festival of Senses on Brilliant Lady in September 2026, on the Pacific Coast route from Vancouver to Los Angeles. It was very much a food and drink sailing rather than a party one, and a very good one, with lots of extra events. Some events were bookable in the Virgin Voyages app and limited in numbers, so plan ahead.
Dates for the next Eat & Drink Festival weren’t out when we last checked (October 2026). We’ll update this guide when Virgin announces them.
Who it suits: foodies, wine and cocktail lovers, and anyone who reads Virgin’s menus before they book.
Sisters at Sea: the four-ship rendezvous
This is a genuine first. In February 2027, all four Virgin ships (Scarlet Lady, Valiant Lady, Resilient Lady and Brilliant Lady) will meet up at sea in the Caribbean. Virgin says the event will include deck celebrations with all four ships in view, surprise performances and event-only experiences, and that Sir Richard Branson is due to appear on each ship.
Each ship sails a different itinerary that converges on the rendezvous:
| Ship | Length | From | Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scarlet Lady | 5 nights | Miami | Rendezvous, Freeport, Bimini |
| Resilient Lady | 7 nights | Miami | Freeport, Progreso, Bimini |
| Valiant Lady | 7 nights | San Juan | Dominican Republic, Grand Turk |
| Brilliant Lady | 10 nights | Miami | Eastern Caribbean, San Juan on Valentine’s Day, Bimini |
Virgin’s own announcement gives February 2027 rather than an exact rendezvous date, so ask us for the sailing dates and current availability on each ship.
Who it suits: Virgin superfans, anyone choosing a ship by personality (Scarlet’s passion, Valiant’s courage, Resilient’s resilience or Brilliant’s wisdom), and those who like to say “I was there”.
Red Hot Sailing Club voyages
These are Virgin’s annual loyalty celebrations, aimed at its most loyal Sailors and Sailing Club members. Expect guest performers, VIP cocktail hours, behind-the-scenes workshops, crew-led fitness and wellness sessions, and talks with senior Virgin leadership. Our favourite themed sailing so far was a celebration voyage like this: the Sailing Club voyage from Portsmouth in 2024. Virgin’s senior leadership team was on board, there were lots of extra events for fans, and we found free gifts waiting in our cabin. It’s also a lovely way to meet other repeat Sailors.
Virgin has announced two Red Hot Sailing Club voyages for 2027: a seven-night Greek Islands sailing from Athens in July on Scarlet Lady (4 to 11 July), and a five-night Caribbean sailing from Miami in November on Valiant Lady (8 to 13 November), finishing at The Beach Club at Bimini.
Virgin describes these voyages as created for its most loyal Sailors, with exclusive events for Sailing Club members. If you’re not sure whether you can book, ask us. Our Sailing Club guide explains Blue Extras and Deep Blue Extras.
Who it suits: repeat Sailors who want to celebrate the brand with like-minded fans.
Solar eclipse voyages
Virgin has built special sailings around total solar eclipses, timing them so the ship is at sea in the path of totality. The 2026 eclipse voyages featured NASA and Virgin Galactic astronauts, a solar physicist’s talks, eclipse photography masterclasses and dedicated viewing zones where you could watch in silence, with live music or with expert narration.
For 2027, Virgin has an 11-night Resilient Lady sailing from Barcelona around Spain, Portugal and Morocco, timed for the total eclipse on 2 August 2027. We’re booked on it (28 July to 8 August 2027), and we’ll report back on the whole thing. Virgin hasn’t yet detailed the onboard programme for this one.
Who it suits: science fans, photographers, bucket-listers, and anyone who likes the idea of totality with a cocktail in hand.
Halloween and festive sailings
Virgin goes all in on Halloween, with costume contests and themed food and drink on adults-only sailings around late October. Over the holidays, festive sailings bring décor, holiday cocktails and seasonal events, followed by big New Year’s Eve parties with live music.
Read our Christmas and New Year on Virgin Voyages for the full festive picture.
Virgin runs themed parties, and they change. Check the Virgin Voyages app for what’s on your sailing.
Romance, podcasts and true crime
Virgin regularly experiments with niche themes. Recent and upcoming examples include:
- Romance sailings, built around love stories and romance readers. Read our Splash of Romance review and guide.
- Podcast sailings with live recordings and meet-and-greets with hosts.
- A True Crime Voyage, with live podcasts and immersive events, on a five-night Scarlet Lady sailing from Miami on 20 March 2027, calling at Grand Turk and The Beach Club at Bimini.
Music and wellness voyages
Music has long been part of the Virgin story, and some past loyalty and celebration voyages have featured headline artists. Wellness also runs through every Virgin sailing, with included fitness classes and a strong spa offering, and some themed voyages add extra mind, body and spirit sessions. If a music or wellness sailing is what you’re after, ask us what’s currently on sale.
See our entertainment guide and spa prices guide for what’s on every sailing.
Is a themed sailing right for you?
Book one if: – You love the theme and want to share it with like-minded people – You’re a repeat Sailor looking for something different – You’re celebrating a special occasion
Maybe skip it if: – It’s your first Virgin voyage and you’d like to see the “normal” ship first – The theme leaves you cold (you’ll still enjoy the ship, but you’ll be surrounded by fans) – You need maximum flexibility on dates or price
First time with Virgin? Start with our first Virgin cruise guide.
FAQs
What themed cruises does Virgin Voyages offer? Comedy, food and drink festivals, Halloween, festive and New Year sailings, Red Hot Sailing Club loyalty voyages, podcast and true-crime sailings, eclipse voyages and Sisters at Sea.
Do themed sailings cost more on Virgin Voyages? Not always. Prices depend on demand, and popular events can sell out early.
Do I have to take part in the theme? No. Everything you’d normally get on board is still there; the theme is an extra. On our Comedy Fest sailing, around half the Sailors had simply booked a Virgin cruise.
What is Sisters at Sea? A February 2027 Caribbean event where all four Virgin ships meet up at sea for the first time.
Who can go on a Red Hot Sailing Club voyage? They’re aimed at loyal Sailors and Sailing Club members. Check Virgin’s booking terms for eligibility.
Does Virgin Voyages still run themed sailings from the UK? Not any more. Virgin’s last UK sailings, including our Comedy Fest from Portsmouth, were in summer 2026, and nothing currently on sale (through 2028) returns to the UK, so UK Sailors fly to its themed sailings.
Plan it with us
Themed sailings sell out fast, and we keep a close eye on new announcements. As Virgin Voyages Gold Tier First Mates, we’ll help you choose the right event, cabin and flights, with ATOL protection when flights are included in your package. Call 07307 602030 or email hello@magical-traveller.com.