Living The Suite Life: Our Rockstar Experience on Virgin Voyages
Shawn's Big Birthday Cruise
To celebrate Shawn’s birthday, his first since the diagnosis, we booked a cruise on our favorite line, Virgin Voyages. We got a great deal with a “Lock It In” Rockstar rate, meaning you get a discount in exchange for not knowing what cabin you’re in until shortly before the departure date. We were ok with the gamble; at worst we would be in some kind of suite, even if it was under the nightclub. But Virgin didn’t let us down. Two weeks before boarding they handed us a perfectly located Seriously Suite.
And friends, we made the MOST of it!
Rockstar Status, Activated
From the moment we arrived at the terminal, it was clear—this cruise was going to be extra. Sailing in a suite (a.k.a. the Rockstar Quarters) comes with its own entrance, and from the moment you step inside, you’re in a different world. At check-in, we were fitted with our black wristbands; these little bands open your cabin door, let you pay for anything onboard, and identify you when you hop on and off the ship at port.
The red bands we had on our last cruise? Those are for non-suite sailors. We couldn’t help but notice how often the ship’s crew clocked our black bands, which resulted in being ushered to the front of lines, or getting a coveted window table in a restaurant.
The Rockstar Experience
Boarding as a Rockstar means you skip the crowds and get on the ship before the general boarding begins. Your first stop? Sip Lounge, where you get handed a glass of champagne that will never be empty and meet your new best friend: your Rockstar Agent. Think concierge, fairy godparent, and personal hype squad—all rolled into one.
Ours was Flo, a whirlwind of smiling energy who somehow always appeared wherever we went. He'd greet us with a “How’s your day going?”, give us daily suggestions on shows or events, and ask if we had everything we needed.
During our first sit-down, Flo walked us through all the perks of Rockstar life. He checked on the bar setup in our suite—were there any spirits we’d like swapped out, any mixers we preferred? Sliced limes? Then he asked the golden question: was there anything special we wanted for Shawn’s birthday?
Shawn mentioned that he’d love a tour of the ship’s bridge. Flo gently let us know that access was usually reserved for the highest-tier suites or as part of a sold-out behind the scenes ship tour. Still—never hurts to ask, right?
Next up: our first glimpse at our floating sanctuary…
The Seriously Suite is Seriously Perfect
Let’s be clear: this isn’t a room—it’s a retreat.
The moment we walked in, it felt less like boarding a cruise ship and more like stepping into a boutique hotel. There’s a record player (yes, a real one) to spin vinyl while you unwind, along with a selection of albums. Mood lighting? Naturally. And the bar was fully prepped to host a whole party… even though we were the party.
Storage was plentiful — more than enough drawers, ample closet space, and spots to tuck away suitcases and bags. There's even a lighted vanity area with lots of storage for makeup & hair tools.
The bed was a true, sprawling, king-sized mattress—not two twins playing dress-up. While laying in bed you could look out at the waves or take in the view of whatever port you were docked at.
And then, the bathroom. Ohhh, the bathroom. By far the largest and nicest we've ever experienced on a cruise ship. There is an enormous walk-in rainfall shower, complete with a window that gives you a view straight through the suite and out to sea while you lather up (and gives your spouse a peep show!) The roomy sink area had more than enough counter space for both our toiletries (and then some), and the water closet even had its own sliding door for added privacy.
As for the balcony? Perfection. Unlike our Sea Terrace cabin on our last cruise, the Seriously Suite’s balcony is big enough to breathe. The signature hammock is still there (and still wonderful), but now there’s enough space to sway with the waves without drifting into the seating area. Plenty of room for morning coffees, sunset cocktails, and lazy kindle hammock time.
Richard’s Rooftop ~ This Perk Alone Might Be Worth It
One of the best perks of being a Rockstar? Richard’s Rooftop, a spacious, stylish outdoor lounge at the front of the ship, named after Virgin’s iconic founder, Richard Branson.
It’s a total vibe—think oversized daybeds, chaise lounges, cozy sofas, and sleek sun chairs, all artfully arranged around a central bar that keeps the drinks flowing. Whether you want to sunbathe, read a book in the shade, or chill in the hot-tub, there’s a perfect spot for you.
Unlike the party atmosphere with the DJ in the main pool area, Richard’s Rooftop is blissfully low-key. You can sip, snack, and unwind in peace. Chair-side service means you never have to leave your lounger to grab a drink or a bite. Craving a fresh poke bowl or some bao buns? They’ve got you. Want another round from the bar? Just wave, and voilà.
Should We Have a Cocktail? (The answer is always YES!)
The best perk of Richard’s Rooftop? Sunset Hour. Every evening from 5 to 6 PM, you can choose from a curated list of complimentary cocktails—and we never missed a single one. Our go-tos? A smooth Zacapa 23 rum (or two) and the frozen sangria, which was like a tart, boozy slushie.
Beyond Sunset Hour, we made excellent use of our in-room bar for after dinner cocktails. And just to be honest… those insulated water bottles we packed? Not once did they see water. But they did become the perfect vessels for room-crafted cocktails we brought to shows. Functional, yet delightfully sneaky.
We also had a bar tab that we didn’t let go to waste. Our $225 bar tab (which only cost us $200) was spent sipping our way around the ship— cocktails with dinner, trying new drinks at The Dock, and my personal favorite: The Entertainer at On The Rocks bar. It’s a passionfruit martini served with a sidecar of champagne, and it’s every bit as fabulous as it sounds.
The Food, As Always, Was Fantastic
Virgin has a well-earned rep for serving up some of the best food at sea—and once again, they delivered. We struck the perfect balance between eating clean(ish) and fully treating ourselves. Here are the bites and sips we’d absolutely do again (and again):
Start things off at The Dock, the Mediterranean tapas bar. It’s the perfect pre-sail-away spot. The grilled shrimp skewers? Chef’s kiss. And their Bee’s Knees cocktail is citrusy, herbal, and totally worth a re-order.
Book Extra Virgin twice. This Italian spot is hands-down our favorite restaurant on board. Pro tip: skip filling up on the bread basket and charcuterie (tempting as they are) and save room for the artichoke heart, strip steak, and a half-order of the truffled gnocchi. We had one reservation and scored a second meal there with a little Rockstar wristband magic—Shawn may or may not have subtly flashed his black band and helped us get a table when walk-ins were technically full.
Do brunch at Razzle Dazzle as often as humanly possible. We had brunches at both The Wake and Razzle Dazzle, and while The Wake was delicious (hello, asparagus Benedict), it leans heavy and rich. Razzle Dazzle, on the other hand, had lighter, fresher options that made us feel slightly less fluffy afterward. The sriracha avocado toast paired with the smoked salmon bowl? Perfection.
Treat. Yo. Self. Yes, we started every morning with a few miles on the walking track (5+ miles a day, thank you very much), but we also made room for indulgence.
Order a pizza from The Pizza Place, bring it back to your cabin, and eat it in bed while watching You’ve Got Mail. (Yes, very specific.) It’s not just good cruise pizza—it’s arguably the best pizza at sea.
Don’t skip dessert at The Wake—the coconut panna cotta is next-level and easily the best sweet treat on board, in my opinion.
Explore the pastry counter at The Galley. The onboard pastry chef is doing magical things. My top pick? The Tropical Cheesecake. Shawn’s fave? The “Valiant Lady”—a purple Twinkie-style delight that’s just the right amount of sweet.
Bimini Bliss at the Rockstar Retreat
We loved Virgin’s private beach club on Bimini during our last cruise—but this time, we leveled up. As Rockstars, we had access to the Rockstar Retreat, a secluded section of the beach club reserved exclusively for suite guests.
The vibe? Elevated and chill. The lounge chairs are nicer, there’s tons of space to spread out, and the private bar area offers comfy shaded seating—perfect for a mid-day cocktail break or a laid-back lunch. Best of all? You’re blissfully removed from the energetic chaos of the main pool party.
And let’s talk about the food—because it honestly surprised us in the best way. The jerk chicken thighs were flavorful and juicy, the pumpkin curry was hearty and warming, and the rum cake with guava sauce? Sweet/tart tropical perfection. All things we’d 100% order again.
Of course, no beach day would be complete without a Miami Vice in hand (half piña colada, half strawberry daiquiri = full vacation mode), and we may or may not have made our way through a couple rum-filled coconuts too. We did have that bar tab to use up.
Birthday Surprise Bridge Tour!
On the morning of Shawn’s birthday, we were heading down the hallway when we spotted Flo—grinning as always, but this time holding a bottle of champagne. He wished Shawn a happy birthday and casually mentioned that he had “pulled a few strings.” Surprise! We’d been added to a small, private bridge tour.
First rule of the bridge tour, according to Flo? You do not talk about the bridge tour. I feel like we are past the statute of limitations here though ;-)
Later that day, we returned to our room to find a birthday card and a note with instructions on where to meet Security for the tour. Just another example of how Virgin—and especially Flo—goes out of their way to make every moment feel personal.
The tour itself? Absolutely a highlight of the trip. It was fascinating to get a behind-the-scenes look at what goes into running a ship of this size and scale. From advanced navigation systems to daily operations and safety protocols, the officers gave us an in-depth peek at how they keep everything running smoothly.
I, of course, went into full HR mode and started asking all the questions. I’m pretty sure they thought they were being interviewed for 60 Minutes. But they were gracious, insightful, and clearly proud of the work they do—which made the experience all the more impressive.
Extra Perks? Don’t Mind If We Do
Since this was Shawn’s third Virgin cruise, he leveled up to Blue Extras—a loyalty perk that includes one specialty coffee drink per day and one free bag of laundry per voyage. We definitely took advantage of both. Because nothing says vacation like sipping an iced mocha latte while your laundry magically gets cleaned and folded.
Disembark Like a Diva
When it was time to leave—yes, we delayed it as long as humanly possible—we absolutely did not wait in line with everyone else. One of the perks of sailing Rockstar is skipping the disembarkation chaos. You're personally escorted past the crowds for a quick, seamless exit while the ship quietly whispers, “Don’t be a stranger.”
We spent a little time at the marina before heading to the airport, still buzzing from birthday fun. And just when we thought the surprises were over, we checked our final bill: total due? $0.00. In fact, we left the ship with a $0.58 credit. Now that’s how you wrap up a birthday cruise.
Final (Now Very Spoiled) Thoughts
Here’s the thing: being a Rockstar changes you. You come home and start wondering why it’s 5 PM and no one’s offered you a glass of champagne.
Our next Virgin cruise is already booked... in a non-Rockstar cabin. And while we know we’ll still have an amazing time, let’s just say we’ll be wistfully eyeing those black wristbands from afar.
Once you’ve had a taste of suite life, it’s really, really hard to go back.