Virgin Voyages Casino

Given the fact that Virgin Voyages do adults-only cruises, it is perhaps not all that surprising that the cruise liner’s ships feature casinos. This is a chance to enjoy the likes of slot machines and table games whilst away on the high seas, with the likes of craps, poker, blackjack and roulette on offer. It is a good place to head to whilst on board, irrespective of whether you’re an experienced player or not.

That is thanks to the gaming pros on board, who are there to talk you through the tips and tricks of the casino, so you can spend some of your time at sea trying to master the games, regardless of whether you have played them before or not.

The Casinos

The first point to realise, and arguably the most important, is that every single cruise ship operated by Virgin Voyages has a casino on board. That means that if you’re going to be travelling on the Scarlet Lady, Valiant Lady, Resilient Lady or Brilliant Lady, there will be a casino that you can head to to while away some hours. Although in many cases the casinos in question are likely to be smaller than some of the other casinos you might have been into on different cruise liners, they all promise many of the same things. There are a wealth of different slot machines, for example, as well as numerous table games.

If you’re a smoker but are concerned that you will have your time placing some bets curtailed as you head off to light a cigarette, you need not worry. The casinos have smoking rooms that have a number of slot machines of their own there. There are video poker machines as well as traditional slots and more modern variations available, so if you have a favourite game such as Buffalo Gold or Dragon Link, then the likelihood is that you’ll be able to find it here. Obviously, the games on offer, both on the slot machines and the tables, can vary from ship to ship, so have a look when you get onboard.

High Rollers

On all of the Virgin Voyages ships, you will also find The Den. This is effectively the Virgin Voyages version of a high roller room, offering slots and table games that have higher limits than will be in place in the rest of the casino. The gaming experience here is designed to be elevated, meaning that you will find that many of the facilities are a touch more sophisticated than elsewhere. With less than 3,000 people on board, it makes complete sense that the casinos on the Virgin Voyages ships are smaller, but that doesn’t mean that high rollers aren’t catered for in a way that allows them to feel as though their money means something.

How to Pay

As mentioned in the intro, those of you that don’t know how to play some casino games but would like to learn are in luck, with gaming lessons taking place throughout embarkation day. It means that you can go from a relative beginner to walking up to the tables with confidence. Similarly, there are often low stakes tournaments that the casino team offer during the course of the sail, allowing you to take part in the likes of slot tournaments or blackjack tournaments in a fun and competitive manner. Virgin Voyages refer to those on board as ‘Sailors’, giving you numerous ways to spend your money at the casinos on the ships.

The most obvious route is by using your wearable band to play on the slots, which simply requires you to set up a PIN. You can also use your band on tables, whilst cash can also be used in both cases. The cash accepted is mainly US dollars, but some local currency may be accepted on board too. Both the casinos and in other locations around the ship have ATMs, meaning that you can withdraw cash if you prefer to keep a track on what you’re spending. Alternatively, you can make charges to your room. If you opt for that manner of payment then you should bear in mind that there is a 7% transaction fee applicable to all but the Superstar Sea Rollers or higher.

If you have already sailed with Virgin Voyages, then you will know all about Sailor Loot, which can be converted into promotional chips for use on table games. The one thing to know, though, is that not all games will allow Sailor Loot to be used, so it is important to confirm this with the casino either way. If you want to use Sailor Loot on the slot machines, then you just need to ask a member of the cashier team to load it onto your account. You will need to wager any promotional Sailor Loot before you will be able to cash out any winnings. Regardless, there are plenty of different ways to spend your Sailor Loot if you want to.

Here is a look at the table games that are available on Virgin Voyages:

• Blackjack
• Single Deck Blackjack
• Craps
• Three-Card Poker
• Ultimate Texas Hold’em
• Baccarat
• Single Zero Roulette
• Double Zero Roulette

Casino Opening Hours

When it comes to the timing of the casinos, they strictly follow gambling guidelines. That means that the casino won’t open until the ship has sailed at least 30 minutes from the port. Once the ship is in international waters, however, it’s all bets are…on. The casino will stay open as long as there are Sailors looking to spend some money in the casino. They only tend to close, regardless of whether there is someone hoping to play or not, when the ship gets within 30 minutes or so of the next port. Obviously, the exact timing will depend on numerous different factors, but if you need more information, then speak to a member of the team.

Loyalty Scheme

Whilst you’re on board a Virgin Voyages cruise, you can look to join the Sea Roller Rewards Program. From the moment you get on board, you will be encouraged to take part in playing games, which offer the chance to enjoy some perks as part of the loyalty scheme. The entry-level for the scheme is the Showstopper Tier, which is there for all of those with tier points totalling between 0 and 4,999. The more that you look to play whilst you’re on board, the more you’re likely to earn. This can include the likes of special offers, free play credits or even free drinks and complimentary cabins, especially for the higher tiers.

After Showstopper comes Stay Tier, which is for those with between 5,000 and 14,999 points. From there, you’ll become a member of the Superstar Tier if you have anywhere between 15,000 points and 34,999 points. There are two more levels that you can hit, starting with the Idol Tier that is for those with between 35,000 points and 74,999 points, with the highest tier being for anyone that has more than 75,000 points and will therefore be considered a Legend. You get 12 months to earn your status, after which you then have another 12 months in order to take advantage of the associated perks whilst you’re on board.

Routes

If you’re considering taking a Virgin Voyages cruise, you might be keen to know where about you can head to whilst on board one of the company’s ships. This will depend on where it is that you would like to sail from, as well as how long you’d like to be away. In terms of the Caribbean, you can sail from Miami or San Juan, which are the company’s two ‘Home Ports’. With four ships on their roster, there is the ability to go to as many as 30 different Caribbean islands, taking in the likes of Cartagena, Panama, Puerto Quetzal and many more locations besides. Choose your departure port and the length of voyage and go from there.

In terms of where else you can sail to, you can head on cruises around Europe that sail from Rome, Athens, Portsmouth or Barcelona, offering the chance to take in some of the most famous sites of the Mediterranean. If North America is more your bag, you can sail from any of four Home Ports and end up at some of the more than 20 ports of call along the way. That means heading off from Seattle, Los Angeles, New York or Miami before ending up in some really exciting places. Then there are the Alaskan cruises, which take in eight coastal towns and can head to either Canada or glaciers and fjords.

What Else Is on Board

As mentioned, Virgin Voyages are 100% adults only, meaning that the facilities on offer on the ships are designed to ensure that the grown-ups on board have as much fun as possible. The four ships in the fleet are all award-winning offerings, which is why they get so many five-star reviews. The company itself sells its offering as ‘rejuvenation meets exhilaration’, which goes some way to explaining the kinds of things that you can expect to encounter.

Restaurants

There are more than 20 eateries on board, for example, which offer menus that have been curated by Michelin-starred chefs to ensure that you will enjoy every bite that you take. If you’ve been on a cruise with a different operator before and had to endure the likes of a buffet or a dining hall, then you needn’t worry, with intimate spaces available on board to match your mood.

There is a 24/7 diner available for those that might want to get a bite to eat at any time of day or night, whilst the late-night Pizza Place is where to go if you’ve got a hankering for a slice of something. Whatever it is that you’re in the mood for, there’s a good chance that a Virgin Voyages ship will have an eatery that will tickle your fancy. That includes ‘Lick Me Till…Ice Cream’, an ice cream parlour on board with six flavours to choose from.

Bars

Should you be more interested in getting a drink than having a bite, you will be more than happy with the offerings here. Still and sparkling water, as well as sodas and non-pressed juices, are included in the cost of your trip, as are teas and coffees. Of course, those hoping for something a little bit stronger will also be pleased to know that they can head to one of the numerous bars on board to either get something out of a bottle or else ask the mixologist to create something special. Each of the bars has been designed to offer something different to the other, so you will never get bored when you spend time on board.

Fitness & Spa

If you’re the kind of person who likes to keep fit whilst you’re away, there are fitness areas and spas available to everyone that allow you to either work out in your own style or else join in with a group class. Whether you want to head to the spa for a seaweed wrap or make use of the swimming pool, you can. Then there are the numerous forms of entertainment that take place on each cruise, including shows performed in the theatre and dance nights in the disco. You also can’t be surprised if you’re wandering around the ship and get caught up in a pop-up moment, with random performances taking place throughout your voyage.