Virgin Voyages is a cruise line known for providing great value to its guests by including more amenities in its standard fares compared to other cruise lines. However, one thing that may be missing for those sailing on an adults-only cruise like Virgin is the inclusion of alcoholic drinks. While Virgin Voyages does not offer traditional drink packages like other cruise lines, they have come up with a unique program called Bar Tab that aims to make covering drink costs less complicated and more valuable for guests.
Bar Tab is an onboard credit that can only be used for alcoholic beverages and other premium drinks. It allows guests to prepay for beverages that are not included in the standard cruise fare, such as alcoholic drinks, specialty coffees, and fresh-pressed juices. The benefit of prepaying for drinks with Bar Tab is that Virgin Voyages offers a bonus $50 credit for every $300 Bar Tab purchased, resulting in a 15% savings. However, it is important to note that Bar Tab can only be purchased before the cruise and must be added to the guest’s account at least 24 hours before sailing.
The premium drinks covered by Bar Tab include alcoholic beverages, specialty coffees, fresh-pressed juices, smoothies, mocktails, and milkshakes. Guests can also use their Bar Tab credit for afternoon tea at the Sip Champagne lounge or to “Shake for Champagne,” which allows them to order a bottle of bubbly with a simple click on the Virgin app. Additionally, Bar Tab can be used at the bars at the Bimini Beach Club for those sailing on a Caribbean itinerary. It also covers the $25 corkage fee if guests bring their own wine bottle to dinner at any of the onboard restaurants.
While Virgin Voyages does not offer traditional drink packages, they often run limited-time offers that include free Bar Tab credits. For example, they may offer $300 in free drink credits on shorter sailings and a $600 Bar Tab credit on longer sailings. They also have package add-ons that include Bar Tab credits or other free drinks, such as the Splash of Romance package or the Splash for Your Bash package.
Passengers staying in a Mega RockStar Quarter suite receive unlimited complimentary premium drinks and two bottles of wine per day. Finally, enrolling in Virgin Voyage’s loyalty program, Sailing Club, can also earn guests free drinks, including a free $100 Bar Tab annually starting from their third cruise with Virgin.
When considering whether a Bar Tab is worth it, guests should take into account their drinking preferences and budget. Virgin Voyages allows guests to share their Bar Tab credit with their cabin mate or even pay for others’ drinks, making it more flexible and convenient compared to other cruise lines’ requirements for all adults in a cabin to purchase their own drink packages. However, it is important not to prepay more than what can be consumed, as the prepaid Bar Tab is nonrefundable, and any unused credit will be lost.
Overall, Virgin Voyages’ Bar Tab program offers a straightforward and valuable way for guests to cover their drink costs on board. With the added bonus credits and the flexibility to share or pay for others’ drinks, it can be a convenient option for those looking to enjoy premium beverages during their cruise.