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I Was A Cruise Holiday Sceptic. Then I Went On This One

When I started telling friends and family that I’d been invited on a Western Caribbean cruise by Virgin Voyages the response was overwhelming ‘it’ll be good for you’.

As a steadfast city break lover who is incapable of relaxing, cruises have been so far removed from my normal holidaying behaviour that they’ve felt borderline mythical. If I go away I’m going to be doing at least 40k steps a day, panickedly making sure I’m checking out every recommended cafe, bar, restaurant and attraction (as well as any nearby towns and villages that are suggested) and feeling like I could do with another holiday the second I return.

Super healthy, I know.

But then again, cruises are for the (ahem) older of us travellers and are just a cheesy all inclusive holiday at sea, right? Well, after spending a week onboard Virgin Voyage’s Scarlet Lady, it turns out that a cruise may just have been the remedy to all of my holidaying bad habits – and that all of my misconceptions were outrageously wrong.

When we embarked at Miami, I was completely gobsmacked by the sheer size of the Scarlet Lady – and the fact it felt more like a luxury hotel than it did my preconceptions of a ‘traditional’ cruise ship. The floating resort boasts an swimming pool and hot tubs, private cabanas, sun loungers a-plenty, over 20 restaurants and eateries, a spa, a tattoo studio (!!!), barbers and hairdressers, several outdoor and indoor bars (all individually themed), an array of luxury shops and a gym, should you be that way inclined.

Hearing the screams of endless children from a neighbouring ship, I couldn’t help but feel massively smug as we set sail from Miami’s port. Sorry parents, but if there’s one thing that immediately pulls me out of holiday mode, it’s kids running around unsupervised or shrieking endlessly as I lie by a pool. No worry about that onboard Virgin Voyages – they’re strictly kid-free.

Cruises are actually a young persons’ game

Sure, older people go on cruises but Virgin Voyages are kitted out with every age group in mind (expect kids, god bless). According to Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA)’s latest 2025 report on the current state of cruising, the future of the cruise industry rests on the shoulders of the younger generation. Approximately 67% of cruise passengers are Gen X or younger and Millennials are one of the most enthusiastic age groups when it comes to holidaying at sea.

When we boarded the Scarlet Lady, I was........

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