Virgin Voyages Set To Disrupt Cruise Cuisine

A couple of weeks ago, Virgin Voyages raised eyebrows when it announced that it would house the first tattoo parlor at sea. This week, in another move to differentiate itself from the rest of the industry, Virgin Voyages announced the outlines of a bold culinary program for Scarlet Lady. 

Clearly, when Scarlet Lady (the first ship in the adult-only Virgin Voyages fleet) sets sail from PortMiami to the Caribbean in 2020, there’s every indication that it won’t be business as usual. In fact, veteran cruisers may be baffled by some of the one-eighty culinary deviations.

Here are a few of them:

• No main dining room and no eat-all-you-can buffet

On most cruise ships, the main dining room is the default option for passengers who aren’t eating elsewhere; typically, it’s also the largest and most popular dining venue on ships, especially during dinner hours. Buffet-style restaurants, where diners can catch a quick breakfast or lunch and choose from a wide array of food options are a close second.

Purging both of these options, Virgin Voyages is promising a collection of more than 20 restaurants, lounges and casual eateries onboard with made-to-order menus—making the dining experience and available choices more akin to ones that travelers experience on land. Also, Virgin Voyages promises to dispense with any upcharges for these restaurants.

• No assigned seating and no assigned mealtimes

While assigned seating is becoming less commonplace across the industry, most cruise ships still stick to a narrow band of fixed meal hours. Such a schedule gives the kitchen crew well-deserved time to recoup for the next meal service but can often be inconvenient for cruisers who return late from an excursion or want a few extra hours of shuteye while on vacation. Virgin Voyages is promising to extend restaurant hours into the late night and to keep some eateries open until late morning.

• No formal dress code

Over the years, dress codes have become more relaxed on cruise lines but some of the more traditional lines still require cruisers to wear slacks rather than jeans and collared shirts rather than tees to dinner. Some still adhere to blazers or suits for men on formal nights. On Virgin Voyages, cruisers (called “sailors”) will be able to wear whatever makes them feel comfortable at any of the dining venues.

• Commitment to minimize unnecessary food and paper waste

Eliminating the buffet and banning the use of single-use plastics like straws, condiment packs and unnecessary food packaging is in line with Virgin Voyages’ broader commitment to sustainable sailing.

A peek at what's to come

Some of the standout dining options, among many that were announced for Scarlet Lady, include:

Wake, a glamorous steak and seafood restaurant with a view at the aft of the ship, will also have a raw bar with a design inspired by the bow of a speedboat.

Razzle Dazzle will offer an inventive twist on vegetarian and vegan fare with a juice bar; its eye-catching décor derives from the bold black and white camouflage used by ships during WWI.

The Test Kitchen, inspired by Escoffier’s Ma Cuisine will offer a mix of experiential discovery and food education in a highly social setting. Think: cooking classes, mixology school and coffee labs.

Geonbae will be a hands-on Korean BBQ restaurant with gas grill grills built into each table.

Extra Virgin will be the line’s take on the world’s most popular cuisine offering antipasti, fresh pastas made daily—along with apertifs, fine wines and digestivi.

“When working with the Virgin Voyages team, we were inspired by some of the best dining spots around the world, “ said Executive Chef Brad Farmerie of AvroKO Hospitality Group in a press release announcing the new culinary program. “Each restaurant will not only serve delicious food but will also have a unique vibe and energy to satiate sailors’ hunger for excitement and restoration while on vacation.”

Virgin Voyages' Scarlet Lady is set to redefine cruise ship dining.