A unique and wonderful cruise experience

Scarlet Lady Cruise Review

LisaKitty

Contributor Level: First Mate

57 Days Till Next Cruise

Cruises: 7+ cruises

Reviews: 14

Helpful Votes: 187

Overall rating:

4.5 out of 5

5 Night Riviera Maya (Miami Roundtrip)

Sail date: January 15, 2023

Ship: Scarlet Lady

Traveled as: Singles/Friends

Reviewed: 1 year ago

Review summary

I was a bit hesitant about this cruise, as I knew I didn't fall within Virgin's target demographic of hip, young, fit, beautiful people (I'm none of these). That said, I'm so glad I went, and definitely plan to cruise with them again. This is a different approach to cruising, is far more inclusive than I expected, and an all around great time. I recommend Virgin Voyages for anyone who identifies as a "foodie", people who like a more casual and relaxed atmosphere, people who enjoy more "adult" entertainment, and anyone in the LGBTQ+ community. That said, if you have very simple tastes in food and love your standard buffet, are socially conservative (i.e. are uncomfortable with sexual innuendo, and gender/sexuality fluidity), and/or like a more formal or traditional cruise atmosphere, then this is not the cruise for you.

Embarkation

5 out of 5

Everything went very smoothly and quickly going through the check in process. They were a little late letting people on the ship, but not too bad. The waiting area was extremely comfortable, not at all like a typical cruise terminal.

Ship experiences

Food and Dining

5 out of 5

This ship is truly a foodie's paradise! I loved the fact that all restaurants are "specialty", and all are included in the cruise fare. I did not have a single bad meal, or even a mediocre one.

Pink Agave

5 out of 5

Amazing upscale Mexican food! The esquite (roasted corn) and roast duck in mole sauce are not to be missed. Also, try one of the specialty cocktails -- a spiked agua fresca.

The Test Kitchen

5 out of 5

Super creative and delicious meal! This one is a do not miss for adventurous eaters.

Onboard Activities

4 out of 5

I really enjoyed the variety of activities available on the ship. There really was something for everyone! My only issue was with the pool situation. I knew the main pool was small. However, I wasn't expecting it to be so inaccessible to anyone with even minor mobility issues. Designing a pool that can only be accessed by climbing onto, and then back down off of, a 2.5-foot circular wall just doesn't work for everyone. People with bad knees or other arthritic conditions like to swim too!

The Dock

5 out of 5

This is a great outdoor space to come and chill. Lots of lounger beds to enjoy a mid day nap. Also a perfect place to watch a beautiful Caribbean sunset. Be sure to try the shrimp and octopus skewers, and the flank steak on pita.

Entertainment

5 out of 5

All the entertainers were so talented! I liked the variety of all the shows presented. Never thought I'd be able to attend a drag show or sex lecture on a cruise ship. Loved it! I also really enjoyed the dancers and the circus acts.

Service and Staff

5 out of 5

Every crew member I encountered was so nice, and super friendly. Virgin treats their staff well, and it really shows in the level of service.

Ship Quality

4 out of 5

As this is a relatively new ship, I was not surprised to find it very clean and well maintained. I really liked the overall layout, and the design of the public spaces. I did have a few issues with the overall flow, and lack of signage on the "public area" floors. Many venues were hard to find.

Cabin / Stateroom

3 out of 5

I intentionally booked the least expensive cabin available, as this was my first time trying out this ship and this cruise line. I knew the cabin would be tiny, which was fine. It had everything I needed, and plenty of storage for one person on a 5 day cruise. What I didn't care for was the bed itself. A 7" (approximately) mattress with no other support, on a built in wooden frame, less than 2 feet off the floor. I felt like this bed was more suited for a college dorm room than a mid-level cruise line. I would not choose this cabin type again.