What a Virgin Voyages Fare Covers

Quick answer: Every Virgin Voyages fare covers meals at all 20+ eateries, essential drinks (drip coffee, water, soda, juice, tea), group fitness classes, the shows and a WiFi tier. What you pay for onboard is mainly alcohol and specialty coffee, Shore Things, the spa, faster WiFi and a daily service gratuity. Which WiFi tier and drinks perks you get depends on the fare you book.

Food: the whole ship, no cover charges

Virgin's line is that there are no buffets, no set dining times and no surcharge for the named restaurants. That holds up in its dining FAQ: the 20+ eateries are in the fare, from The Galley food hall to the sit-down restaurants. The exceptions Virgin lists are small and specific: a handful of "Treat Yourself" items on select menus, caviar service at the SIP Lounge, and the dinner shows (such as Another Rose and It's a Ship Show), which are ticketed.

The one food charge most people meet is ShipEats, the cabin delivery service. As of November 2026 Virgin lists a $10 delivery charge, waived when the order itself comes to $10 or more and for RockStar Quarters. Walking to The Galley costs nothing.

What changes by fare is not the food but how early you can reserve a table. Base and Lock It In bookings open dining reservations 15 days before sailing, Essential 45 days and Premium 60 days. RockStar and Mega RockStar Quarters open at 120 days. Our dining reservations guide covers how to get a group onto one table.

Drinks: the essentials, not the bar

Virgin does not sell a drinks package. Included are drip coffee, still and sparkling water, soda, non-pressed juice and bedtime tea. Cocktails, wine, beer and the fancier coffees are paid, either as you go on The Band or from a prepaid Bar Tab. If you book the Premium fare, a daily drinks credit comes with it. RockStar Quarters also get select complimentary drinks.

WiFi: included, but the tier varies

Every Sailor gets WiFi. Which tier depends on the booking:

Basic covers messaging, email, social media and light browsing. Premium and Work from Sea can be bought onboard in the Sailor App if you need video calls or streaming. More in our WiFi guide.

Fitness and entertainment

Group fitness classes are unlimited and included, along with the gym equipment. Virgin's own examples range from sunrise yoga to outdoor boxing, cycling and bungee workouts. The shows, pop-up acts and late-night events are included too, and so are the arcade and the private karaoke rooms. Spa treatments are not; see the spa guide for what is worth booking ahead.

What costs extra

• Alcohol and specialty coffee. Paid onboard or through a Bar Tab.
• Shore Things. Virgin's excursions are booked and paid separately.
• Spa treatments. Priced individually in the Sailor App.
• WiFi upgrades. Premium and Work from Sea, bought onboard.
• Casino, retail and tattoos. All paid.
• Treat Yourself menu items and the dinner shows. As above.
• The service gratuity. Since October 7, 2025, Virgin lists it separately from the voyage fare. As of November 2026 it is $22 per Sailor per night if charged onboard, or $20 per night if prepaid before sailing. Prepaid gratuities are non-refundable; an onboard gratuity can be adjusted at Sailor Services before you disembark. There is no further tip on drinks, spa or dining. Details in our gratuities guide.

Suites add a layer on top

RockStar Quarters keep everything above and add early access to bookable experiences, the RockStar Services crew for special requests, select complimentary drinks and Richard's Rooftop, a sun deck only suite guests can use. If one person in a group books a suite, the rest of the group still eats in the same restaurants; the Rooftop is the one place they can't follow.

If you are sailing with a group

Because meals and shows are covered, there is no restaurant bill to split at the end of a group dinner. The gratuity goes on each Sailor's own folio. The real spread inside a group is drinks and excursions, so it helps to agree early whether rounds are on whoever orders or whether people buy their own. Friends sharing a cabin are on one booking, so they get the same WiFi tier and dining window and should pick the fare together. Solo sailors budget the same way, with one folio and no one to split with. Your group can meet in the Nautir app before boarding and sort this out ahead of time.

Not sure which fare to book? Our fare types guide lays out Base, Essential and Premium side by side, and the hosted group sailings show what is coming up.