Sailing as a Virgin Voyages solo sailor is one of the best decisions you can make as an independent traveler. No compromises on dining, no coordinating schedules with anyone, and an adults-only environment that makes it easy to meet people — or enjoy your own company. This guide covers everything a Virgin Voyages solo sailor needs to know, from choosing the right cabin to a booking strategy that could save you hundreds of dollars.
The first question every solo sailor asks is: what cabin should I book? The answer depends on your budget, how much time you plan to spend in your room, and whether you want to avoid the single supplement entirely.
| Cabin Type | Size | Solo Supplement? | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solo Insider | ~105 sq ft | None — priced for 1 | Budget solo sailors who want the lowest price |
| Insider (double) | ~130–177 sq ft | Yes (or reduced promo) | Solo sailors who want more space than the Solo Insider |
| Sea View | ~225 sq ft | Yes (or reduced promo) | Solo sailors who want natural light and ocean views |
| Sea Terrace | ~270 sq ft | Yes (or reduced promo) | Solo sailors who want a private balcony and the red hammock |
| RockStar Suite | ~352+ sq ft | Yes | Solo travelers going all-in on the VIP experience |
The Solo Insider is Virgin Voyages’ purpose-built solo cabin, available on all four ships (Scarlet Lady, Valiant Lady, Resilient Lady, and Brilliant Lady). It’s compact — about the size of a boutique hotel room — with a single bed, efficient storage, and mood lighting. There’s no window, but for solo sailors who spend most of their time exploring the ship, dining, and socializing, it’s all you need. The key advantage: zero single supplement, which can save you $500–$1,500+ compared to booking a double-occupancy cabin alone.
If you want more space or natural light, the Sea View is the sweet spot for Virgin Voyages solo value — a porthole window seat, more room to spread out, and a calmer feel than an interior cabin. For the full experience, the Sea Terrace with its private balcony and hammock is hard to beat, even solo. There’s something about having morning coffee on your own terrace that makes the supplement worth it on longer sailings.
For a detailed look at how all cabin types compare, see our cabin comparison guide and Insider cabin pros and cons.
Most Virgin Voyages cabins are priced for double occupancy. If you book a standard cabin for one person, you’ll pay a single supplement — typically 100% of the base fare, meaning you’re effectively paying for two. This is standard across the cruise industry and not unique to Virgin.
There are three ways to reduce or avoid the supplement when sailing Virgin Voyages solo:
Book the Solo Insider cabin. It’s priced for one person from the start. No supplement math involved. Inventory is limited and they sell out fast on popular sailings, so book early.
Watch for reduced solo supplement promotions. Virgin Voyages regularly runs solo cruise deals that cut the supplement significantly on select sailings and cabin categories. These promotions change frequently, so timing matters — our guide on when to book Virgin Voyages covers the best windows.
Use the Level Upgrade bidding system. If you booked a Solo Insider or a lower cabin category, you can bid for a cabin upgrade after booking. This can sometimes get you into a Sea Terrace or even a suite for a fraction of the retail supplement cost.
This is one of the most valuable solo booking tips we share with clients, and it’s rarely discussed elsewhere: if there’s any possibility you might add a travel companion later, book your cabin for two sailors from the start.
Here’s why it works. Unless you’re booking a dedicated Solo Insider fare, the base fare on most regular and group bookings is the same whether you list one sailor or two. That means you pay the same amount either way. If you ultimately sail solo, the unused port fees and taxes for the second person are automatically refunded.
The real benefit is protection against repricing. If you book as a single sailor and later decide to bring someone along, the entire reservation must be repriced at the current fare. Since fares typically rise as the sailing date approaches, this can mean a significantly higher total — sometimes hundreds more than you would have paid if you’d listed two from the beginning.
By booking for two upfront, you lock in the original fare and keep your options open. It’s essentially free insurance against future fare increases. This is part of the smarter approach to booking your Virgin Voyages cruise.
Not every sailing hits the same way when you’re traveling alone. Here’s how to think about itinerary selection based on what works best for solo travelers:
Short Caribbean sailings (4–5 nights) are ideal if you’re new to solo cruising. The pace is relaxed, port days are easy to navigate independently, and you’ll have access to The Beach Club at Bimini — a great social spot for solo sailors. These shorter voyages are also the most affordable way to test the Virgin Voyages solo experience.
Mediterranean voyages (7–12 nights) are excellent for solo travelers who want culture, walkable ports, and a mix of sea days and exploration. Ports like Dubrovnik, Santorini, and Barcelona are safe and easy to explore on foot without a group. The longer sailing also gives you more time to build friendships onboard.
Transatlantic crossings (10–14+ nights) are perfect for Virgin Voyages solo sailors who want extended downtime, journaling, and deep relaxation. Multiple consecutive sea days mean you’ll really get to know the ship and the people on it. These voyages tend to attract a more experienced, independent crowd — and solo supplement deals are more common on repositioning crossings since they’re harder to fill.
This is where Virgin Voyages genuinely stands out for solo travelers. The cruise line doesn’t just tolerate solo sailors — it actively builds community around them.
On Day 1, usually before the Sail Away party, Virgin Voyages hosts a Solo Sailor meetup (sometimes called a “Social Sailor” event). You’ll find the time and location in the Virgin Voyages app and on a flyer in your cabin. This is the single best thing you can do on embarkation day — it sets the tone for the entire voyage and introduces you to the people you’ll likely see throughout the trip. Don’t skip it.
There’s typically a second solo meetup later in the voyage as well. Check the app for updated times.
Virgin Voyages organizes group dining for solo sailors every evening. The routine works like this: solo sailors meet at Grounds Club at 5:45 PM and collectively decide which restaurant to dine at together that night. One night it might be Pink Agave, the next it could be Extra Virgin or The Wake. The group walks over together, and you’re seated as a party.
On the first night, there’s usually a larger organized dinner at Razzle Dazzle specifically for solo travelers. This kicks off the social dining rhythm for the rest of the voyage.
The beauty of this system is that it’s completely optional. If you want a quiet dinner alone or prefer to eat on your own schedule, you absolutely can. But if you want company, it’s there every single night without you having to organize anything. For restaurant timing and strategy, see our restaurant booking guide.
The Grog Walk is Virgin’s onboard bar crawl, and it’s one of the best activities for Virgin Voyages solo sailors looking to meet people in a fun, low-pressure setting. You visit four different bars around the ship with cocktails and snacks at each stop, plus icebreaker games that naturally get people talking.
There’s a cost (bookable through the Virgin Voyages app once onboard), and spots fill up quickly — sign up early. Most voyages offer the Grog Walk on multiple nights, so you have flexibility on timing. Solo sailors consistently tell us this is the highlight of their social experience on the ship.
Beyond organized solo events, Virgin Voyages is designed to encourage interaction. Gunbae, the Korean BBQ restaurant, seats you around a shared grill — it’s communal dining by design. Group fitness classes, trivia, karaoke nights, and the Scarlet Night party are all natural places to meet people. The Bar Tab or Sailor Loot credits you may have come in handy for buying a round at one of the ship’s bars and striking up a conversation.
Download the Virgin Voyages app before boarding. The app is your lifeline for checking solo event times, booking restaurants, finding Grog Walk availability, and connecting with other sailors. Everything updates in real time once you’re onboard.
Be mindful about sharing your cabin number. Restaurants and bars will ask for your cabin number to charge purchases. As a solo traveler, you may prefer to show your cabin number from the app screen rather than announcing it out loud. It’s a small privacy measure that many experienced solo cruisers adopt.
Pick a midship cabin if possible. Solo sailors spend more time going back and forth between their cabin and public areas. A midship location minimizes walking and keeps you close to elevators and main venues. Avoid cabins near the theater or nightclub if you’re a light sleeper — check our cabins to avoid guide for specifics.
Consider a Sea Terrace on longer sailings. On a 4-night Caribbean cruise, you may barely use your cabin. But on a 10-night Mediterranean or transatlantic voyage, having a private balcony to retreat to between activities makes a real difference when you’re traveling alone. The hammock becomes your personal escape. For help choosing the right location, see our Sea Terrace subtypes guide.
Don’t overplan your port days. One of the best parts of solo cruising is spontaneity. You don’t need to coordinate with anyone else’s schedule. Some of the best solo port experiences come from simply walking off the ship and exploring on foot — grabbing coffee at a local café, wandering through a market, or finding a quiet beach. Virgin’s Shore Things (excursions) are great too, but leave yourself at least one unplanned port day.
In a word: yes. US News & World Report named Virgin Voyages among the best cruises for solo travelers in 2025, and the experience backs that up. The adults-only environment means you’re surrounded by people in a similar life stage. There are no kids running around, no formal nights, no assigned seating — just a relaxed, social atmosphere where solo travelers naturally connect.
The only downside is that Solo Insider cabin inventory is limited. If you know you want to sail Virgin Voyages solo, use our smart booking strategies and book early — those cabins sell out quickly, especially on popular Caribbean and Mediterranean itineraries. If the Solo Insider is sold out, a reduced solo supplement promotion on a Sea View or Sea Terrace can still make the voyage very affordable.
At Serious Sailors, a significant portion of our clients are solo travelers. As a Top 10 Virgin Voyages First Mate agency, we help with cabin selection based on your priorities, track solo supplement promotions across upcoming sailings, and provide guidance on which itineraries have the strongest solo communities. If you’re new to cruising alone and want someone to walk you through the options, that’s exactly what we’re here for.
Yes, most cabins are priced for double occupancy. The Solo Insider is the exception — it’s priced for one person with no supplement. Virgin Voyages also runs periodic promotions that reduce or eliminate the supplement on select sailings and fare tiers.
The Solo Insider is the best value with zero supplement. If you want natural light, the Sea View is the sweet spot. For the full experience on longer sailings, a Sea Terrace with the private balcony is hard to beat. Avoid Limited View Sea Terrace cabins unless you’ve researched the specific cabin number. For suite-level perks, see our RockStar Suite guide.
Yes. Virgin Voyages includes gratuities in the fare for all cabin types, including solo cabins. You don’t need to budget separately for tips on dining, housekeeping, or bar service.
Yes. Every sailing includes WiFi, and the tier you receive depends on your fare type. Solo Insider cabins on Base or Lock It In fares include Basic WiFi (one device). If you need streaming or video calls, consider upgrading to Premium WiFi onboard.
Virgin Voyages is one of the best cruise lines for solo travelers, and the experience is designed to make sailing alone feel social, not lonely. Book the Solo Insider for maximum savings, the Sea View for natural light without the supplement math, or a Sea Terrace if the private balcony is worth the premium on your sailing. Join the Day 1 solo meetup, show up to group dinners at Grounds Club, and sign up for the Grog Walk early. Use Sailor Loot and spa treatments to enhance your voyage, and check Sailing Club loyalty perks if you plan to sail again — returning solo sailors get even better value on future voyages.
