Virgin Voyages includes a lot in your fare — 20+ restaurants, group fitness classes, WiFi, and basic beverages are all covered before you spend a dime onboard. But the real customization happens through Virgin Voyages add-on packages, which let you prepay for drinks, book shore excursions, send champagne to your cabin, and lock in celebration experiences weeks before you set sail. Some of these add-ons need to be purchased well in advance. Others can only be reserved once you step onboard.
This guide breaks down every category of add-on package available on Virgin Voyages, when to book each one, the cancellation deadlines that actually matter, and which extras are worth your money.
Add-on packages fall into six categories, each with its own booking window and cancellation rules. Here’s the full landscape.
| Add-On Category | When to Book | Cancel for Full Refund |
|---|---|---|
| Bar Tab | Up to 24 hrs before sailing | 24 hrs before departure |
| Shore Things | 120 days out (135 for RockStar) | 48 hrs before excursion* |
| Cabin Deliveries | Up to 48 hrs before sailing | 48 hrs before sailing |
| Flower Packages | Up to 72 hrs before sailing | 72 hrs before sailing |
| Celebration Packages | Up to 48 hrs before sailing | Varies by package |
| Spa & Fitness | Fitness: onboard only; Spa: varies | Varies by service |
*Shore Things cancellation language conflicts across Virgin Voyages’ own pages — the FAQ says 24 hours, while the Terms & Conditions say 48 hours. Treat 48 hours as your real deadline.
The Bar Tab is Virgin Voyages’ alternative to a traditional drink package — and it’s the single most popular add-on across the fleet. Instead of unlimited drinks at a flat rate, you load prepaid credit onto your onboard folio and earn bonus credit on top. Every drink you order draws from that balance until it runs out.
| Purchase Amount | Bonus Credit | Total Value |
|---|---|---|
| $200 | $25 | $225 |
| $300 | $50 | $350 |
| $500 | $100 | $600 |
| $750 | $175 | $925 |
| $1,000 | $250 | $1,250 |
You can purchase a Bar Tab up to 24 hours before sailing through the Virgin Voyages website, by phone, or through your First Mate. Cancellation follows the same 24-hour-before-departure window. After that, your purchase is locked in.
The critical detail: unused Bar Tab credit — including the bonus — is non-refundable at the end of your voyage. It can’t be redeemed for cash, and it can’t be applied to spa treatments, Shore Things, or anything outside of drink purchases. It covers beverages consumed onboard and at The Beach Club at Bimini. That’s it.
Bar Tabs also cannot be paid with Promotional Future Voyage Credit or Promotional Sailor Loot.
Pro Tip: If you’re sailing with a partner and want to share one Bar Tab between two people, you can usually have one Sailor “foot the bill” at Sailor Services once onboard. One Sailor becomes responsible for both accounts — meaning your Bar Tab balance covers drinks for both of you without buying two. Our Bar Tab vs Sailor Loot comparison breaks down the math on whether pre-purchasing makes sense for your drinking style.
Shore Things are Virgin Voyages’ curated shore excursions — catamaran sails, food tours, snorkeling, cultural experiences, and more. They’re one of the earliest add-on packages you can book and one of the first to sell out on popular ports.
The booking window opens 120 days before your voyage start date for all Sailors. RockStar Quarters guests get early access at 135 days. Payment is due at the time of booking — no “pay later” option. You can book through the Sailor App (Discover tab), your online account, Sailor Services, or your First Mate.
Cancellation is where it gets complicated. Virgin Voyages’ Terms & Conditions require cancellation 48 hours before the scheduled departure time for a full refund. Two special categories require 30 days’ notice: Shore Things involving hotel stays, charter flights, or private vehicles — and any excursion booked exclusively for a private group. Miss those windows and you forfeit the full amount.
Refund mechanics also depend on timing. Cancel before the voyage starts, and the refund goes back to your original payment method (processed after midnight ET). Cancel during the voyage, and the refund becomes a credit on your Sailor folio — not back to your card.
Pro Tip: If you’re planning to use Sailor Loot toward excursions, know that Shore Things booked pre-voyage require credit card payment at booking. Loot is typically applied onboard. The workaround: wait to book certain Shore Things onboard if you want to use Loot — but you risk popular options selling out.
Virgin Voyages offers a curated selection of cabin delivery add-ons — perfect for celebrations or just starting your voyage right. Everything is delivered directly to your cabin.
Categories include chocolate and champagne packages ($20–$120), beer and cocktail buckets ($35–$65), Moët & Chandon Impérial Brut ($125 per bottle, delivered after reaching international waters), and flower arrangements ($60–$190, Miami and San Juan departures only).
The booking deadline is 48 hours before sailing for everything except flower packages, which require 72 hours. Cancellation deadlines match — 48 hours for standard items, 72 hours for flowers. After those cutoffs, no cancellations are accepted.
Booking Tip: Items like chocolates and flowers brought off the ship must be declared to customs and agriculture officials. Plan to enjoy them onboard if you want to avoid the hassle.
These two experience packages are among the most sought-after Virgin Voyages add-on packages for couples and groups — and both have strict inventory caps per voyage.
The Splash of Romance package is limited to the first 90 cabins per voyage. It includes a dedicated check-in experience, daily cold-pressed juices from the Gym & Tonic Bar, one complimentary 3-hour thermal spa pass per Sailor, Shake for Champagne, an exclusive Sail Away Hour, and chocolates delivered to your cabin on Day 2. The terms shown on the package page do not currently state a cancellation or refund window — confirm directly with Sailor Services or your First Mate before purchasing.
Pro Tip: Splash of Romance regularly sells out, but it can reappear if other Sailors cancel or receive cabin upgrades that reset availability. Check back frequently and grab it immediately when it shows up. It may also appear under only one Sailor’s profile — that’s normal. Benefits apply to the entire cabin.
The Splash for Your Bash package is built for group celebrations — birthdays, bachelorette parties, reunions. Limited to the first 50 groups per voyage, supporting 1–9 cabins. Included: concierge help with group dining reservations (for 8+ Sailors), one bottle of Moët or non-alcoholic sparkling per cabin, a bottomless brunch at The Wake or Razzle Dazzle, and a celebratory dinner with chef-selected sharing menus and curated beverages.
Purchase deadline: 48 hours before sailing. Cancel for a full refund: up to 24 hours before departure. Unused items are non-refundable once the voyage ends.
Not every add-on can be locked in before you sail. Several high-demand experiences are reserved exclusively through the Sailor App once you’re on the ship:
These book up fast on embarkation day. The common strategy: open the Sailor App the moment ship WiFi becomes available and reserve your top priorities immediately.
Dinner reservations are one of the most important pre-voyage tasks — and the booking window depends on your fare tier and when you booked.
For bookings made on or before October 6, 2025, dining opens 60 days before departure for standard cabins and 120 days for RockStar and Mega RockStar Quarters. For bookings made on or after October 7, 2025 under the new VoyageFair Choices structure, the windows vary: 15 days for Lock It In and Base fares, 45 days for Essential, 60 days for Premium, and 120 days for all RockStar tiers.
All dining at Virgin Voyages’ 20+ restaurants is included in your fare — though some menu items cost extra. But reservations at popular spots like Test Kitchen and Pink Agave fill up quickly, so booking early matters.
Sailors regularly report a few recurring hiccups with add-on packages — most of which are avoidable if you know what to expect.
Reservations aren’t technically required — walk-ups are possible at most venues. But popular restaurants fill up, especially on shorter voyages. Pre-booking dinner reservations is strongly recommended. Breakfast and lunch reservations are only available once onboard.
Pre-voyage Shore Things require credit card payment at the time of booking through the Sailor App, virginvoyages.com, or Sailor Services. Onboard, you can also book at the Sailor Services desk on Deck 5. Accepted payment methods include Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express, Apple Pay, and PayPal.
Entertainment reservations, Squid Ink tattoos, and fitness classes all open in the Sailor App once you board. Spa treatments may also be available to book pre-voyage, depending on sailing.
Sailor Loot is typically applied onboard, not pre-voyage. If you want to use Loot toward Shore Things or other add-ons, you may need to wait and book onboard — but that means competing with other Sailors for availability.
Virgin Voyages add-on packages range from the practical — Bar Tab, Shore Things, dinner reservations — to the celebratory — champagne deliveries, Splash of Romance, group bash packages. The key is knowing when each one opens and when the cancellation window closes so you don’t leave money on the table. Your Serious Sailors™ First Mate can walk you through every option, flag deadlines, and make sure nothing falls through the cracks. Reach out to book your next voyage — and we’ll help you build the perfect add-on lineup.
