Virgin Voyages includes a lot with your fare — 20+ restaurants, basic drinks, WiFi, tips — but some of the best drinking experiences onboard are paid add-ons. From Virgin Voyages bottomless brunch at The Wake to champagne tastings and afternoon tea, these curated events are where the ship’s personality really shines. The catch? Each one has different pricing, different booking rules, and different payment methods — and that last part trips up more Sailors than you’d expect.
This guide covers every major paid drink experience available across the fleet, how to book each one, what they cost, and — critically — whether your Bar Tab or Sailor Loot applies.
Virgin Voyages offers a rotating mix of paid drinking events that go well beyond your standard bar order. Some are daily staples, others are sea-day specials, and a few feel more like immersive happenings than a simple drink add-on. Here’s what’s currently available across the fleet.
The most popular paid drink experience onboard — and the one Sailors ask about most. Bottomless Brunch is an optional add-on to the standard brunch that’s already included with your fare at The Wake and Razzle Dazzle. You still get the full brunch menu for free. The add-on unlocks up to two hours of bottomless drinks.
Pro Tip: When booking brunch in the app, the meal period selector may default to “Dinner.” You need to manually switch it to “Brunch” to see available times at The Wake and Razzle Dazzle. Brunch reservations can fill up fast — book as soon as dining reservations open to lock in the restaurant and time you want.
Afternoon Tea is a quieter, more refined experience held most sea days. No reservation required — simply show up at the Sip Lounge between 1pm and 4pm and ask to be seated. It’s cheeky, stylish, and quintessentially Virgin Voyages.
If your voyage has multiple sea days, Afternoon Tea is a lovely way to break up the afternoon. The alcoholic version is worth the upgrade if you’re already running a Bar Tab.
Three glasses of premium champagne — typically Moët & Chandon Imperial, Veuve Clicquot, and Dom Pérignon — paired with fried chicken. It’s indulgent, playful, and exactly the kind of thing Virgin Voyages does better than anyone else at sea.
This distinction matters. Because Bubbles & Bites is booked as a “Happening” rather than a bar purchase, it typically doesn’t draw from your Bar Tab. It typically charges directly to your onboard account — which means Sailor Loot can cover it, but Bar Tab cannot.
A lively, large-format version of the classic Mexican card game — played with cocktails. It’s part game night, part social event, and one of those experiences that gets louder and more fun as the drinks flow.
(You may see this listed as “La Lotteria” or “Lotería Gigante” depending on the source. Same event, different spelling depending on whether you’re reading press materials or the app.)
Beyond the headliners above, the fleet offers additional paid experiences that rotate by ship and itinerary:
All of the above are typically booked through the app onboard and charged as Box Office/Happening events — meaning none of them accept Bar Tab.
This is the single most confusing part of paid drink events on Virgin Voyages, and it catches Sailors off guard constantly. The rule isn’t based on whether an experience involves alcohol — it’s based on how the charge is processed.
| Experience | Price | Bar Tab Eligible? | Booking Method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bottomless Brunch (Standard) | $35/person | Yes | App (onboard) |
| Bottomless Brunch (Moët) | $75/person | Yes | App (onboard) |
| Afternoon Tea (Non-Alcoholic) | $19/person | Yes | Walk-up |
| Afternoon Tea (Alcoholic) | $35/person | Yes | Walk-up |
| Bubbles & Bites | $45/person | No | App (onboard) |
| Lotería Gigante | $40/person | No | App (onboard) |
| Grog Walk / Shot for Shot / Others | $50/person | No | App (onboard) |
The pattern: Bottomless Brunch and Afternoon Tea are generally processed like beverage purchases — similar to ordering a cocktail at a bar — so your Bar Tab covers them. Everything else is generally classified as a ticketed Happening, typically charged through the Box Office to your onboard folio. Bar Tab doesn’t touch those.
Pro Tip: If you’re trying to maximize your Bar Tab, check “My Wallet” in the app after booking bottomless brunch to confirm the charge applied to your Bar Tab and not your general folio. Sailors occasionally report discrepancies, and it’s easier to sort out early than on the last night of the voyage.
If you’re pre-purchasing a Bar Tab, factor in at least one or two bottomless brunches when doing the math. A couple doing brunch twice during a 7-night voyage adds $140 to their Bar Tab spend at the standard tier — or $300 if they opt for the Moët version both times.
Here’s a quick scenario for a 7-night sailing:
A $300 Bar Tab with its $50 bonus gives you $350 — almost exactly right for this kind of voyage. If you’re sailing with someone who drinks a bit more, the $500 tier ($600 with bonus) gives plenty of room. Remember, unused Bar Tab credit is non-refundable, so don’t overbuy.
If you’re sailing in a Mega RockStar Suite, your fare includes a generous daily bar tab — covering drinks up to $25 each, two bottles of wine per day (up to $90 per bottle), and 25% off anything above those thresholds. This daily allowance functions similarly to a Bar Tab, which means it should cover bottomless brunch and afternoon tea the same way a pre-purchased Bar Tab does.
Ticketed Happenings like Bubbles & Bites and Lotería Gigante still typically charge to your folio regardless of suite level. The Mega RockStar daily bar tab is generous, but it doesn’t replace your onboard account for Box Office purchases.
Officially, Virgin Voyages states that Bar Tabs must be purchased before you sail — up to 24 hours before the voyage departs — and are not available to purchase onboard.
The safest move? Buy your Bar Tab before you board. You’ll get the full bonus credit, and you can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before departure if your plans change. There’s no downside to locking it in early. Your First Mate can help you choose the right tier.
Not usually. Virgin Voyages’ bottomless brunch can typically only be booked through the app once you’re onboard. You can (and should) book your brunch restaurant reservation in advance — the bottomless drink add-on is selected separately once you’re on the ship.
Not in the traditional sense. Instead of an unlimited drink package, Virgin Voyages offers a pre-paid Bar Tab with bonus credit — or you can pay as you go for each drink. Basic drinks like drip coffee, satchet teas, filtered still and sparkling water, sodas, and non-pressed juices are included with every fare.
Mega RockStar Sailors get alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks up to $25 each, two bottles of wine per day per cabin (up to $90/bottle), and 25% off anything above those thresholds. Full details are in our Mega RockStar Bar Tab breakdown.
Everything onboard charges to your personal onboard account via The Band — the wearable wristband that acts as your room key, payment method, and onboard ID. You link a credit card (Visa, MasterCard, Discover, or Amex) or load cash at Sailor Services on Deck 5. A $250 authorization hold is placed on your card at embarkation.
Virgin Voyages’ paid drink experiences are some of the most fun you’ll have onboard — but knowing how each one charges saves you from surprises on your final bill. Bottomless brunch and Afternoon Tea pull from your Bar Tab. Everything else hits your folio. Plan accordingly, pre-purchase your Bar Tab for the full bonus, and don’t sleep on booking brunch reservations early. Your First Mate at Serious Sailors™ can help you dial in the right Bar Tab tier for your voyage — it’s all part of booking made easy.
