Virgin Voyages doesn’t have a buffet. What it has instead is The Galley — a food-hall-style dining venue on Deck 15 with multiple distinct stations, each serving a different cuisine. It’s included in your fare, open for every meal period, and available on all four Lady Ships: Scarlet Lady, Valiant Lady, Resilient Lady, and Brilliant Lady.
This guide breaks down every station in Virgin Voyages The Galley, what each one serves, when it’s open, how the ordering system works, and which spots are worth returning to — so you can skip the confusion and eat well from day one.
You have three ways to get food, and you can mix all three in a single visit.
Table service (flag system): Sit at any open table and flip up the red flag. A server comes to you, takes your order from any station on the menu, and brings everything to your table. You can order from multiple stations at once — ramen from Noodle Around plus a burger from Burger Bar, no problem. This is the easiest way to eat at The Galley, and the one most Sailors prefer.
Walk-up: Head directly to a station and order at the counter. Some stations give you a vibrating puck that buzzes when your food is ready for pickup.
Grab & Go: Pre-made items are available near the entrance and at Bento Baby. Perfect for poolside snacking or a quick bite between activities.
Pro Tip: The flag system confuses first-time Sailors. You don’t need to get up and stand in line at a station. Sit down, raise the flag, and your server handles everything. If you order from several stations, the food arrives as each station finishes — so your tacos might show up before your ramen. That’s normal.
The Galley covers every meal period, but not every station is open at every hour. Typical hours across the venue:
| Meal Period | Hours | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Breakfast | 6:30 AM–11:00 AM | Most stations open; check onboard for exact times per station |
| Lunch | 12:00 PM–3:00 PM | Menu A/B rotation on select days |
| Dinner | 5:00 PM–10:00 PM | Station hours vary; some close earlier |
| Late Night | After 10:00 PM | Diner & Dash (24/7) and Burger Bar (often until 2:00 AM) |
Individual stations open and close on their own schedules. Arriving at 11:20 AM, for example, often means breakfast stations have closed but lunch hasn’t started — leaving a gap with limited options. Plan accordingly, or use Diner & Dash, which never closes.
The Galley is also open for limited breakfast hours on disembarkation morning.
Here’s a full breakdown of every station you’ll find in The Galley. Hours listed are approximate — they can shift slightly by ship and sailing, so check onboard for exact times.
Hours: 24/7
Serves: Full English breakfasts, omelettes, toast, and daily dinner specials in the evening.
This is your anchor station. It never closes, making it the go-to for early risers, late-night eaters, and anyone caught in that midday gap between breakfast and lunch. The omelettes are solid, and the daily specials at dinner are worth checking — they rotate and can surprise you.
Hours: Breakfast service, then lunch through around 2:00 AM
Serves: The Classic Burger, The Impossible™ Burger, and daily specials.
Late-night Burger Bar is a rite of passage. After a Scarlet Night party or a long evening at the bars, this station delivers. The Classic Burger is reliable, and the daily specials rotate — some Sailors make a habit of checking what’s new each night. It’s also open for breakfast, though that’s less well-known.
Hours: Breakfast and lunch (typically closing mid-afternoon)
Serves: Ramen and noodle bowls — Miso Udon, Thai Curry Ramen, Tonkotsu Ramen, Spicy Tonkotsu Ramen.
One of the most popular stations in The Galley, and for good reason. The Tonkotsu Ramen is rich and satisfying. Menu items can change between Menu A and Menu B rotations, so if you spot something you love, go back before the menu flips.
Hours: Breakfast and lunch
Serves: Fried Avocado Taco, Pescado Taco, Tacos Al Pastor.
Simple, fun, and consistently good. The Fried Avocado Taco has a loyal following. On select days, this station may swap out for Feta Late Than Hungry — a Mediterranean rotation serving Cod Souvlaki (typically gluten-free), Falafel (typically vegan), and Roasted Beef Gyro. There’s not always a schedule posted in advance, so check when you arrive. If you see the Mediterranean menu, it’s worth trying — the falafel is a standout.
Hours: Breakfast and lunch (typically closing mid-afternoon)
Serves: Open-faced toasts and sandwiches — Turkey & Swiss, Pastrami on Rye.
A reliable lunch option when you want something lighter. The sandwiches are straightforward and well-made. Not flashy, but consistently solid.
Hours: Approximately 7:00 AM–10:00 PM
Serves: Fruit bento boxes by day, sushi bento boxes in the evening — Cucumber Avocado Roll, Salmon Avocado Roll, Bento Baby Combo.
One of the Grab & Go sources, so you can pick up a bento box without waiting. The evening sushi bentos are a great pre-show snack or a light supplement to dinner. Don’t expect omakase-level sushi — think fresh, convenient, and included.
Hours: Breakfast through dinner (approximately 7:00 AM–10:00 PM)
Serves: Greek Salad, Spinach & Quinoa, Chicken Caesar, with add-ons like chicken, tuna, and hard-boiled egg. Breakfast includes cereals and bagels.
This station pulls double duty — cereal and bagels in the morning, then soups and salads through dinner. The Chicken Caesar with extra protein is a dependable lunch, and the salad add-ons let you customize enough to keep it interesting across the voyage.
Hours: Varies (check onboard)
Serves: Breads, flatbreads, breakfast sandwiches, and daily specials.
Easy to overlook, but the morning flatbreads and breakfast sandwiches are worth a stop — especially early, when they’re fresh. Daily specials rotate, so check the board.
Hours: Approximately 6:00 AM–midnight
Serves: Desserts and fresh fruit.
Open longer than most stations, which makes it the go-to for post-dinner dessert or a mid-afternoon fruit fix. The dessert selection changes, and some items are better than others — the fresh fruit is always reliable.
Hours: Varies
Serves: Handmade ice cream pops (banana and chocolate, among other flavors) plus bubbles and champagne.
A cart rather than a full station. The ice cream pops are included and refreshing on sea days. Champagne is also available here — check whether your selection falls under included bubbles or counts as an upcharge, as it depends on the bottle.
Hours: Available during Galley operating hours
Serves: Complimentary filter coffee, teas, juices, and typically Coca-Cola products (Coke, Coke Zero, Diet Coke, Sprite, Fanta, Ginger Ale).
Self-serve and always included. This is where you grab your baseline morning coffee and soft drinks throughout the day. If you want espresso-based drinks, head to Grounds Club Too instead.
Hours: Varies
Serves: Coffees and teas — the Galley’s sister venue to the main Grounds Club.
On Scarlet Lady, this space transforms into a cocktail lounge at night. On other ships, it operates primarily as a coffee spot. If you’ve purchased a Bar Tab, specialty coffees can be covered here.
The Galley can run two different lunch menus on a rotating schedule. Menu A is often available during the first portion of your voyage, and Menu B can take over later. The rotation applies to select stations — you’ll notice different items appearing at Noodle Around, Let’s Taco Bout It, and others as the days go on.
There’s no fixed public schedule for when the swap happens. Ask your server — they can tell you which menu is running and when the changeover is expected.
Pro Tip: If you find a dish you love at a station, eat it again before the menu rotates. Some Sailors assume the menu stays the same the whole voyage and miss their favorites. On longer sailings, you’ll often see both menus — on shorter voyages, you might only get one.
Everything at The Galley is included in your fare. All stations, all meal periods, all you can eat. No upcharges for ordering from multiple stations or going back for seconds.
The only exceptions are “Treat Yourself” items — select premium menu additions available for an additional cost. These are clearly marked on the menu. The complimentary drinks at Tap That (coffee, tea, juice, sodas) are always included. Specialty coffees at Grounds Club Too may count toward your Bar Tab or Sailor Loot.
Virgin Voyages limits Sailors to one restaurant reservation per night. The Galley is your flexible counterpart to that system — no reservation needed, ever.
This makes it ideal for several scenarios:
For a full breakdown of every dining venue across the fleet — including all the reservation-based restaurants — see our complete Virgin Voyages restaurant guide.
Throughout July 2025, Virgin Voyages’ annual Eat & Drink Festival transforms The Galley on select evenings. The “Passport to Eat” activation turns the space into a rotating food experience during the evening, featuring exclusive dishes that aren’t available during normal service.
If your sailing falls within the festival window, these evenings replace the standard Galley dinner setup — so plan your restaurant reservations around them. It’s a limited-time experience that’s worth building into your schedule, not skipping.
Don’t want to leave your cabin? ShipEats delivers 24/7 (except disembarkation day) to cabins, suites, and onboard cabanas. There’s a $10 delivery fee, which is waived if your order totals $10+ or if you’re staying in RockStar Quarters.
You can also pre-order breakfast through ShipEats — place the order by 2:00 AM for delivery between 5:00 AM and 11:00 AM. Pre-ordered breakfast isn’t available on disembarkation morning.
Not entirely. Diner & Dash runs 24/7 and Burger Bar is often open until 2:00 AM, but most other stations close between meal periods. The venue as a whole is not staffed around the clock at every station.
Yes. Several stations offer clearly marked options — the Falafel at Feta Late Than Hungry can be vegan, and the Cod Souvlaki can be gluten-free. The Daily Mix salads are easily customizable, and servers can guide you through dietary accommodations at any station.
No. Sailors are limited to one restaurant reservation per evening. Virgin Voyages specifically points to The Galley as the option if you want to eat again later — particularly Burger Bar and Diner & Dash for late-night service.
Yes. The Galley offers limited breakfast hours on disembarkation day. ShipEats pre-order breakfast is not available that morning, so The Galley is your best on-ship option before departure.
The Galley is where most Sailors eat most of their meals — and once you understand the station layout, the flag system, and the menu rotations, it becomes the most flexible and reliable dining option on any Virgin Voyages ship. No reservations, no upcharges, no waiting. Your First Mate at Serious Sailors™ can help you build a dining strategy that balances restaurant reservations with Galley visits — so you never miss a meal or a must-try dish.
