Virgin Voyages: VoyageFair Choices
Curated by Collins — Cruise Insider
Virgin Voyages Base vs. Essential vs. Premium:
What's the Difference?
Base is the lowest-priced and most restrictive fare. Essential adds earlier dining access, better WiFi, and flexibility. Premium adds the earliest dining access, Premium WiFi, the most flexible change terms, and an included Bar Tab.
For its first five years, Virgin Voyages sold one fare. That changed on October 7, 2025, when Virgin introduced VoyageFair Choices, a three-tier structure for Sea Terrace cabins and below. RockStar Suites sit outside this system entirely.
Your choice affects four things: how early you can reserve restaurants, what level of WiFi you get, how much you can change your booking afterward, and whether a drink credit is included.
Insider and Sea Terrace — VoyageFair applies to Sea Terrace and below
The Quick Answer
| Base | Essential | Premium | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dining reservations | 15 days out | 45 days out | 60 days out |
| WiFi | Basic, 1 device | Classic, 1 device | Premium, 2 devices, streaming |
| Bar Tab | None | None | Included, amount varies |
| Date changes | Not permitted | Via Future Voyage Credit | Most flexible |
| Name changes | Not permitted | Sailors 2 to 4 | All, including lead |
| Cabin changes | Not permitted | Permitted | Permitted |
| Refundable | No | Standard terms | Most flexible |
| Priority support | No | No | Yes |
RockStar and Mega RockStar Suites follow separate terms, including a 120-day dining window.
One line item across all three: gratuities are no longer bundled into the fare. They appear separately at $20 per Sailor per night prepaid, or $22 charged onboard. For two Sailors on a 5-night voyage, that is $200 prepaid or $220 onboard.
What Each Fare Includes
Base
Basic WiFi for one device. Dining reservations open 15 days out. Non-refundable, with no date, name, or cabin changes permitted. Every signature onboard inclusion still applies.
The tradeoff: The Wake, Pink Agave, and Test Kitchen fill their prime slots quickly once each window opens. By day 15, Premium Sailors have had 60 days and Essential Sailors have had 45. Walk-in availability and embarkation-day releases exist, and nobody goes hungry on a Virgin ship. But the 7:30 table at The Wake on a sea day is unlikely to still be sitting there.
Essential
Classic WiFi for one device, adding audio calling. Dining reservations open 45 days out. Voyages can be moved using a Future Voyage Credit, and names can be changed for Sailors 2 through 4. This is the closest match to how Virgin sold cruises before October 2025.
Premium
Premium WiFi across two devices with streaming. Dining reservations open 60 days out, a window that used to be suite-only. An included Bar Tab, priority pre-voyage support, and the widest change rights of the three, including lead Sailor name changes.
Cocktails, wine, beer, and espresso drinks draw on a Bar Tab
The Bar Tab amount is not fixed. It moves with the sailing and whatever promotion Virgin is running, and it is sometimes issued per cabin rather than per Sailor, so two published guides can both be right about different voyages. Check the figure on your specific sailing rather than assuming a rate you read elsewhere.
Non-drinkers still draw on it, because the included coffee is drip only. Every latte and cold brew comes out of the Bar Tab.
What the Upgrade Actually Costs
Here is a 7-night Caribbean sailing I priced in August 2026, two Sailors in a Sea Terrace:
Essential costs $85 per person more than Base. That is 4.5% of the fare to triple your dining window, unlock date changes, and unlock cabin changes. On this sailing, it is less than one specialty dinner costs on most other cruise lines.
Premium costs $315 per person more than Essential. On this particular sailing the Bar Tab came to $150 per cabin, bringing the real difference to $480 per cabin, or $240 per person. The upgrade itself was charged per Sailor per night, so it grows with voyage length while the Bar Tab does not.
Let Me Price the Fares Side by Side
and Claim Your Exclusive Sailor Loot
The right fare depends on how far out you are booking, how many people you are coordinating, and how much the dining window affects your specific voyage. I will price the options against each other, show you what the difference buys, and reserve your restaurants the moment your window opens.
Browse 2026 SailingsSailor Loot per cabin: $50 on 4 to 5 nights, $100 on 6 to 9 nights, $200 on 10+ nights. Available on 2026 bookings made 121 or more days before departure, for Sea Terrace, RockStar Quarters, and Mega Suite categories. Insider, Sea View, Solo, and Lock-It-In rates are not eligible. Base, Essential, and Premium fares all qualify. This offer is not combinable with every Virgin promotion, so I will apply it where it gives you the most value.
Once you book, you will receive a personal welcome email from me with everything you need to know before you sail, including curated shore excursion recommendations, dining tips, and insider advice to make the most of your voyage.
Which Fare Should You Choose?
Booking close in, with locked plans. A 4-night Bahamas sailing 60 days out, flights already non-refundable, no strong feelings about dinner. Base costs you a restriction you were already living with, and the 15-day window arrives quickly at that range.
Traveling as a group. Six people eating together is a different reservation problem than two. Larger tables sell out first, so a 45 or 60-day window is the difference between choosing your nights and accepting them. Essential at minimum.
Booking far out, or celebrating something. Premium. The 60-day window gets you the reservations you want on the nights you want them, the WiFi covers two devices with streaming, and a schedule change five months from now is a conversation rather than a loss.
What's Included Regardless
The tier changes access and flexibility. It does not touch the onboard experience. Every fare includes all 20+ eateries with no specialty dining surcharges, all entertainment, all group fitness classes, and essential beverages including still and sparkling water, sodas, drip coffee, non-pressed juices, and tea. WiFi is included at the tier attached to your fare.
Cocktails, wine, beer, champagne, espresso drinks, pressed juices, smoothies, and energy drinks draw on a Bar Tab. Virgin ships are adults-only, 18 and over, across Scarlet Lady, Valiant Lady, Resilient Lady, and Brilliant Lady.
Yannicke Collins is a Gold-certified Virgin Voyages First Mate and Virtuoso-affiliated luxury travel advisor. Gold is the highest Seacademy certification tier, representing mastery of the Virgin Voyages product, experience, and advisor benefits.