The Ultimate Guys’ Trip Aboard Virgin Voyages’ Newest Flagship, The Resilient Lady

At a certain point in life, assembling the boys for a long-overdue guys' trip can be a tall order, even just for a quick weekend getaway. Gathering everyone together for a seven-night luxury cruise in the Greek Isles? That's a challenge on an entirely different level. After a full week aboard Virgin Voyages' new flagship, The Resilient Lady, I can now confirm that it's worth every ounce of effort to pull it off.

Never mind all the reasons to put it off—demanding careers, kids, marriage, changing priorities, the list only gets longer. In my view, quality time with the guys is a priority, too—at least every few years, right? If you're on board with that thinking, here's the perfect way to get all your boys together in one spectacular place for a truly unforgettable week.

Needless to say, any massive new cruise ship bearing the stamp of Virgin Group founder, Sir Richard Branson, will be hard to get your head around from first glance. The experience provided by the company's fleet of adults-only luxury cruise ships is equally remarkable—offering a style of elevated luxury and provocative sailing on an entirely different level. The Resilient Lady, Virgin's latest and greatest offering to the high seas, now takes the Virgin Voyages tradition to even greater heights.

Related: Feta Food Comas, Beachside Cocktails, and Ancient Ruins: The 4-Day Weekend in Athens

My brother and I boarded The Resilient Lady in Athens on a sunny Saturday afternoon for the MerMaiden Voyage of their "Greek Island Glow" itinerary—which included stops in Santorini, Rhodes, Bodrum and an overnight in Mykonos. The vessel, an adults-only ship designed to entertain at every turn, is truly a marvel of engineering. The 110,000-ton, 909-foot-long ship is equipped with 17 decks, 1,410 staterooms, 20 dining options, two pools, and a spa complex, among several other offerings.

Ambling through check-in, we made our way to the RockStar quarters and our Brilliant Suite. It's as badass a cabin as it sounds, featuring a 481-square-foot open floor plan with a double balcony, terrace sun chairs, and even a hammock. A healthy space for any top hotel on land, by cruise ship standards it's absolutely massive. Furnishings and extras included a large convertible sofa, a fully stocked bar, and a vintage turntable—complete with a small yet tasteful collection of vinyl.

Once settled in, we took a tour of the ship to see exactly what we were getting ourselves into for the next week. It's truly exquisite—blending elegance and tastefulness with a playful dose of risque and rockstar. Subtle sexual innuendos at every turn are reminders of the brand’s adults-only ethos, and an agenda of events catering to the hardest of partiers in your crew. Meandering through the ship’s interior is a mix of high-end Vegas, with some Monte Carlo vibes, and just the right dash of Metallica. In short, it's the perfect floating playground for grown-ups. (They're also the only cruise line on the planet with an on-board tattoo parlor.)

The vessel is even equipped with a nostalgia-inducing game room, complete with all the classics you remember from your local arcade in the '80s and '90s—except you won't need to feed quarters into these machines. The pool is stunning, with dozens of cabanas on offer, along with several top-shelf bars and lounges. Richard’s Rooftop is really where it’s at—a swank outdoor lounge reserved for the ship’s suite guests. If you can swing the upgrade, I'd highly recommend it.

Related: 14 Best European Coastal Towns and Cities to Beat the Crowds

As for dining, the ship boasts six premium restaurants featuring food from an exclusive Michelin-star Chef Collective, all included in your fare. There’s authentic and elevated Mexican street food from Pink Agave, sophisticated steak and seafood from The Wake, and a laboratory-style menu at The Test Kitchen featuring some of the most unique dishes you’ll ever sink your teeth into. Italian cuisine fans will find traditional hand-crafted fare at Extra Virgin. A largely vegetarian contemporary American menu at Razzle Dazzle offers the option of going “naughty” with meat add-ons or boozy shots. At Gunbae, the ship treats guests to the the only Korean BBQ at sea.

Alongside these eateries, the ship offers several casual dining options—including a rustic beach-club inspired space at The Dock, an upscale food hall with eight shops and food carts, as well as an artisanal pizza joint for round-the-clock, wood-fired pies. Happily missing is the proverbial cruise ship buffet. There's no serve-yourself biz happening aboard any Virgin ships, and we found this to be one of our favorite touches. The vibe is elevated, the service is impeccable, and all the food is made to order.

As for onboard entertainment, it's equally Branson-esque. From signature Scarlet Nights and adult pajama parties to the ship's top-shelf Broadway style shows, there's no shortage of high-caliber, high-energy, absolutely stunning visual showcases every single night aboard the Resilient Lady. For adults seeking some serious good times with friends and family, the party never really stops. That's not to discount the level of class, sophistication, and overall luxury that this cruise line brings to the market.

While our Greek isle adventures were certainly a major highlight of the trip, the ship itself was the shining star of an incredible week. Having been on several other cruise line voyages in years past, I found The Resilient Lady to  truly be an experience like no other. For a guys' reunion, parents, newlyweds, or singles looking for some high-octane provocative fun, the adults-only experience that Virgin's Resilient Lady brings to the table is a true crowd pleaser, and a voyage I'll never forget—I even got a tattoo to prove that.

[From $2,994; virginvoyages.com]