Bring the bikini, leave the kids: 4 things to know about sailing with Virgin Voyages

As soon as you check in on a Virgin Voyages cruise, you’re given an electronic bracelet. And once you step on board, you’re greeted by big smiles, neon lights and Top 40 pop music.

It feels like an upscale PlayPlace for adults. In the best way possible.

The line went all-in on the fun aspect, going as far as reimagining the cruise director role. On Virgin, an entire team is dedicated to making the passenger – or sailor, as the line calls them – experience the best it can possibly be for their unique needs.

"The Happenings cast is our reimagination of the cruise director you will find on other cruise lines,” said Richard Kilman, Virgin Voyages VP of entertainment. “Everyone is cast individually based on different, authentic passion points (i.e. wellness, food/drink, performing, art, games/competitions, etc.) and their ability to help us create the unique vibe you can only experience on board Virgin Voyages. They all lead a vast array of events (many aligned with their personal passion points) that take place throughout every voyage."

With a plethora of Instagram-ready spots, photo booth setups, sparkling wine happy hours, more than 20 eateries, gratuities, Wi-Fi, essential drinks and unlimited group fitness classes all included, Virgin is aiming for the modern traveler looking for easy, personalized experiences.

USA TODAY recently participated in a Virgin Voyages press trip aboard its Resilient Lady vessel on its Adriatic Sea & Greek Gems itinerary. Here are four things that make a Virgin Voyages cruise different.

It’s an over-18 cruise

The adults-only cruise sounds more salacious than it is. Mainly, you’re reminded it’s an 18-plus sailing during the entertainment portions. It caters to an adult audience while keeping it tongue-in-cheek and tasteful – for the most part.

Shows like "Persephone" and "Another Rose" definitely lean into sensuality, while "Miss Behave" and "Mind Mangler: Member of the Tragic Circle" lean into absurdist humor. These are not the typical cruise shows. Many of the sailors on the line’s Resilient Lady ship commented on the Broadway quality of the performances.

Scarlet Night, Virgin’s response to a formal night, might just be the epitome of what the line aims to do. Described as “an immersive celebration” where sailors are encouraged to dress in red, it’s a night when the entire ship is buzzing with excitement.

“Through pop-up circus performances, interactive games, karaoke, myth-telling, and live music, come pay tribute to a love that washed the world scarlet − culminating in a drenched-in-red pool and dance party unlike anything you've ever seen,” the line says on its website.

There’s no buffet

Just because there’s no buffet doesn’t mean you’ll go hungry. With more than 20 eateries on board, the most difficult part of meal times will be deciding whether you want to try something new or stick with that yummy dish you found the first night.

Don’t worry, at The Galley − Virgin’s alternative to a buffet − sailors can find several “shops” akin to a food court where they can order at leisure or wait for a server to come to their table. But do keep in mind that not all those spots are open 24/7, nor do they offer a full menu throughout the day.

For the main event, or dinner, it’s also sailor’s choice. Rather than an assigned dining time, sailors can book reservations at any of the five restaurants on board just as they would on land.

Here’s a snapshot of the restaurants:

• The Wake: Steakhouse presented as “a modern twist to the classic chophouses of the mid-20th century.”

• Razzle Dazzle: Comfort food with a twist. Also, boozy brunch. No need to say more.

• Pink Agave: Elevated Mexican cuisine with “the largest selection of tequila and mezcal at sea,” and a DJ.

• Extra Virgin: Italian restaurant with “regionally inspired food punctuated by our handmade pasta.”

• Gunbae: Korean BBQ cooked at your table. Prime spot for solo cruisers to meet others at the communal tables or for large groups to get the night started.

• Test Kitchen: A pre-fixed tasting menu (with accommodations for allergies and preferences) that only presents you with a list of ingredients. You can do a wine or cocktail pairing with each course. (Do this one on the first night.)

The vast majority of items on the menus are included, but each of the restaurants offers one or two indulgent options at an extra cost.

There’s no drink package

Just because it’s an adults-only cruise doesn’t mean the drinks are unlimited – unless you want them to be.

Alcoholic drinks and specialty coffees cost extra on board. Soft drinks, juices and drip coffee are included in the voyage fare. Virgin Voyages has a pre-boarding Bar Tab offer where sailors can deposit $300 into their “Wallet” to get an additional $50. Much like other lines, the offer is available only before boarding, but sailors can add money to the Bar Tab as they see fit.

Don’t be alarmed. Drinks are moderately priced, from $6 to $15, with higher-end beverages around $29. On a seven-day cruise, $300 could equal about five drinks a day.

All restaurants on the ship have unique drink menus, so make sure to leave room for those. You can view your Wallet balance on the Virgin Voyages app and add more to it during the trip – more on that below.

Free, stable Wi-Fi

Everything from dinner and performance reservations to shore excursions, to keeping track of your tab and purchases is on the app.

With that, however, comes one of the best perks for those of us who need to be connected with the outside world at all times: free Wi-Fi. Good, stable Wi-Fi. A faster, premium Wi-Fi package is available for those who need to work and hold video calls, but if you just need to check email and social media, the basic free plan works great.

The app can be a little frustrating when it freezes, but no one in our group found it limiting. Simply closing the app and reopening seemed to solve the problem.

Overall, sailing aboard the Resilient Lady felt like one of those experiences you can’t really describe. How do you write down “it had good, fun vibes”? Maybe just like that. But, different from other lines, Virgin’s vibe was engaging, and knowing that passengers were all there without kids, all looking to have a good time, changed the atmosphere.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 4 things to know about sailing on an adult-only Virgin Voyages cruise