A Virgin Voyages Scarlet Lady cruise costs between $800 and $6,000+ per person depending on cabin type, itinerary length, and sailing date — with gratuities and most dining already included in the base fare.
Photo: Norwegian Cruise Line
Virgin Voyages pricing looks confusing at first glance because it bundles things most cruise lines charge extra for. Before you sticker-shock yourself, understand what's already in the price — then the numbers start making sense.
What Does a Scarlet Lady Cruise Actually Cost?
Scarlet Lady sails primarily 4–7 night Caribbean itineraries out of Miami. Base fares per person (double occupancy) for 2025–2026 sailings break down like this:
| Cabin Type | Budget (Off-Peak) | Mid-Range | Splurge (Peak/Holidays) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sea View (Interior) | $800–$1,100 pp | $1,100–$1,600 pp | $1,600–$2,200 pp |
| Sea Terrace (Balcony) | $1,200–$1,600 pp | $1,600–$2,200 pp | $2,200–$3,200 pp |
| Brilliant Suite | $2,800–$3,800 pp | $3,800–$5,000 pp | $5,000–$7,500 pp |
| Mega RockStar Suite | $4,500–$6,000 pp | $6,000–$8,500 pp | $8,500–$12,000+ pp |
All figures are per person based on two sailors sharing a cabin. Solo sailors pay a single supplement that varies.
What's already included in every fare: gratuities, all restaurant dining (20+ venues on board — no cover charges for most), group fitness classes, and basic still/sparkling water, drip coffee, and tea. That's genuinely useful bundling, not marketing spin.
Photo: Norwegian Cruise Line
What Drives the Price Up (or Down)
Itinerary length. Most Scarlet Lady sailings are 4–7 nights. Longer voyages to places like Havana or the Dominican Republic command a premium — expect to pay 15–25% more per night than a standard Bahamas run.
Cabin category. The jump from Sea Terrace to Brilliant Suite is enormous. RockStar Suites also come with added perks: included bar setup, priority everything, and a dedicated crew member — so the premium has some real-world value.
Sailing date. Peak weeks (New Year's, Spring Break, Thanksgiving, summer school holidays) can be 30–50% more expensive than the same cabin in January or early September.
Bar tab. Drinks are not included. A Bar Tab package runs approximately $35–$45/person/day pre-purchased, or you'll pay à la carte: cocktails average $14–$18 each, wine by the glass $12–$16. This is your biggest potential budget leak.
Wifi. Not included. Social packages start around $10/day; full streaming runs $25–$35/day.
Shores Excursions. Virgin Voyages sells these as "Shore Things" — budget $50–$200+ per person per port depending on activity.
The Redemption Spa. Treatments run $150–$350+ and the spa is genuinely good. Budget accordingly or book ashore instead.
| Add-On | Typical Cost |
|---|---|
| Bar Tab Package | $35–$45/person/day |
| Full Wifi | $25–$35/day |
| Shore Excursion (avg) | $75–$180/person |
| Spa Treatment | $150–$350+ |
| Specialty Dining (a few venues) | $25–$55/person |
| Tattoo (The Squid Ink Parlour) | $150–$400+ |
Photo: MSC Cruises
How to Save Real Money on Scarlet Lady
Book early or very late. Virgin Voyages runs flash sales with meaningful discounts — 20–40% off base fares is common on select sailings. Sign up for their Insider email list and watch for "Irresistible" sale events.
Avoid the bar tab trap. If you're a light drinker, skip the package entirely. The included non-alcoholic options are solid, and you can spend a targeted $30–$50 total on drinks rather than committing to a daily package.
Travel in pairs only. Virgin Voyages prices are built around two-person cabins. Groups of 3–4 will need adjoining cabins, which adds cost fast. Pairs get the best per-person value.
Compare through a booking partner. CruiseHub (Virgin Voyages' authorized partner) sometimes has group rates and added perks not shown on Virgin's own site — worth checking at CruiseHub before you book direct.
Time your sailing strategically. January, February (outside Valentine's week), early September, and late October are consistently the softest pricing windows for Scarlet Lady out of Miami.
Pre-purchase the Bar Tab. If you do drink, the pre-purchase rate is meaningfully cheaper than à la carte. Lock it in before sailing.
Is Scarlet Lady Worth the Price Compared to Other Lines?
For adults-only travel (Scarlet Lady is 18+ only), the included gratuities and dining bundling genuinely close the gap against mainstream lines. A Royal Caribbean or Carnival sailing that looks $300/person cheaper often lands in the same real-money territory once you add gratuities ($18–$20/person/day on most lines) and specialty dining. The comparison isn't as unfavorable to Virgin as the base fares suggest.
That said, if you want water slides, kids, or a massive ship with 6,000 passengers, Scarlet Lady isn't your boat. It holds around 2,770 sailors, feels boutique by cruise standards, and skews toward a younger, design-conscious crowd who actually uses the 20+ restaurant options and the nightlife programming.
For a definitive side-by-side cost breakdown against other lines — or to model your actual all-in budget — run your itinerary through CruiseMutiny and see what your Scarlet Lady sailing will really cost once the drinks, excursions, and spa day hit your account.