One of the things people ask the most before their first what to wear on a Virgin Voyages cruise question is exactly that — what should you pack?
The short answer? The vibe is fashionable but still vacation casual.
You’ll see some people dressed up, but a lot of sailors are wearing smart casual outfits most of the time. Virgin doesn’t have formal nights like traditional cruise lines, so there’s no pressure to dress a certain way. If you want to wear jeans and a t-shirt to dinner, you can. If you want to wear a full glam dress, you can do that too.
What I love about Virgin is that you really can wear whatever feels like you. Some people go all out, some keep it simple, and everything in between fits right in.
The one night most people really lean into the theme though? Scarlet Night. That’s when almost everyone wears red and the ship turns into one big party.
So if you’re wondering what to pack for what to wear on a Virgin Voyages cruise, here’s how I break it down for a typical sailing.
If this is your first Virgin sailing, you might also want to read my full guide: see my full post about Virgin Voyages Cruise Tips & Tricks: Ultimate Guide Before You Sail.
Before boarding, a lot of sailors spend a night in Miami. If you're planning a pre-cruise stay, you can browse hotels near the Port of Miami here so you’re close to the ship on embarkation day. I always find the best deals on this site.
A typical sea day on Virgin Voyages usually looks something like this: maybe a workout class in the morning, brunch, some time by the pool, relaxing in your cabin or hammock, then getting ready for dinner and the evening shows.
Because of that, I usually pack a few different daytime outfits — but you definitely don’t have to change as much as I do. I’ll admit it. I can be a little extra.
On sea days I usually start with a workout class or at least a walk around the ship.
For that I pack something simple like:
Tank top
Sports bra
Shorts
Gym shoes
The fitness classes are actually legit workouts, so comfortable athletic clothes are the way to go.
Most of the time I just wear my gym outfit to brunch after working out.
Virgin is very relaxed during the day, so you’ll see plenty of people doing the same thing. No one is expecting a full outfit change before coffee.
And honestly, brunch on Virgin Voyages is worth showing up for even if you’re still in workout clothes.
After brunch, it’s usually pool time.
For the pool deck I pack:
A swimsuit
Either shorts and a t-shirt or a sundress
Sometimes a skirt with my swimsuit top
Sandals
This makes it easy to move between the pool, grabbing food, or walking around the ship without feeling underdressed.
If you book something like afternoon tea or a cooking class, you might see people wearing something a little more smart casual — but again, there’s absolutely no pressure to dress up during the day.
Sea days are one of my favorite parts of the cruise, and if you want to see exactly what they’re like, check out my guide to Sea Day on Virgin Voyages.
Dinner on Virgin Voyages is where people usually dress up a little more compared to daytime — but it’s still far from formal.
Virgin doesn’t have traditional formal nights, so you won’t see tuxedos and ball gowns everywhere. Most sailors lean toward smart casual, but you’ll definitely see a mix.
Some people go all out and dress up for dinner, while others keep it simple with something more relaxed. Both fit right in.
Personally, I like to pack a little bit of everything so I can decide how I feel each night.
Some nights I’ll wear:
A nicer dress with heels
A sundress with sandals
Pants with a cute top
It really depends on the night and what we have planned.
I like having options so I can choose while I’m on the cruise instead of committing to one style before I leave.
The restaurants themselves also have different vibes depending on where you book. If you want to match your outfits to the restaurants, see my full review of the Virgin Voyages Restaurant Guide where I break down the atmosphere at each spot.
But overall, the rule on Virgin is simple: wear what makes you feel good.
Scarlet Night is the one night on the cruise where almost everyone leans into the theme.
The idea is simple: wear red.
You’ll see everything from casual red outfits to people going full glam, but most sailors like to participate in some way.
Personally, I always bring one full red outfit just for Scarlet Night. That’s really all you need. Some people do wear red on other days to celebrate the ship’s color, but for me one dedicated Scarlet Night outfit works perfectly.
I usually wear a red dress that’s cute but still comfortable, because I already know how the night ends — dancing.
And yes… I still wear heels (because remember, I’m a little extra). But once the dance party starts, the shoes usually come off.
I also love stopping by Glam Station before the party to get a little face paint or glitter added. It’s quick, fun, and just makes the night feel more special.
The evening builds throughout the ship, but it all leads to the Scarlet Night pool party.
This is how the night wraps up — a big dance party around the pool deck where people are dancing, cheering, and sometimes even jumping in the pool.
If dancing isn’t your thing, it’s still fun to watch from the upper deck. The people watching alone is worth it.
After the pool party, a lot of sailors head to The Manor nightclub to keep the party going.
I’ve popped in a few times, but honestly by midnight I’m usually ready to call it a night.
Thank you, middle age.
The PJ Party is usually the first big party on the cruise, and it’s exactly what it sounds like — a dance party where everyone shows up in pajamas. People really lean into it. You’ll see everything from actual pajamas to silk sets, robes, slippers, and even full onesies.
Personally, I like to glam it up a little. I usually wear a silk pajama set, but I always choose the shorts version because it gets hot once the party gets going — especially if you plan on dancing.
You’ll see some people wearing full onesies, which are hilarious and fun to look at, but I honestly wouldn’t recommend them. The room fills up quickly and with all the dancing it gets warm fast.
The vibe is definitely more fun party than sleepover. Lights, music, people dancing — it’s a great way to kick off the cruise and get everyone into vacation mode.
Some people go all out with slippers and robes, while others keep it simple with comfy pajamas. Either way works perfectly.
If you like to stay active on vacation, Virgin actually makes it pretty easy.
Most of the group fitness classes are included with your cruise, which is a nice bonus.
They offer things like spin classes, abs workouts, yoga, and HIIT-style classes.
I’ve tried a bike class and an abs class, and both were legit workouts — not the “light stretching while staring at the ocean” type.
For workouts, I keep it simple and pack a basic gym outfit like:
A tank top
Sports bra
Workout shorts
Gym shoes
Nothing fancy is needed. Just something comfortable that you can actually move in.
I like doing a class in the morning before brunch, especially on sea days.
It’s a good way to start the day and makes me feel a little better about all the amazing food I’m about to eat later.
Balance.
What you wear for excursions really depends on what kind of activity you’re doing that day.
I’ve done a mix of beach clubs, boat tours, walking tours, and days where we just explored the port towns on our own.
Here’s how I usually plan my outfits depending on the excursion.
For beach clubs or beach days, I usually bring:
Sunglasses
Swimsuit
Coverup (either a sundress or shorts)
Sandals
Hat
Water shoes
I always like to pack water shoes even if I don’t end up using them. Sometimes beaches are rockier than expected, and it’s nice to have them just in case.
If your sailing stops in Bimini, the Beach Club is the main event there. If you want to see what that day actually looks like, learn more in my post about Bimini Beach Club Review.
For boat days or snorkeling trips, I pack:
Sunglasses
Swimsuit
Snorkel (I like bringing my own)
Coverup
Sun shirt to help prevent sunburn
Hat for the boat
Being out on the water all day can mean a lot of sun, so lightweight layers help a lot.
If you want to add something extra during your stop, you can browse snorkeling and boat tours in Bimini here — there are some great shipwreck and reef trips available.
For tours where you’ll be walking around towns or exploring on foot, comfort is key.
I usually wear something like:
Shorts with a lightweight shirt
A lightweight dress
Comfortable walking shoes or sandals
You’ll likely walk more than you expect on these kinds of excursions, so good shoes make a big difference.
Even though most Virgin Voyages itineraries visit warm destinations, one thing people forget is that the restaurants can get a little cool inside. Because of that, I always pack a light sweater or small jacket to bring to dinner.
You probably won’t need it during the day, but it’s nice to have in the evening if the air conditioning feels chilly while you’re sitting through a longer dinner. Another reason I always bring a light jacket? You never know when a cold front might roll in. That actually happened to me on a cruise this year. We had a sea day where the temperature dropped and it felt closer to 50 degrees outside. Suddenly everyone on the pool deck was wishing they had packed something warmer.
So even if you’re heading somewhere tropical, tossing a lightweight sweater or jacket into your suitcase is always a good idea.
If you’re still planning your packing list for what to wear on a Virgin Voyages cruise, you might also want to read my guide to Cruise Packing List: 31 Must-Have Items You Shouldn’t Forget.
And if you’re still deciding whether this cruise line is right for you, check out my post about Who Virgin Voyages Is (And Isn’t) For.
A hotel that’s also a free 24-hour contemporary art museum penguins included. We booked a Corner Suite at 21c and it was massive: separate bedroom, living room, dining area, 699 square feet to spread out in. The bathroom alone had a double vanity and custom Rookwood Pottery tile that made getting ready weirdly entertaining.
The location is downtown, two minutes from Fountain Square, walkable to Boca for dinner, and close enough to hop the free streetcar into Over-the-Rhine. If OTR is where most of your plans are, you might want to stay closer to that neighborhood instead downtown worked for us, but we spent more time in OTR than we expected to.
And yes, there’s a recycled-plastic penguin sculpture that will absolutely scare you the first time you open your door and forget it’s there. Link in bio for the full review rooms, parking, walkability, and everything else before you book 🎨
Three neighborhoods, one streetcar, and more Cincinnati specialties than I could finish in one afternoon.
We hit a goetta breakfast sandwich, chocolate chip ice cream from a shop that’s been at it since 1870, a Liège waffle that earned its Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives spot, and Cincinnati chili the way it’s actually meant to be eaten... over a hot dog, buried in shredded cheddar.
$75 got us three and a half hours, a local guide, free streetcar rides, and a genuinely full stomach. Don’t eat breakfast before this one, the portions add up fast.
My third Secret Food Tour in my third city, and it’s still undefeated.
Link in bio for the full review cost, route, parking, and every stop we hit 🥟🌶️
13 creek crossings, a canyon that keeps closing in around you, and a hike I’d genuinely put back on my itinerary, West Fork Trail was the one.
We got to Call of the Canyon at 7:15am and the lot was barely a quarter full. By 12:30 it was 85% full, so if there’s one tip that matters most, it’s this: go early.
The maintained trail is 6.6 miles round trip, mostly flat, mostly shaded, but I kept my regular tennis shoes dry the whole way by hopping across the rocks at each crossing. It’s rated moderate, and honestly that’s about the distance, not the terrain.
Here’s what nobody tells you though ✨ the maintained trail isn’t the end. We changed into water shoes at the official endpoint and kept going another mile straight through the creek, canyon walls narrowing around us the whole time. That extra mile ended up being my favorite part of the entire hike.
5/5 for me. I’d bring the water shoes again in a heartbeat.
Link in bio for the full guide parking, timing, what to pack, and everything I wish I knew before I went 🥾
Two hours, zero regrets. The Pink Jeep Broken Arrow Tour is hands down one of the most fun things we did in Sedona.
Open-air Jeeps crawling over slickrock, backcountry views you can’t reach on your own, and the famous Road of No Return, steep, thrilling, and somehow completely safe the whole way down.
If you’re picking one paid activity in Sedona, make it this one.
You have to do @pinkjeeptours 🌵🚙 Link in bio for the full review.
Dinner beside Oak Creek at Cress, and yes, it’s a splurge, but I’d do it again in a heartbeat.🤍
Candlelit tables under the trees, the creek running right beside us, a menu that mixes Arizona ingredients with French technique. We ordered a little of everything: the squash and beet salad, milk rolls with three different butters, sweet potato gnocchi that somehow felt light instead of heavy. Then two desserts because we couldn’t decide. The Vanilla Crème Caramel with Manchego cheese completely stole the show, salty and sweet in a way that sounds strange until you taste it.
Plan on $100–250 for two depending on what you order, and this isn’t the spot for a quick casual dinner, it’s slow, intentional, and worth every minute. Book ahead and ask for a creekside table if you can.
If you’re looking for one unforgettable meal in Sedona, this is it. Link in bio for the full review 🍽️
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