Virgin Voyages Bar Tab Changed My Drink
A cruise writer explains how sailing on Virgin Voyages' Brilliant Lady and using its Bar Tab system, instead of a traditional unlimited drink package
Virgin Voyages' Bar Tab system changed one writer's mind about traditional cruise drink packages. The author sailed on the Brilliant Lady from New York City last year, purchasing a $1,000 Bar Tab for a five-night cruise, which came with a $250 bonus.
Previously, the writer considered a drink package a mandatory purchase for any cruise. They preferred to pay a flat fee in advance to avoid thinking about costs during their vacation. Virgin Voyages, however, does not offer a conventional unlimited beverage package.
How The Virgin Voyages Bar Tab Works
Instead of a package, Virgin Voyages offers a pre-purchased Bar Tab credit for drinks. The system required the writer to research drink prices and estimate their needs, which they found unappealing. For their sailing, the available pre-purchase Bar Tab options and bonus amounts were as follows:
| Bar Tab Purchase | Bonus Amount |
|---|---|
| $300 | $50 |
| $800 | $200 |
| $1,000 | $250 |
The writer and a companion bought the $1,000 option, receiving a $250 bonus for a total of $1,250 to spend on drinks over five days. Unspent Bar Tab funds are not refunded at the end of the voyage.
Spending A Massive Bar Tab
The writer acknowledges they purchased a Bar Tab far larger than needed. To use the remaining credit, they spent an afternoon ordering bottles of champagne in the Sip lounge with friends. A key advantage noted is that a Bar Tab can be used to buy drinks for anyone, unlike personal drink packages on most other lines.
The experience led the writer to realize that purchasing Sailor Loot, Virgin's general onboard credit, might have been more flexible. Sailor Loot can be used in shops or the casino, while a Bar Tab is generally for alcoholic beverages only.
Bar Tab Versus Unlimited Packages
The writer sees a major difference between Virgin's system and the unlimited packages offered by other cruise lines. They cite Carnival's Cheers! package, which covers 15 alcoholic drinks daily, and unlimited packages from Norwegian Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean. The writer suggests the word "unlimited" might encourage overconsumption as passengers try to "get their money's worth."
While alcohol-related incidents occur on all ships, the writer observes they seem less frequent on Virgin Voyages compared to lines with unlimited drink packages. The Bar Tab's structure, where you can simply charge drinks to your room once it's depleted, removed pressure to overconsume. The writer now looks forward to future Virgin Voyages sailings, a line they would have previously avoided for lacking a drink package. You can check upcoming ship schedules, including for vessels like the Brilliant Lady, on our fixtures page.
