Virgin Voyages Scarlet Lady vs Carnival Valor

The Virgin Voyages Scarlet Lady was built in 2021. It was renovated in 2024. This is an adults-only ship; all guests must be 18 or older. It's 17 years newer than the Valor, which was built in 2004 and renovated in 2025.

Comparison Overview

• Ship Size
• Number of Passengers
• Food and Restaurants
• Bars and Drinks
• Pools and Hot Tubs
• Ship Features and Activities
• Cruise Costs
• Onboard Costs

Ship Size

The Scarlet Lady is considered a medium size ship. Coming in at 912 feet long and 125 feet wide, it's roughly the length of 2.5 football fields, as wide as 2.4 tractor-trailers and the same height as a 13-story building. It's about the same size as the Carnival Valor.

Number of Passengers

Virgin Voyages Scarlet Lady holds about the same number of passengers as the Valor based on double occupancy (two people per room). When you compare the total tonnage of the ship to the number of passengers, or what we call the "Space Ratio," the Scarlet Lady has more space per person compared to the Valor. This means that you might have a bit more space to yourself on the ship, although there still could be some crowded areas like buffets, pools, etc.

Food and Restaurants

Food is a big part of any cruise, and the ship you choose can make a huge difference in your food experience.

The Scarlet Lady has twelve different dining options like Lick Me Til Ice Cream, Pink Agave, and The Test Kitchen. Of those options, twelve are complementary, or included with your cruise fare.

The Valor has the same number of dining venues. Some of its popular venues are Seafood Shack, Mongolian Wok, and Blue Iguana Cantina. thirteen of these restaurants are complementary and the other four have an additional fee.

The Virgin Voyages Scarlet Lady has about the same number of dining options as the Carnival Valor.

If you're looking to avoid extra money while on board, the Scarlet Lady might be a better choice then the Valor. More of the dining options are included in the base cruise fare, potentially saving you money.

Bars and Drinks

The Virgin Voyages Scarlet Lady has 5 more bars than the Carnival Valor. The Scarlet Lady has 18 bars like Gym & Tonic, Red Bar and Sun Club Bar. On Scarlet Lady, you can grab a drink at 13 different bars such as Alchemy Bar, Eagle Aft Lounge and Java Blue Cafe.

In terms of drinks and cocktails, you have a variety of choices. The Scarlet Lady serves Coca Cola branded products. That includes drinks like Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite and Barqs Root Beer, although the selection can vary by ship. The Valor serves the Pepsi family of products. That means Pepsi, Diet Pepsi, Starry, Mug Root Beer, and Mountain Dew.

You can check out recent the bar menus for the Scarlet Lady and the Valor below.

Pools and Hot Tubs

Nothing beats relaxing by a pool with a nice drink in hand as you feel the fresh sea breeze pass by you. The Virgin Voyages Scarlet Lady has a total of 2 pools and 6 hot tubs. 2 of the hot tubs are exclusive access, which means there's either an extra charge to access them or you need to book a certain class of cabin to have access to them.

The Carnival Valor has the same number of pools as the Scarlet Lady and the same number of hot tubs. There are fewer exclusive pools and hot tubs on the Valor. If you like ships without extra charges or exclusive areas, this might be a better choice since everyone will have access to these areas.

Ship Features and Activities

Both ships have lots of activities to keep you busy throughout your cruise. Below you'll see a list of some of the major features on these ships. You might up paying more while on board the Scarlet Lady. Only 55% of the activities below are included in your cruise fare. On the Valor, 73% of the activities are included at no additional cost.

Cruise Costs

Virgin Voyages is a premium cruise line. Premium cruise lines typically offer upscale food, accommodations, and service. These typically cost about $150 - $400 per person per day.

Carnival, on the other hand, is considered a mainstream cruise line. Mainstream cruise lines cater to a variety of guests, hoping to provide something for everyone. These typically cost about $100 - $350 per person per day.

Cruise pricing is dynamic and varies for each specific sailing based on factors such as departure point, ports of call, and time of year. To get a good idea of how the pricing compares, visit the cruise line's website to price out the separate cruises or consult a travel professional.

Onboard Costs

Another way to gauge the cost of a cruise is to consider how much you'll spend on board. Even though a lot is included in the base cruise fare, you may still spend money on things like spa treatments, specialty dining, drinks, and excursions. In addition, guests can also have to pay for things like gratuities and tips.

Typically guests can expect to spend about 25 - 40% of the cost of the cruise on onboard expenses. In other words, if the cruise fare is $1,000 per person, you might spend between $250 and $400 on extra expenses.

The table below will help you compare onboard prices to see if you might spend more on a specific ship.

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