Virgin Voyages’ New Fare Plans Complicate Its All-Included Pricing

September 25, 2025 Randy Young

When Virgin Voyages debuted in 2021, they rethought the way cruises were done. Nearly everything was included when you booked: Wi-Fi, gratuities, and specialty dining. It wasn’t nickel and diming customers. Now, they have changed their plans, and while they don’t necessarily nickel and dime more (and in some cases even offer savings), they make booking a lot more confusing. The new rates will start on October 7.

Introducing VoyageFair Choices for Standard Cabins

Virgin’s new plan introduces three different tiers of booking, giving guests four options for standard cabins.

Lock It In Rate

The cheapest of all packages.

Basic Wi-Fi – 1 device per guest
Restaurant reservations 15 days before sailing
Cabin is assigned (up to 2 days before sailing)
No date, name, or cabin changes
Non-refundable

Base Rate

Basic Wi-Fi – 1 device per guest
Restaurant reservations 15 days before sailing
Cabin is assigned at booking (subject to change up to 7 days before sailing)
No date, name, or cabin changes
Non-refundable

Essential Rate

Classic Wi-Fi – 1 device per guest
Restaurant reservations 45 days before sailing
Cabin is assigned at booking
Date and cabin changes allowed. Only sailors 2-4 can change names
Eligible for future cruise credit

Premium Rate

Premium Wi-Fi – 2 devices per guest
Restaurant reservations 60 days before sailing
Cabin is assigned at booking
Date, name, and cabin changes allowed
Eligible for future cruise credit
$15 in drink credit per sailor per night

Suite (Rockstar) Options

For guests staying in suites, called Rockstar Quarters and Mega Rockstar Quarters, there are still just two options: Lock It In Rate and the normal rate.

Rockstar Lock It In Rate

Classic Wi-Fi – 1 device per guest
Restaurant reservations 120 days before sailing
Cabin is assigned (up to 2 days before sailing)
No date, name, or cabin changes
Non-refundable
In-room bar, first round included
Priority boarding and Richard’s Rooftop (suite deck) access
RockStar Agent Team for support

Rockstar Rate

Classic Wi-Fi – 1 device per guest
Restaurant reservations 120 days before sailing
Cabin is assigned at booking
Date, name, and cabin changes allowed
Eligible for future cruise credit
In-room bar, first round included
Priority boarding and Richard’s Rooftop (suite deck) access
RockStar Agent Team for support

Mega Rockstar Lock It In Rate

Work From Sea Wi-Fi – 2 devices per guest
Restaurant reservations 120 days before sailing
Cabin is assigned (up to 2 days before sailing)
No date, name, or cabin changes
Non-refundable
Bottomless in-room bar, daily bar tab
Priority boarding and Richard’s Rooftop (suite deck) access
Dedicated Mega RockStar Agent

Mega Rockstar Rate

Work From Sea Wi-Fi – 2 devices per guest
Restaurant reservations 120 days before sailing
Cabin is assigned at booking
Date, name, and cabin changes allowed
Eligible for future cruise credit
Bottomless in-room bar, daily bar tab
Priority boarding and Richard’s Rooftop (suite deck) access
Dedicated Mega RockStar Agent

Four Different Wi-Fi Options

Virgin has come up with the most complex Wi-Fi plans at sea, with more tiers than almost any other cruise line.

Basic: Messaging, social media, browsing
Classic: Messaging, social media, 2x faster browsing, Wi-Fi audio calling (no streaming)
Premium: Messaging, social media, 5x faster browsing, Wi-Fi audio and video calling, streaming video
Work From Sea: Messaging, social media, 5x faster browsing, Wi-Fi audio and video calling, streaming video, VPN, and meeting platforms

Virgin Voyages still lets you upgrade to higher internet if needed, even if it’s not included in your package. You can upgrade for a 24-hour period or for the whole sailing.

Upgrade to the Premium Package for $30 per day for the whole sailing or $40 for a one-day pass
Upgrade to the Work From Sea Package for $50 per day for the whole sailing or $60 for a one-day pass

Gratuities Still Included but Broken Out Separately

As part of the new pricing, gratuities will still be included but broken out separately. For guests who pre-pay, the cost is $20 per sailor per night. For guests who pay onboard, the cost is $22 per sailor per night.

The $20 rate is on par with what other cruise lines like Celebrity are currently charging.

My Take: A Step in the Wrong Direction for Virgin

Part of Virgin Voyages’ appeal was the straightforward way they did things. Booking a Virgin Voyages cruise just got a lot more complicated, and perks that made Virgin special were lost. You can see influence from the broader travel industry here, with the changes Virgin is making reflecting what many airlines are doing with tiered seating and options. It is a way to get more money out of the consumer.

When the line first launched, everyone had the same access to Wi-Fi, which was really nice. Now you have four different options to choose from.

Cancellations and name changes? Much more restrictive now under some of the plans.

Gratuities? I am really not a fan of them removing gratuities from the base price. I loved that they were built into the cost. This move likely allows Virgin Voyages to show lower advertised prices because gratuities are no longer built into the full price. That is the opposite of price transparency. At least guests will not be expected to tip on board.

There are some bright spots. One of the benefits of this new plan is that Virgin can offer lower fare options for those who want them. If you do not need super-fast internet and do not care about dining reservations, then the cheaper fares may work for you.