Key Aspects:
- Virgin Voyages is introducing three new fare tiers – Base, Essential, and Premium – with different levels of Wi-Fi, dining reservations, and flexibility.
- The new system makes pricing clearer by listing gratuities as a separate line item, with options to pre-pay or settle onboard.
- Suite guests now have earlier access to dining reservations, while all existing inclusions and benefits remain unchanged.
Booking a Virgin Voyages cruise is about to get easier. The adults-only cruise line has announced a new fare system called VoyageFair Choices that will launch on October 7, 2026, offering guests three different pricing tiers and a clearer breakdown of costs.
Nirmal Saverimuttu, CEO of Virgin Voyages, made the announcement on September 22, 2026, in a press conference attended by Cruise Hive.
“We’ve never been afraid to do things first,” said Saverimuttu, pointing out that Virgin Voyages was the first to go kids-free, the first to eliminate the main dining hall, the first to eliminate the buffet, and the first to eliminate a formal dress code in cruising at its price point.
Now, Saverimuttu said the cruise line is the first to bring a tiered fare model to the industry, giving passengers more control over how they book.
The three new options – Base, Essential, and Premium – offer different levels of Wi-Fi access, dining reservations, and booking flexibility, much akin to airline and hotel bookings.
Saverimuttu said the new structure was developed in response to feedback from passengers and travel advisors who wanted simpler pricing and more options and that the rollout isn’t about “gimmicks or fine print.”
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The changes also extend to suite passengers with RockStar and Mega RockStar travelers now able to book dining reservations 120 days in advance.
New board member and senior advisor John Lovell echoed Saverimuttu’s excitement and said the cruise line is attempting to open up a premium experience while providing options for “value seekers.”
What This Means for Passengers
Under the new VoyageFair Choices, Base fares will be the lowest-priced option. They include Basic Wi-Fi for one device (meaning social media and messaging), a 15-day dining reservation window, and no changes to names, cabins, or voyage dates.
Essential fares are closest to Virgin’s current pricing model. They provide Classic Wi-Fi for one device (which upgrades to browsing and audio calls), a 45-day dining reservation window, and flexibility to adjust dates using a Future Voyage Credit.
This option also allows name changes for additional guests on the booking.
The top-tier, Premium, fares add more benefits. These include Premium Wi-Fi for two devices (which allows for streaming and video capabilities), a 60-day dining reservation window, a Bar Tab drinks credit of $15 per person, per day, and priority booking support before sailing.
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For suites, the primary adjustment is earlier dining access. Existing benefits like priority boarding, Richard’s Rooftop access, stocked in-room bars, and concierge service remain unchanged.
The new model also changes how gratuities are displayed.
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Service charges, previously bundled into fares, will now appear as a separate line item. Travelers can choose to pre-pay at a rate of $20 per person per night or settle the balance onboard at $22 per person, per night.
Saverimuttu and Lovell also emphasized that all fares will continue to include Virgin Voyage’s standard offerings and that the new booking tiers do not change any benefits of loyalty tiers.
