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A fresh take on luxury cruising: My experience at Richard’s Rooftop on Virgin Voyages

Virgin Voyages proves luxury at sea can be modern, calm, and cool

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Virgin Voyages Richards Rooftop
Emily Caldwell / The Manual

Cruise vacations often get a bad reputation that was once associated with overly formal events, overcrowded common areas, and a stuffy, outdated ‘retiree’ vibe. In 2016, however, Virgin Voyages set out to break this stigma, rebranding their voyages into more than just a ‘cruise’. Today, Virgin Voyages focuses on creating a stylish cruising experience that appeals to a younger, more lively cruise crowd that seeks a more laid-back, yet still luxurious atmosphere.

A key part of the Virgin Voyages cruise experience is Richard’s Rooftop, an outdoor deck lounge reserved exclusively for those staying in RockStar suite accommodations. Named after the founder of the Virgin Group, Richard Branson, this exclusive sea-facing rooftop at sea delivers a lively scene that defies traditional cruise stereotypes. Virgin Voyages has shown us that luxury cruising doesn’t have to be stuffy. Here’s how the exclusive Richard’s Rooftop does things differently.

The scene

Virgin Voyages Richards Rooftop
Emily Caldwell / The Manual

Virgin Voyages creates an upbeat, celebratory atmosphere on all of its cruises — right from the time of the initial sailway party on the first night. For VV, defying the traditional “stuffy” cruise vibe means hosting dance parties like the popular Scarlet Night and creating a busy atmosphere where sailors don’t want to just go to sleep right after dinner.

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Access to Richard’s Rooftop gives guests exclusive access the chance to sneak away from the hectic atmosphere of other decks and escape to a quiet, reserved lounge space. Sailors staying in RockStar suites are given a black wristband upon check-in (as opposed to red for standard sailors), which provides access to the club. Before my cruise, I didn’t think I would spend much time at Richard’s Rooftop — yet I found myself checking into happy hour every day of my sailing at 5 p.m.

Access & experience

Richards Rooftop
Virgin Voyages

Unlike other cruise lines that offer exclusive clubs with tiered access, Virgin Voyages reserves Richard’s Rooftop only for those staying in RockStar suites. Given that each Virgin Voyages ship only has a total of 78 RockStar rooms (of which 15 are Mega RockStar suites), this drastically reduces the number of people allowed into this exclusive rooftop space.

At approximately 1,300 cabins on board, most of Virgin Voyages’ fleet, this means a very small portion of guests on board can access Richard’s Rooftop. In doing this, Virgin Voyages has set itself apart from other cruise lines by prioritizing the guest experience. Inside Richard’s Rooftop, there are no lines, no crowds, and no formal dress code. Throughout the course of my cruise, I found myself chatting with other RockStar guests in the space, forming a little community within a massive ship with thousands of people.

Richard’s Sunset Hour

Inside Richard’s Rooftop, the atmosphere is lively, yet sophisticated — delivering RockStar sailors a place to get reserved access to daybeds, hot tubs, and an exclusive food menu. I visited Richard’s Rooftop almost every day of my 7-night Greek Island Glow cruise and found it was never too crowded. Given the small number of guests allowed into the space, the service was top-tier — especially during the daily happy hour. Staff walk around and bring drinks right to you — so you can focus on relaxing and enjoying your cruise as much as possible.

Richard’s Sunset Hour takes place every day of the week between 5 and 6 p.m., offering RockStar guests a great selection of spirits, champagnes, wines, beers, & cocktails (included and unlimited within this hour). During this time period, sailors can also try the specialty cocktails that you can’t find anywhere else on the ship. My personal favorite was the Watermelon Granizado, a refreshing sour-inspired frozen drink.

The future of luxury cruising

Virgin Voyages Cruise
Emily Caldwell / The Manual

Richard’s Rooftop on Virgin Voyages defies the old cruise stereotype, redefining what luxury cruising can look like. Instead of formal dress codes and elegant meals, VV has clearly taken note of what today’s travelers really want from a cruise: Experience. The exclusive space creates an atmosphere that is calm and luxurious without being over the top or feeling stodgy or old-fashioned. Many recent travel trend reports have outlined this shift in travel priority, showcasing an increased emphasis on slower and experience-focused travel that focuses on a slower, more elevated experience as opposed to an overly lavish experience.

Emily Caldwell
Emily Caldwell
Contributor
Emily is a Features Writer at The Manual, where she specializes in food, beverage, and travel content. She focuses on weaving… Read Full Bio
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