How to get a $300 bar tab by taking a cruise in November

Cruise drinks are a big part of many travellers’ holiday plans at sea, whether that’s a barista coffee to kickstart the day or a zingy cocktail by the pool.

Thirsty? We’re here to let you know that the latest of Virgin Voyages’ drink packages gives you free bevs! Yup, that’s right, free drinks.

How is this possible? You might ask. Well, the good news is that Virgin Voyages is celebrating November hard in 2022; the adults-only cruise line is throwing its first-ever Eat & Drink Month (hello new fave month) with novel menu items and speciality cocktails in every bar.

To ensure every “Sailor” (as Virgin Voyages likes to call cruisers) can indulge to the max without feeling out of pocket, the brand is gifting a $300 Virgin Voyages Bar Tab per cabin to everyone sailing this November. Cheers to that!

Fancy a flute of Moët & Chandon? Mad about a martini? You can sip the night away carefree with this fabulous Virgin Voyages drink package offer – just don’t do anything we wouldn’t do.

How to get the Virgin Voyages Bar Tab

You’ll be thrilled to know that getting your paws on the dollar is easy peasy. You simply need to book a November cruise to lock in the Virgin Voyages drink package, and the $300 bar tab (worth roughly £260) will automatically be added to your cruise within two days. Exchanging the working week for sailing the Caribbean? If we must!

Don’t worry if you’ve already bought a Virgin Voyages bar tab; you won’t miss out. You can double up on it, convert it into onboard credit, or request a refund for the tab you purchased on Virgin’s dedicated site.

When can I use the Virgin Voyages Bar Tab?

The Virgin Voyages Bar Tab offer applies to cruises between November 1 and November 30, 2022, for sailings onboard flagship Scarlet Lady and her sister, Valiant Lady – so get booking!

The Virgin vessels are carrying out a range of Caribbean cruises this November, calling at such highlights as Miami and Key West in Florida, Cozumel and Playa del Carmen in Mexico, Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic and Virgin’s very own Beach Club at Bimini in the Bahamas.

The adults-only cruise holidays range from four to five nights and all come with fantastic savings; a Riviera Maya voyage is now £259 cheaper and a Dominican Daze cruise has been slashed by £265, making for perfect budget-friendly last-minute getaways!

Don’t fret if you can’t sail this month, though; you can bag 25 percent off per traveller on all 2022 and 2023 voyages and score a bonus $100 in drink credits when you add a bar tab for $300 if you book before November 15, 2022.

What’s more, when you book now during the Red Hot Booking Bonus Months, you can score an additional $200 in onboard credit for 2022 Caribbean cruises plus loyalty perks for 2023. But hurry, this amazing offer ends on November 15.

There’s plenty of choice onboard for where you redeem your Virgin Voyages drinks package. Grounds Club offers thoughtfully sourced coffee, Draught Haus has a plethora of beers on tap plus artisanal bottles and Sip Lounge is a curated champagne lounge.

There’s also mixology bar On The Rocks; social club The Loose Cannon (inspired by English seaside bars); The Dock, which serves up premium rosé plus cocktails and spritzers; and cocktail hotspot The Red Bar, in restaurant Razzle Dazzle.

You’re not short of al fresco options either; the Aquatic Club Bar and Sun Club Bar both offer frozen drinks, cocktails and mocktails, while Gym & Tonic features made-to-order shakes and fresh or cold-pressed juices, plus a Reset Cocktail. That’s a new bar every night of your cruise and then some – don’t mind if we do

It’s not just fabulous free drinks you can appreciate during a Caribbean sailing on the lady ships in November, though. There’s also myriad events and special appearances that can be booked once onboard. We’ve rounded up some sample goings-on below.

Spill the Beans with Intelligentsia Coffee – This caffeinated class at Razzle Dazzle teaches travellers about the nuances and intricacies of hand-selected coffee varieties from all around the world and yup you get to taste too. Price: $15pp

Filthy Bloody Mary Bar – Start your day with three versions of a Bloody Mary – our favourite of all the Marys – offered from 9am to 3pm daily during Eat & Drink Month. Whether you fancy yours balanced, gritty, spicy or mild, you can pick from gin, vodka or tequila at the Bloody Mary bar at The Social Club. Price: From $9-13.

What’s The Tea? – Join Virgin Crew at the Test Kitchen for a 60-minute expert session that covers the origins of tea and how to analyse and taste the four main varieties. No promising you’ll be able to read your future in the leaves, though. Price: $15pp

Lotería Gigante – Party time! This fiesta includes cocktail demos while playing Millennial Lotería, a funny parody and modern version of classic game Lotería. Every ticket includes a bottomless margarita and a paloma. Price: $35pp

Seven Sea Sippers – Hop through the Seven Seas Sippers treasure map on a pub crawl across seven of the ship’s best bars. Stop for a “Pirates’ Booty” shot at the Loose Cannon and a “Thar She Blows” refreshment at the Draught Haus. Eye patch optional. Virgin Voyages drink prices: From $9-13 at each bar.

Sip and Sway with Kin Euphorics – Find your flow during a sound bath guided meditation and yoga flow at Virgin’s beach club in Bimini. It concludes with a social meet-up and complimentary cans of Kin Euphorics’s non-alcoholic alternative infused with adaptogens and nootropics. Available on November 18 and 19. Price: $25pp.

Nothing Fancy at The Loose Cannon – Enjoy your host’s charm, cocktail flair and unfiltered bartending in The Loose Cannon with a special menu created exclusively for Virgin Voyages’ Eat & Drink Month. Available on the November 16 voyage on Scarlet Lady. Prices: From $9-13.

Behind the Scenes – This three-and-a-half-hour behind-the-scenes tour features 22 stops including areas reserved for crew as well as top-secret spaces you never knew existed. A guaranteed eye-opener! Price: $150pp.

What drinks are included on Virgin Voyages?

Virgin includes “essential drinks” in a cruise fare. These Virgin Voyages bevvies include filtered still and sparkling water, non-pressed juices, sodas, teas and drip coffee.

Does Virgin Voyages have an alcohol package?

Virgin does not offer a traditional alcohol package.

Can you buy a drinks package on Virgin cruises?

You cannot. The line states that it offers “fair drinks pricing” and there’s a premium drink to suit all budgets.

What are Virgin Voyages drink costs?

Virgin Voyages drinks prices are as follows:

• Beer – Heineken, Amstel Light, Kalik & Narragansett – costs $5-6 (tip included)
• Basic cocktails – with Herradura Plata, Mount Gay, Tanqueray & Jack Daniels – cost $9 (tip included)
• Wine by the glass – 42 percent of these are under $10 (tip included)

What is not included on Virgin Voyages?

Alcoholic drinks are not included on Virgin Voyages, nor are spa and beauty treatments or shore excursions.

What is included on Virgin Voyages?

For the price of your cruise fare, you can enjoy dining at 20-plus eateries, all tips are covered, plus free wifi, basic beverages and unlimited group fitness classes.