Last year, I had the chance to experience Virgin Voyages on an 11-night sailing through Greece and Turkey, and it quickly became one of my favorite cruise experiences. There were a lot of things I loved, but these stood out the most:
1. The food — and it’s all included!
One of my favorite things about Virgin Voyages is that all of the dining is included. Unlike many cruise lines, there aren’t additional fees for specialty restaurants, so you can enjoy a variety of restaurants throughout your sailing without constantly thinking about what comes with an extra charge.
And the food? Really good. There were so many different restaurants and cuisines to choose from, and I loved being able to try different spots throughout the cruise.
French toast from The Wake. 
Oxtail agnolotti from Extra Virgin. 
Corn dumplings from Razzle Dazzle. 
Pesto from Extra Virgin.
2. The balcony hammocks
A regular balcony is great. A balcony with a hammock is even better.
There’s something about being able to climb into a hammock, listen to the ocean and relax as you sail to your next destination that takes the balcony experience to a completely different level. It quickly became one of my favorite places on the ship.
3. More time in ports
Our 11-night itinerary included stops throughout Greece and Turkey, and I really appreciated how much time we had in port.
The longer port stays meant we didn’t feel like we were constantly rushing off the ship, trying to squeeze everything into a few hours. We had more time to explore, enjoy a meal, take a tour and actually experience each destination.
Spice markets in Istanbul. 
Beautiful Santorini! 
Hagia Sofia in Istanbul. 
Food tour in Chania, Crete. 
The Blue Mosque in Istanbul. 
Lunch in Mykonos.
4. The adults-only atmosphere
Virgin Voyages is adults-only, which creates a completely different atmosphere than a traditional family cruise. The ships feel modern, energetic and social without feeling like you have to participate in the party scene.
There are plenty of places to relax and enjoy a quieter moment, too, so you can really make the experience your own.
5. The overall vibe
Honestly, Virgin just feels different.
From the design of the ship to the restaurants, entertainment and approach to cruising, it feels less traditional and a little more like a boutique hotel at sea. After 11 nights in Greece and Turkey, I came home understanding why so many people become repeat Virgin Voyages cruisers.
And yes… I’m already looking forward to sailing with Virgin again!