Virgin Voyages, Booked Through a No-Fee Travel Agent

Stacey Vacations books Virgin Voyages at no fee — Virgin pays the agent commission, so my planning costs you nothing and you pay the same fare as booking direct. As a Florida-based agent who cruises often herself, I've watched Virgin become one of the most-requested lines among my clients, and it's easy to see why.

Virgin Voyages is adults-only, ages 18 and up, and it rebuilt the cruise formula from scratch. There's no main dining room and no traditional buffet; instead, a collection of restaurant-quality eateries is included in your fare, along with WiFi, gratuities, essential drinks, and group fitness classes. Part of Richard Branson's Virgin Group, the line carries its parent's irreverence everywhere — guests are "Sailors," the dress code doesn't exist, and the entertainment leans toward immersive, festival-style shows rather than a big theater revue.

The ships themselves feel like stylish boutique hotels at sea. Most Sea Terrace cabins come with a hand-woven hammock on the balcony, the top-tier RockStar suites add their own level of indulgence, and Caribbean sailings stop at The Beach Club at Bimini, Virgin's private beach club in The Bahamas, where the pool party runs until the ship sails.

Dining is the part my clients talk about most. Instead of one giant dining room, each ship carries a roster of distinct restaurants — among them The Wake for steak and seafood, Pink Agave for elevated Mexican, Gunbae for Korean barbecue, and the experimental Test Kitchen — and every one of them is included in the fare, no specialty-dining surcharges. Food-first travelers who have written off cruise cuisine tend to come back converted.

The fleet's four sisters — Scarlet Lady, Valiant Lady, Resilient Lady, and Brilliant Lady — split the world between them. Here's where each one sails.