In October 2021, we celebrated our First Year Wedding Anniversary by setting sail on the third voyage from Miami on the Scarlet Lady. Virgin Voyages first “Lady Ship”. The ship is beautiful to say the least and one of the best parts? It’s Adults Only! That’s right - no kids running around the pool; no shouting at dinner; and nobody telling you that you can’t shake it on the dance floor.
There are so many incredible experiences onboard and on shore with Virgin Voyages and being the food loving, cocktail sipping, and fun people that we are, we took some pretty good notes to share with you! So grab a libation of your choice and take in our rankings of the delicious dining aboard the Scarlet Lady.
Be sure to follow our Instagram (@sunflowertravel) for more photos of these incredible dining options and more about the ship!
#1 - Extra Virgin - Our Absolute Favorite!
We loved this restaurant so much - the atmosphere, the service, and of course - the food. The beautiful art-deco design with touches of rosey pinks and vintage mint made this a stunning scene for dining after a long day of exploring the Mayan Ruins in Chacocoben.
We started out with the Wagyu Beef Carpaccio & a Chef’s Selection Cheese Plate. The Carpaccio was absolutely incredible and we ended up ordering another round of these starters AFTER we finished our meals.
Their wine & cocktail menus are different at each restaurant but this one had a very special wine list that tells you which wines paired best with each food. Now, being that this was an anniversary celebration as well, my husband surprised our table with a bottle of champagne.
For our main courses, we each ordered something different (as we did at each restaurant to get a taste of as many dishes as we could). Our table was filled with Oxtail Agnolotti, Porcini Rubbed New York Strip, Bucatini Carbonara, and Gnocchi.
At the end of our meal, we decided to try a dish that we had heard rumors about around the ship. The Nero Gemelli Seafood Pasta - a colorful seafood dish with BLACK Pasta made from Squid Ink. It did not disappoint!
Of course, we couldn’t leave without trying a few dessert treats. The staff was amazing in making our celebration special and brought out a dessert plate with “Happy Anniversary” written in chocolate sauce.
We then ordered the table-side affogato service and finished our evening with a hidden item (not on the menu). Be sure to ask for the Limoncello to end with a sweet digestif post-stuffing-your-face.
#2 - Razzle Dazzle - The One That Takes You by Surprise! This Vegan/Vegetarian forward restaurant had us back-pedaling on every bad thing we’ve ever said about Meatless Monday. Out of all the sit-down restaurants we experienced (all but one by the way) this was the one we raved about the most. The design of this unique eatery is inspired by the historic “Razzle Dazzle” paint style of WWI Battleships. You can learn about the history and see photos of these *Dazzling* camouflaged ships as you enter the restaurant.
Don’t be shy to try ANYTHING in this restaurant - even if you're a hard-core carnivore. However, if you can’t bring yourself to venture into Vegetarian territory, there’s still a “Naughty List” with a colorful Fried Chicken Sandwich. We grabbed a table for Lunch and the next day made reservations for Brunch because we had heard it was worth it (they were right). Themed cocktails like “Donut Tell Me” (Tasted like a Jelly Donut) and the “Goldfish” (Served in a goldfish glass) were the cherry on top to this tasty menu.
The brunch menu consisted of, dare we say it, Vegan Bacon, Impossible Burgers (Impossibly Yummy), Malted Waffles, Breakfast Bowls, and a Nutty Gazpacho. During our sailing it wasn’t available just yet but future cruisers will also have the option to add on “Bottomless” options for Beer, Rosé, Bloody Marys, or the signature “Yaaaaaass, Queen” cocktail. For a mere $25 per person, this sounds like a Sailors Bargain for sure.
If you still have room (and a sweet tooth) give the “Milk & Cookies” flight a whirl!
#3 - Gunbae - The Most Entertaining - Drinking Games before dinner? Yes, Please! The Menu starts out with THREE very entertaining Drinking Games to start your meal off with a good laugh. Tables here are community-style with 6 people seated at a round table with the grill in the middle. We were lucky enough to know everyone at our table but if you get seated with some new faces, the 3-6-9 is the perfect Ice Breaker. Clapping, Quick Thinking, and Counting are the only skills you need. Traveling with friends? Try “Yearbook” - hilarious, revealing, and reminiscent of “The Voting Game”.
The menu might look intimidating to some with things like “Hot Bar” (A seafood “Corn Dog”) and this literal “Mouthful” the “Kalbi Samgyepsal Saewood Modum” (TL;DR - Chef’s Combo). The Chef’s combo will have your mouth watering as the short ribs, pork belly, and shrimp sizzle on the grill right in front of your nose. Let your tableside service team make suggestions and fill your plate (and belly) with fun flavors.
Make sure you save room though for the Sikhye/Black Sesame Twist Soft serve. It comes with granola, mini mochis, and miso caramel to top your dessert palate to your heart’s content!
#4 - The Wake - A Timeless Classic - Our first meal on board could not have had a better view. We picked a reservation time that coincided with the departure of the ship from the Port of Miami. And our table was next to a window with a view of the Miami skyline as we pulled away from the city lights. PS - I was too enamored with my food to get a photo of the view, but there’s a video on our Instagram (@sunflowertravel)!
We began our meal with the Clam Chowder (Good Soup) and Roasted Bone Marrow, a healthy start to our evening. If you’re like me and that initial movement of the ship sailing makes you a bit *queasy* just ask for an order of hot peppermint tea to soothe your tummy. We sipped white wine and Heineken beers while we waited on our entrees. The boys had New Zealand Lamb Chops and us ladies enjoyed Filet Mignons and Salmon. YES! Those were ALL INCLUDED! Our server insisted we try one of each side dish from Baked Potatoes to Wild Mushrooms, and of course, we couldn’t say no. Would you?
An evening meal like this wouldn’t be complete without the desserts. Chocolate lovers will swoon for the Mousse while fruit-forward palates will appreciate the Meyer Lemon Cheesecake, hidden inside a Sugared Coating shaped like a Lemon!
Those looking for an even more delectable menu can try the Raw Bar with Champagne, a surcharge starting at $40 applies.
#5 - Pink Agave - Family Style Indulgence - Another beautiful restaurant onboard (aren’t they all though?). The theme is an electric yet moody blend of Art Deco with dark blues, greens, and peach caramel fixtures. This Mexican eatery is well-known for its entry tunnel filled with silver globe-like pendants and bright lights. Get there early and grab a selfie before your meal.
Tequila and Mezcal aficionados will delight in the multi-page selection at Pink Agave. Only the brave will order the “It’s Like Crickets In Here” cocktail though - Mezcal, Ancho Reyes, Citrus, and Grillo (Crickets) - served over ice of course.
We took the advice of our server at this restaurant as well and ordered a variety of shared plates and tried the Guacamole with Pomegranate Seeds, Esquites (Grilled Corn), Enchiladas, & Camaron Amarillo (Seared Shrimp) to start. We then got our fill with Pescao (Grilled Bass), Pato (Roasted Duck) & Cochinita Pibil (Marinated Smoked Pork). We wrapped up with Chocolate Tacos and then the manager insisted we try the Capirotada (Bread Pudding).
Quicker Bites:
#1 - The Pizza Place - Perfect for late night bites after dancing!
#2 - Hot Off The Press - Grab a breakfast sandwich or a pressed panini for lunch.
#3 - Noodle Around - Cozy Ramen is great for refueling.
#4 - Let’s Taco Bout It - Breakfast Burritos and Fresh Al Pastor Tacos on the go.
#5 - Burger Bar - Burgers all day - including a French Toast Burger for the early riser.
#6 - Diner & Dash - Open 24 Hours for late nights, early mornings, and quick bites.
#7 - Bento Baby - The Classic California Roll and Fruit Bento for the health conscious.
# 8 - The Social Club - Games for entertainment while snacking on popcorn, warm pretzels, and other goodies.
#9 - The Dock House - Quick Mediterranean small-bites.
Grab & Go
#1. Snack Stands - Found by the Dock House and in the Galley with Sandwiches, Salads, and other treats in recyclable containers. Perfect for a pool-side bite.
#2 - Lick Me Till I Scream - Fun flavors of ice cream like Strawberry Milkshake & Key Lime to cool off after exploring ports of call.
#3 - Popsicle Stand - Need to pick me up? Grab a popsicle at this cute cart!
Honorable Mentions - The Test Kitchen, Sun Club Cafe, The Daily Mix (the ones we missed)
Favorite Breakfast/Brunch - Razzle Dazzle
Favorite Lunch - The Dock
Favorite Dinner - Extra Virgin