Launched in 2021, Virgin Voyages has embraced wellness as a key differentiator in its mission to disrupt the cruising industry.

Quentin Long reviewed Resilient Lady on her inaugural (Virgin Voyages like to call them ‘MerMaiden’) sailing across the Greek Islands. Now he reviews the wellness experiences including the spa, gym and beauty offerings.

Redemption Spa

The Redemption Spa onboard the Resilient Lady (and all three other Virgin Voyages ships) is in the bowels of the ship on deck five.

The location is unusual, as spas aren’t often mid-ship and low on the decks. It’s also a small space when compared to other larger ships – but then again, Resilient Lady is carrying a maximum of just under 3000 people, compared to the more common crowds of 4000 to 4500 people.

A spa pass is US$39 ($57) on port days and US$59 ($86) for sea days; this gives you three hours of access to the thermal pools, saunas and steam rooms.

Move from the salt room to the steam room. Once the steam has opened your pores, grab your mud and head to the mud room to get the skin really glowing.

One feature that’s atypical and will perhaps disappoint regular cruisers is the lack of heated sun beds. In their place is an enormous heated slab of marble, which can accommodate around eight adults. It’s a bit of an occupational health and safety risk if you have wet feet and are trying to step onto it for a lie-down. Marble is also a very hard surface, so a multitude of towels are needed to arrange a makeshift lounge for a more comfortable spot to relax and snooze.

The spa menu is comprehensive enough without an overwhelming array of esoteric mumbo-jumbo offerings. The treatments are in increments of 50, 75 and 100 minutes, with six types of massages and several body and facial therapies. The 50-minute massages cost between US$199 ($292) and US$229 ($336).

One massage uses bamboo sticks to roll you out like thin-crust pizza, and this reviewer loved it. It was the best thing I could do after five relentless days of exploring and energetic nightly entertainment.

B-Complex

The gym space is split into two spaces. Burn & Bike is made up of treadmills and rowing machines with a spin room, while the Build & Balance area is where you’ll find traditional weights and floor space for mat work and roll-out sessions. Sunrise and sunset yoga is offered at The Perch outdoors on deck 17.

The wellness program is comprehensive with a huge variety of sessions, like gut health talks, horizontal bungee and HIIT classes.

Perhaps the most popular and fun part of it all – although not technically held in B-Complex – is the VHS Workout (videos, headbands and Simmons). Held in The Manor, the nightclub on deck six (with a balcony on deck seven), the class is a return to the ’80s aerobics workouts led by Richard Simmons. Replete in full fluoro leg warmers and lycra, this is a camp workout for the ages.

Stubble and Groom

The upscale barbershop offers a full menu of men’s grooming, including haircuts, hot lather shaves, beard trims and pedicures. It can be hard to get a booking and isn’t priced like your local barber shop; a 30-minute express shave is US$89 ($130).

Dry Dock

The options in Dry Dock on deck six vary from a 15-minute organic Kerastase hair treatment to a 45-minute scalp massage with a hair mask and blowout. The Dry Dock is also home to the brow bar.

The Tune Up

The Tune Up on deck 15 is the manicure/pedicure spa and medi spa. Manis and pedis range from US$69 ($101) to US$109 for 25–60 minute treatments.

For more intensive treatments, The Tune Up offers Dysport injections and Restylane fillers.

Squid Ink

Squid Ink is the only tattoo parlour at sea. I had my doubts about its popularity – for one thing, you’re not meant to swim for five days after being inked, but the studio manager informed me they have appropriate bandages (used for burn units) that allow more freedom. And I was proved wrong, as the studio was pretty much fully booked for my trip.

Every sailing has a different tattoo artist and their bonafides are presented in the studio. One woman in her early 30s with a few tattoos of her own did admit to it being expensive.