The Virgin Voyages Bar Tab is prepaid drinks credit rather than a drinks package: you load $200 to $1,000 before you sail and Virgin adds a bonus of $25 to $250 on top. You spend it drink by drink at menu prices that already include tips, and soft drinks, drip coffee, tea and water are free anyway. For most moderate drinkers it works out cheaper than an unlimited package on Royal Caribbean, Carnival or Norwegian, as long as you pick a tier you will actually use.
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This guide explains how the Virgin Voyages Bar Tab works in 2026, the current bonus amounts, what is free on board, what happened to Virgin’s drinks package trial, and how it compares with traditional cruise line drink packages.
How the Virgin Voyages Bar Tab Works
Virgin Voyages, which sails Scarlet Lady, Valiant Lady, Resilient Lady and Brilliant Lady, made a point of launching without drinks packages. Instead, it offers a Bar Tab: prepaid onboard credit set aside only for drinks. The basics are simple:
- Buy before you sail. You can add a Bar Tab through the Virgin Voyages app, your online account, a travel agent or Sailor Services, up to 24 hours before departure. It cannot be bought once you are on board.
- Get a bonus. Every tier comes with free extra credit, which is where the value comes from.
- Tap and drink. Charges come off your Bar Tab when you tap your wristband for a drink at bars, restaurants, room service or The Beach Club at Bimini.
- Use it or lose it. Unused credit, including the bonus, is not refunded at the end of the cruise and does not carry over to a future voyage.
Virgin Voyages Bar Tab prices and bonus amounts
These are the standard tiers on Virgin’s official Bar Tab offer page as of October 2026. All amounts are in US dollars.
| You pay | Bonus credit | Total to spend | Effective discount |
|---|---|---|---|
| $200 | $25 | $225 | About 11% |
| $300 | $50 | $350 | About 14% |
| $500 | $100 | $600 | About 17% |
| $750 | $175 | $925 | About 19% |
| $1,000 | $250 | $1,250 | 20% |
The “effective discount” column shows how much cheaper each drink becomes compared with paying menu price. Virgin occasionally runs promotions with a larger bonus on certain sailings, and loyalty members may see better tiers, so check your booking before you buy.
What the Bar Tab covers
The Bar Tab pays for premium drinks, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic. That includes cocktails, beer, wine, spirits, mocktails, specialty coffees, pressed juices and smoothies. You can also use it to buy a round for your cabin mate or someone you meet on board, so only one person in a cabin needs to buy a Bar Tab.
It does not cover spa treatments, shore excursions or shopping, and Virgin says it cannot be used for packaged goods to take home, such as bottles of wine or bags of coffee. The tab itself cannot be transferred to another sailor. You also cannot buy a Bar Tab with promotional Sailor Loot or promotional Future Voyage Credit.
What Drinks Are Free on Virgin Voyages?
This is the big difference from most mainstream lines. Virgin includes what it calls “essential drinks” in every fare, so you do not need to spend Bar Tab credit on them:
- Still and sparkling water
- Sodas
- Drip coffee and tea
- Non-pressed juices
On Royal Caribbean and Carnival, sodas are an extra cost unless you buy a separate soda or refreshment package. On Virgin they are simply included, which makes the Bar Tab a pure alcohol and premium drinks budget.
How Much Do Drinks Cost on Virgin Voyages?
Virgin’s own drinks page lists beers such as Heineken, Amstel Light, Kalik and Corona at about $7 to $9, basic cocktails made with brands like Absolut, Bacardi, Beefeater and Buffalo Trace at about $11, and says around 40% of its wines by the glass are under $11. Prices can vary by venue and ship.
The crucial point is that tips are already included. Virgin’s line is that the price you see is the price you pay, with no automatic service charge added at the bar. On other lines an 18% to 20% service charge is added to drinks and drinks packages, which matters a lot when you compare costs.
As a rough guide, if you and a partner average $12 a drink, a $500 Bar Tab (worth $600) covers about 50 drinks between you. On a five-night cruise that is five drinks a day between two people.
Does Virgin Voyages Now Offer a Drinks Package?
Not as a standard option. In spring 2025 Virgin trialled an unlimited package called “Drink Like a VIP” on selected Valiant Lady sailings. It cost $95 per person per night, covered drinks up to $20 each (including specialty coffee and juices), was limited to a set number of sailors per voyage, and required everyone in the cabin to buy it.
Virgin’s official drinks and Bar Tab pages, checked in October 2026, still say there are no drink packages and describe the Bar Tab as the alternative. If Virgin offers an unlimited package on a particular sailing, it will appear in your booking extras. Otherwise, assume the Bar Tab is the only prepaid drinks option.
Virgin Voyages Bar Tab vs. Traditional Cruise Line Drink Packages
Here is how the Bar Tab compares with the main unlimited drinks packages on other big US lines. Prices are per person and change often, so treat them as a guide and check your own sailing.
| Cruise line | Drinks option | Typical price | Service charge | Free soft drinks? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virgin Voyages | Bar Tab (prepaid credit) | $200 to $1,000 total, plus $25 to $250 bonus | None, tips included in menu prices | Yes |
| Royal Caribbean | Deluxe Beverage Package | Roughly $56 to $120 per day, varies by sailing | 18% added | No, soda is extra |
| Carnival | CHEERS! | $69.95 per day pre-cruise, $74.95 onboard; dynamic pricing from December 1, 2026 | 20% added | No, but soda is included in CHEERS! |
| Norwegian Cruise Line | More at Sea (included in package fares) | Included with More at Sea fares | Daily per-person service charge (about $30 a day on shorter cruises when introduced) | Yes, fountain soda |
The key difference is commitment. With Royal Caribbean and Carnival, everyone in the cabin who is over 21 generally needs the same package, and you pay for every day of the cruise whether you drink or not. Carnival’s CHEERS! also caps alcoholic drinks at 15 per 24 hours. On a seven-night Carnival cruise, two adults on CHEERS! at the current pre-cruise price would pay around $1,175 including the 20% service charge. On Virgin, the same couple could load the $1,000 Bar Tab, get $1,250 to spend and still have no daily minimum.
For a deeper look at how another premium line handles this, see our guide to whether Holland America drink packages are worth it.
Who Should Buy Which?
Choose the Virgin Voyages Bar Tab if:
- You enjoy a few drinks a day but rarely more than five or six.
- Only one of you drinks alcohol. One tab can cover both of you, and the non-drinker already gets soft drinks free.
- You want a fixed budget with no service charges to work out.
An unlimited package on another line may suit you if:
- You drink heavily every day, including sea days, and want to stop counting.
- You like specialty coffees, bottled water and soda all day as well as alcohol, on a line where those cost extra.
- Your fare already includes a package, as with Norwegian’s More at Sea.
Skip prepaid drinks entirely if you drink very little. On Virgin you will still have free soft drinks, coffee and tea, and you can pay for the odd cocktail at menu price.
Virgin’s ships are adults-only, which is part of why the Bar Tab model works. If you are comparing it with other grown-up options, our round-up of the best adults-only cruise lines is a good next read, and our list of favourite drinks to try on your next cruise will help you plan what to spend it on.
Tips for Getting the Most From Your Bar Tab
- Start smaller. If you are unsure, buy a mid-sized tier. Any drinks beyond it are simply charged at menu price.
- Use the app to track your balance so you are not left with unused credit on the last night.
- Spend leftovers wisely. Toward the end of the cruise, use spare credit on specialty coffees, smoothies or a nice bottle of wine at dinner.
- Check for promotions on your booking before buying, as bonus amounts can be higher on some sailings.
- Remember the 24-hour cut-off. You cannot buy or cancel a Bar Tab for a refund within 24 hours of departure.
If you are comparing with Royal Caribbean, our guide to Royal Caribbean drink package rules and loopholes explains sharing, wine allowances and legit ways to save.
Frequent sailors can earn a $100 Bar Tab through the line’s loyalty program, so it is worth checking the Virgin Voyages Sailing Club tiers and status match rules before you buy.
FAQs
How does the bar tab on Virgin Voyages work?
You prepay between $200 and $1,000 before you sail and Virgin adds a bonus of $25 to $250. The credit is used up drink by drink when you tap your wristband at bars, restaurants and The Beach Club at Bimini. Any unused balance is lost at the end of the voyage.
Does Virgin Voyages have a drink package?
Not as standard. Virgin trialled an unlimited ‘Drink Like a VIP’ package at $95 per person per night on some Valiant Lady sailings in 2025, but its official drinks pages still say there are no drink packages and point sailors to the Bar Tab.
How much does a glass of wine cost on Virgin Voyages?
Virgin says around 40% of its wines by the glass cost under $11, and gratuities are already included in the menu price. Beers start at about $7 and basic cocktails at about $11.
Is the Virgin Voyages bar tab refundable?
You can cancel a Bar Tab for a refund up to 24 hours before departure. Once the voyage starts, any unused credit, including the bonus, is not refundable and cannot be turned into cash.
Is the Virgin Voyages bar tab worth it?
If you would drink anyway, yes, because the bonus works out at roughly 11% to 20% off menu prices. Choose a tier you are confident you will use, as leftover credit does not roll over.
