This summer I treated myself to back-to-back Rockstar style Virgin Voyages sailings. And listen… I lucked out. I actually won my first-ever upgrade bid and landed myself in a Cheeky Corner Suite on deck 8 for the first sailing.
If you’ve sailed one, you know the vibe: a little quirky in layout, a little “did an octopus design this?” in flow, but undeniably roomy. People say these are the most spacious Rockstar suites, and honestly… IDK but they may not be wrong. The bathroom felt a smidge smaller than the Seriously Suite I had the year before, and the shower—aside from its dramatic glass door—did not surprise me with any fun extra windows. But the balcony? Oh, the balcony.
This wraparound aft balcony could host a small wedding party. Loungers, a table with four chairs, and the hammock—my beloved hammock. The only downside was that on this particular deck, privacy is a suggestion rather than a feature. Let’s just say the folks at the Dock House Bar below probably learned far more about my skincare routine than I intended.
For sailing number two, I moved into a Sweet Aft on an upper deck—and what a glow-up. This was my favorite suite of the two. The balcony wasn’t quite as gigantic (I mean, it didn’t wrap around the ship like a ship-sized cozy scarf), but it still had plenty of space for all the lounging and hammock-swinging I required to thrive.
Inside, the room felt perfectly sized—essentially double a standard balcony cabin and loaded with all the VV touches. And the shower had a window overlooking the ocean. It took a few days before I fully trusted that I wasn’t starring in some accidental maritime peep show, but by the end, I wasn’t sure how I’d ever shower without a sea view again. Last day at Miami port, however? Lights off, speed shower, don’t make eye contact with the skyline.
Three of my favorite VV things:
1. The Runway: My Sunrise Sanctuary
Every morning I laced up, popped in my earbuds, and made my way to The Runway—the raised track that loops the ship in a perfect panorama. I’m a sunrise person. I will abandon sleep, dignity, and sometimes breakfast to make it outside in time for golden hour.
The Runway is basically built for people like me. It’s blissfully empty at sunrise, which means I can enjoy the walk with my music pumping, soak in the sea breeze, and not worry about accidentally clipping someone with my swishy-armed enthusiasm. It’s my favorite way to start any day. It feels like a little secret you only discover when everyone else is sleeping off last night’s champagne.
2. The Balcony Hammocks: The Great Equalizer of Joy
Look, if Virgin Voyages ever stops putting hammocks on balconies, I will personally riot. With love, of course. But still a riot.
There is nothing—nothing—that melts stress faster than flopping into one of these red beauties and letting the ocean rock you into a nap you definitely earned. The best part? They’re not just for the fancy cabins. Almost every balcony has one, and I love that. Hammock joy for all.
As someone who is what we’ll lovingly call “fun-sized,” getting into the hammock is… a process. There’s a lot of wiggling, negotiating gravity, and hoping nobody is watching. But once I’m in? It’s over. I have woken up with the net pattern imprinted on my skin like a tattoo of happiness.
3. The Veggie Rolls in The Galley: My Forever At-Sea Comfort Food
Virgin Voyages has phenomenal dining across the board—but the thing I return to again and again? The veggie roll bento boxes in The Galley.
I don’t know what magic they’re putting in these things, but I have consumed enough to qualify for some sort of loyalty tier at this point. There’s just something about sitting by the ocean, chopsticks in hand, reading a book, munching away on something fresh and delicious. It’s peak vacation. It’s my happy place. It’s my “I refuse to eat anything else until dinner” ritual.
Why This Summer’s Sailings Meant So Much
Two suites with two different personalities. One sailing full of clicky chaos, one with the calmer solo vibe I needed. And through it all, those three Virgin Voyages favorites kept me grounded.
The Runway.
The Hammock.
The Veggie Rolls.
Sometimes luxury is the space you’re in. Sometimes it’s the sunrise. And sometimes, it’s a bento box that hits just right.
Go With Chrissy 
Leave a comment