For many people, cruise vacations are the best way to relax and unwind because they offer convenience, luxury, and incredible accommodations. Typically, when booking a cruise trip, travelers will buy a package from one of the “Big 3” companies: Carnival, Royal Caribbean, and Norwegian. However, there are many other cruise lines, some of which have amazing perks and amenities (and sometimes deals!).
One such option is Virgin Voyages, which ran a “Kids Sail Free” promotion in 2024. If you know anything about Virgin Voyages, you know that each cruise is an “adults-only” experience. So, when the company is talking about “kids,” it’s a bit misleading as the youngest age is 18 years old. That said, such an incredible deal has to be explored, so let’s see what makes Virgin Voyages so special.
What is Virgin Voyages?
Virgin Voyages is an upscale cruise line owned and operated by the Virgin Group (owned by Richard Branson). Like most other cruise lines, Virgin Voyages sails to most tourist destinations around the world, including the Caribbean (Mexico, Bahamas, Puerto Rico), Europe (the Mediterranean), the United States (West or East Coast), and transatlantic crossings to Spain and Italy.
What really sets Virgin Voyages apart from other cruise lines is that it’s only open to adults. So, while families may book cruises on Disney, Carnival, and Royal Caribbean, Virgin is only catering to a more mature crowd. The experience is much different when all the accommodations, amenities, and activities are geared towards adults only!
What is the Virgin Voyages Kids Sail Free Promotion?
But wait, if Virgin Voyages are exclusive to adults, how is the company offering a “kids sail free” promotion? Well, according to Virgin, “kids” are anyone between 18 and 26. So, parents with adult children (or friends of different ages) can take advantage and save big bucks.
The promotion ran from July 23 to August 23, 2024. So, while it’s now expired, it may come back during subsequent seasons. Given that the average rate for a room on a Virgin Voyage can set you back at least $1,000, getting a second guest for free is a huge deal.
Here’s how it worked: A “parent” had to book a Central Sea Terrace (or lower designation) room. Then, a guest between 18 and 26 could travel with them for free. The deal only applied to one child, so if you wanted to travel with more than just two people, you’d have to book separate accommodations for each pairing. Otherwise, only one person would be free, and everyone else would pay full price. Virgin Voyages also placed restrictions on holiday travel and certain room types.
Other Reasons to Book a Virgin Voyages Cruise Vacation
While the Virgin Voyages Kids Sail Free promotion is no longer available in 2024, there are other compelling reasons to book a cruise vacation with Virgin Voyages. As an upscale cruise line, you can expect a more luxurious experience than you would typically get with one of the Big 3.
Here’s a breakdown of what makes a Virgin Voyage so memorable:
- Swanky Accommodations – Because each cruise ship isn’t designed for families, the decor, lighting, and color schemes are much more chic and high-end. If you’re the type of person who appreciates haut couture and attention to detail, you’ll really love exploring one of Virgin Voyages’ ships.
- Adult-Oriented Entertainment – No, we’re not talking about burlesque shows or explicit content. Instead, the shows and features on a Virgin Voyage are geared toward adults, meaning they don’t shy away from certain topics, words, or themes. Plus, if you love dancing, you can dance the night away without ever having to worry about running into a minor.
- Better Dining – Most cruises have buffet-style food service along with multi-course meals served in an actual restaurant. There are no buffets on a Virgin Voyage, nor are there set dining times that restrict when you can have a particular dish. Instead, you can sample food from any restaurant onboard whenever you like, and the dish is made fresh to order. Everything is included (except alcohol), so feel free to indulge your taste buds! In fact, the food is so good that it’s been voted “World’s Best Food” by Condé Nast Travelers for two years running.
- Private Beach Club Access – Like all the big cruise companies, Virgin Voyages has its own resort in the Bahamas. The Beach Club at Bimini is a paradise that keeps the party going all day long. Again, since there are no children anywhere, you can have as much fun as possible without any distractions.
- Incredible Loyalty Program – Once you take a Virgin Voyage, you’ll probably want to book another as soon as possible. The company caters to repeat clients by offering rewards and other perks to those who take a certain number of qualifying cruises. For example, you can get benefits like a $100 bar tab, preferred boarding access, and more.
- World-Class Shore Excursions – A big reason to take a cruise is to explore parts of the world that you might not otherwise visit on your own. Shore excursions allow you to see all the best locales, from rugged mountains to historic cities. While these excursions cost extra, they’re well worth the ticket price. Plus, because the cruise is adults-only, it’s easier to book wine-tasting, bar-hopping, and beer-sampling tours. Imagine going to old bars in Colombia and trying some local spirits. Or what about sipping on wine as you explore the canals of Amsterdam? It’s all possible with Virgin Voyages.
The one thing to be prepared for is the price tag – depending on where and when you go (e.g., during peak season), you can expect to pay at least $1,500 per person. One way to get around that though is to book a larger room with four or more people. In that case, it’s often less than $1,000 per person for the voyage. You can also watch out for limited-time deals, like the Virgin Voyages Kids Sail Free promotion they ran in 2024.
Become a Boardwalk Travel Agent and Start Cruising!
Although Virgin Voyages tickets are often pricier than those from a larger, family-friendly chain, that can actually be a good thing for you as an independent travel agent. Agents earn a commission on each package they sell, so the higher the price, the more you earn. Best of all, Boardwalk Travel Agents earn a higher commission than most other companies, so you can get a decent paycheck from one or two Virgin cruises.
Boardwalk is consistently rates as a best host agency for travel agents. So how does it work to be a travel agent with Boardwalk Travel? Here’s what you need to do:
- Step One: Sign Up – There’s only one fee to sign up as an agent, and it gives you lifetime access to the site and our network of vendors.
- Step Two: Train – We offer a wide selection of training programs and lifetime support from other existing agents. You can go at your own pace and start booking trips as soon as you’re ready. Other agencies have a set training schedule, and some of them even have a probationary period where you can’t earn commissions. With Boardwalk, you can start booking trips and making money much sooner.
- Step Three: Start Booking Trips – The best thing about being an independent agent is that you can book with all kinds of vendors, including Virgin Voyages, Disney, Universal Studios, Carnival Cruise Lines, and many more. Also, these vendors pay your commission, meaning you could potentially earn money back from your own vacation (if you booked travel accommodations through Boardwalk).
- Step Four: Expand Your Booking Network – At first, you may just want to book friends, family, and yourself on cruise vacations (or other travel itineraries). However, once you get the hang of using our network (and earning commissions), you can start offering your services as an agent to different customers.
Another perk of being an independent agent is that you can work from anywhere and set your own hours. In fact, Virgin Voyages offers a 30-day cruise package that takes you to Europe and the Mediterranean. With laundry service, free Wi-Fi, and meals included, you can explore the world while making money. Plus, since you’ll be on a Virgin Voyages cruise, you can explain to your clients what to expect when they book their package. It’s a win-win situation!
So what are you waiting for? A career (or side hustle) as a travel agent is waiting for you. Sign up with Boardwalk Travel Agency today and see how you can start booking cruises for yourself, your friends, and your clients!
