If you've sailed other cruise lines, you're probably used to drink packages. Virgin Voyages does it differently. There's no unlimited package. Instead, you prepay a Bar Tab before you sail and Virgin adds bonus credit on top. Here's everything you need to know.
Want the quick answer? Try my Virgin Voyages Bar Tab Calculator to see which Bar Tab saves you the most for your sailing.
What Is the Virgin Voyages Bar Tab?
The Bar Tab is prepaid drink credit. You load it before your sailing, Virgin adds a bonus, and you spend it onboard however you like. There are no daily limits and no rule that everyone in your cabin has to buy one.
What's Already Included Without a Bar Tab
Before you decide how much to load, know what's already free with your fare:
- Still and sparkling water
- Soda
- Drip coffee and tea
- Basic juices
If those cover most of what you drink, a smaller Bar Tab may be all you need.
What the Bar Tab Covers
- Cocktails, beer, wine, and champagne
- Specialty coffee drinks
- Fresh-pressed juices, smoothies, and mocktails
- Drinks at The Beach Club at Bimini
- Wine pairings and bottles of wine with dinner
It doesn't cover the spa, Shore Things, or retail items like bottles to take home.
Bar Tab Bonus Tiers
The more you load, the bigger the bonus. Standard tiers look like this:
- Pay $200, get $225 ($25 bonus)
- Pay $300, get $350 ($50 bonus)
- Pay $500, get $600 ($100 bonus)
- Pay $750, get $925 ($175 bonus)
- Pay $1,000, get $1,250 ($250 bonus)
Virgin often boosts these bonuses during sales like Black Friday and Wave Season, and Sailing Club members can get extra bonus credit too. If you're booking around a sale, ask me about the current offer before you buy.
When to Buy Your Bar Tab
Buy it before you sail. The bonus only applies to pre-voyage purchases, so loading credit onboard means losing out on the extra money.
You can buy a Bar Tab through the Virgin Voyages app, your account on virginvoyages.com, or through your First Mate. The cutoff is shortly before departure, so don't leave it until the last minute.
Can You Share a Bar Tab?
Sort of. A Bar Tab belongs to the sailor who bought it, but that sailor can buy drinks for anyone. If you and your travel partner drink about the same, it can make sense to each load your own so you both get a bonus.
What Happens to Unused Credit?
Unused Bar Tab credit doesn't carry over or get refunded at the end of your sailing. That's why it pays to pick the right amount up front. If you run out, drinks just go on your onboard account like normal.
How Much Should You Load?
A simple way to estimate:
- Light drinker (a drink or two a day): start with the $200 or $300 tier
- Moderate drinker (a few drinks a day, plus wine at dinner): the $500 tier is a sweet spot
- Big celebrations or longer sailings: $750 or $1,000 gets you the biggest bonus
Multiply your usual drinks per day by the number of days at sea and in port, then pick the tier just under that number. If you go over, the rest goes on your onboard account.
Bar Tab vs. Sailor Loot
These are easy to mix up:
- Bar Tab is drink credit you buy before your sailing.
- Sailor Loot is onboard credit Virgin gives you from promotions and booking offers. It works on drinks, the spa, Shore Things, and shopping.
You can use both on the same sailing. For more on Sailor Loot, see How Virgin Voyages Sailor Loot Works.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Virgin Voyages have a drink package?
No. Virgin uses a prepaid Bar Tab instead, with bonus credit added when you buy before your sailing.
Is the Virgin Voyages Bar Tab worth it?
For most sailors who drink, yes. The bonus is free money on drinks you were going to buy anyway, and there's no daily price or quota like a traditional drink package.
Can I buy a Bar Tab onboard?
Buy it before you sail. The bonus only applies to pre-voyage purchases.
Does the Bar Tab work at The Beach Club at Bimini?
Yes. Drinks at The Beach Club come out of your Bar Tab.
Can my First Mate add a Bar Tab to my booking?
Yes. I can add a Bar Tab for you before your sailing, along with Shore Things and other extras.
Ready to Plan Your Virgin Voyage?
Request a free quote and I'll find the right sailing, stack every offer you qualify for, and set you up with a Bar Tab before you sail. For more planning help, see What's Included in Your Virgin Voyages Fare.
