Virgin Voyages Restaurants and Dining Explained
Virgin Voyages does dining differently. No fixed dining room. No dining packages to unlock the good stuff. Just restaurants you choose when you feel like it.
This page is your shortcut. What is included, how reservations actually work, what to book first, and quick guides to the six venues we have covered so far.
Start here
If you are new to Virgin Voyages dining, the safest approach is simple.
- Book the restaurants you care about as soon as dining opens
- Hold tables if you are unsure, you can change or cancel later
- Match reservations to real life, port days and show nights
- Keep one or two evenings loose for whatever mood you are in
What is included
Most dining across 20+ eateries is included in your fare, including the main restaurants. There are optional Treat Yourself items and a few paid experiences but you do not need a dining package to eat well.
The one rule that catches people out
Virgin limits how many dinner reservations you can hold per restaurant in advance.
1–5 nights
One dinner reservation
Per restaurant, in advance
6–8 nights
Two dinner reservations
Per restaurant, in advance
Most common9+ nights
Three dinner reservations
Per restaurant, in advance
Good to know: This does not mean you can only eat there once. It stops people hoarding
prime time tables.
Walk ins can still work, especially early or late.
The Wake
Virgin’s classic steak and seafood restaurant, designed for a more traditional sit-down dinner and a strong brunch option. Expect premium cuts, seafood mains and a quieter dining room feel, plus the signature wake-facing setting at the back of the ship. If you care about time and table placement, treat this as one to book early.
Extra Virgin
Virgin’s Italian trattoria with handmade pasta, antipasti and a lively atmosphere that works well for couples and groups. It’s a reliable choice when you want familiar food done properly without feeling formal. There’s also a wine bar element that can be easier to enjoy without a full dinner reservation.
The Test Kitchen
A fixed-course tasting menu where you are opting into the concept rather than ordering from a standard menu. The format is designed to surprise you, with menus that rotate across sailings, so it suits curious eaters more than picky ones. Best booked on a night when you are not trying to squeeze dinner into a tight schedule.
Razzle Dazzle
Virgin’s go-to casual dining room, balancing veggie-conscious dishes with comfort-food favourites so it works for mixed tastes. It’s also one of the two venues that hosts bottomless brunch on many sailings, which makes it a practical booking on sea days. Easy to fit into the week and often a safe choice when not everyone wants the same thing.
The 3 things that matter most when you're booking restaurants
Book the high demand venues first
- The Wake, Pink Agave, Gunbae, and prime time Extra Virgin go quickly.
Choose times that match your week
- Port days, Scarlet night, and late departures change what time you actually want to eat.
Build in flexibility on purpose
- Reserve in advance, you can always adjust onboard once you know your rhythm.
Myth: You need to plan every meal perfectly before you sail
Reality: Book the key dinners early, then stay flexible and adjust onboard
Myth: If you missed the first release, you are out of luck
Reality: More tables often appear later and onboard as plans shift
Myth: Walk-ins never work
Reality: They can, especially early or late, but reservations win for prime slots
The honest Red Wave Recommendations
- Book more than you think you need. It is easier to cancel a table than to find one when everything good is gone.
- Lock in the high-demand venues first. If you care about The Wake, Extra Virgin, Pink Agave or Gunbae, treat those as priority bookings.
- Match reservations to your real week. Port days and show nights change what time you actually want to eat.
- Do not panic if you change your mind onboard. Plans shift, energy levels change, and moving reservations is normal.