Virgin Voyages Dress Code + Scarlet Night Outfit Ideas

If you know anything about Virgin Voyages, you probably know that this new cruise line has completely disrupted the world of cruising. Virgin’s four vessels—the Scarlet Lady, Valiant Lady, Resilient Lady, and Brilliant Lady—all boast adult-only cruises, world class restaurants, 100% all-inclusive dining, and an innovate approach so many other aspects of the cruising experience. In addition, Virgin Voyages has thrown out the traditional dress code all together.

But there isn’t much about the Virgin Voyages dress code on their website, or app. If you’re trying to prepare for your upcoming voyages and have found yourself searching for a detailed guide on the Virgin Voyages dress code (or lack there-of) and information about what to wear on Virgin’s iconic Scarlet Night and Pajama Party, you’ve come to the right place.

Before you read on, make sure to bookmark these other Virgin Voyages guides to prep for your first sailing:

★ The Ultimate Virgin Voyages Packing List
★ 7 Insider Tips to Enjoy Virgin Voyages’ Beach Club at Bimini
★ Virgin Voyages Vegan Guide
★ Virgin Voyages Drink Package (Bar Tab) Review + Drink Prices
★ Virgin Voyages Spa Prices + Thermal Suite Pass Guide
★ Eastern Caribbean Antilles Cruise Review
★ Cruise Port Guides

The Ultimate Guide to the Virgin Voyages Dress Code + Ethical Clothing to Order for Your Cruise

My goal with this guide is to equip you with everything you need to know in order to pack outfits for your next Virgin Voyages sailing. I rely on my own firsthand experience as an avid traveler and recent Virgin Voyages sailor. Also, I include links to ethical and sustainable attire (available on Amazon!) for on-board events, port days and everything in between.

I opt for ethical and sustainable clothing because I want to know that the people who make my clothes are treated well. I know it can be difficult to find clothes that are ethically made on Amazon, so I did the hard work for you and included plenty of links below. Of course, the most sustainable outfits are made up of the clothing you already own, but if you’re looking for something new or specail for your cruise, I’ve got you covered!

Strutting down the iconic walkway toward the Manor in my swimsuit coverup (which doubles as a dress when I need it to)

Note: This article may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases through these links, at no cost to you. But don’t worry, I only share products I’d truly recommend to a friend.

Does Virgin Voyages have a Dress Code?

If you’re here, I’m guessing you’re wondering this question: what is the Virgin Voyages dress code? The answer is simple:

Virgin Voyages has no dress code! You can wear what you want, when you want, whether its something fancy or casual. However, there are several on-board events where certain attire is suggested, such as Scarlet Night and the Pajama Party.

You definitely will want to pack some special outfits for these events and some of the other on-board entertainment, but don’t worry about whether or not your outfit fits into a dress code. Even during special events when certain attire is encouraged, there is no enforced dress code. You will see sailors wearing everything from ball gown-style dresses to shorts and tee shirts.

That being said, let’s go into what you should consider wearing at each event, and some suggestions for clothing to wear during sea days and port days.

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On-Board Events With Suggested Attire

Scarlet Night

Virgin Voyages Scarlet Night “Dress Code”

Scarlet Night is the most iconic event on board any Virgin Voyages cruise. The crew encourages sailors to wear something red, though its not required. During my sailing on board the Valiant Lady, I was surprised to see many people not wearing red. I’m not sure if it was because they didn’t get the memo ahead of time or didn’t want to wear read. Meanwhile, other sailors were dressed in everything from floor-length vibrant crimson dresses to simple red tee shirts. The diversity of attire made it feel like you could really wear anything you wanted without feeling out of place.

But if you ask me, it’s always fun to have a reason to dress up! And if you are to dress up for one single event on your sailing, dress up for Scarlet Night. You don’t have to wear something fancy—just something red.

Need a splash of red ASAP? Here are some Scarlet Night outfit Amazon finds. All clothes are ethically and sustainably made (woohoo!):

Pajama Party

Virgin Voyages “Dress Code” for the Pajama Party

The Virgin Voyages Pajama Party, which typically happens on the first night, is another event where a certain attire is encouraged. Of course, pajamas are not required, but they do make it a little more fun!

A fair warning about the Pajama Party: it usually happens late on the first night of the cruise. My husband and I were exhausted and went to sleep early, missing the pajama party. If you buy pajamas special for the cruise, make sure they’re pajamas you’ll want to wear in the future, just in case you sleep through the party like me!

Here are some pajamas you can order on Amazon right now. Again, everything below is ethically and sustainably made:

Port Day Outfits

Of course you can wear whatever you’d like during your days in port. It’s a good idea to bring a variety of outfits, including athletic wear and cute casual attire in case your day trip plans change last minute.

Here are some port day clothing ideas (all ethical and sustainably made):

Frequently Asked Questions About Virgin Voyages Dress Code

Are Virgin Voyages Cruises Clothing Optional?

Virgin Voyages cruises are not clothing optional, however, there is a small sundeck (the Perch) where topless sunbathing is allowed. The Perch was one of my favorite spots to relax and read on board, but I didn’t realize it was a “topless” area until after the cruise. If you’re worried about encountering sailors without clothing, don’t worry, you probably won’t unless you spend all day at the Perch.

Should you dress up to visit reservations-required restaurants?

Since there is no Virgin Voyages dress code, there is no need to dress up for any meal. However, if you are visiting one of the reservations-required restaurants like the Wake, Extra Virgin, Gunbae, Razzle Dazzle, the Test Kitchen or Pink Agave, you may opt to wear something a bit nicer than your pool clothes. But full transparency—I dined at some of these restaurants with wet hair and a swimsuit under my clothes, and dressed up to dine at others. I never felt like I was over or under dressed.

What should you wear to group fitness classes?

Some group fitness classes are themed, and you may want to dress according to the theme (ie 90s Boy Band Dance Class). However, most sailors end up wearing regular workout clothes.

Final thoughts: What to Wear on Virgin Voyages Cruise Ships

My Virgin Voyages sailing was my first cruise, so I’ve never experienced cruising on a ship with a dress code. But I appreciated being able to come back on board after a day of exploring and enjoy a nice meal at a restaurant without having to worry about dressing up. And on other days, I loved dressing to the nines for fun! No matter what I was wearing (swim suit or floor-length dress), I never felt out of place on board.

I’m curious to hear what you think of the “Virgin Voyages dress code”. Do you like having the freedom to wear whatever you want or do you wish that certain venues required sailors to dress up a bit more?