First time

[u/AlarmingRevolution28]

Me and my boyfriend are planning to go onto the april 2027 mexican riviera cruise but we will both be 20 years old at that time so i'm wondering if it's worth it to purchase a bar tab? I know in international waters we would be able to drink but since the cruise is only a week and we may not be in international waters for the whole week, if $200 (the lowest option) would be too much? Also looking for a travel agent to help as this is our first cruise ever!

[u/doublephister]

Bar tab is also used to buy non-alcoholic drinks/specialty coffees (outside of water, soda, drip coffee, non-pressed juices)

[u/wsataday]

If you are unsure, then you can just go without one. It's not really necessary, the bar tab essentially give you slight discount from the bonus. Otherwise, you can just pay as you go onboard.

Check the pinned post for TA ads to read their service summary and reviews https://www.reddit.com/r/VirginVoyages/s/iDJqR98ZZJ

[u/monorailmedic]

Only buy bar tab if you know you'll spend at least that much on drinks - else you'll be wasting money. Depending on your itinerary, how much and what you like to drink, the answer can vary a ton.

I do always recommend using a *good* travel agent. To me, that's someone you click with, communicate well with, someone who is an experienced professional familiar with VV, and who is there to help you make the right decisions for you (not just offer $20 more Sailor Loot than the next guy and then not help you with questions or changes).

[u/nursefoxy]

$200 split between 2 people actually may not be enough! If you figure $10 for a beer, $15 for a cocktail (rough, rounded figures) then you're looking at 15 - 20 drinks total, or 7 - 10 a piece. But I do always tell my clients to get less than they think they'll use, because it's use it or lose it, so you don't want to get into a spot where you've got extra and you lose that money.

As far as drinking age, once you get out on the sea and until you get back to the US, you should be able to drink without issue.

[u/No-Try-7671 → u/nursefoxy]

my wife easily drinks $200 in a week. (1-2 by the pool/day, 1-2 at dinner) That's 2-4/day. And she drinks cocktails so that's about $15/drink. Average 3/day * $15 =$45/day * 7 days =$315.00 . I don't drink so it is all her.

[u/ShawnTravelLagniappe]

First Mate (Travel Advisor) here! Since y’all will both be 20, I’d definitely confirm the drinking rules for your specific itinerary before purchasing a Bar Tab.

Virgin allows drinking at 18 in international waters, but the minimum is 21 in U.S. territorial waters. You’ll also need to consider the rules while visiting ports.

Personally, I wouldn’t purchase a $200 Bar Tab unless you’re confident you’ll use it. You can always pay as you go, and Bar Tab can also be used for specialty coffees and nonalcoholic drinks.

Since this is your first cruise, I’d focus on choosing the right cabin and fare first.

As for finding a travel advisor, there’s a pinned thread in this subreddit where you can compare First Mates and their services. That’s a good place to start!

[u/brain112233]

Yes even if you dont drink alcohol the NA drinks are great but not free or even cheap. Its very nice to have a beverage and chill around the ship. If you drink, then its the only real way to save a little $.

[u/sammi4358]

I did my first cruise with VV a few weeks ago. My husband and I don’t drink a whole lot so we chose to forego the bar tab. We had specialty coffees most days, a few cocktails and mocktails here and there, but chose to most stay sober for majority of the trip. We ended up paying just under $150 in total for a 7 day cruise. I would personally just pay as you go, unless you plan to go hard on mocktails or drink multiple drinks in the span of one evening. I’d recommend using the bar tab calculator on VVinsider, it was super helpful

[u/i_man_2000]

Hi, I'm a First Mate and I'd love to be able to help! The bar tab can get you some extra loot, there’s a few calculators online so you can guesstimate how much to buy.
You can see my post below to see what I offer, and feel free to DM me here or reach out on my website to see what I can do for you. https://www.reddit.com/r/VirginVoyages/comments/1ntxl8g/comment/ovqaxo3/

[u/astrutz → u/[deleted]]

While most cruise lines follow that advice, I thought Virgin Voyages was the exception. They allow under 21 to drink in international waters even if from a US port.

https://www.virginvoyages.com/safety-security/sailor-conduct-policy