Everything You Need to Know About Virgin Voyages as a Travel Agent in 2025
So you're thinking about selling Virgin Voyages? Smart move. This adults-only cruise line has been making serious waves since it launched, and there's a reason why thousands of travel agents are jumping on board. Whether you're brand new to the cruise game or you've been booking trips for years, Virgin Voyages offers something different—and honestly, pretty exciting—for both you and your clients!
Let's talk real talk about what makes Virgin Voyages special, how you can make money with them, and why becoming a First Mate (that's what they call their travel agents) might be one of the best moves you make this year!
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What Makes Virgin Voyages Different From Every Other Cruise Line
Virgin Voyages isn't your grandma's cruise line. Actually, it's not even your mom's cruise line. It's strictly for adults 18 and older, which means no kids running around the pool deck, no chicken nuggets at every meal, and definitely no Disney characters.
The whole vibe is more like a floating boutique hotel than a traditional cruise ship. Think edgy entertainment, 20+ restaurants where everything is included in your fare, and parties that would make even the coolest nightclub jealous. They've got four ships right now—Scarlet Lady, Valiant Lady, Resilient Lady, and the newest one, Brilliant Lady—and they're all pretty much identical in terms of what they offer.
Here's what your clients get included in their cruise fare: all dining at over 20 restaurants, WiFi, basic drinks like soda and water, fitness classes, entertainment, and even gratuities. That's over $1,000 in value that other cruise lines charge extra for. No main dining room, no buffet, no dress codes. It's a whole different approach to cruising!
Why Travel Agents Love Selling Virgin Voyages
Let's get to the good stuff—the money. Virgin Voyages pays travel agents (First Mates) a flat 16% commission on the voyage fare. Not 10%, not 12%, but a solid 16%. And here's the kicker: there are NO non-commissionable fares (NCFs). That means you get commission on the entire fare, including taxes and fees, which is basically unheard of in the cruise world.
But wait, there's more. You also earn 10% commission on pre-voyage bookables like shore excursions (they call them Shore Things), bar tabs, hotels, flights, spa treatments, and voyage protection. Even if your client books something through the app before they sail, you still get paid. That's pretty amazing.
Let's break down what you could earn. Say you book a standard 5-night Caribbean cruise for a couple at $4,000 total voyage fare. You'd earn $640 in commission (16% of $4,000). If they book through your host agency at an 80% split, you pocket $512. Book a RockStar Suite at $8,000? You're looking at $1,024 in your pocket.
And if you're crushing it with sales, Virgin has annual bonus commissions called the "Red Hot Bonus"—2% for $1-4.9 million in sales, 4% for $5-9.9 million, and 6% for $10 million or more.
How to Become a Virgin Voyages First Mate
Becoming a First Mate is pretty straightforward. First, you need to be affiliated with a host agency that has CLIA, IATA, or other recognized industry credentials. You can't just sign up on your own—you need those agency credentials to register.
Once you're set up with a host agency, head over to FirstMates.com and complete the registration process. You'll need to provide documentation like your W-9 form and business license. After that, you're in.
But here's where it gets cool. Virgin Voyages has this training platform called Seacademy that teaches you everything about selling their cruises. It's not mandatory, but if you're smart, you'll do it because it unlocks some serious perks.
The Seacademy Training Program and Rewards
Seacademy has four tiers—Violet, Scarlet, Silver, and Gold—and each one comes with better rewards.
Violet Tier (5 lessons): You get a downloadable certificate and an email signature stamp. Not bad for dipping your toes in.
Scarlet Tier (10 lessons): Now you get a $75-$100 bonus commission voucher on top of your certificate.
Silver Tier (15 lessons): This unlocks First Mate exclusive rates starting at $100 per person per night for personal sailings. Perfect if you want to experience the product yourself.
Gold Tier (20 lessons): The big leagues. You get $150 in Sailor Loot (onboard credit) for your own cabin, priority access to events, and first dibs on FAM trips. Plus, you get priority consideration for future agent sailings and special perks.
Each tier also earns you three elective credits toward CLIA's certification program if you're in the US. So you're basically getting paid to learn.
The training covers everything: the ships, cabin types, dining options, the famous Scarlet Night party, Shore Things excursions, how to use the booking portal, and all the little details that make Virgin different from other cruise lines.
What Virgin Voyages Ships and Destinations Offer Your Clients
Virgin Voyages has four ships, and they all offer that same rebellious luxury vibe. Each ship holds around 2,770 passengers and has over 1,300 cabins. About 86% of cabins have balconies, and 93% have ocean views.
The ships sail to some pretty amazing destinations. In the Caribbean and Bahamas, they've got sailings from Miami and San Juan hitting ports like Bimini (where they have their own private Beach Club), Puerto Plata, Grand Cayman, Cozumel, and more. Mediterranean itineraries run from Barcelona, Athens, and Portsmouth, covering Greek islands, Croatia, Italy, and Spain. They've even got Alaska cruises and transatlantic repositioning voyages.
Every ship has the same main features: the Aquatic Club pool area, the Athletic Club with a running track and outdoor gym, B-Complex fitness center, Redemption Spa, over 20 restaurants and bars, theaters for entertainment, and tons of spaces designed for adults who want to party or chill out.
The food situation is next level. Instead of one big dining room and a buffet, you've got options like The Wake (steak and seafood), Razzle Dazzle (dinner theater), Pink Agave (Mexican), Gunbae (Korean BBQ), Extra Virgin (Italian), and like 15 other choices. Everything is included, which makes it super easy to sell because your clients aren't nickel-and-dimed for specialty dining like on other cruise lines.
The Booking Process Made Easy
Virgin Voyages has made booking ridiculously simple with their LetsGoBook platform. You can book clients in five easy steps directly through VirginVoyages.com—no weird, outdated booking engine to learn.
Here's the cool part: you can send your unique LetsGoBook link to clients via email, text, or social media, and they can book themselves while you still get credited as their agent. Every booking made through your link automatically connects to your FirstMates.com account. Then you can go in and customize everything—upgrade cabins, add shore excursions, throw in a bar tab, whatever they need.
You can also book directly in the First Mates portal if you prefer to handle everything yourself. Either way works, and you're earning that 16% commission.
Special Agent Perks: MNVV Certificates and More
One of the best tools you have as a First Mate is the My Next Virgin Voyage (MNVV) certificate. Here's how it works: when you sail on Virgin yourself, you can purchase MNVV placeholders onboard for $150 each. Then you have 14 days after your cruise to purchase up to nine more.
These certificates are gold for your clients. Depending on the length of the cruise, they get:
4-5 night sailings: $150 off the fare + $150 in Sailor Loot (onboard credit)
6-8 night sailings: $200 off + $200 Sailor Loot
9+ night sailings: $250 off + $250 Sailor Loot
The placeholder is valid for any sailing within 24 months and works on Sea Terrace cabins and higher. Your clients save money, get extra spending cash onboard, and you still earn your full commission on their booking. It's a win-win-win.
Many top First Mates keep a stock of MNVVs specifically to offer new clients that extra value you can't get booking directly with Virgin.
Beyond MNVVs, some First Mates (especially those affiliated with Virtuoso or who are Gold Tier) can offer additional perks like $100-$150 in extra Sailor Loot, priority boarding, and early access to dining reservations!
Understanding Virgin's Commission Structure and Payment Timeline
Let's break down exactly when you get paid. For the voyage fare commission (that 16%), Virgin pays it out 120 days before the cruise sails, as long as the booking is paid in full. So if your clients book a cruise for next December and pay it off by August, you get your commission in August.
For pre-voyage sales like shore excursions, bar tabs, and other bookables, those 10% commissions get paid within 30 days after the voyage completes. Voyage protection commission also gets paid at 120 days pre-voyage when the booking is paid in full.
According to Salary.com, the average annual salary for a Virgin Voyages travel agent in 2025 is around $63,259, which works out to about $30 per hour, with ranges typically between $55,186 and $70,715. But honestly, what you make depends entirely on how many sailings you book and what cabin categories your clients choose.
Here's a real example from the field: one top First Mate mentioned booking 250 Virgin staterooms in 2024. If the average commission per cabin was around $400, that's $100,000 in commissions from Virgin alone. The top agents are making serious money focusing on this cruise line.
What Your Clients Need to Know Before They Sail
Virgin Voyages is strictly 18 and over—no exceptions. All passengers need a valid passport with at least six months validity beyond the voyage end date. For closed-loop Caribbean cruises from Miami, US citizens can sometimes use a birth certificate and government-issued ID instead, but a passport book is always recommended.
Virgin has a pretty flexible cancellation policy, though it changed in October 2025 with their new three-tier pricing model. Now when clients book, they can choose between Lock It In (non-refundable but cheapest), Base, Essential, or Premium fare options, each with different cancellation terms and perks.
The new pricing structure is similar to how airlines do it. The Lock It In and Base fares are totally non-refundable but offer the lowest prices. Essential gives you some flexibility with Future Voyage Credits. Premium offers the most flexibility, including the ability to change names, dates, and get Future Voyage Credits.
One thing that changed in October 2025: gratuities are now shown as a separate line item at booking instead of being bundled into the fare. Clients can prepay at $20 per person per night (discounted rate) or pay $22 per person per night onboard. The total cost stays the same, it's just more transparent. And here's the best part for you: Virgin pays commission on prepaid gratuities at the full 16% rate.
How to Position Yourself as a Virgin Voyages Expert
The most successful First Mates aren't just booking agents—they're Virgin Voyages experts. They've sailed multiple times, they know which restaurants to prioritize, they understand the entertainment schedule, and they can tell clients exactly what to expect.
Some top agents have built entire YouTube channels or social media presences around Virgin Voyages, sharing cabin tours, restaurant reviews, and insider tips. They're creating content that positions them as the go-to resource when anyone thinks about booking a Virgin cruise.
Others focus on niche markets. Since Virgin is adults-only, they're perfect for honeymoons, friend getaways, solo travelers, LGBTQ+ groups, and couples without kids who want to relax without worrying about cannonballs in the pool.
Here's what one top-selling First Mate shared: "97% of my clients who get on this ship will rebook with me. I have a group right now—18 people—and My Next Virgin Voyage requests are coming into my inbox like crazy". That repeat business is where the real money is.
Common Challenges and How to Handle Them
Not everything is smooth sailing (pun intended). Virgin Voyages is still relatively new compared to Royal Caribbean or Carnival, so there are some quirks.
The Virgin Voyages app is essential for pretty much everything—dining reservations, shore excursion bookings, checking your daily schedule. But honestly, the app has gotten mixed reviews, with some sailors frustrated by the interface. As a First Mate, you need to help your clients understand how to use it before they board.
Unlike other cruise lines, Virgin doesn't have a traditional cruise director making announcements throughout the day. Instead, they have the "Happenings Cast" team, which is more low-key. Some people love it, others miss that traditional cruise director energy. Set expectations with your clients ahead of time.
Entertainment on Virgin is amazing, but the venues are smaller than on mega ships, and there's no reservation system for most shows. You need to arrive early—sometimes up to two hours early—to get good seats for popular performances. Make sure your clients know this.
Virgin also has some strict policies about agent conduct. They've cracked down on agents soliciting passengers onboard, leaving business cards around the ship, or offering rebates (giving part of your commission back to clients to make it look like a discount). Don't do any of that—it can get your First Mate account terminated and you could even be banned from sailing.
Marketing Yourself as a First Mate
To really succeed selling Virgin Voyages, you need to market yourself effectively. Create a dedicated landing page on your website showcasing Virgin Voyages' unique perks—adults-only experience, luxury dining, all-inclusive pricing.
Use social media, especially Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook groups, to share content. Post photos from your own Virgin cruises, create reels highlighting the Scarlet Night party or the food options, and engage with people asking questions in cruise groups.
Email marketing works too. Send targeted campaigns with personalized offers and follow-ups. If you've got past cruise clients, reach out and let them know about Virgin's adults-only vibe—it might be exactly what they're looking for.
Consider creating niche content like blog posts, YouTube videos, or hosting webinars about Virgin Voyages. Position yourself as the expert, and clients will come to you instead of you always chasing them.
Virgin provides marketing materials through the First Mates portal, so take advantage of those resources. They've got flyers, social media graphics, and sales guides to help you promote their sailings.
Virgin Voyages vs. Other Cruise Lines
When clients ask how Virgin compares to Royal Caribbean, Carnival, or Norwegian, here's what you tell them.
Virgin is more expensive upfront, but it includes way more. On Royal Caribbean, you're paying extra for WiFi, drinks, specialty dining, and gratuities. On Virgin, all that is included in your base fare. When you add up all those extras on traditional cruise lines, Virgin often comes out cheaper or the same price with a much better experience.
The adults-only factor is huge. If your clients are traveling without kids and want a more sophisticated atmosphere, Virgin is the obvious choice. The entertainment is edgier, the dining is more upscale, and the whole vibe is different from family-focused cruise lines.
Virgin focuses more on relaxation and evening entertainment rather than mega water slides and zip lines. It's perfect for couples, friend groups, solo travelers, and anyone who wants to unwind without kids around.
The biggest downside compared to Royal Caribbean is fleet size. Royal has 29 ships offering tons of itinerary options and departure dates. Virgin has four ships, so there are fewer sailing options, especially if clients are locked into specific travel dates. But the trade-off is a more intimate, boutique experience.
Frequently Asked Questions About Selling Virgin Voyages
What is a Virgin Voyages First Mate?
A First Mate is Virgin Voyages' term for a trained travel agent who specializes in selling their cruises. First Mates go through Virgin's Seacademy training program and have access to special tools, perks, and support to help clients book the perfect voyage.
Do I need to be a travel agent to become a First Mate?
Yes, you need to be affiliated with a registered host agency that has CLIA, IATA, or other recognized industry credentials. You can't register as an individual—you must be working under an established agency.
How much commission do First Mates earn?
First Mates earn 16% commission on the voyage fare with zero non-commissionable fares (NCFs), plus 10% commission on pre-voyage bookables like shore excursions, bar tabs, hotels, and flights. This is one of the highest commission structures in the cruise industry.
Does it cost clients more to book with a First Mate versus directly?
Nope! The price is exactly the same whether clients book through you or directly with Virgin Voyages. The commission is built into the cruise fare, so there's no extra cost to use a travel agent. In fact, booking with you often gets them extra perks like onboard credit or priority boarding.
What are MNVVs and how can they help me sell more cruises?
MNVV stands for My Next Virgin Voyage—it's a placeholder certificate that gives clients a discount on their cruise fare plus matching onboard credit. When you sail on Virgin yourself, you can purchase these certificates for $150 and then offer them to clients for amazing value. It's one of the best tools First Mates have to close sales.
Can I transfer an existing Virgin Voyages booking to myself?
Yes, bookings can be transferred within 30 days of the original booking and before final payment is made. The client just needs to contact Virgin's Sailor Services team and request the transfer. You'll need the booking ID, ship name, voyage date, and passenger names.
What kind of training does Virgin Voyages provide?
Virgin offers Seacademy, their online learning platform with four tiers of training—Violet, Scarlet, Silver, and Gold. Each tier teaches you more about the ships, destinations, booking process, and selling strategies. Completing the training unlocks rewards like bonus commission vouchers, discounted sailing rates, and priority access to FAM trips.
Are there FAM trips for Virgin Voyages First Mates?
Yes! Virgin regularly hosts FAM trips and First Mate Appreciation voyages for top-selling agents. Gold Tier First Mates get first dibs on these trips. They also host an annual First Mate Spectacular Soiree for the top 100 agents each year.
Can I book Virgin Voyages for group travel?
Absolutely. Virgin has a Circles program specifically for groups with special perks like extended hold dates, price protection, onboard bar tab options, and complimentary packages. You need a minimum of 8 cabins to qualify as a group.
What's the cancellation policy for Virgin Voyages?
As of October 2025, Virgin has a three-tier fare structure with different cancellation policies for each level. Lock It In and Base fares are non-refundable, Essential offers Future Voyage Credits for cancellations made 45+ days out, and Premium offers the most flexibility. Always review the specific cancellation policy for the fare type your client chooses.
How long does it take to get paid as a First Mate?
Commission on the voyage fare is paid 120 days before the cruise sails, assuming the booking is paid in full. Commission on pre-voyage bookables like shore excursions is paid within 30 days after the voyage completes.
What destinations does Virgin Voyages sail to?
Virgin sails to the Caribbean, Bahamas, Mediterranean, Greek Islands, Alaska, and offers transatlantic repositioning voyages. Main departure ports include Miami, San Juan, Barcelona, Athens, Portsmouth, Los Angeles, and Seattle.
Can solo travelers book Virgin Voyages?
Yes! Virgin has specific solo cabins called Solo Insider cabins designed and priced for solo travelers without the typical single supplement. They're an adults-only cruise line, which actually makes them perfect for solo travelers looking to meet other adults.
How do I access First Mate rates for myself?
Once you complete the Silver Tier of Seacademy (15 lessons), you unlock First Mate exclusive rates starting at $100 per person per night. These rates are available on select voyages and are only for Sea Terrace cabins, and you can bring a guest at the same rate.
Why Now Is the Perfect Time to Become a Virgin Voyages First Mate
Virgin Voyages is growing fast. Their sailed revenue was up 45% year-over-year in 2025, and bookings for 2026 are tracking 70% ahead of the previous year. They've got 30% repeat business after only being fully operational post-COVID for about two and a half years. That's impressive!
The demand for adults-only vacations is higher than ever! More and more people are actively seeking kid-free holidays, and Virgin is perfectly positioned to capture that market. As Nirmal Saverimuttu, Virgin's CEO, said: "If you're traveling without kids, then you're a customer".
With their fourth ship, Brilliant Lady, launching in late 2025 and expanding their itineraries to Alaska, more Mediterranean ports, and the West Coast, there's never been a better time to jump on board!
Plus, Virgin's commitment to travel agents is legit! They pay better commissions than most cruise lines, they don't play games with NCFs, they offer ongoing training and support, and they actually listen to First Mate feedback. When was the last time a cruise line raised commissions to 16% and meant it as a permanent thing?
The travel agents making the most money right now are the ones who positioned themselves early as Virgin Voyages experts. They've sailed multiple times, they've built content around the brand, and their clients trust them to deliver an amazing vacation. You can do the same thing!
Your Next Steps
Ready to become a Virgin Voyages First Mate? Here's what you do:
Make sure you're affiliated with a host agency that has proper industry credentials
Register at FirstMates.com with your agency information
Start your Seacademy training and aim for at least Silver Tier, ideally Gold
Book a Virgin voyage for yourself using First Mate rates so you can experience it firsthand
Start marketing yourself as a Virgin Voyages specialist on your website and social media
Connect with Virgin's sales team and other First Mates to build your network
Book your first clients and watch those commissions roll in
Virgin Voyages isn't just another cruise line—it's a whole different way of cruising. And as a First Mate, you're not just a travel agent—you're part of a community of advisors who are changing how people experience the open sea.
The earning potential is there. The training is free. The product sells itself. What are you waiting for? Get on board and start sailing toward success!
