Virgin Voyages Accessibility Guide

Virgin Voyages offers Fully Accessible Cabins across their fleet, designed for guests who use wheelchairs, scooters, or other mobility aids. These cabins are available in multiple categories, including Sea Terrace (balcony) and Sea View configurations, so accessibility does not limit you to the cheapest cabin type.

Fully Accessible Cabins feature:

• Wider doorways: Cabin entry doors and bathroom doors are widened to accommodate wheelchairs and scooters.
• Roll-in showers: No step or lip at the shower entry, with grab bars and a fold-down shower seat installed.
• Lowered fixtures: Closet rods, shelves, and in-cabin controls are positioned at accessible heights.
• Additional floor space: The cabin layout provides more open floor area for wheelchair manoeuvrability.
• Accessible balcony (Sea Terrace): The balcony doorway is widened and the threshold is ramped or flush for wheelchair access to the outdoor space.

To book a Fully Accessible Cabin, you can:

• Select the accessible cabin option during online booking on the Virgin Voyages website. Accessible cabins are clearly marked on the deck plan.
• Call Virgin Voyages' accessibility team directly to discuss your specific needs and have them assign the most appropriate cabin.
• Book through a travel advisor like Sean at Revolution Travel, who can coordinate directly with Virgin Voyages' accessibility department on your behalf.

For Canadian travellers, booking early is especially important for accessible cabins. Each ship has a limited number of Fully Accessible Cabins, and they are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Popular sailing dates (March Break, holiday periods, summer) can see accessible cabins sell out months in advance. If you require an accessible cabin, book your sailing as early as possible to ensure availability in your preferred category and location.

If you have mobility challenges but do not require a wheelchair-accessible cabin (for example, you walk with a cane or have limited stamina but do not use a wheelchair), a standard cabin may be sufficient. However, be aware that all Virgin Voyages cabins have a step into the shower and relatively compact bathrooms. Discuss your specific needs with the accessibility team before booking to determine the right cabin type.

This is one of the most important things for Canadian travellers with mobility challenges to understand: Virgin Voyages does not provide wheelchair assistance onboard or at ports. You must bring your own mobility equipment and be able to manage independently or with the assistance of a travelling companion.

What Virgin Voyages does provide:

• Wheelchair-accessible pathways: All public areas of the ship are accessible via elevators and ramps. There are no stairs-only areas in the main guest spaces.
• Accessible restaurants: All dining venues are wheelchair-accessible, though some may have tighter spacing between tables. Staff will assist with seating arrangements.
• Accessible entertainment venues: The Manor, The Red Room, and other entertainment spaces have designated wheelchair-accessible seating areas.
• Pool lift: Accessible pool entry is available via a pool lift at the main pool.
• Accessible tender boats: For ports where the ship anchors offshore and guests are tendered to shore (such as Bimini), accessible tender arrangements can be made. Notify the accessibility team in advance.

What Virgin Voyages does not provide:

• Wheelchairs or scooters: You must bring your own or rent from a third-party provider before the cruise. Several companies offer cruise-ship wheelchair and scooter rentals delivered directly to the port terminal in Miami.
• Personal assistance with boarding, disembarking, or moving around the ship: The crew will open doors, call elevators, and offer general courtesy assistance, but they are not trained or staffed to provide personal mobility assistance.
• Wheelchair assistance at ports of call: When you go ashore at Caribbean or Mediterranean ports, you are responsible for your own mobility. Port infrastructure varies widely; some ports have smooth, accessible pathways, while others have cobblestoned streets, steep hills, or rough terrain that is challenging for wheelchair users.

For Canadian travellers who use a wheelchair or scooter, the practical reality is that you need to bring your equipment, ensure it fits through the accessible cabin doorways (measure before you go), and plan your port excursions carefully. Shore Things (Virgin Voyages' port excursions) have accessibility information listed on each experience page, but many involve walking, stairs, or uneven terrain that may not be suitable.

A practical tip: contact a mobility equipment rental company that services the Port of Miami, such as Special Needs at Sea or Scootaround. They can deliver a scooter or wheelchair to the cruise terminal on embarkation day and pick it up on disembarkation day. This can be easier and cheaper than transporting your own equipment from Canada, especially if you are flying.

Virgin Voyages has a dedicated accessibility team that handles accommodation requests. The key is to contact them as early as possible after booking your sailing, ideally at least 60-90 days before departure.

The process for requesting accommodations:

• Step 1: Book your sailing. You can book online, by phone, or through a travel advisor. If you need a Fully Accessible Cabin, specify this at the time of booking.
• Step 2: Complete the Special Assistance Request Form. After booking, submit a Special Assistance Request Form through the Virgin Voyages website or by contacting their accessibility team via email or phone. This form asks about your specific needs: mobility equipment, dietary requirements, visual or hearing impairments, medical equipment that requires power, or other accommodations.
• Step 3: Receive confirmation. The accessibility team will review your request and confirm what accommodations will be in place for your sailing. Response times are typically 5-10 business days.
• Step 4: Follow up 30 days before sailing. Confirm that your accommodations are noted on your booking and that your cabin assignment is correct. Changes to cabin assignments can happen, and you want to catch any issues before embarkation day.

Types of accommodations you can request:

• Mobility: Fully Accessible Cabin, accessible tender at anchor ports, wheelchair storage, scooter charging access.
• Visual impairment: Braille signage information, assistance with ship orientation, guide dog accommodation (service animals are permitted on all Virgin Voyages ships).
• Hearing impairment: Visual alert systems in the cabin (door knock alerts, alarm clock with vibration, visual fire alarm), assistive listening devices for entertainment venues, closed captioning on in-cabin screens.
• Dietary: Severe allergies, celiac/gluten-free requirements, diabetic meal planning, or other medical dietary needs. All Virgin Voyages restaurants can accommodate common dietary restrictions, and chefs are available to discuss individual needs.
• Medical equipment: CPAP machines, oxygen concentrators, dialysis equipment, or other medical devices that require electrical power. Cabins have North American standard outlets (120V, 60Hz), compatible with Canadian medical equipment. Confirm with the accessibility team that your cabin will have adequate power access.

For Canadian travellers, working through a travel advisor like Sean at Revolution Travel can simplify this process significantly. Sean can coordinate directly with the Virgin Voyages accessibility team, ensure the correct forms are submitted, and follow up to confirm that everything is in place before your sailing. This is especially valuable for Canadians who may find it difficult to reach the US-based accessibility team during business hours due to time zone differences.

Virgin Voyages has updated their health and safety policies significantly since the early days of the pandemic. Here is what Canadian travellers need to know as of 2026:

Vaccination and Testing:

• COVID-19 vaccination requirements have been removed. You are no longer required to show proof of vaccination to board a Virgin Voyages ship.
• Pre-cruise COVID-19 testing requirements have been removed. No negative test result is needed before embarkation.
• These policies can change based on public health conditions. Check the Virgin Voyages website or your travel advisor for the most current requirements in the weeks before your sailing.

Health Declaration:

• All guests must complete a health declaration via the Virgin Voyages app within 24 hours of embarkation. This is a simple questionnaire about current symptoms and recent illness exposure.
• If you are experiencing symptoms of any contagious illness (fever, vomiting, diarrhoea, respiratory symptoms) at the time of embarkation, you may be denied boarding or required to visit the ship's medical centre for evaluation.

Pregnancy Policy:

• Guests who are pregnant may sail on Virgin Voyages provided they will not be more than 23 weeks pregnant by the end of the voyage. A physician's letter confirming the estimated due date and fitness to travel may be required at embarkation.
• This policy exists because the ship's medical centre is not equipped for obstetric emergencies or childbirth. If you are close to the 23-week cutoff, carry your physician's letter with your travel documents.

Travel Insurance for Canadians:

• Canadian provincial health insurance (OHIP, RAMQ, MSP, etc.) provides minimal to zero coverage outside Canada. If you require medical treatment onboard the ship or at a port of call, you will be billed directly and the costs can be substantial. A visit to the ship's medical centre for a minor issue can cost $200-$500 USD. An emergency medical evacuation can cost $50,000-$100,000 USD or more.
• Comprehensive travel medical insurance is essential for every Canadian cruiser. Policies from providers like Manulife, Blue Cross, or Travel Guard typically cost $50-$200 CAD per person for a 7-night cruise and cover emergency medical treatment, medical evacuation, trip interruption, and lost luggage.
• If you have travel insurance through your credit card (common with premium cards like the TD First Class Travel Visa or Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite), verify the coverage limits and ensure they apply to cruise travel specifically. Some credit card insurance policies have exclusions for pre-existing conditions or age-based limitations.

Medical Facilities Onboard:

• Each Virgin Voyages ship has a medical centre staffed by licensed physicians and nurses. The medical centre can handle common illnesses, minor injuries, and stabilisation of serious conditions. It is not a hospital and cannot perform surgery or manage complex medical emergencies beyond initial stabilisation.
• Medical centre visits are not included in your fare. You will be billed directly to your onboard account. This is another reason why travel medical insurance is essential for Canadians.

For the most up-to-date information on Virgin Voyages health and safety policies, visit their website or consult with your travel advisor before booking. Policies can change with short notice based on public health conditions, port requirements, or regulatory changes.