What to Wear on Virgin Voyages: Your Complete Cruise Outfit Guide
Sailing on Virgin Voyages? From the iconic Scarlet Night to PJ parties, themed events, and sunny port days, knowing what to wear on Virgin Voyages is essential. This guide will help you pack stylishly, look your best, and link directly to top outfit options so you can shop as you read!
Elevate Your Escapes is a top 30 ranking, gold-tier certified Virgin Voyages First Mate (travel agent) for two years in a row. I’ve sailed nineteen Virgin Voyages across all four lady ships in North America, the Caribbean, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. I can bring you the best tips for your Virgin Voyages packing list!
Whether you’re a first-time cruiser or a seasoned sailor, this guide covers every outfit type, accessory, and swimsuit you’ll need. All of the pieces here are generally inexpensive – let’s save our cash for excursions and drinks (remember: Virgin Voyages is not all-inclusive)!
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Want the best discounts, onboard credit,and personalized planning support at NO COST TO YOU, email me at el@elevateyourescapes.com!
What to Wear on Virgin Voyages Quick Guide:
- Scarlet Night
- PJ Party
- Theme Parties: 80s, Electric, Y2K, We Fancy
- Ports
- Dinner & Evening Outfits
Scarlet Night Outfits
Scarlet Night is Virgin Voyages’ signature event where everyone dresses in red for a night of dancing, cocktails, and unforgettable memories. Let’s start with what to wear on Scarlet Night, since it’s the outfit most sailors are planning for!
TIP: Most sailors will wear bright red. Outfits range from standard red to full on sparkles, shimmer, boas, and other elaborate outfits.
Scarlet Night for Women
Pack stylish, eye-catching red outfits:
- Red dresses
The ultimate statement piece for a night of red-hot fun. See the dress here.
This Zaful satin red dress is a favorite!
This BTFBM dress is bold and classy.
This bodycon party dress is such a classic – over the years, I’ve owned it in red, dark blue, and purple.
It’s tough to see in this photo but I’m wearing this one-shoulder Anrabess red dress!
More red dresses we love:
- Boriflors Ruched Bodycon Midi Dress
- Lashigan Off-Shoulder Dress
- Light Dot Dot Halter Women’s Summer Dress
- Sparkly Ruched Bodycon
Red jumpsuits / rompers:
Accessorize with a boa and red glasses.
- Statement heels or stylish flats
- Bold red accessories (rhinestone earrings, bracelets, clutch)
Scarlet Night for Men
Men can go classic or modern:
- Red button-down shirts – Silk Satin Long Sleeve with design, Satin Long Sleeve without design, Short Sleeve , Two Piece Set
- Stylish polos or fitted tees – Polo Shirt Two Piece Set,
- Metallic Shorts
- Dark jeans or tailored pants
For a packing list outside of clothing:
Check out our Virgin Voyages Packing List post
Nautical Accessories & Cruise Essentials
Complete your Virgin Voyages looks with nautical-inspired accessories:
- Shell Purse – pictured below!
- Seashell earrings
- Starfish bracelet, starfish earrings – large, starfish hairclips, starfish earrings loop
- Striped scarves or sarongs
- Navy and white nautical jewelry – anchor pendant
- Captains Hat
PJ Party
Virgin Voyages hosts fun PJ parties, perfect for relaxing after a day at sea:
- Cozy pajamas or matching sets – Ekouaer Silk Pajamas, Tank Top PJs with shorts, Red Silk Robe, Short Red Robe, Matching Couples Silk PJS,
- Slippers or slides
- Sleep masks
What to Wear for Virgin Voyages Theme Parties
Virgin Voyages loves themed nights, giving cruisers a chance to have fun with fashion.
Klub Rubiks 80s Party – Scarlet Lady & Resilient Lady
The 80s Party and Electric are on different ships. You can definitely use any of the accessories below for either.
- Neon colors, leg warmers, oversized jackets
- Retro accessories like scrunchies or funky sunglasses – Full women’s 80s Costume
- Men’s 80s Costume
Electric Party – Brilliant Lady
- Metallic fabrics, LED accessories
- Neon clothing set
- Statement sneakers or flashy shoes
Y2K Party – Scarlet Lady
- Low-rise pants, crop tops, rhinestone accessories
- Mini backpacks or chunky sandals
- Colorblock Romper (I wear this regularly)
- 90s Neon Design Button Up
- Men’s Retro 90s Costume
We Fancy Party – Valiant Lady & Resilient Lady
- Just dress nice! Many people will wear gold because that’s what the Happenings Cast wears
You can never have too many sparkles at We Fancy – I love wearing this sparkly dress!
Also, peep the adorable starfish bracelet.
Bought this Grace Karin dress for We Fancy and ended up wearing it for New Years.
Here’s another nice Grace Karin sparkle option.
- Statement jewelry and heels
Men either wear full-on fancy costumes or regular clothes. There’s no in-between.
What to Wear for Virgin Voyages Ports & Daytime
During port days, comfort meets style:
- Caribbean Sundresses
These sundresses are exactly what you’d want to wear when exploring Caribbean ports like Roatan and Costa Maya to Bacalar.
This white and blue strapless dress is perfect for hot port days – like this day out in Shirley Heights, Antigua!
I featured this same maxi dress below – now showing it in pink instead of red. I have it in multiple colors. Here I’m wearing it in Cartagena, Colombia. It was the perfect option for day to night, as it was a long port day – 9 a.m. to midnight!
This skirt is fun and flowy – perfect for a beach day in Ocho Rios, Jamaica.
Pair it with this beach bag for a cute look.
Now here’s something totally different. I’ve taken two rainforest excursions in the caribbean – one from Castries, St Lucia (here) and the other in Nevis. I was so glad I brought a raincoat and quick-dry hat with me.
What to Wear on Virgin Voyages: Port City Dresses (Mostly for Europe)
Here are some examples of outfits that I wore on Virgin Voyages port days in cities like Split, Dubrovnik, Lisbon, and more.
Now this is an ideal jumper for a classy wine tasting day. It looks just like a dress – but has shorts!
This cute sundress is fun and bouncy – perfect for a port day in a small town near Cannes.
This Nerlerolian red maxi dress is perfect for exploring Valletta, Malta. The color really pops!
So, short flowy skirts or even thigh-length are not ideal on port days. Many of the ports are windy, or you end up going up hills to viewpoints that are windy. Here is the Lommoj skort version of this cutsey red flowy skirt. No need to worry with a skort!
Simple red and white polka dots will do... also for Tuscany… on this Acevog Sundress
A girly Italian-inspired dress styled for Capri
A Mallorca evening departure calls for a bit of a funky dress.
What to Wear on Virgin Voyages: Around the Ship
This flattering white flowy dress perfectly contrasts against the onboard red and ocean blue. This photo was taken on Brilliant Lady with my hometown of New Jersey in the background!
If you like the look of white, look at this Ellames Womens Spaghetti Strap dress and the Square Neck Short Puff Sleeves Mini Dress.
I love hopping around the ship in this Allegra K metallic red jacket.
Bathing Suits – Red:
This red one-piece bathing suit is comfortable, and still flattering.
More red bathing suits we love:
- Smismivo Vintage Retro One Piece
- Rutly Womens One Piece Cutout
- TemptMe One Piece with Cutout
- RxRxCoco Front Cross Cut Out
- Suuksess One Piece with White Trim
- BMJL Two Piece Color Block with White
- Suksess Women’s Wrap Bikini
White bathing suits we love:
- Verdusa Twist Front
- Herseas Two-Piece U-Wire High Waisted
- Meyeeka Women’s One Piece
- Tempt Me V Neck One Piece
- Tempt Me Halter One Piece
Daily Cover-Up
Long sleeve beach blouse – that I also wear off the beach!
- Comfortable sneakers or walking sandals – Adidas Women’s Advantage, AllBirds Tree Runners or tan Toms Classics, depends on how much support I need
- Sun hats (run hat) and UV-protective clothing
- Retro Vintage white sunglasses or Vintage Square Cat Eye sunglasses
If you’re looking for ideas for things to do in port, check out the itineraries on my Places I have Visited page. You can also read my Viator recommendations. All booked clients get personalized support in planning for ports – reach out to me to learn more at el@elevateyourescapes.com.
What to Wear for Virgin Voyages: Dinner & Evening Wear
Virgin Voyages evenings are all about smart, stylish, and comfortable outfits. While there’s no formal night, you’ll still want to feel polished for dining at one of the ship’s many restaurants or enjoying the nightlife.
For Women
- Chic dresses or jumpsuits
- Stylish skirts and tops for a casual-yet-elegant vibe
I love simple black dresses like this one!
This PrettyGarden one-shoulder red romper can easily go from day to evening to night! (This photo was not taken on the ship!)
- Comfortable heels, wedges, or stylish flats
- Statement jewelry and accessories to elevate simple outfits
For Men
- Smart button-down shirts or polos
- Tailored pants or chinos
- Loafers or casual dress shoes
- Lightweight blazer or jacket for cooler evenings
Tip: Though there is no official dress code, most people dress in at least ‘smart casual’. Some Virgin Voyages restaurants are a little swankier than others – for example, Brilliant Lady’s Rojo provides more of an upscale feel than Razzle Dazzle on the other ships.
Virgin Voyages Outfit Checklist
- Use this cruise-ready checklist to pack efficiently:
- Scarlet Night: Red dresses, jumpsuits, red shirts, stylish shoes
- PJ Party: Pajamas (Plus slippers, sleep mask if you want a full outfit)
- Theme Parties: Outfits for 80s, Electric, Y2K, We Fancy
- Swimwear: Red and white swimsuits, cover-ups
- Daytime & Ports: Casual dresses, shorts, walking shoes, hats
- Accessories: Nautical jewelry, scarves, tote bag, sunglasses (I live in these Ray-Bans)
What to Wear on Virgin Voyages: FAQ
Q: Do I need formal wear on Virgin Voyages?
No formal nights exist on Virgin Voyages. Smart casual and stylish outfits are perfect but you can wear whatever you want.
Q: What should I wear to Scarlet Night?
Everyone wears red! Dresses, jumpsuits, and statement accessories work perfectly for women. Red shirts and jeans or pants are ideal for men.
Q: Can I bring swimwear for Scarlet Night?
Yes! Red swimsuits are popular, especially if you make it up to the pool deck.
The party starts in the roundabout area near On the Rocks at 9 p.m. then moves up to the pool deck around 10:45pm. Most sailors don’t change. Some even jump in the pool with their full evening outfits on!
Q: Are themed parties optional?
Yes. Scarlet Night will basically take over the ship. PJ Party also draws sailors. However, many never make it into The Manor for the other theme parties, and many don’t dress up either.
Q: What accessories are recommended for daywear?
Nautical scarves, hats, sunglasses, and tote bags are perfect for port days.
SEE OUR VIRGIN VOYAGES PACKING LIST
Are you going to Alaska / Vancouver on Virgin Voyages Brilliant Lady? Check our dedicated resources:
We also have a specific packing list to explain what to wear and what to pack for in Morocco port cities, like Casablanca, Tangier, and Marrakech.
Final Thoughts: Dress to Impress, Sail in Confidence
Virgin Voyages is about fun, fashion, and unforgettable experiences. With this guide, you can pack efficiently, shop confidently, and look amazing at every event—from Scarlet Night to PJ parties and sunny port days.
Every outfit is an opportunity to express yourself and make memories, and with our suggestions, you can have your wardrobe ready before you even step on the ship.
Now that you know what to wear, consider everything else you’ll have to pack, detailed in our Virgin Voyages Packing List Guide.
Want the best discounts and Sailor Loot deals on Virgin Voyages?
Contact me at el@elevateyourescapes.com
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