Best places for a basic beer and bites on a Virgin Voyages cruise

The blue collar, red-blooded-American’s guide to drinking beer on a Virgin Voyages cruise

Rum is king in the Caribbean. Now I can appreciate a good piña colada or mojito from time-to-time but, at the end of the day, I’m happiest with a bucket of simple light American beers and shitty pub food. If your idea of a Splash of Romance is endless shrimp and White Claws at Red Lobster, this is the Virgin Voyages beer drinking guide for you. Today I will share my favorite places to spend your Bar Tab and hammer some snacks onboard Virgin Voyages’ Scarlet Lady.

Surf, turf, and suds at The Dock

The Dock is one of my favorite places onboard the Scarlet Lady. The Dock sits at the back of the ship (aft, if you’re fancy) on deck 7 and consists of wooden loungers, day beds, and one of the best views for the sail away party. Bring something to keep the sun out of your eyes and grab a lounger or a daybed early. These spots will fill up quickly.

Grab yourself a bucket of five beers to share (or not, you’re not driving today!) You can save a couple bucks on your bar tab for buying in bulk. Sit back in your lounger and marvel at the tremendous wake of the Scarlet Lady. But remember to pace yourself. We still have a lot of beer to drink. Flip up the red flag on your menu to order hanger steak and grilled shrimp from The Dock House. Sure, the portions are smaller than you’d get at Red Lobster, but you can keep ordering as much as you want, and they keep bringing them out! Talk about endless shrimp!

Try a hot dog flight at The Social Club

So you booked your cruise before the Monday Night Football schedule came out, and you’re afraid you’ll miss a key primetime divisional matchup. Fear not sailor! Make your way midship to The Social Club on dock 7. Grab a beer and a prime spot in front of the TV. Soak up the suds with a hot dog flight and some Cracker Jacks. The hot dog flight isn’t an “official” Virgin Voyages menu item but if you order one of every hot dog, nobody is going to stop you.

Hot dog selections may vary on your cruise. I have seen your traditional all-American hotdog, a Philly hotdog smothered in onions, peppers, and cheese whiz, and what Virgin Voyages calls a Chicago dog. Fair warning to the true connoisseurs, the Chicago dog is not a true Chicago. But, if you’re like me and can’t spell connoisseurs without spell check, you can probably let that slide. If you’re curious, there’s a vegan dog as well. But vegan or not, the prime rule of hot dog remains: it’s simply unacceptable to ruin a good dog with ketchup!

You can also find boozy shakes at The Social Club, with air hockey and classic arcade games just around the corner, so you certainly won’t be bored. Heck, you can even score in public at The Social Club! The social club keeps limited hours and is a popular spot for trivia and karaoke, so be sure to check the schedule on the Virgin Voyages Sailor app.

Belly up next to an old salt and share (mostly true) stories at The Loose Cannon

The Loose Cannon is the quietest and most under appreciated bar on the Virgin Voyages ships. I like to party, but sometimes I just like to strike up a conversation and enjoy a trusty brew with a new friend. I loved the seaside inspired design of the Loose Cannon. I felt like I was in an old fishing village! There’s a free jukebox at the Loose Cannon, so you can play your old favorites or sing a rousing rendition of Piano Man with your new friends.

The Loose Cannon is just a step or two classier than your favorite local dive bar. Grab some wings around the corner at The Social Club and plow through a couple prairie martinis (green olives in light beer, try it!) If you’re really feeling social, order a pitcher or the five shot monster, SH-OCT-A-PUS, to share with your friends. Plus, SH-OCT-A-PUS doubles as a fun tower to stack your empties as you drink your way through the evening!

Final Thoughts: Basic beer options are limited but available on Virgin Voyages Cruises

If you want to spend your Bar Tab on cheap beers, you’re in luck. You’re not going to find Busch Lattes onboard a Virgin Voyages cruise, but they do have all the Michelob Ultra and Coors Light your precious liver can handle. Of course, Virgin Voyages offers a ton of other fancy and imported beers as well. If IPAs and imports are your thing, check out The Draught House. If you’re like me and just enjoy a good old fashioned light American beer, give my recommendations a shot and tell me what you think.