Hungry? You will be. Hungry? You will be. ITTN and members of the Irish travel trade enjoyed a 5-night cruise onboard Resilient Lady hosted by Matt Lebbern (Sales Manager – Europe & New Markets for Virgin Voyages). During this 5-night “A Virgin Celebration Voyage” the group enjoyed a range of delicious cuisine onboard the Resilient Lady as she sailed from Portsmouth to Amsterdam and Bruges.
Food to Die For
The entire cruise industry typically offers excellent food, however, Virgin Voyages outshines its peers regarding her food offering. The food was exceptional, every time, every restaurant. This is especially interesting as Virgin offers guests access to its broad range of specialty dining as part of their fare. It’s not extra, it’s included. If you are a foodie, this is the cruise for you.
Virgin Voyages offers over 20+ eateries from the Test Kitchen to Korean BBQ, spicy Mexican and an extensive food market. The menus are by Michelin-starred chefs including Brad Farmerie (of Public in NYC) and Sohui Kim (of Gage & Tollner and Insa in NYC).
There are no buffets are large dining halls. There are much more intimate dining spaces around the ship so it feels more like a very trendy boutique resort that happens to float rather than a classic cruise ship. There’s also a 24/7 diner and an app that will enable you order food to your room.
We dined in a selection of fabulous, vibrant and decadent restaurants over the trip.
Gunbae (Deck 15)
If you’re into hands-on meat grilling and soju drinking, this Korean BBQ is *the* perfect spot to do all that. Every meal at Gunbae begins with a Korean drinking game that includes a complimentary shot of soju. And since there is always one who insists on being the meat master, this is the time to roast the master while the master roasts the meat. GUNBAE!
Pink Agave (Deck 5)
Inspired by Mexico’s red-hot culture and sexy food scene, the experience at Pink Agave goes far beyond the usual taco. Shareable, social, and spicy — it transports guests to the vibrant streets of Mexico City on an immersive odyssey of local cuisine. With the largest selection of tequila and mezcal at sea, and DJ beats to amp up the energy, order a bit of everything… and end up dancing on tables by the end of the night.
Razzle Dazzle (Deck 5)
We were treated to a delightful and delicious brunch in Razzle Dazzle. Boasting a bold interior and a daring new dinner menu, this happening spot offers a creative twist on some classic American comfort go-to’s. Razzle Dazzle strikes a culinary sweet spot between balance and decadence, with a menu that skews partly toward veggie-conscious dishes, and partly toward meats, sweets, and gluttonous treats. Explained as healthy, this was actually fantastic and didn’t compromise on taste or flavour.
The Wake (Deck 7)
The Wake brings a modern twist to the classic chophouses of the mid-20th century. Once guests have made their way down the grand staircase, they will enter a world that harks back to the old steakhouse, three-martini-lunch days of Madison Avenue advertising men. But, thankfully, with gender equality now and no cigar smoke. I cannot recommend the cheesecake dessert enough. It was out of this world.
Test Kitchen
We were treated to a 6-course dinner with wine pairing (incredibly reasonable for $40). There is also the option to pair with cocktails if wine isn’t your thing. This is a must and was a highlight of the trip.
Inspired by Escoffier’s Ma Cuisine, its evolving, chef-driven tasting menus are presented as an ingredient list — but the cooking techniques, presentation, and flavours are explored in ways you’ve never seen. With innovative and experiential classes like Mixology and coffee labs, you’ll try different methods and components for unique results.
Showtime Onboard Resilient Lady
Guests were treated to an existential and irreverent game show, Miss Behave with a few brave volunteers from the Irish contingent. This is bold, brash and full of audience participation!
Also onboard the sailing, guests experienced a unique performance of Persephone in The Red Room. Persephone combines everything from acrobatics and aerial stunts, singing, dancing, sparkles and sequins. There is no seating so guests can move around the theatre space to soak up the performance.
