We are on a Virgin Voyages marathon: what they just released, what’s coming up and why you should be sailing out of Amsterdam, one of the coolest cities in Europe. Most of us fly in or take the train, but sailing in and out is an experience of its own.
First, a quick reminder for anyone new: Virgin Voyages is an adults-only cruise line (18 and up), with no children on board. So if you need a vacation with just grown-ups, whether that’s your significant other, your girlfriends or your boyfriends, Virgin will be amazing for that. (Just maybe don’t invite someone you only met yesterday. I feel like that’s a recipe for disaster.)
What Virgin Just Released: Northern Europe in 2028
Virgin just released some of their best itineraries in years. To be honest, Virgin is still pretty new in the industry, so they don’t have a ton of itineraries, and they repeat some of the same ones. They just had their very first season in Alaska, which was super, super fun, and now they’re introducing Northern Europe: Norway, Denmark, Poland, Germany, the Arctic Circle, all of that area up there. I’m telling you, these itineraries are phenomenal.
The Repositioning Cruise: Barcelona to Amsterdam
The season starts with a repositioning cruise that leaves Barcelona and makes its way up to Amsterdam, stopping at the normal ports along that coast, like La Coruña.
Good to know (checked October 2026): this is the 10-night Western Europe Crossing on Valiant Lady, departing Barcelona on July 9, 2028. Virgin lists calls in Casablanca, Lisbon (overnight), La Coruña and Cherbourg before Amsterdam. Source: Virgin Voyages itinerary.
Scandinavia & Stockholm Overnight (12 Nights)
Next, starting July 19, 2028, is the 12-night Scandinavia and Stockholm Overnight, round trip from Amsterdam. It goes to Oslo, Norway; Copenhagen, Denmark; Poland (I will spare everyone my attempt at saying that name); Stockholm, Sweden, overnight; then Berlin, Germany; Denmark; and back to Amsterdam.
Good to know (checked October 2026): the Poland stop is Gdańsk (the ship docks in Gdynia), Berlin is reached from Warnemünde, and the second Danish call is Aarhus. Source: Virgin Voyages announcement.
Norwegian Fjords (7 Nights)
July 31 through August 7 is the Norwegian fjords. It’s basically what it says: it leaves from Amsterdam and goes all through Norway and its fjords. It’s supposed to be one of the most beautiful cruises you could ever go on, and I just think that would be amazing.
Waterfalls, steep green cliffs and snow-capped peaks: the scenery that makes a Norwegian fjords cruise so special.
Scandinavia & Hamburg (7 Nights)
August 7 through 14, 2028, is another seven-nighter from Amsterdam: Oslo, Norway; Copenhagen, Denmark; and Hamburg, Germany. (I’ve actually been to Hamburg. I stayed there for a very long time and performed there, so I should know how to say it.) There are three sea days, but I love this one because you touch a lot of countries. It’s hard to fly here, fly there, fly here, fly there, so it’s great that you get to see them all in one trip.
Arctic Circle & Norwegian Fjords (11 Nights)
And then there’s the one everyone’s really excited about: the Arctic Circle and Norwegian Fjords, August 14 through 25. You leave Amsterdam, go up to Bergen, Norway, then up to the Arctic Circle, then make your way back down Norway, cruising all the way, and end up in Amsterdam again. When I recorded this, it was almost sold out online, with just a few cabins left.
Good to know (checked October 2026): Virgin lists Bergen, Tromsø, Honningsvåg (for the North Cape), Trondheim, Åndalsnes and Olden on this sailing, plus an Arctic Circle crossing ceremony on board. Source: Virgin Voyages itinerary.
The Summer Pass
Here’s a little bit of gossip. Virgin also released a summer pass: all four of those Amsterdam sailings back to back (not the repositioning cruise from Barcelona), with all sorts of things included. And it sold out in an instant. So good job, Virgin, and everyone else who was selling it.
Good to know (checked October 2026): bookings for the 2028 Northern Europe season opened in August 2026, and Virgin reported its best sales day ever. Cabin prices and availability change constantly, so ask for current Sea Terrace and Central Sea Terrace pricing and offers before you decide. Source: Virgin Voyages press release.
Why You Should Sail From Amsterdam
If you’ve only ever visited the city of Amsterdam, that’s still pretty good. I absolutely love Amsterdam; it’s one of my favorite places. I don’t think I’ve ever laughed so hard in a city in my life. But sailing in and out was really, really cool.
I had the privilege of doing it on an Iceland sailing about a year ago. We left Portsmouth, in England, and went directly across to Amsterdam. And here’s what not a lot of people know: you actually have to go through a lock, both on the way in toward Amsterdam and on the way out. It’s really cool to experience, especially since you don’t expect it. So if you never wanted to do the Panama Canal, but you’ve always thought, “Ooh, I want to be in a lock on a cruise ship,” this is how you do it. I can’t even begin to tell you what a great time I had.
Good to know (checked October 2026): ships reach Amsterdam from the North Sea through the sea locks at IJmuiden, at the mouth of the North Sea Canal. Source: Port of Amsterdam.
Plus, what a great city to spend a few days in before or after your cruise. (I have a whole episode on Amsterdam, because it deserves one.) Virgin really nailed it on this one. If you’ve never sailed out of there, go do it. It is well, well worth it.
Amsterdam’s canals: a great reason to arrive a few days before your cruise, or stay a few days after.
Why I Love a Virgin Overnight
One of my favorite things Virgin does is the overnight. For a large cruise ship (I mean bigger than a yacht or an expedition ship) to spend the night somewhere, I just think that’s so cool. I’ve done it in Ibiza, I’ve done it in Mykonos and I’ve done it in Amsterdam. If you’ve never stayed overnight somewhere, find an itinerary that does.
You can leave the ship during the day and not stress about getting back. You’re not running down the pier yelling, “Don’t leave without me!” It’s not leaving. And it lets you experience both the daytime and the nighttime life of that port.
Cooking in a Mykonian Home
In Mykonos, during the day, we cooked in a Mykonian home. We made all Greek food: tzatziki, spanakopita, all kinds of stuff. Then, instead of eating what we made (of course, that would have taken much longer), she had already prepared a meal for us, and we sat down and ate. The best part was that we drank wine from her grandfather’s vineyard, straight out of a glass jar, because it wasn’t wine from the store. It was one of my coolest experiences, and I’ve had a lot of them. The food was so good, and I’m dying to do it again: just sitting in her home, eating and drinking and being merry.
The 180° Sunset Bar
Then, because we were staying overnight, we got to go to the 180° Sunset Bar. If you are going to Mykonos, do not miss this bar. It is jaw-dropping, breathtaking, just unreal. It sits on a cliff at the top of Mykonos, and as we sat up there watching the sunset, we were also watching a Celebrity ship sail away, and I thought, “Oh, that stinks for Celebrity. They don’t get to experience the nightlife in Mykonos.”
After the sun went down, it turned into this massive party. Everyone was dancing, and there was loud music. It was almost like a tribute to the sun going down. It was one of the best sunsets I’ve ever experienced, and so much fun.
Golden hour in Mykonos. With an overnight, you’re still in port when the sun goes down.
Mykonos is known for nightlife. Maybe clubs aren’t your jam. But at least go see it. You don’t have to go in with 700 people in one tiny bar, jumping around with lights flashing. Just see it, feel the vibe and say, “Well, I got to see that. Not my thing, but that’s really cool.” That’s what Virgin’s overnights give you: experiences you wouldn’t get on any other cruise line.
Eat & Drink Month
Every year, Virgin does an Eat & Drink festival, and I absolutely love it. I think I’ve been on board almost every time they’ve done it. Not everything changes, but there are elevated and added options: the food is different, the pairings are different and the drinks on board are a little different. This year’s lineup included:
A sensory dinner at The Wake, one of the most popular restaurants on the ship, with a menu designed to engage all the senses, for a small group of sailors. (I wondered if it would be like dining in the dark, which totally panics me a bit. I always say I have a kid palate. But I am open to the experience, always, always, always.)
Color Me Curious, a playful three-course dinner at Extra Virgin where the food and drinks are matched by color. How fun is that? I’m picturing limoncello, bright yellow, with something lemon.
The speakeasy, in a secret location on board. Sailors check in and lock up their phones, and it’s an intimate, immersive atmosphere. How cool is it to do something no one else gets to do?
Barrel-aged at sea, a special spirit aging in a barrel on board during the voyage, which you can only see if you go to the speakeasy. Apparently the motion of the ship helps develop the flavor, which I think is hilarious, because all I can picture is the liquid swooshing back and forth in the barrel.
Most things on Virgin are included, but these extras cost more. They’re also not guaranteed. If you’ve never been on board: once you get on, you have to go on your app and book everything quickly, and it’s a bit panic-ridden: “Am I going to get this?” With only a small group per dinner, the special experiences can sell out very quickly.
Good to know (checked October 2026): the 2026 Eat & Drink festival ran on sailings from late August through September. Virgin hasn’t announced its 2027 lineup yet, so check the festival dates before you book if you want to be on board for it. Source: Virgin Voyages.
Samantha’s Secret Spot: The Bimini Beach Club
Closer to home, Virgin’s Miami sailings often go to Key West and to Bimini, where Virgin has a private beach club. Bimini has some of the bluest water I have ever seen in my life, and I’ve seen a lot of blue water. I swear it’s quite possibly the most beautiful. There are two pools and a massive beach, and if you’re a RockStar, you have a whole section to yourself. It’s super relaxing, super fun, and they even do a show in the pool. A cabana makes it easy: you just show up, and it’s right there.
And Key West? It makes me laugh when people poo-poo it: “I don’t want to go on a cruise to Key West.” Have you been? It’s super fun. I’ve probably sailed to Key West more than anywhere else in the world, because it’s so easy to hop on in Miami. Get off the ship and go experience it. There’s so much to do.
My Favorite Cabin: The Seriously Suite
When my good friend Kelly and I sail together (we started this journey together, we love this product and we sail a ton), we love the Seriously Suite. It’s the lead-in RockStar suite, and it’s one of my favorites because of the location: depending on the ship, it’s on deck 11 or 12, very midship. It’s a great junior suite. It’s not very large; it’s perfect. And the bathroom is phenomenal. It’s everything you’d want in a bathroom, especially on a cruise ship.
Samantha’s Suitcase: My Takeaway
I have sailed Virgin over 50 times, and these 2028 Northern Europe sailings are some of the most exciting itineraries they’ve ever released. If one is on your list, don’t wait, because they’re going fast. Find a sailing with an overnight, sail in and out of Amsterdam through that lock and spend a few days in the city before or after.
Whether you’re thinking about the Arctic Circle, the fjords or your very first Virgin voyage, my team at Fabulous Adventures Travel sells a ton of Virgin Voyages, and we’d love to help you find the right sailing and cabin. And remember: it doesn’t cost you a thing to book through us.
