Virgin Voyages Gluten Free Dining Guide 

I recently sailed on a 5-night Caribbean cruise with Virgin Voyages, and I cannot recommend them enough for gluten-free dining options. As someone who must eat a strict gluten-free diet, I was nervous about the dining as it’s not always been the best experience on a cruise. Say goodbye to ordering meals the day before and limited options due to dietary restrictions. I was in heaven. In this guide, I’m sharing my experience, including where to grab the best food, how to reserve restaurants and the steps they take to ensure your safety. Read on to find out all the details.

Is Virgin Voyages all-inclusive? 

First, let me explain what is included on a Virgin Voyages cruise. The cruise fare includes all food, dining experiences and gratuities. There’s no speciality dining fees, so you can eat at all 20 eateries onboard. From quick bites, brunch, and snacks to fine dining, you choose when and where you want to eat onboard.  Essential drinks such as water, soda, drip coffee and teas are also included. But if you wish to have alcoholic beverages, premium coffees and pressed juices, order a drinks package. It’s worth adding this to your booking before you set sail, as Virgin Voyages will give you something extra based on the value.   

Is it safe to eat gluten-free on Virgin Voyages? 

With a commitment to providing inclusive and accommodating experiences for all guests, Virgin Voyages has set the bar high for gluten-free dining at sea. When dining in restaurants, your server will immediately ask if anyone at the table has any allergies. As soon as you mention celiac/coeliac or gluten-free, they will talk through the options available, including any modifications needed to make the meal safe. The menu has gluten-free items marked with a (gf) symbol.   

If you want to eat in The Galley (like a Food Court concept) it’s a similar process. Mention your requirements to the crew member, and they’ll ensure what you’re eating is safe to consume. The grab-and-go boxes have allergies conveniently listed on the box. Below, I detail my experiences at each eatery I visited. 

How do the dining reservations work? 

With a booking confirmation, download the Virgin Voyages app. The app provides sailors with information about the voyage. It’s also where you can make dining reservations. Sailors can check out menus and make reservations before setting sail. The most popular time is between 7.30 – 8.30 pm but don’t worry if there are no times available that you want. Once onboard the ship, you can make dining reservations in person on embarkation. All restaurants also accept walk-ins. There may be a wait time, but you can eat at your chosen restaurant.     

Sailing from Miami, Florida? Check out this Gluten Free Guide to Miami

Best Restaurants on Virgin Voyages, Gluten-Free

Now for the best part, where to try some delicious gluten-free food. There are six main speciality restaurants onboard. These are the restaurants you can reserve in the app. I’ve detailed my experience at each one below.

Pink Agave, Mexican

I’m starting with one of my favourites, Pink Agave. This place serves delicious Mexican cuisine, and the best part is most of the menu is naturally gluten-free. It’s an elevated Mexican dining experience with upscale decor and a lovely atmosphere. There is also a bar area, where you can order the best margaritas on the ship. 

We ate here on our first night, and since most of the menu was gluten-free, I could share many dishes with my husband. To start, we ordered the guacamole and chips, potatoes and chorizo, and a tuna and avocado tower. We also shared our main dishes, which were the duck and pork. There is only one dessert that is gluten-free, the chocolate tamale. I ordered it to try, but I was so full to really enjoy it. I could eat here again and again.

The Wake, Steak & Seafood

As the name suggests The Wake specialises in steak and seafood dishes. It’s more of a classic steakhouse with elegant decor and seating. They take breakfast/brunch and dinner reservations here, and it’s worth trying out both. 

The breakfast/brunch menu doesn’t have a lot of gluten-free options, but they will modify menu items. To start, I ordered the fennel and citrus salad for something different to try, and it was tasty. The crew member advised I could order gluten-free avocado benedict (on gluten-free toast), so I did. It was very filling and delicious. The other gluten-free menu option is a bell pepper stuffed with egg. 

For dinner, I knew I wanted to order the steak as it receives great reviews from sailors. To start, I decided to try the bone marrow and quickly regretted my decision. The crew member serving us had no hesitation in changing it for the wedge salad. I then ordered the filet mignon with some wild mushrooms and modified potatoes. It was melt-in-your-mouth divine. This restaurant lacks gluten-free dessert options, but I was so full it didn’t bother me.   

Extra Virgin, Italian

Extra Virgin is the Italian restaurant onboard the Virgin Voyages ships. The decor has an elegant traditional Italian feel, it was one of the busiest restaurants onboard. The menu is extensive and comprises four courses: antipasto, affettai misti, secondo and dessert. To start, I ordered the beef carpaccio and loved their take on it. It had parmesan, mushrooms and crispy brussels sprouts (the menu did say sunchoke), so good. The affettai misti course was a selection of meats and cheeses with nuts, honey and aubergine (eggplant) chutney to share. I enjoyed some gluten-free bread with it, absolutely delicious.  

I was excited to try the next course, pasta, as I’d read Extra Virgin makes all the pasta fresh.  The crew member advised the gluten-free pasta would be penne, which is quite standard. I ordered the carbonara, but it was penne pasta in a bland white sauce sprinkled with fresh parsley. I was disappointed, so skipped this meal to save room for my fourth course, New York strip steak. The steak was cooked to perfection. The butter on top was the ideal topping. I was too full to enjoy dessert, there’s a theme here. But Extra Virgin offers a range of sorbet flavours and a chestnut cake as gluten-free options.    

Gunbae, Korean BBQ

Gunbae is a Korean BBQ restaurant with a party atmosphere. Groups of 6 sit around the grill in the middle of the table and watch their food being prepared and cooked. There are also drinking games, so it’s a fun restaurant to try out. The gluten-free food is prepared separately due to cross-contamination issues, but it’s still a fun concept to watch and be a part of. I loved the Asian flavours of the meat and bibimbap dishes.

Thinking about a Virgin Voyages cruise? Read our full review!

The Test Kitchen, 6-Course

The Test Kitchen is Virgin Voyages’ take on a Michelin-curated menu concept with 6-courses. The menu has basic details, so you’re not entirely sure what the dish will comprise of. There are two menus on offer, but depending on the length of the cruise, you might only have one choice. This was the case for us, and we tried menu 2. The restaurant itself is incredibly beautiful, very modern and sleek. Upon entry, they give you a welcome drink and shown your seat/table. We sat at the bar/kitchen area to watch the meal preparations.

In terms of gluten-free options, they do an amazing job at modifying the menu to suit. However, The Test Kitchen is the one restaurant I felt the most exposed. I was served two plates in error, I double-checked each dish as they came out. The crew members quickly removed the plates, but I recommend checking each dish to ensure it’s a gluten-free version. 

The food is beautifully presented, and each dish has its own unique thing going on. Every course was delicious. I loved the way each dish and flavour combination was explained before you ate. In this menu, there is a lot of smoke, foam and sauces, which added to the overall experience for me. The only obvious gluten-free modification was the strawberry dessert. I had a mango version instead, it was delicious. 

I was also celebrating my birthday, and they brought out a small cake. Unfortunately, it wasn’t gluten-free, so my husband happily devoured it. 

Razzle Dazzle, Vegetarian

Don’t let the vegetarian part scare you off trying Razzle Dazzle. There are ’naughty’ options that allow sailors to add meat. This restaurant serves breakfast/brunch and dinner. We ate here twice for breakfast, as I loved the options available.   

As soon as you sit down for breakfast, the crew offers coffee and a pastry. I mentioned I required gluten-free, so I tried the banana muffin. It was deliciously soft. The first time I visited, I shared the watermelon slice with sesame cream, granola and frozen berries with my husband. I wasn’t sure how this would taste, but it was a wonderful pairing. I then ordered the wild mushroom frittata with goat cheese, it was okay. The second time I tried the Razzle Dazzle breakfast, I loved it! I added bacon, and it was one of the best breakfasts I had on the cruise. 

However, the wait time for food at Razzle Dazzle was the longest we experienced on the ship. I’d recommend eating here on days at sea or when you don’t have anything else planned. 

Book Your Voyage – It’s time to sail away with gluten-free confidence aboard Virgin Voyages.

Best Eateries at The Galley, Gluten Free on Virgin Voyages

The Galley area of the ship has several eateries in one spot, like a large Food Court. There is so much choice, and sadly I couldn’t visit them all on a 5-night cruise. But I gave it my best shot.   

Let’s Taco Bout It

I absolutely love tacos, so I was excited to see a taco bar onboard the ship. I advised a crew member about my gluten-free requirement, and he noted it on my order. They handle the corn tortillas separately to avoid any cross-contamination. I went for the Al Pastor (pork) tacos with a side of tortilla chips. They’re more of a snack size, but you can try out more items from The Galley eateries.  Let’s Taco Bout It closes between 3 pm and 5 pm. It’s worth checking the hours when you board if you want to try them out.   

Bento Baby

Freshly prepared each day, the boxes at Bento Baby offer a great grab-and-go meal. I spoke to the crew members, and they advised which boxes were gluten-free and which to avoid. They also have gluten-free soy sauce (tamari) behind the counter. Ask them to decant some into a small ramekin so you can enjoy it with your sushi. 

Hot Off The Press

Hot Off The Press offers grilled sandwiches, or toasties, as I call them. They can substitute the bread to be gluten-free, make a crew member aware when you order. I didn’t eat here so I can’t say how the sandwiches taste, my husband ordered the sandwich in the photo (not gluten-free).

Best Eateries Around the Ship, Gluten Free Virgin Voyages

Throughout the ship, you can also find lots of popular eateries. I wanted to try The Dock House and Sun Cafe, but we didn’t have time. They’ll be my first stop on my next voyage. However, here is what I found gluten-free at the places I did visit.

Pizza Place

Just like a regular pizza joint, the Pizza Place offers dine-in and take-out pizzas to order. I ordered the gluten-free crust with a chicken and pesto topping. The crew member advised which pizza toppings to avoid and was very knowledgeable about ingredients containing gluten. It has a nice area on the outside deck to enjoy the pizza if you wish to dine in.

Lick Me Till Ice Cream

Located next to the Pizza Place is Lick Me Till Ice Cream. This gelato bar serves up a selection of flavours. I went for chocolate and vanilla (they also have matcha) as they’re gluten-free. The waffle cones are not gluten-free, so I enjoyed them from a cup/tub.

Ship Eats Cabin Delivery & Gluten Free Options

Sailors can also order food deliveries to their cabin via the Ship Eats section in the Virgin Voyages app. There is no extra charge for the food, but there is a $7 delivery fee. By adding speciality drinks to the order, alcohol, coffee or fresh juices, the fee is waived. We decided to order breakfast and opted for cappuccinos to waive the fee. Ordering within the app was easy as there is a section for allergies. Select the dish(es) you need to be gluten-free, and you can assign an allergy flag to the item. We then enjoyed breakfast out on the terrace, it was bliss. 

The Beach Club at Bimini, Bahamas

If you’re sailing on a Virgin Voyages Caribbean cruise, there is a high chance the itinerary will include a stop at their private Beach Club at Bimini, Bahamas. The good news is all food, and any drinks packages can be used here. The same great crew members are available to answer any dietary questions and ensure the food is safe to eat.  

When I visited in April, I enjoyed fresh ceviche, jerk chicken and Caribbean rice and beans. These are marked (gf) on the menu, and I double-checked with the crew. Their frozen cocktails are also labelled as gluten-free, and I enjoyed two different flavours. 

Finals Thoughts on Virgin Voyages Gluten Free Offering

During the 5-night cruise I didn’t get sick once. Virgin Voyages’ commitment to offering a gluten-free dining experience for their guests is truly commendable. By providing a variety of delicious and safe options for sailors with dietary restrictions, they have set a new standard for inclusivity in the cruise industry. We can only hope that other cruise lines will follow suit in prioritising the dietary needs of all their passengers. Bon voyage! 

Thanks for reading. I hope I’ve inspired you to book a Virgin Voyages cruise, knowing gluten-free travellers can indulge in delicious meals without worry. If you have any dining questions, or a cruise, please let me know in the comments below, or over on Instagram.   

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