The programme will run across the four-ship fleet on a limited number of August and September sailings, offering a series of food and beverage-led experiences designed to enhance onboard dining for Sailors (guests).
New for 2026 is ‘A Feast for the Senses’, an immersive culinary event hosted in the onboard nightclub, The Manor. The experience combines film, interactive elements and tasting opportunities, with Sailors moving through a series of staged food and drink moments.
The line will also introduce a ‘Sensory Dinner Series’ at onboard steakhouse restaurant The Wake, developed in collaboration with the team behind Caputo’s Kitchen – the premier Italian flour producer - and authors of The Flavour Matrix, a science-based guide to pairing ingredients. The
experience includes a paired tasting menu, with each attending Sailor receiving a copy of the book.
Also new for 2026 will be ‘Colour Me Curious Dinner’, a three-course experience at onboard Italian restaurant Extra Virgin, where each course is paired with a colour-themed cocktail.
In addition, ‘Sea-Cerone: A Beer Master Class’ will be available on sea days at the onboard beer house, Draught Haus, offering an introduction to beer styles and tasting techniques.
Returning experiences include the ‘Shhh… Speakeasy’ which has been refreshed with a new cocktail menu and updated design. A new retail element has also been introduced, with The Cocktail Book – a guide to the brand’s bars and dining venues – available to purchase onboard.
Charles Steadman, Director of F&B Experiences and Strategic Partnerships at Virgin Voyages, said: “There’s a moment at a really great meal where you stop thinking and just feel it - the atmosphere, the smell, the sounds around you all click into place. We spent a lot of time this year asking how we engineer more of those moments. ‘Festival of Senses’ is the result, and I think Sailors are going to be genuinely surprised by what we’ve put together.”
The Eat & Drink Festival will take place on the following sailings:
Scarlet Lady: August 31; September 10, 20
Valiant Lady: August 27; September 6, 19
Resilient Lady: August 27, 31; September 5, 10, 14, 19, 24
Brilliant Lady: August 27; September 3, 11, 19
Prices start from £617 per person for a four-night voyage sailing to Key West and Bimini on September 10 -14.
The festival forms part of Virgin Voyages’ broader onboard offering, which includes more than 20 eateries as part of its ‘Always Included Luxury’ proposition.
To learn more, visit VirginVoyages.com
Tags: Eat & Drink Festival, Festival of Senses Charles Steadman, Virgin Voyages
