In This Guide: Fare Tiers Explained +

VoyageFair Fare Tiers

VV's pricing structure, explained without the marketing language.

VoyageFair is Virgin Voyages' fare system. There are three tiers — Base (sometimes called "Lock It In"), Essential, and Premium — plus the option to book a GTY (guaranteed category) within any tier. What's included in your fare doesn't change between tiers; the tiers add flexibility, Sailor Loot, and Shore Things credits.

Base / Lock It In

Lowest price

Includes

✓All onboard amenities (same as other tiers)
✓Minimal Sailor Loot (sometimes none)
✓Standard cancellation terms (non-refundable or small window)

Watch

No Shore Things credit, limited cancellation flexibility

Best For

Confident you're going and don't need flexibility. Price-focused.

Essential

Premium

Top tier

Includes

✓All onboard amenities
✓Maximum Sailor Loot credit
✓Maximum Shore Things credit
✓Most flexible cancellation terms
✓Additional perks (vary by sailing)

Watch

Premium price — may not pencil out for shorter sailings

Best For

Longer sailings (7+ nights) where Shore Things credit has more value, or travelers who want maximum flexibility.

What Is a GTY (Guaranteed) Cabin?

GTY means you're booking a cabin category (e.g., "Sea Terrace GTY") but not a specific room number. Virgin Voyages will assign you a cabin in that category — often at a discount compared to choosing a specific cabin. The catch: you have no control over your deck, forward/aft placement, or specific room quirks.

GTY Pros

→ Usually lower price
→ Can sometimes get better placement than picking manually
→ Fine if cabin location truly doesn't matter to you

GTY Cons

→ No control over deck or location
→ May end up in a noisy location (under pool, near elevator)
→ Assignment can come very close to sailing date

Our recommendation: choose your cabin for your first few sailings. GTY makes more sense once you know which ships and cabins you prefer.

Quick Comparison

Best price Base + GTY

Best value Essential (specific cabin)

Max perks Premium

First-timer default Essential

Flexible plans Essential or Premium

Budget-constrained Base (accept non-refund terms)

Frequently Asked

Is a guaranteed cabin (GTY) a good deal? +

Sometimes. GTY means you're assigned a cabin category but not a specific room — VV picks it for you, typically at the last minute. The upside: often lower prices. The downside: no control over deck, location, or specific room quirks. We generally recommend against GTY for first-timers who care about cabin placement.

Can I upgrade my fare tier after booking? +

Yes, in some cases. You can upgrade from Base/Lock It In to Essential or Premium before the cancellation window closes. Contact VV or ask your Bestmates firstmate — we can help check what's available.

Are VoyageFair promotions stackable with MNVV credit? +

Yes. MNVV Sailor Loot applies on top of whichever fare tier you book. It's the most common way to reduce the effective cost of a sailing.

What's the best fare tier for first-timers? +

Essential is the sweet spot for most first-timers. It adds meaningful value (Sailor Loot + flexible cancellation) without the full Premium cost. Base/Lock It In is fine if you're certain about your sailing dates and don't need cancellation flexibility.

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