Virgin Voyages launches Eat & Drink Festival 2026 with new ‘Festival of Senses’ | News
Virgin Voyages has confirmed the return of its annual Eat & Drink Festival, with a new ‘Festival of Senses’ concept.
The program will run across the four-ship fleet during a limited number of sailings in August and September, offering a range of food and beverage-based experiences designed to enhance onboard dining for sailors (guests).
New for 2026 is ‘A Feast for the Senses’, an immersive culinary event hosted at the onboard nightclub, The Manor. The experience combines film, interactive elements and tastings, with Sailors moving through a series of staged food and drink moments.
The line also introduces a ‘Sensory Dinner Series’ at onboard steakhouse restaurant The Wake, developed in collaboration with the team behind Caputo’s Kitchen – Italy’s leading flour producer – and authors of The Flavor Matrix, a science-based guide to combining ingredients. The
The experience includes a combined tasting menu, with each Sailor attending receiving a copy of the book.
Also new for 2026 is ‘Colour Me Curious Dinner’, a three-course experience at the onboard Extra Virgin Italian restaurant, where each course is paired with a colour-themed cocktail.
In addition, ‘Sea-Cerone: A Beer Master Class’ will be available on sea days in the onboard beer house, Draft Haus, offering an introduction to beer styles and tasting techniques.
Returning experiences include the “Shhh… Speakeasy,” which has been updated with a new cocktail menu and design. A new retail element has also been introduced, with The Cocktail Book – a guide to the brand’s bars and eateries – available for purchase on board.
Charles Steadman, Director of F&B Experiences and Strategic Partnerships at Virgin Voyages, said: “There’s a moment during a great meal when you stop thinking and just feel it: the atmosphere, the smell, the sounds around you all fall into place. We’ve spent a lot of time this year thinking about how we can make more of those moments happen. ‘Festival of Senses’ is the result, and I think Sailors will be genuinely surprised by what we’ve put together.”
The Eat & Drink Festival takes place on the following sailings:
Scarlet Lady: August 31; September 10, 20
Brave Lady: August 27; September 6, 19
Resilient Lady: August 27 and 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 trip to Key West and Bimini on September 10 and 14.
The festival is part of Virgin Voyages’ wider onboard offering, which includes more than 20 dining options as part of its ‘Always Included Luxury’ proposition.
For more information, visit VirginVoyages.com.
