Virgin Voyages Sailor Loot Explained: How to Earn and Use Onboard Credit

What Is Sailor Loot?

Sailor Loot is Virgin Voyages' term for onboard credit — money that gets loaded onto your account and can be spent on various extras during your voyage. It is one of the most common promotions VV offers and can significantly offset the cost of upgrades, drinks, spa treatments, and shore excursions.

How to Earn Sailor Loot

The most common way to earn Sailor Loot is through booking promotions. Virgin Voyages regularly runs Voyage Fair events and seasonal sales that include Sailor Loot as part of the deal. Credits can range from fifty dollars to several hundred dollars per cabin depending on the promotion and voyage length.

Booking through a travel advisor like Pixie Vacations can sometimes unlock additional Sailor Loot or stack credits on top of existing promotions. This is one area where working with a knowledgeable advisor really pays off.

Repeat sailors in the VV loyalty program also earn Sailor Loot based on their sailing history. The more you sail, the more credits you accumulate for future voyages.

What Can You Spend Sailor Loot On?

Sailor Loot can be applied to a wide range of onboard purchases including the Bar Tab drink package or individual bar charges, spa and wellness treatments at Redemption Spa, shore excursions at ports of call, Beach Club cabana upgrades, specialty merchandise from the ship shops, and tattoos at Squid Ink (yes, the ship has a real tattoo parlor).

Tips to Maximize Your Credits

Check for stacking opportunities — sometimes you can combine multiple promotions to increase your total Sailor Loot. Use your credits strategically on higher-value items like the Bar Tab package or spa treatments rather than small purchases. And if you have credits remaining near the end of your voyage, spend them in the ship shop on Virgin Voyages merchandise as a souvenir — unused Sailor Loot does not carry over or get refunded.

Active Sailor Loot Windows (Right Now)

Sailor Loot windows rotate every 2–3 weeks. We update this page when each new window opens — the current window is always the one shown above. For deeper stacking strategy, see the Virgin Voyages Promo Stacking Guide.

Sailor Loot vs Bar Tab — What's the Difference?

Two of the most common Virgin Voyages perks are easy to mix up:

• Sailor Loot is general onboard credit. You can spend it on anything: drinks, spa, Shore Things, the Ship Shop, premium dining, even tattoos at Squid Ink.
• Bar Tab is drinks-only credit. You can only use it for beverages (and bottled water/specialty coffee). It can't be applied to spa, shore excursions, or merchandise.

If a promotion offers you a choice, Sailor Loot is almost always more flexible. If you know you'll drink heavily onboard, Bar Tab can stretch further because Virgin Voyages occasionally throws in bonus Bar Tab amounts you wouldn't get as Sailor Loot. Run the math with our Bar Tab Calculator before you decide.

Sailor Loot FAQ

Does Sailor Loot expire?

Yes. Sailor Loot expires at the end of your voyage. Any unused balance is forfeited — it does not refund, carry over to a future cruise, or convert to cash.

Can I cash out Sailor Loot?

No. Sailor Loot is non-refundable and non-transferable. Spend it down before you disembark.

Can two Sailors in one cabin combine their Sailor Loot?

Yes — Sailor Loot is allocated per cabin and shared between everyone in the cabin.

Can Sailor Loot be used for gratuities?

You don't need to. Gratuities are already included in every Virgin Voyages fare. Use your Sailor Loot for things you'd actually pay extra for, like Shore Things or spa treatments.

Does Sailor Loot stack with Spring Savings 2026?

Yes. The current Spring Savings deal (up to $1,000 Instant Savings + 70% off 2nd Sailor) combines with the Sailor Loot window, plus Resident Rates, Military/First Responder rates, MNVV, and Pay-in-Full.

Does Sailor Loot stack with Sail & Save Lock-It-In rates?

No. Sail & Save Lock-It-In rates are standalone fixed-rate deals that don't combine with promotional Sailor Loot windows. They can combine with the 70% off 2nd Sailor component of Spring Savings, however.

Where do I see my Sailor Loot balance onboard?

Open the Virgin Voyages Sailor App on your phone — your Sailor Loot balance shows in your account section. You can also check at any kiosk or with a Sailor Services agent.

How is Sailor Loot different from the cruise line's loyalty rewards?

Sailor Loot from promotions is one-shot: deposited at booking, spent on the voyage, gone. Loyalty-tier Sailor Loot accrues over repeat sailings through the Voyage Well program and gets layered on top of any promotional Sailor Loot you also earn.

Ready to Lock In the Current Sailor Loot Window?

If you're booking a Virgin Voyages cruise in the next few days, the Select West Coast Bonus ends Wednesday, May 20. Pixie Vacations can stack the active Sailor Loot window with Spring Savings 2026 and any Resident/Military rates you qualify for — at no extra cost to you. Get a free Virgin Voyages quote →