The Ultimate Guide to Getting the Most from Your Virgin Voyages Sailor Loot & Add-Ons

On our first Virgin Voyage, we thought Sailor Loot was just free cocktails—maybe a spa treatment if we were feeling fancy. Boy, were we wrong.

After multiple sailings and testing every possible way to spend onboard credit, we’ve cracked the code. We’ve discovered that $300 in Sailor Loot can deliver over $400 in actual value—if you know the insider strategies. And if you’re looking for more ways to maximize your Virgin Voyages Bar Tab and Sailor Loot, we’ve got you covered.

Most guides tell you “spend it at the spa” and call it a day. But we’ve gone deeper. We’ve run the numbers on every purchase option, tested the packages ourselves, and discovered the sneaky-good strategies that Virgin doesn’t advertise. Including a casino hack that most sailors completely miss.

What Exactly Is Sailor Loot?

Let’s clear up the confusion right from the start, because Virgin’s system is different from every other cruise line.

Sailor Loot is Virgin Voyages’ version of onboard credit (OBC). It’s automatically loaded onto your cabin folio and can be used for almost anything that isn’t already included in your fare. Think of it as Virgin’s currency—spendable only at sea, expiring the moment you walk off the ship.

Where Sailor Loot Works:

• Spa treatments and Thermal Suite passes
• Casino play (converted to promotional chips or slot credits)
• Premium wine packages and specialty dining upgrades
• Ship merchandise and Virgin Voyages exclusives
• Shore excursions (booked onboard)
• Specialty dining upgrades and premium ingredients
• Tattoos and piercings at Squid Ink
• Arcade games (though they’re free anyway!)
• Vinyl records at Voyage Vinyl

Where It Doesn’t:

• Future voyage deposits
• Medical center charges

The Smartest Ways to Spend Sailor Loot

Spa Passes & Thermal Suite Strategy

Here’s what nobody tells you: The unlimited Thermal Suite pass is the single best value on the ship, hands down.

The Complete Pricing Breakdown:

• 3-hour pass (port day): $59
• 3-hour pass (sea day): $79
• 4-day unlimited: $216
• 5-day unlimited: $270
• 6-day unlimited: $324
• 7-day unlimited: $378
• 14-day unlimited: $756

*Prices subject to change and may vary by sailing. Please verify current pricing when booking.

The Real Numbers: A 7-day unlimited pass costs $378, while single 3-hour passes run $59 on port days and $79 on sea days. Do the math: just five visits and you’re already saving money with the unlimited pass.

We tested this ourselves: visiting every day on a 7-night sailing brought our per-visit cost to just $54. Compare that to buying individual passes—you’d spend $472 for the same access (4 sea days at $79 + 3 port days at $59). That’s a savings of $94! Plus, you get unlimited access to the mud room, Himalayan salt room, steam rooms, sauna, hot and cold plunge pools, and those incredible heated marble hammam benches. For more on Virgin’s wellness experiences, check out our complete guide.

The Casino Play Most Sailors Miss

Here’s the secret nobody talks about: Sailor Loot works at the casino! But there’s a strategy to maximize it.

Your Loot gets converted to promotional chips for table games or loaded as credits for slot machines. The catch? Some table games (like roulette and dice games) might not accept promotional chips—confirm with the casino host first.

The Smart Play: Convert $100 of Sailor Loot to promotional chips for blackjack. You have to wager the promotional chips first, but all winnings are paid in real casino chips that can be cashed out. We’ve seen sailors turn $100 in Loot into $300+ in cash this way.

Remember: promotional loot must be wagered before any winnings can be cashed out, and there’s no transaction fee for converting Sailor Loot to casino play.

Dining & Premium Wine Upgrades

Virgin includes all restaurants, but not all experiences. Here’s where Loot becomes liquid gold. For a complete look at what’s available, check out our in-depth restaurant menus guide.

The Wake’s Wine Pairing: $95 per person. Sounds steep? You’re getting 5 glasses of wine specifically chosen by the sommelier, including premium wines. The actual pour value exceeds the cost significantly.

Wagyu at Gunbae: $55 for authentic A5 wagyu. The same cut costs significantly more at specialty retailers. Plus, you’re getting the full Korean BBQ experience with it.

Chef’s Secret Upgrades: Not advertised, but you can use Loot to add wine pairings to Test Kitchen ($75) or get the premium sake flight at Pink Agave ($45).

Bar Tab Strategy (A Separate Pre-Purchase Option)

Let’s be clear: Bar Tab is completely separate from Sailor Loot. You can’t convert Sailor Loot into Bar Tab—they’re two different things. Bar Tab is something you pre-purchase with cash, and it comes with bonus value.

Here’s why pre-purchasing Bar Tab is genius: You get bonus credit instantly. Pay $300, get $350 to spend.

Bar Tab covers drinks only—but that includes more than you might think:

• Premium coffee drinks at Grounds Club
• Specialty milkshakes and floats
• Bottles of wine to take to your cabin
• Champagne for your balcony sunset
• Energy drinks and premium waters
• Fresh-pressed juices ($8-10 each)

Remember: Bar Tab is use-it-or-lose-it for drinks only. Sailor Loot can be used for many things but expires completely at voyage end.

Add-Ons Worth Every Penny

Beyond Sailor Loot, certain packages multiply your value exponentially. We’ve tested them all—here’s what’s actually worth it.

Splash of Romance ($250): The Hidden Gem

Everyone focuses on the champagne and spa passes, but the real value is in the priority boarding. You board right after Rockstar suites, beating 90% of sailors onboard. This means first dibs on spa appointments, restaurant reservations, and shore excursions that book up fast. For our complete analysis, see our detailed Splash of Romance review.

Limited availability per sailing (typically 90-200 cabins)—this always sells out on popular routes. Book it within 48 hours of making your reservation or miss out.

Bar Tab Pre-Purchase: The Math You Need

Pre-purchasing Bar Tab isn’t just convenient—it’s free money. Here’s the breakdown:

Sea-Blazers get an extra bonus on $300 purchases. For more on the Sailing Club benefits, including Deep Blue Extras, check out our complete guide.

*Sailing Club benefits are subject to change – verify current perks when booking.

What You Shouldn’t Waste Loot On

We’ve watched too many sailors blow their Loot on nonsense. Don’t be them.

The Rookie Mistakes:

• Basic drinks you’d buy anyway: Using Loot for your morning latte or poolside beer? You’re literally throwing away opportunity. Save it for premium experiences.
• Generic sundries: That $18 bottle of sunscreen? It’s $4 at CVS. Check our packing guide to avoid forgetting essentials.
• Shore excursions you can DIY: The $89 beach day pass in Bimini? Grab a taxi for $10 and buy your own drinks for half the price.
• Items you can buy cheaper elsewhere: Unless it’s voyage-exclusive or has special meaning to your trip, consider if you really need it onboard.

Quick Reference Chart: Maximum Value Per Dollar

We’ve done the math on every possible Loot purchase. Here’s your cheat sheet for maximizing value:

*Remember: Bar Tab is a separate pre-purchase option with cash, not something you buy with Sailor Loot. Both can be used strategically together for maximum value.

Exclusive Ship Merch & Hidden Collectibles

Most cruise merch is forgettable. Virgin’s has some gems—if you know what to look for.

We’re talking about the voyage-exclusive items that never repeat. Each sailing has limited voyage-exclusive pieces: limited edition posters ($45), exclusive vinyl pressings ($35-50), and artist collaboration pieces that become instant collectibles.

The Secret Score: Check the boutique on embarkation day before 6pm. The voyage-exclusive items are marked with special tags. We’ve seen these items gain significant resale value online—especially maiden voyage merchandise.

Our Final Take: The Spend vs Save Framework

After analyzing hundreds of purchases across multiple sailings, here’s our definitive strategy. For more on maximizing your overall Virgin Voyages value, see our booking strategy guide.

Always Spend On:

• Unlimited Thermal Suite pass (if you’ll use it 5+ times on a 7-night cruise)
• Voyage-exclusive merchandise (can’t buy elsewhere)
• Premium dining upgrades at The Wake or Gunbae
• Casino play (if you understand the wagering rules)
• Special experiences unique to Virgin (tattoos, vinyl records)

Smart Pre-Purchase (with cash, not Loot):

• Bar Tab with bonus value (pays for drinks throughout your voyage)
• Splash of Romance package (if you want priority boarding)

Consider If It Fits Your Style:

• Spa treatments (compare to your home prices)
• Tattoos at Squid Ink (bucket list item? Go for it)
• Wine packages (true oenophiles only)
• Shore excursions (unique experiences only)

Never Spend On:

• Basic drinks and coffee (you’ll buy these anyway)
• DIY shore excursions (research and save 70%)
• Impulse purchases in the first 48 hours
• Overpriced sundries and basics

“We saved our entire $400 in Sailor Loot for the last two days, thinking we were being smart. Thermal Suites were sold out, best spa times were gone, and we panic-bought overpriced hoodies. Don’t be us. Plan your Loot strategy BEFORE boarding.” – Sarah M., Scarlet Lady sailor

The Gold Tier Strategy: Plan Before You Board

Here’s what separates rookie sailors from Virgin Voyages veterans: Loot strategy starts before embarkation.

We help our CamJon Travel sailors create a Loot budget before they even pack. We know which sailings have spa specials, when Bar Tab bonuses run, and exactly how much Thermal Suite inventory each ship carries. That’s why using a travel agent for Virgin Voyages can transform your entire experience.

The smartest sailors book with packages that include Sailor Loot, separately pre-purchase Bar Tab during booking for the bonus, then strategically plan their onboard spending to maximize every dollar. Remember: a 7-day unlimited Thermal Suite pass ($378) can save you $94 versus buying daily passes.