Paying Onboard Virgin Voyages
Quick answer: Everything you buy onboard a Virgin ship goes through The Band, which has to be linked to a card or loaded with cash. Two kinds of credit can sit on top of that: Bar Tab, which you buy before you sail and which only covers drinks, and Sailor Loot, general onboard credit that also covers the spa and the shops. Neither one is something to stockpile, because Virgin does not refund what is left.
The Band: how you pay for anything
The Band is Virgin's wearable. You pick it up at the terminal on embarkation day and keep it afterward (you get a new one for every voyage, even on back-to-back sailings). Virgin's drinks FAQ says you use it to buy drinks and other items onboard, and that it has to be linked to a credit card or loaded with cash first. Sort that out early on day one so the first round at the pool bar is not a trip to Sailor Services.
You do not have to wear it on your wrist. Virgin says it works clipped to a belt or in a pocket, and the terminal will hand you a plain key card on request. A key card does not do everything The Band does, though: Virgin lists Shake for Champagne and ShipEats on the pool deck as Band-only.
Bar Tab: drinks credit, bought in advance
Virgin does not sell a traditional drinks package. Bar Tab is its replacement: credit you load before the voyage, which then pays for premium drinks onboard and at The Beach Club at Bimini. That covers cocktails, beer and wine, and also the non-alcoholic extras like fresh-pressed juice and barista coffee. Virgin adds bonus credit when you buy ahead. The cutoff is 24 hours before sailing, and you cannot buy it once you are aboard. The full detail is in our Bar Tab guide.
What Bar Tab will not pay for: the spa, and bottles to take home. It will pay the corkage fee if you bring your own wine to dinner (see bringing alcohol aboard).
Sailor Loot: onboard credit for more than drinks
Sailor Loot is Virgin's name for onboard credit. The ticket contract describes it as a set amount in US dollars applied to your onboard account. You might get it as part of an offer, as a gift, or by buying it through Sailor Services before you sail. Onboard, Virgin says it can go toward specialty drinks, spa treatments and retail.
Two limits worth knowing. It cannot pay for pre-voyage purchases, Bar Tab included. And Virgin's ticket contract says only Sailor Loot you did not pay for can be used in the casino.
What can pay for what
| Bar Tab | Sailor Loot | The Band (card or cash) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Premium drinks | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Corkage fee | Yes | Not stated | Yes |
| Spa treatments | No | Yes | Yes |
| Retail onboard | No | Yes | Yes |
| Bought onboard | No | Not stated | Not applicable |
| Refunded if unused | No | No (see below) | Not applicable |
What happens to what is left
Plan to spend credit down, not to carry it home. Virgin's Bar Tab FAQ says unused Bar Tab is not refundable at the end of a voyage. Its payments FAQ says unused Sailor Loot is not refunded or rolled over, and its drinks FAQ says neither one carries to your next voyage.
The ticket contract is a little more nuanced: it says Sailor Loot you bought or were gifted can move between cruises (though never for cash), while other unused Sailor Loot expires at midnight on the last night. Because Virgin's own pages do not agree, ask your advisor how any Sailor Loot on your booking is classed before you count on it carrying over.
Anything not covered by credit lands on your card. The ticket contract asks Sailors to pay all onboard charges in full before the end of the cruise, and Virgin can deny a future boarding to anyone with an outstanding balance.
Keeping track during the week
The Sailor App's My Wallet screen shows your Bar Tab balance, and you can download it as a PDF from the icon in the top right. It is worth a look on the second-to-last day so the last evening can go toward whatever is left.
If you are sailing with a group
Shared cabins are where money gets awkward. Virgin's app lets one Sailor link a cabin-mate's billing account so their charges route to one wallet, which suits couples and close friends. Friends who would rather keep things separate can each link their own card. Bar Tab is flexible here: Virgin says not everyone in a cabin needs one, and you can use yours to buy drinks for a cabin-mate or someone you met at dinner. Settle who pays for what before the first round, ideally while your group is talking in the Nautir app before boarding.
Sailing solo? The same rules apply, just simpler: link your card, decide whether Bar Tab is worth it for how you drink, and do not let credit sit unused on the last night. Our solo sailings page lists Virgin sailings with a group aboard.
Gratuities sit on the same account. See how gratuities work for whether yours are prepaid or added nightly.
FAQ
What is the difference between Bar Tab and Sailor Loot on Virgin Voyages?
Bar Tab is drinks credit you buy before you sail, and it only pays for drinks (plus corkage). Sailor Loot is general onboard credit that goes on your onboard account and can pay for things like specialty drinks, spa treatments and retail. Bar Tab cannot pay for the spa.
How do I pay for things onboard a Virgin ship?
With The Band, the wearable you pick up at the terminal. Virgin says it has to be linked to a credit card or loaded with cash before it can pay for anything. Your Bar Tab and any Sailor Loot are used up first, as the credit sitting on your account.
Can one person pay for a cabin-mate's charges?
Yes. Virgin's Sailor App lets you link a cabin-mate's billing account through the payment methods section, so their charges go to your wallet. If you are already onboard, Sailor Services on Deck 5 can set it up.
Do I get unused Bar Tab or Sailor Loot back at the end of the voyage?
Do not count on it. Virgin says unused Bar Tab is not refundable at the end of a voyage, and its FAQ says unused Sailor Loot is not refunded or rolled over. Its ticket contract carves out some purchased or gifted Sailor Loot, so ask your advisor how yours is classed before you buy any.
Can I buy Bar Tab once I am onboard?
No. Virgin says Bar Tab is not available to buy onboard. You can buy it in the app, in My Account, through your travel advisor or by phone with Sailor Services, up to 24 hours before sailing.
Details checked against virginvoyages.com (FAQ pages for drinks, the Sailor App, payments, Bar Tab and The Band, plus the ticket contract) on November 9, 2026. Virgin changes its terms often; your advisor confirms them for your booking.