As the name describes, you are locking in your spot on the sailing — and they throw away the key.
These are the lowest rates you can get for a Virgin Voyages sailing, but you are committing to that trip 100%. The date, the itinerary, the room category, the ship, the restrictions — all of it. You are basically telling Virgin, I will make this sailing, and if I don’t, you can keep my money.
That part needs to be crystal clear before you book. Lock-it-In rates aren't right for everyone, but let us break down why they might be right for you.
The Risk
Lock It In is cheap for a reason. Virgin gives you a better price because you give up flexibility.
Once you book it, you're in.
If your plans move, this fare does not move with you.
There is no nice “maybe next time” credit waiting for you.
If you have a My Next Virgin Voyage voucher, this is not where you use it.
You pick the category, not the exact room.
Lock It In sailors usually cannot book dining until 15 days before sailing.
If you want total control over every detail, this may not be your move. If not knowing your cabin number makes your eye twitch, pay the higher fare and protect your peace.
The Reward
This is why people keep booking Lock It In anyway: the value can be absurd.
These are often the lowest fares on the ship. And once you're onboard, you are still getting the full Virgin Voyages experience — same ship, same restaurants, same entertainment, same included Wi-Fi, same adults-only vibe.
Sometimes you can even get upgraded. That is never guaranteed, and it should never be assumed. But it does happen often enough to matter in the overall value equation.
That is why we love these fares. We do not see them as the risky option first. We see them as a chance to visit incredible places at a price most people never think is possible.
The Fruglar Edge
This is where most people stop too early. They see the restrictions, panic a little, and move on. The real game is understanding the work-arounds.
Important
Lock It In strategies and work-arounds can improve your odds, but they are not guarantees. Dining availability can still be limited, upgrades may or may not happen, and travel protection depends on your card benefits or insurance policy terms. You should book Lock It In only if you are comfortable with the restrictions even if none of the upside breaks your way.
You can still protect the trip
You CAN protect the trip with a premium credit card (included) or travel insurance (extra cost per person). Cards like The Amex Platinum and Venture X can add meaningful trip protection, but coverage depends on the card, the reason for cancellation, and the benefit terms. “Non-refundable” does not always mean “completely unprotected,” but you should always review the actual coverage before assuming you are protected.
The dining issue is real — but manageable
Virgin will typically hold back a percentage of dining slots for onboard booking. So if the app looks picked over before sailing, that does not always mean you are doomed — but availability is never guaranteed.
- As soon as you get into the terminal, connect to Wi-Fi, open the app, and start booking.
- Or, as soon as you board, head to a restaurant host stand and ask them to book your dining.
Have your plan ready, know your backup choices, and stay flexible. We usually head toward Razzle Dazzle / Rojo first because it tends to be less chaotic than some of the other onboard bottlenecks. These strategies can improve your odds, but they do not guarantee specific restaurants or prime dining times.
Cabin assignment can work in your favor
You are giving up control of your exact room, but sometimes that tradeoff pays you back. Lock It In sailors do get upgraded, and that possibility is part of what makes the value equation so good.
Our Real Lock It In Story
Our most recent Lock It In sailing is exactly why we still love these fares.
We booked an 8-day sailing from Miami to Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, to St. Croix, to San Juan, to Bimini, and back to Miami. That is not some filler itinerary. That is a genuinely good sailing with a lot of “how is this our life?” moments built in.
We paid about $1,500 total with a balcony after getting upgraded from an Insider.
The cabin next to us paid $3,400 for the exact same trip and the exact same room.
Same ship. Same itinerary. Same balcony. Same sunsets. Same food. Same Virgin Voyages experience. Just wildly different price tags.
That is why we keep paying attention to Lock It In rates. When they line up for the right traveler, they are not just worth considering. They are the kind of deal that makes you feel smarter every time you look at your booking confirmation.
Final Take
Lock It In is not the safe option. It is the value option.
If you want total control, book a standard fare. If you want the lowest price and you are willing to work within the rules, Lock It In can open the door to sailings you may have thought were out of reach.