Virgin Voyages vs. Resort Stay: 3-Night Getaway Comparison
Shannon & Wendell | Travel Couple from Detroit
Overview
After sailing three nights on Virgin Voyages' new Bimini Beach Club Cruise and then checking into the Diplomat Hollywood Beach Resort in Hollywood, Florida, Shannon and Wendell break down the real cost, real pros and cons, and which three-night getaway makes more sense depending on what kind of traveler you are.
Disclosure: The Virgin Voyages sailing was a complimentary creator voyage. Pricing used in the comparison was pulled from real public rates for a sea terrace cabin, January 4–7 sailing, including taxes, fees, and prepaid gratuities.
The Diplomat Hollywood Beach Resort
A Hilton beachfront property in Hollywood, FL — relatively close to the Miami cruise port
Pros
The Property
- Modern, spacious lobby with high ceilings and lush foliage
- Plenty of quiet sitting areas and spaces to relax throughout the property
The Room
- Ocean view king room on the 26th floor with a large balcony
- Views of both the ocean and the city
- Generous living area with sofa, desk, and large TV
- Bathroom with a soaking tub, separate walk-in shower, and water closet
Pool & Beach
- Two distinct pool areas: a large main pool (adult and kid sides separated by a waterfall feature) and a separate long rectangular pool near the bar and loungers
- Plenty of loungers and umbrellas — spacious enough to actually swim laps
- Jacuzzi off the beach area
- Beach access with chairs and umbrellas (some seaweed present, but manageable)
Dining
- Five dining options on property: Diplomat Prime, Palmia, The Press, Playa Beach Bar & Grill, and a breakfast spot
- Strong variety for a resort stay
Fitness & Spa
- Two-floor fitness center with free weights, ellipticals, and treadmills
- Full spa with dry sauna, steam room, and relaxation room with snacks
- Spa day pass available for $80 (without a treatment booked)
Ideal Use Case
- Works exceptionally well as a pre-cruise or post-cruise hotel stay
- Self-contained enough to stay on property the entire time and still feel well taken care of
Cons
- Not adults only — family friendly; can feel like a shift if coming off a Virgin Voyages sailing
- Costs don't stop at the room rate — food is expensive, and wanting variety will likely mean leaving the property (Ubers, transportation, etc.)
- Entertainment was limited — website advertised live music, but it wasn't available during their stay; anything in a restaurant likely requires a dinner purchase
- Private hot tub area costs extra — an upscale quiet area with two hot tubs required a $100/day reservation fee, with no real added amenity value over the rest of the property
- Timeshare-style sales pitches — four separate approaches from resort sales staff over three days
- No hydrotherapy pool in the spa
The Real Cost Breakdown
| Expense | Cost |
|---|---|
| Ocean view room (public rate) | ~$700/night |
| Entry-level room (public rate) | ~$450/night |
| Suite (top end) | up to $1,500/night |
| Resort fee (per night) | $49 |
| Resort fee covers | Wi-Fi, beach loungers/umbrellas, 1hr e-bike rental, fitness center, some activities |
| Additional e-bike hours | $15/hr |
| Spa day pass (no treatment) | $80 |
| Private hot tub area | $100/day |
| Lunch at Playa (2 people, no drinks) | ~$70 |
| Salad + smoothie bowl at The Press | ~$38 |
| Regular drip coffee | $10 |
| Large oat milk latte | $15 |
Bottom line: At $450/night entry rate, three nights = ~$1,350 before food, drinks, or anything else.
Pro tip from Shannon & Wendell: Grab groceries from the Publix across the street, use your Hilton Honors food & beverage credit on coffee, and don't try to treat it like an all-inclusive.
Virgin Voyages — Bimini Beach Club Cruise
3-night round trip from Miami | 1 sea day + 1 day at Bimini Beach Club + return sail
What's Included
- All specialty dining (6+ restaurants, no buffet or main dining room)
- Galley (casual dining) — described as significantly better food than the resort
- All entertainment (shows, live music, nightlife)
- Basic beverages: soda, water, and coffee
- Basic Wi-Fi
- Fitness classes
- Full day at Bimini Beach Club — entry, beach access, and food all included
- Gratuities (if prepaid with essential fare)
- Adults only — no kids on board
Show highlight: Booked — an award-winning production they called one of the best shows they've seen on any sailing.
Pros
- Effortless experience — dining, entertainment, and activities are all decided for you; no planning friction once on board
- Adults-only energy — described as "date night, every night"
- All-in pricing — once you board, very little additional spending required for a great time
- Bimini Beach Club — exclusive beach day with excellent food (jerk chicken, rum cake) on a completely separate menu from the ship
- Top-tier dining — Michelin-caliber specialty restaurants included; galley food far exceeds typical resort dining
- Convenience on a short trip — three nights means every hour counts, and not having to decide where to eat or what to do matters
Cons
- You're on a ship — not a land-based vacation; some people prefer solid ground or are prone to seasickness
- Small cabin — sea terrace is roughly half to a third the size of the resort room, especially the bathroom
- Pool is not for swimming — small, crowded; Shannon and Wendell have never actually swum in it across multiple sailings
- Three nights can feel short — especially if you're flying in; doesn't allow time to settle into a sailing rhythm the way longer itineraries do
- Not ideal as a standalone trip (for them) — works best paired with land travel or as a first-time Virgin experience
Cost Breakdown
| What's Included | Detail |
|---|---|
| Sea terrace cabin, 2 sailors | $1,472 total |
| Includes | Taxes, fees, prepaid gratuities (essential fare) |
| Pay-in-full discount available | 10% off when booked 12+ months in advance |
Bottom line: $1,472 all-in for two people, three nights, with dining, entertainment, Wi-Fi, and beach club all included.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Diplomat Resort | Virgin Voyages | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting cost (3 nights) | ~$1,350 (room only) | $1,472 (nearly all-inclusive) |
| Food included | No | Yes |
| Entertainment included | Limited | Yes |
| Wi-Fi included | Via resort fee | Yes |
| Adults only | No | Yes |
| Pool for swimming | Yes — large | No — small |
| Room size | Spacious | Small cabin |
| Beach access | Yes | Via Bimini stop only |
| Planning required on arrival | High | Very low |
| Best for | Relaxing, unwinding, space | Couples, convenience, full experience |
The Verdict
Choose the resort if: You want a spacious room, a real pool, beach time, and a place to simply stay put and decompress — especially as a pre- or post-cruise add-on.
Choose Virgin Voyages if: You want a hassle-free, adults-only couples getaway with dining and entertainment built in, and you want to feel like you truly experienced something in three nights.
Their answer: Both. They'd return to the Diplomat for a pre- or post-cruise stay, and they'd absolutely book another three-night Virgin sailing — ideally paired with land travel on either end rather than as a standalone trip requiring a flight.