Grounds Club

The Logbook — Real Guest Soundings

Depth Sounding: This is a composite account from multiple guest experiences, edited to our venue standards for clarity. Individual sailings vary by ship, itinerary, and crew.

Grounds Club Review: The Ship's Best Espresso (and a Late-Night Secret)

Introduction. Grounds Club is Virgin Voyages' dedicated coffee and espresso bar — a cozy, design-forward cafe that serves specialty coffee drinks, pastries, and light bites during the day and transitions to espresso martinis and coffee cocktails in the evening. Located in a quiet corner of the ship, it is a haven for coffee lovers and one of the few places onboard where you can get a genuinely well-pulled espresso. Basic drip coffee is complimentary; specialty espresso drinks and cocktails are charged or covered by Bar Tab.

Drinks & Service

The flat white is the star — properly textured microfoam, balanced extraction, and served at the right temperature. The espresso is notably better here than anywhere else on the ship (the machine and the baristas are both a step above). The oat milk latte is well-made and popular. The cold brew is smooth and pre-batched for quick service. In the evening, the espresso martini made here is the best version on the ship — the baristas understand espresso in a way that bar bartenders do not, and the difference shows. The pastries (croissants, muffins, cookies) are decent cruise-ship bakery quality — perfectly adequate but not artisanal. Where it falls short: specialty drinks carry a surcharge ($4-6 per drink), which adds up fast for heavy coffee drinkers. The food menu is limited to pastries and a few small items. If you want breakfast food, head to The Galley.

Service

The baristas at Grounds Club take genuine pride in their craft — they will ask about your milk preference, adjust the extraction if you request it, and seem to enjoy making coffee rather than just filling orders. The pace is unhurried and conversational, which is perfect for a coffee bar. Wait times are minimal except around 7-8 AM when the morning rush hits. The evening cocktail service is equally attentive.

Atmosphere

Cozy, bookish, and design-forward — think a well-curated boutique coffee shop. The seating is comfortable with armchairs and small tables. The space is quiet enough for reading, journaling, or conversation, which makes it a welcome refuge from the ship's party energy. Where it falls short: the space is small and fills up quickly, especially in the morning. There are not enough seats for the demand. The location can be hard to find for first-time sailors — it is tucked away and not immediately obvious.

Conclusion

Rating: 3.7/5. Grounds Club is a quiet gem on Virgin Voyages — the best espresso on the ship, a genuinely cozy atmosphere, and baristas who care about coffee. It falls short on value (surcharges add up), food options (pastries only), and seating capacity (too small for the demand). Tip: visit after 9 PM for the espresso martini — it is made by actual baristas here and is noticeably better than the same drink at any other bar on the ship.

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