You can order a 'secret' steak at the vegetarian restaurant on the new Virgin Voyages ship — but don't
I leaned over to my waiter last night at Razzle Dazzle, one of the hot new restaurants on the new Virgin Voyages ship Scarlet Lady, and whispered in a conspiratorial tone.
"Is there, by any chance, a secret steak available here?"
His eyes went wide, and he flashed me a knowing look.
"Well, yes, there is," he said, before launching into an animated description of an off-menu, meat-lover's delight: a dish that not only would include a slab of beef but a liberal sprinkling of bacon bits on top for good measure, plus a cheesy sauce.
He also started to mention some more-healthful elements of the dish, like a bed of kale that would sit underneath the steak, and root vegetables. But by that point, I wasn't even listening.
"I'll take it!" I exclaimed.
I could sense the couple at the table next to us listening in. It was like the waiter and I were performing a little microplay just for them. They knew something funny was going on.
That's because Razzle Dazzle is Scarlet Lady's restaurant for vegetarians and vegans. There's not a lick of beef anywhere to be found on its menu.
While not every dish at Razzle Dazzle is 100% vegetarian or vegan, most are, and Virgin Voyages bills the eatery as "vegetarian forward." The appetizer menu offers such elaborate, plant-based concoctions as a mushroom "tartare" served with a tarragon salsa verde and house-made crostini, and a nutty gazpacho with cucumbers, Marcona almonds and roasted garlic croutons.
Main dishes include whole roasted heirloom cauliflower with a vadouvan curry sauce, pistachios, sesame seeds and pomegranate.
It's that sort of place.
Still, even the official Razzle Dazzle menu offers a few "naughty" offerings, aimed at the spouses and friends of vegetarians and vegans who want to accompany them to the restaurant but aren't 100% on board for an all-veggie dinner.
Among "naughty" menu offerings is black garlic bowtie pasta made with fennel-braised pork, chanterelles and Swiss chard. There's also a fried chicken dish.
And then there's the secret steak.
As mentioned above, it's not on the menu, and you only can get it if you're in the know.
I had been tipped off to it by a Virgin Voyages executive who I met last week while in Miami for the Seatrade Cruise Global conference. He was raving about how it was the best steak on the ship.
The fact that it's a secret -- and that most Scarlet Lady passengers will never even know about it -- is just another one of the playful touches Virgin Voyages has added to the Scarlet Lady experience. That's the Virgin way.
Alas, I have some bad news for meat lovers: The steak wasn't all that great.
If this really is the best steak on Scarlet Lady, steak-loving cruisers are going to be in for a disappointment on this ship.
I'm no restaurant critic. My expertise is in cruise ships and travel in general. But I've had a lot of steaks on cruise vessels over more than 20 years of writing about them (and sailing on more than 150 different ships), and the steak at Razzle Dazzle doesn't even rank in my top 20 steak experiences at sea.
Related: Gene Sloan picks the 9 best steakhouses at sea
You don't need to be a professional epicure to know that the Razzle Dazzle steak fails to dazzle.
For starters, the steak came out smothered in sauce and toppings -- the aforementioned cheesy sauce, bacon and root vegetables. To me, it's never a good sign when a restaurant loads a lot of stuff atop a steak. It's evidence they're trying to hide something. Which, in fact, they were.
While the steak came out medium-rare, just as I ordered, it was chewy and tough. It didn't appear to be a great cut of beef. It also was pre-cut into slices, which in theory made for a better presentation but surely allowed some of the flavor to seep out of the beef on its way to my table from the kitchen.
The cheesy sauce itself was heavy and one-note. And not to pile on too much, but the steak was underseasoned (as they say on fancy cooking shows; to us regular people that just means it needed more salt). The bed of kale underneath the steak, by contrast, was overseasoned (too much salt).
I did eventually find a solution to this by combining a bit of steak and a bit of kale in each bite. There's my pro tip for you for today.
My vegan appetizer at Razzle Dazzle, the mushroom "tartare," by contrast, was fabulous. It had a wonderfully sophisticated mix of flavors, with the diced mushrooms giving it a meatiness that combined well with the fresh and bright tarragon sauce. There was a hint of spice to the dish. It was just right.
I also liked the purple sweet potato and coconut ice cream that came with the vegetarian "rainbow churros" dessert, although the churros themselves were covered with so much (red, green and blue) sugar that anyone who eats the whole thing runs the risk of a serious sugar rush. I took one bite.
Overall, I found Razzle Dazzle to be an enjoyable place. The decor had a casual but stylish vibe, and the staff was super friendly and attentive. I'm eager to give it another try.
But I have some advice for those thinking of ordering the secret steak at the eatery: Don't bother. Stick to the vegetarian and vegan items.
Gene Sloan is part of a three-person team from TPG and sister brand Lonely Planet reporting live this week from Scarlet Lady's maiden voyage out of Miami. You can find all of his dispatches at his author's page.
Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:
- The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
- The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship
- A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
- 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
- 15 ways cruisers waste money
- 12 best cruises for people who never want to grow up
- What to pack for your first cruise
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Delta SkyClub access when flying Delta
- Annual companion ticket for travel on Delta (upon renewal)
- Ability to earn MQDs through spending
- Various statement credits for eligible purchases
Cons
- Steep annual fee of $650
- Other Delta cobranded cards offer superior earning categories
- Earn 100,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $6,000 or more in purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership and an additional 25,000 bonus miles after you make an additional $3,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months, starting from the date that your account is opened. Offer Ends 04/01/2026.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members receive 15 Visits per Medallion® Year to the Delta Sky Club® when flying Delta and can unlock an unlimited number of Visits after spending $75,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Plus, you’ll receive four One-Time Guest Passes each Medallion Year so you can share the experience with family and friends when traveling Delta together.
- Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. and select international locations (as set forth on the Centurion Lounge Website), Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. (see the Centurion Lounge Website for more information on Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge availability), and Escape Lounges when flying on a Delta flight booked with the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card. § To access Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 90 minutes of their departing flight (including layovers). To access The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 3 hours of their departing flight. Effective July 8, 2026, during a layover, Card Members must arrive within 5 hours of the connecting flight.
- Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars with MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $10 in purchases on your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card with MQD Boost to get closer to Status next Medallion Year.
- Enjoy a Companion Certificate on a Delta First, Delta Comfort, or Delta Main round-trip flight to select destinations each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. Delta Basic experiences are not eligible for this benefit.
- $240 Resy Credit: When you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card for eligible purchases with U.S. Resy restaurants, you can earn up to $20 each month in statement credits. Enrollment required.
- $120 Rideshare Credit: Earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month after you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card to pay for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- With your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, receive upgrade priority over others with the same Medallion tier, product and fare experience purchased, and Million Miler milestone when you fly with Delta.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
- $650 Annual Fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees