MV Virgo dive boat review
Step aboard Emperor Virgo
MALDIVES LIVEABOARD GUIDE
Emperor Virgo: A smaller Emperor guest group
18 guests
Emperor Virgo carries 18 guests, fewer than Leo or Serenity. Four cabins are above the lower deck, and the current operator plan offers convertible twins rather than the old single-cabin arrangement described in early reviews.
Check dates & cabin availability →
Affiliate link: Divezone may earn a commission if you book.
Emperor Virgo: vessel profile
Emperor Virgo’s current operator specification is 35 m by 9.4 m, with a wooden hull and nine cabins for 18 guests. The partner lists construction in 2012, but its five-metre length entry is inconsistent with the operator specification and is not used here. A separate 17 m dhoni supports diving.
Which cabin should you book?
| Deck | Cabin choice | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Lower | 4 convertible twins + 1 family cabin | Family cabin: double + single |
| Main | 2 convertible twins | Confirm room and configuration |
| Upper | 2 convertible twins | Confirm sea-view category |
Cabins have air-conditioning and private bathrooms. Specify whether you need separate beds, a double, a view or sole occupancy; a category name alone does not settle those details.
Life aboard Emperor Virgo
For those wanting to stay connected, there is Wi-Fi available onboard, depending on location, for a fee. The main deck has an air-conditioned dining room and lounge; the upper deck provides an outdoor bar and seating, with sunbeds above.
Let the operator know about dietary needs before booking. Ask which drinks and internet package are included; connectivity at sea should not be treated as a reliable work connection.
Travelling with a non-diver on Emperor Virgo?
Acceptance and activities: Non-divers are welcome under Emperor Maldives’ policies. Compare the actual Virgo departure and cabin rather than choosing solely from a diving itinerary name. Snorkeling is permitted only with an available guide, suitable conditions and a flotation aid. An advance-booked private guide costs extra. Shore visits are departure-dependent.
Non-diver price: the non-diver fare and any discount need to be confirmed for your departure. Request a written quote for your dates, cruise length, cabin and occupancy, stating currency, taxes, transfers and activity extras. Do not assume that unused dives are refunded.
Diving, routes and experience
Nitrox is included for certified divers. Confirm the exact bed layout and upper-deck sea-view category.
Check the itinerary attached to your departure. Malé–Malé routes avoid the domestic-flight logistics of many southern trips. Currents can change the site order and wildlife sightings are never guaranteed. See the Maldives diving guide for seasons and atolls.
Emperor recommends allowing at least 24 hours between the final dive and flying. Its Deep South trips require at least 100 logged dives and the appropriate advanced/deep qualification; do not apply a central-atoll entry requirement to those routes.
Emperor Virgo itinerary map
Best of Maldives is a flexible central-atoll cruise. The loop below illustrates how the regions fit together; arrows do not promise a daily order. The captain chooses the route for weather and conditions. Malé is the joining area, not a guaranteed marina berth.
Virgo itinerary map
Select the documented route example below. Zoom to inspect the islands and reefs, and select a numbered stop for its name. The actual sailing programme must be confirmed with the operator.
Lines show indicative connections between regions, not navigation tracks. Arrows show the example direction; departures can run in reverse, and stops vary with weather, currents and the chosen cruise.
Routes at a glance
- Central Atolls: Malé / North Malé → Rasdhoo → Maaya Thila / North Ari → South Ari / Maamigili → Vaavu / Alimatha → South Malé area → Malé / North Malé. Indicative regional connections from the route described on this page. Confirm the actual departure, direction and stops; this is not a navigation track.
Confirm ports, transfers and any domestic flights before booking.
Geographic references and route sources
Regional markers use the references below. See the boat-specific itinerary sources accompanying this map; no extra route is implied by the destination guide.
Malé / North Malé · Rasdhoo · Maaya Thila / North Ari · South Ari / Maamigili · Vaavu / Alimatha · South Malé area ·
Route areas: Malé → Rasdhoo → North Ari → South Ari → Vaavu → South Malé → Malé, in a variable order. Atoll markers are approximate reference areas. Maaya Thila is plotted from its mapped reef location; Alimatha uses the island position, not an exact entry point.
- Maaya Thila, North Ari: a compact pinnacle, also known for night diving; current influences the dive plan.
- Alimatha, Vaavu: a sunset/night-dive option associated with nurse sharks.
- Fish Head, Ari: Emperor also highlights this pinnacle; it is not precisely pinned because published coordinates differ.
Route: Emperor Best of Maldives. Geography: GeoNames; Rasdhoo, Maaya Thila, South Ari reference and Alimatha via Mapcarta/OpenStreetMap. Dive context: PADI Maaya Thila. Planning illustration, not a navigation chart.
Watch: Maldives Central Atolls — destination film
Guest film by AROS Pro, February 2026, filmed aboard Emperor Serenity. Destination illustration only: it does not show this boat or establish its facilities. Video source · Watch on YouTube. Illustrative boat photograph.
Budget, inclusions and extras
Current departure listings were checked on 6 October 2026. Obtain a cabin-level quote for your dates. Compare currency, nights, shared or private occupancy, taxes, fuel and service charges before choosing.
| Budget line | Before paying |
|---|---|
| Cruise | Match dates, nights, cabin, currency and occupancy. |
| Mandatory extras | Ask for taxes, fuel/service charges, park fees and compulsory transfers as a written total. |
| Diving extras | Check Nitrox, rentals, larger tanks, courses and private guiding. |
| Travel | Add international flights, any domestic flights, hotels, insurance and optional spending. |
Request a written shared-berth or sole-occupancy quote. Availability in a double cabin does not establish the price for one guest.
Is this the right boat for you?
Emperor Virgo carries 18 guests, fewer than Leo or Serenity. Four cabins are above the lower deck, and the current operator plan offers convertible twins rather than the old single-cabin arrangement described in early reviews.
What guests say about Emperor Virgo
Comfort and staff receive positive comments in the selected accounts. Food comparisons are subjective, and one lightly occupied trip does not establish the atmosphere at full capacity.
- Clara B, 17 September 2026: found the boat comfortable and good value, although meals were not the best she had experienced.
- Scott D, 29 June 2026: praised attentive service and the upper-deck room on a lightly occupied trip.
- Chris B, 5 January 2026: highlighted the organisation, guides and service.
Paraphrased from dated LiveAboard.com guest reviews, checked 6 October 2026. These partner accounts are separate from Divezone’s reader ratings below.
Emperor Virgo: detailed booking FAQ
Does Virgo still take only 15 guests?
No. Emperor’s current description is for 18 guests in nine cabins.
Is there still a dedicated single cabin?
The current plan lists two convertible twin cabins on the main deck, not the old single-cabin layout. Ask for sharing or private-occupancy terms.
Can I book a double bed?
Eight cabins have twins convertible to doubles. The lower family cabin has a double plus a single.
Why do some dimensions differ online?
The partner has an inconsistent five-metre length field. The operator’s technical specification gives 35 m length and 9.4 m beam.
How large is the diving dhoni?
Emperor specifies a 17 m tender, with three dive guides listed for Virgo.
Is Nitrox included?
Yes for qualified divers; the operator specifies membrane Nitrox up to 32%. Confirm larger cylinders or rentals in advance.
Does a solo traveller pay for a whole cabin?
Emperor advertises same-sex sharing and no supplement if it cannot match you under that guarantee. Choosing private occupancy is different.
Is the film a Virgo cabin tour?
No. The labelled destination film was shot aboard Serenity. Use Virgo’s gallery and confirmed cabin allocation for accommodation decisions.
Find your Emperor Virgo departure
Compare the cabin and final quote for the dates you can travel.
Have you dived with Emperor Virgo?
Share your travel date, cabin, diving experience and any practical advice for the next guest. Existing reader reviews remain below.
Editorial check: 6 October 2026. This is a researched update, not a new onboard inspection. Useful original descriptions have been retained and outdated prices and specifications corrected. Sources: operator boat information, departure and cabin listings and Emperor Maldives FAQ.
Where does this liveaboard dive boat go?
Check out the fabulous places where this dive boat travels to.
Note: some destinations may not be listed below, please enquire for more details.
destination of the monthMaldives
Drift dives, reef sharks, manta rays and whale sharks: choose the right atoll, season and diving style for your Maldives adventure.
- If you have been diving on board this liveaboard dive boat in Maldives, please share your review and let us know what you thought. Please post your comments in the review section below, by doing so you will help fellow divers to plan their next diving trip
.
Other Liveaboard Reviews in Maldives
MV Carpe Novo
Carpe Novo is particularly worth comparing if you want a dedicated single cabin or a separate camera room. The 43 m yacht has 12 cabins for 22 guests.
MV Ocean Divine
Ocean Divine is a Maldives dive boat for 16 guests in eight cabins, with a separate dhoni carrying dive equipment. It offers a smaller guest group than many larger Maldives vessels.
MV Blue Force One
Blue Force One suits travellers who put outdoor living and a sea-view cabin high on their wish list. The current operator lists 24 guests in 12 cabins, replacing this review’s old 20-guest, 10-cabin description.
MV Emperor Orion
Emperor Orion is a 24-guest Maldives dive boat, but the partner currently states that it cannot accept bookings. This profile describes the vessel; it is not confirmation of a forthcoming cruise.
MV Theia
DUNE Theia is a 32 m Maldives dive boat for 20 guests in 10 cabins. Its numbered cabin categories make the exact room assignment more useful than a broad “luxury cabin” description.
Maldives Mosaique
Maldives Mosaique is a 41 m boutique vessel distinguished by balcony accommodation and an unusually large Skylight Suite. Its published profile remains available, but a dated departure was not verified: confirm operation and your exact cabin before pla
MV Duke of York
Italian hospitality and a separate dive dhoni. Start with your preferred cabin and itinerary, then compare the complete departure quote.
MV Adora
Adora combines an 11-cabin layout with a separate dive dhoni. The dedicated Superior Single is useful for solo travellers, while four upper-deck Ocean View cabins offer a different view and bed arrangement.
MY Emperor Serenity
Choose Serenity for its cabin choice and spacious social areas. The current operator specifications describe the replacement vessel, so the older photos and the previous 8/2/3 cabin split have been replaced in this guide.
Koimala
Koimala is a six-cabin timber charter boat in the Voyages Maldives fleet. Diving and surfing are available by arrangement, making the agreed charter programme more important than a generic Maldives itinerary.
Just returned from a weeks diving in the Maldives and made the mistake of booking with Constellation Fleet and stayed on the VIRGO
What a disappointment especially having dived Belize, Palau, Yap, Chuuk, Red sea and the Galapagos with the Wave Dance and Aggressor Fleets, which are like a 8 Star Hotels compared to the 2 Star rating I would give the Virgo.
Booked for myself, my wife and daughter for a week in February, fortunately we got the upper double cabin..but what a mess, mold in the shower, fixtures rusty and badly rotting, ceiling tiles falling out. My daughters cabin and lower corridors smelt of urine and it took 3 days for them to fix her air conditioner and try get rid of the smell
The Jacuzzi shown on the website was non-existent..removed last year, but nobody was notified. Most disappointing as that was the main reason we booked the Virgo.
I was totally shocked that there was no Captain or Pursuer just a bunch of crew doing different jobs.They were sleeping in the lounge, deck and storage cupboards. No TV or entertainment system that worked..just a few old scratched DVDs.
Dive planning was very poor, no adherence to standards, shallow dives followed by deep dives. No video viewing/editing facilities.
The food was very disappointing, no fresh fish or vegetables, same basic chicken and beef over cooked every day.
When I complained the only response I got was they would give me free cold drinks.
Beware before booking with Constellation Fleet. !!!!!!