diff --git a/demo/vagrant-cluster/README.md b/demo/vagrant-cluster/README.md
index ad07f76b8..bb23c5ba7 100644
--- a/demo/vagrant-cluster/README.md
+++ b/demo/vagrant-cluster/README.md
@@ -1,27 +1,50 @@
 # Vagrant Consul Demo
 
-This demo provides a very simple Vagrantfile that creates two nodes,
-one at "172.20.20.10" and another at "172.20.20.11". Both are running
-a standard Debian 7 distribution, and Consul is pre-installed.
+This demo provides a very simple `Vagrantfile` that creates two Consul
+server nodes, one at *172.20.20.10* and another at *172.20.20.11*. Both are
+running a standard Debian * distribution, and Consul is pre-installed.
 
-To get started, you can start the cluster by just doing:
+To get started, you can start the nodes by just doing:
 
-    $ vagrant up
+```
+vagrant up
+```
+
+> NOTE: If you prefer a different Vagrant box, you can set the `DEMO_BOX_NAME`
+> environment variable before Starting Vagrant like this: 
+> `DEMO_BOX_NAME="ubuntu/xenial64" vagrant up`
 
 Once it is finished, you should be able to see the following:
 
-    $ vagrant status
-    Current machine states:
-    n1                        running (vmware_fusion)
-    n2                        running (vmware_fusion)
+```
+vagrant status
+Current machine states:
+
+n1                        running (virtualbox)
+n2                        running (virtualbox)
+```
 
 At this point the two nodes are running and you can SSH in to play with them:
 
-    $ vagrant ssh n1
-    ...
-    $ vagrant ssh n2
-    ...
+```
+vagrant ssh n1
+consul version
+Consul v0.7.1
+Protocol 2 spoken by default, understands 2 to 3 (agent will automatically use protocol >2 when speaking to compatible agents)
+exit
+```
 
-To learn more about starting Consul, joining nodes and interacting with the agent,
-checkout the [getting started guide](https://www.consul.io/intro/getting-started/install.html).
+and
 
+```
+vagrant ssh n2
+consul version
+Consul v0.7.1
+Protocol 2 spoken by default, understands 2 to 3 (agent will automatically use protocol >2 when speaking to compatible agents)
+exit
+```
+
+## Where to Next?
+
+To learn more about starting Consul, joining nodes to a cluster, and
+interacting with the agent, check out the [Getting Started guide](https://www.consul.io/intro/getting-started/install.html).
diff --git a/demo/vagrant-cluster/Vagrantfile b/demo/vagrant-cluster/Vagrantfile
index f55966f54..da36fb106 100644
--- a/demo/vagrant-cluster/Vagrantfile
+++ b/demo/vagrant-cluster/Vagrantfile
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ sudo apt-get install -y unzip curl
 
 echo Fetching Consul...
 cd /tmp/
-curl https://releases.hashicorp.com/consul/0.7.1/consul_0.7.1_linux_amd64.zip -o consul.zip
+curl -s https://releases.hashicorp.com/consul/0.7.1/consul_0.7.1_linux_amd64.zip -o consul.zip
 
 echo Installing Consul...
 unzip consul.zip
@@ -20,11 +20,15 @@ sudo chmod a+w /etc/consul.d
 
 SCRIPT
 
-# Vagrantfile API/syntax version. Don't touch unless you know what you're doing!
+# Specify a custom Vagrant box for the demo
+DEMO_BOX_NAME =  ENV['DEMO_BOX_NAME'] || "debian/jessie64"
+
+# Vagrantfile API/syntax version.
+# NB: Don't touch unless you know what you're doing!
 VAGRANTFILE_API_VERSION = "2"
 
 Vagrant.configure(VAGRANTFILE_API_VERSION) do |config|
-  config.vm.box = "debian/wheezy64"
+  config.vm.box = DEMO_BOX_NAME
 
   config.vm.provision "shell", inline: $script