Virgin Voyages is thrilled to announce the debut of its fourth vessel, the ‘Brilliant Lady ‘. This ship, a winner of the best large-ship liner in Condé Nast Traveler’s 2023 Readers’ Choice Awards and the best mega-ship liner in Travel + Leisure’s 2023 World’s Best Awards, is all set to grace the seas in September 2025, promising a unique and unforgettable experience for all its passengers.
The “Brilliant Lady” will embark on a cross-country sea trip with a series of longer itineraries up to 14 nights, a first for Virgin Voyages. For her inaugural season, the ship will feature highly requested homeports and iconic ports of call like New York City to Bermuda and Canada, Los Angeles to Mexico, Miami to the ABC Islands, and Seattle to Alaska, along with one epic voyage through the Panama Canal.
Sir Richard Branson, Founder of Virgin Group, said, “Virgin Voyages started as a simple idea for me and has blossomed into the world’s top cruise line with a full fleet of ships. This ship will be brilliant in every possible way, including the incredible new places we can travel to. Alaska, LA, New York – here we come!”
As the final vessel in Virgin Voyages’ current fleet of Lady Ships, “Brilliant Lady” will carry through many signature touches Sailors have grown to know and love. These include thoughtfully designed interior spaces, red balcony hammocks, 20+ award-winning eateries, a Happenings Cast instead of a traditional cruise director, and a collection of high-end wellness spaces. What’s new, however, is the adapted frame, meaning “Brilliant Lady”, is designed to sail through the Panama Canal and to navigate rugged new landscapes, including the vast glaciers and fjords of Alaska.
Virgin Voyages’ CEO Nirmal Saverimuttu said, “The world has been waiting for us to announce Brilliant Lady’s debut, and she’s almost here. At Virgin Voyages, we’re constantly innovating and looking for opportunities to provide even better value for our sailors and give them greater choice. Virgin fans have asked for years if we’d consider sailing from places like New York, Los Angeles or Alaska. Hence, giving our Sailors and First Mates what they wanted is wonderful: fresh itineraries spanning North America from 5 to 14 nights with new experiences they will remember forever. As our fleet’s fourth and final ship for now, Brilliant Lady will not disappoint.”
Like her sisters, “Brilliant Lady” will feature a beautiful new mermaid. Designed by Toronto-based illustrator Janice Sung, the mermaid takes inspiration from historic Renaissance paintings as well as traditional Japanese and Chinese art, fashion, and beauty. Along with “Brilliant Lady’s” stunning and courageous new guardian, Virgin Voyages will slowly release details on all new dining and entertainment options available on its newest vessel.
Saverimuttu added, “We’re fortunate to see some of the highest repeat rates in the industry, proving that our Sailors truly fall in love with the onboard experience and understand the intrinsic value we offer. They know that stepping on board a Virgin vessel means eating Michelin-inspired foods at no extra cost, awakening the senses during a complimentary morning yoga class, and walking away fulfilled without feeling nickelled and dimed. We’ll always challenge ourselves to keep things fresh and exciting, and that starts with expanding into extraordinary new destinations while inviting new artists, chefs, and musicians to enhance that quintessential Virgin vibe.”
Commencing in September 2025 from New York City, “Brilliant Lady’s” epic inaugural season includes routes from New York City, Miami, a Panama Canal Crossing, Los Angeles, and Seattle. The voyages range from 5 to 16 nights, offering sailors a variety of experiences and destinations.
With the high demand anticipated for Alaskan voyages, we are offering a special opportunity. Starting May 8, 2024, sailors can submit an early deposit to secure their priority window to book one of the limited Alaskan itineraries. This is your chance to ensure you don’t miss out on this incredible journey.
Building on the success of our Summer Season Pass, Virgin Voyages is introducing a new offering, the Brilliant 4 You Pass. This pass provides” unprecedented access to all Brilliant Lady’s”s’MerMaiden voyages, offering a unique and exclusive experience. Sailors who were previously scheduled to sail on Brilliant Lady will be given priority access to book a MerMaiden voyage, ensuring they can continue their journey with us.