Virgin Voyages is about to introduce a fourth sister really soon, and she really loves America
Virgin Voyages is awesome. Most people know that. They’re an adults-only cruise line that gives you basic Wi-Fi for free, have gratuities included in your cruise fare and throw some of the best parties on the high seas that even Jack Sparrow would be proud of. Even if they are pretty big in Europe, they still don’t have a huge presence in the USA, with only the Scarlet Lady having Miami as a North American home port. Ahh, wouldn’t it be amazing to have more Virgin Voyages here with us?
Have no fear, friend, the Brilliant Lady is coming to the rescue. This brand-new ship, debuting in September 2025, will be all about the USA, with home ports in Miami, New York, Los Angeles, and Seattle. Rejoice, folks of the West Coast, this is a great chance to experience Scarlet Night and the PJ Party right at your doorstep. The Brilliant Lady’s maiden voyage will take place September 2025, taking you from the City That Never Sleeps to Bermuda.
The Brilliant Lady will be the fourth Virgin Voyages ship, with the same length and number of rooms as the other three ships in the fleet so far. However, it’s not just a simple copy and paste. In fact, the Brilliant Lady looks noticeably different from afar, with a design that gives it a more compact, square appearance. There’s a reason for that: changes in the design were necessary to accommodate its new itineraries, which include Alaska and the Panama Canal.
What we know about the Brilliant Lady so far
We know that Virgin Voyages wants to increase their presence in North America, that’s for sure. Some new destinations include Bermuda, Mexico, ABC Islands, Alaska and the Panama Canal. I honestly don’t expect the Brilliant Lady to have a lot of new features when compared to the other three ships, but it’s amazing to see new itineraries. Before that, you had to travel all the way to Miami if you wanted to cruise with Virgin, and now you don’t only have more port options, but several new itineraries as well.
The Brilliant Lady also has a new rugged appearance, giving it a more compact look. This change was made specifically to allow the ship to travel through Alaska and the Panama Canal. In practice, it still has the same length, number of rooms, and tonnage as its three sister ships.
We still don’t know about any exclusive shows or bars yet, but the ship is expected to feature 20 restaurants onboard, all complimentary to guests, with a few menu items that may incur an extra charge. So, yes, it works pretty much the same way as on the Scarlet, Valiant, and Resilient Lady. Oh, yeah, the tattoo parlor included as well, we can’t forget about it.
Brilliant Lady Inaugural Itineraries
- New York City: September 2025 to October 2025; Five voyages from 5-13 nights with destinations like Bermuda and Quebec City.
- Miami: October 2025 to April 2026; 17 voyages from 7-12 nights, it’s all about the Caribbean.
- Panama Canal Crossing: March 2026; One epic voyage for 16 nights taking you from Miami all the way to Los Angeles through the Panama Canal.
- Los Angeles: April 2026 to May 2026; Four voyages from 5-8 nights with cruises in California.
- Seattle: May 2026 to September 2026; additional details are yet to be unveiled, but this is when Virgin Voyages will finally take you to Alaska.
What we want to see improved on the Brilliant Lady
I fully expect to see brand-new shows on the Brilliant Lady. Let’s be honest, they did an excellent job with the Resilient Lady, offering guests fantastic shows like Persephone, Lola’s Library, and the Miss Behave Show, which also runs on the Valiant Lady. I’m confident we’ll see something fresh on the Brilliant Lady, and Virgin Voyages has been proving that their exclusive shows are only getting better.
You know two other things I’d love to see improved? Pools and bathrooms in the standard rooms.
Pools tend to be fairly small on Virgin Voyages. Their ships usually feature two main pools, though one of them is often just a large whirlpool. Interestingly, Virgin Voyages’ guests don’t seem to be all about the pool scene, so the pools rarely get overcrowded - and having no children onboard certainly helps - but I’d love to see more unique and bigger pools onboard.
The main issue, however, is the small bathrooms in the standard staterooms that exist in all other three ships. Many guests even compare them to airplane bathrooms with an added shower due to their compact size. I really hope Virgin addresses this by making the bathrooms bigger, even if it means slightly reducing the size of the staterooms. C’mon, we need space to move around while singing in the shower!
Fourth time’s the charm
There we have it, everything we know so far about the Brilliant Lady. Let’s be honest, this is going to be a great ship. I do hope they improve the pools and bathrooms, and if they manage to do that, it will certainly be a 10/10 ship. The real highlight isn’t just the features and shows onboard but the plethora of new itineraries and ports of call in North America. I simply can’t wait to dress in red and explore Alaska with these guys.
Brilliant Lady FAQ
What is new on the Brilliant Lady?
The main updates for the Brilliant Lady are its itineraries and home ports. The ship will be based in the USA and offer new routes to destinations like the Panama Canal and Alaska. Besides these changes, it features a design similar to the older ships but will also include new shows and restaurants that have yet to be revealed.
When is the Brilliant Lady setting sail?
The Brilliant Lady will debut in September 2025, sailing from New York City.
Is the Brilliant Lady coming to the USA?
Yes! The Brilliant Lady will be based in the USA, with sailings from ports in Miami, New York, Seattle, Los Angeles, and more.
What are the new itineraries for the Brilliant Lady?
The Brilliant Lady will feature new itineraries including destinations such as the Panama Canal, Alaska, Quebec City, California, and more.
