Virgin Voyages Brilliant Lady officially arrived on the West Coast on Monday, April 6, for her highly anticipated MerMaiden debut at the Port of Los Angeles. This milestone moment welcomed more than two-thousand guests onboard. Many were dressed in red as they lined up to be one of the first ‘sailors’ to sail on the cruise line’s newest ship.

Celebrity Guests Onboard

Social media personality, singer and influencer Dixie D’Amelio and actress Brec Bassinger were some of the celebrities welcoming the Brilliant Lady to the West Coast. Others onboard included invited media, influencers, First Mates and devoted Sailors. This is a new era for the Virgin Voyages brand in California, Mexico, Seattle, British Columbia and Alaska.

Photo credit Maritime Filming UK
A New Way To Cruise
Sir Richard Branson, a prominent British entrepreneur and adventurer, best known for founding the Virgin Group, promises sailors a unique cruising experience. Virgin Voyages is different from other cruise lines, and one of the few adults-only cruise lines.
He wanted to offer a superyacht design for his fleet of Lady Ships. His first ship, Scarlet Lady, launched in August 2021. Other cruise ships in his fleet included Valiant Lady, Resilient Lady and now the Brilliant Lady.

Photo credit Jill Weinlein
Nautical Glam
The ships offer the ambiance more like a chic resort or boutique hotel. The contemporary spaces strike the perfect balance of nautical glam with an exciting rock-star touch. There is a tattoo and piercing parlor onboard, a boxing ring outside and some of the best fashion-forward gift shops at sea.
Virgin’s fares include your stateroom, all meals, select non-alcoholic beverages, internet access and fitness classes. Entertainment options include an interactive cabaret, acrobatic shows, dance parties and Test Kitchen highlighting a prix-fixe gourmet meal. Guests can also enjoy a signature Scarlet Night party, featuring an evening of red with pop-up DJ, performances, dancing and jump-in pool fun.
Photo Credit Jill Weinlein

RockStar Cabins & Quarters

On the Brilliant Lady, interior cabins are cozy and designed ideally for solo travelers or couples who love to be close together. Each cabin includes modern furnishings and en-suite bathrooms.

Those seeking ocean view cabins will enjoy the natural light and ocean views from the feature window. Accommodations feature adjustable mood lighting, flat-screen TVs, and rain showers. All rooms are designed with a contemporary aesthetic, focusing on comfort and functionality, including the ADA cabins.

RockStar Quarters are the ultimate cabins on the ship. Sliding doors lead out to expansive terraces with a signature hand-woven bright red hammock for swinging, napping and enjoying the sea breeze. There is a fully-stocked wet bar and a sexy shower, some with a round window looking out to the ocean. These suites also have a record player and records for listening enjoyment.

RockStar Sailors also receive select complimentary drinks around the ship, access to the Thermal Suite in the spa, and entrance into the exclusive members-only outdoor lounge and bar.

Photo credit Jill Weinlein

Dining Options

The atmosphere on board is luxe casual, with no dress code, no huge dining room with banquet-style food, and or formal nights.

Brilliant Lady brings elevated dining concepts with smaller restaurants, such as the new Spanish restaurant concept – Rojo by Razzle Dazzle. Gunbae is a lively Korean BBQ concept offering sailors a multi-sensory grilling experience and a complimentary first glass of soju to kick-off the fun in a social atmosphere. These are two of the 20 unique dining options onboard.

Decadent meals are curated by Michelin-starred chefs, plus there are a variety of casual grab-and-go options for guests to have a choice of what they want to eat when they want to eat.

Start your day at the coffee counter with a latte and pastry, or sit and order small Mediterranean plates from a mezze push cart. There are also late-night bites available after a night of dancing, seeing a show or hanging with friends at one of the exceptional bars and lounges.

Photo credit Jill Weinlein

Recently the brand announced Project Ruby, a new intelligence layer platform transforming how sailors plan, book and experience a Virgin Voyage.

Brilliant Lady offers 7-day to 12-day cruises from Los Angeles to the Mexican Riviera and then embarks from Los Angeles to Seattle and Vancouver to a variety of destinations along Alaska’s Inland Passage. The vessel will also transit through the Panama Canal at the end of October as she heads back to Miami, Fl.