Latest news with #ValiantLady
Travel Weekly
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Travel Weekly
Virgin Voyages launches a true-crime-themed cruise
Virgin Voyages is a debuting a themed voyage for fans of true crime podcasts. On Oct. 10, it will host a five-night true crime voyage with podcasters onboard from the shows "Stuff They Don't Want You to Know," "Betrayal" and "Buried Bones." The Valiant Lady sailing will feature live podcast recordings, meet and greets and podcasting lessons. Guests will travel round trip from Miami with stops at Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, and Virgin's Beach Club on Bimini in the Bahamas. Virgin Voyages has previously hosted themed cruises for holidays including Halloween, Valentine's Day, New Year's and Christmas. It has also hosted Nicky Jam, who will return in December for a sailing dubbed "Olas de Fuego," which will include a lineup of Latino and Caribbean artists. The true crime sailing will also feature Virgin's Halloween-themed events, including a costume contest and a Halloween show.
Sydney Morning Herald
20-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Sydney Morning Herald
This Virgin ship takes the cruise rule book and rips it up
The stateroom My Sea Terrace room on Deck 10 is the perfect home base. The so-called Seabed can be converted into a lounge setup during the day, but I keep mine as a bed. It feels more like a holiday when you can sit on your bed with a book or laptop. Smart storage – deep drawers, a streamlined wardrobe, and hidden nooks – keep everything tidy. The private balcony is a highlight while the room itself has had a cosy seating area. A bedside tablet controls everything from lighting to curtains with a tap. Food For a lively night out, Gunbae is my standout. This Korean barbecue spot makes dinner an interactive experience, with guests on communal tables grilling marinated short ribs and juicy prawns right at the table. Over at Pink Agave, the rib-eye steak is perfectly grilled and paired with a zesty salsa. Beyond the sit-down restaurants, quirky food spots add to the fun. Lick Me Till Ice Cream (yes, that's its name) serves rotating flavours like Ube coconut and Key West Lime Pie. Entertainment The Red Room theatre offers immersive shows that blend live music, high-energy dance, and jaw-dropping technology: think immersive projections, and digital backdrops that create a whole new world. Scarlet Night, which takes over the upper decks on the second night, is a highlight, when the whole cruise ship dons their best (and glitteriest) red attire. The verdict Valiant Lady takes the cruise playbook and rips it up — in the best way. If you're into edgy design, elevated food, and adults-only fun, you'll love it. If you're after bingo and buffet lines… maybe not. The essentials Valiant Lady sails from her home port of Miami on a mix of Caribbean and Mediterranean itineraries. My four-night Fire & Sunset Soirees starts and ends in Miami, with stops at Key West and in Bimini, Bahamas. Solo fares for this cruise typically start at $US880 ($1351), while cabins for two start from $US1272 ($1952). Prices vary by season and availability. See Our rating out of five ★★★★ Loading The writer was a guest of Virgin Voyages. Swell Between the many chic spaces and endless activities, this cruise is all about offering moments for personal escape as well as group bonding. Not so swell The Virgin Voyages app, used for everything from daily schedules to personal bookings, occasionally encounters glitches, making planning and booking difficult.
The Age
20-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Age
This Virgin ship takes the cruise rule book and rips it up
The stateroom My Sea Terrace room on Deck 10 is the perfect home base. The so-called Seabed can be converted into a lounge setup during the day, but I keep mine as a bed. It feels more like a holiday when you can sit on your bed with a book or laptop. Smart storage – deep drawers, a streamlined wardrobe, and hidden nooks – keep everything tidy. The private balcony is a highlight while the room itself has had a cosy seating area. A bedside tablet controls everything from lighting to curtains with a tap. Food For a lively night out, Gunbae is my standout. This Korean barbecue spot makes dinner an interactive experience, with guests on communal tables grilling marinated short ribs and juicy prawns right at the table. Over at Pink Agave, the rib-eye steak is perfectly grilled and paired with a zesty salsa. Beyond the sit-down restaurants, quirky food spots add to the fun. Lick Me Till Ice Cream (yes, that's its name) serves rotating flavours like Ube coconut and Key West Lime Pie. Entertainment The Red Room theatre offers immersive shows that blend live music, high-energy dance, and jaw-dropping technology: think immersive projections, and digital backdrops that create a whole new world. Scarlet Night, which takes over the upper decks on the second night, is a highlight, when the whole cruise ship dons their best (and glitteriest) red attire. The verdict Valiant Lady takes the cruise playbook and rips it up — in the best way. If you're into edgy design, elevated food, and adults-only fun, you'll love it. If you're after bingo and buffet lines… maybe not. The essentials Valiant Lady sails from her home port of Miami on a mix of Caribbean and Mediterranean itineraries. My four-night Fire & Sunset Soirees starts and ends in Miami, with stops at Key West and in Bimini, Bahamas. Solo fares for this cruise typically start at $US880 ($1351), while cabins for two start from $US1272 ($1952). Prices vary by season and availability. See Our rating out of five ★★★★ Loading The writer was a guest of Virgin Voyages. Swell Between the many chic spaces and endless activities, this cruise is all about offering moments for personal escape as well as group bonding. Not so swell The Virgin Voyages app, used for everything from daily schedules to personal bookings, occasionally encounters glitches, making planning and booking difficult.
Telegraph
24-06-2025
- Telegraph
Five essential things to know before you board a Virgin Voyages cruise ship
Having set up rail, air and even space travel enterprises, Sir Richard Branson announced his venture into the cruise industry in 2015. Yet his first ship, Scarlet Lady, came along just as the Covid pandemic struck, so she didn't make her maiden voyage until 2021; sailing from Portsmouth, rather from Miami, as was originally planned the year before. The adults-only line was aimed at younger cruisers – who it calls 'sailors' – and it soon garnered a reputation for its edgy concepts. These originally included a box of sex aids in every cabin (now discontinued), drag bingo and a tattoo parlour. But in the intervening years, with the introduction of Valiant Lady in 2022 and Resilient Lady a year later, the line has evolved, focusing more on its impressive food offerings, offbeat entertainment and lively deck parties around the pool. Everywhere the ships sail, they are instantly recognised by their scarlet funnels and battleship-coloured hulls – the designers considered more than 100 shades of grey before choosing the final hue. The crew dress down, rather than sporting traditional uniforms, and Virgin Voyages – Branson changed the name from 'Cruises' because he didn't like the 'c-word' – doesn't have the standard observation lounges and other features of its more traditional rivals. Instead, there are Instagrammable venues everywhere, making it the sort of line you'll either love or hate – and if you love it enough you can even buy a ticket for a whole year's unlimited cruising for two for around £90,000. 1. Where does Virgin Voyages cruise? The three 'Lady ships' – soon to become four with the arrival of Brilliant Lady in September 2025 – offer 60 itineraries to 100 ports of call around North America, the Caribbean and Europe. For summer 2025, Scarlet Lady is returning to Portsmouth for voyages lasting between six and 15 nights, visiting destinations including Reykjavik, Norway, Bordeaux, Ireland, Scotland and Cannes. Meanwhile, Resilient Lady is based in Athens, sailing 10- and 11-night itineraries to destinations such as Istanbul, Mykonos, Dubrovnik and Crete. Valiant Lady continues to cruise the Caribbean, with each departure including a stop at the private resort on Bimini island in the Bahamas. Here, the Beach Club sits around a lagoon-style pool overlooking the ocean. Mornings begin with yoga and meditation, while DJ-led parties mark the afternoon. At the end of the day, guests wind down watching sunsets from the shore. Excursion offerings include riding a jet ski or taking a heritage and cultural tour. UK holidaymakers are favouring departures to the Greek islands, Croatia and the eastern Caribbean in 2025, with party island Mykonos featuring in four of the five most popular routes. Portsmouth remains an important port for Virgin – it was the first in the world to welcome the line's initial three vessels. The arrival of Brilliant Lady will add yet more destinations and longer itineraries. These include New York to Bermuda, Los Angeles to Mexico, Miami to the ABC Islands (Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao), and Seattle to Alaska. Virgin Voyages will also launch a 16-night voyage through the Panama Canal. 2. Who does Virgin Voyages appeal to? When launching the line, Branson said he wanted to attract 'young-at-heart people who want a good time'. As an adults-only line, Virgin Voyages naturally appeals to childless couples – or those who can offload their kids with the grandparents for a week – as well as solo travellers, empty nesters and groups of friends. The median age generally falls between 43 and 47, and is predominantly a mix of Americans, Brits and Australians; although that varies depending on how long the voyage is, the departure port and where the ship sails. Balcony cabins have red hammocks while the RockStar quarters promise record players, and some even feature guitar rooms. Early users of the top suites were invited to imitate Branson and dance on their outside tables – however, the steps helping them do so have since been converted to planters. Ordinary cabins, meanwhile, still have beds that can convert to sofas during the day. Clubbers enjoy The Manor, a cool three-storey venue named after Branson's first recording studio. The pool is less for swimming and more for being seen – especially on Scarlet Night – and the ice-cream parlour is called Lick Me Till Ice Cream. Yet whether you think it's hip or trying too hard, Virgin Voyages certainly stands out from the competition. 3. Virgin Voyages' fleet Scarlet Lady (2,762 passengers) With its so-called 'MerMaiden' voyage in 2021, Scarlet Lady set the standard for the three subsequent ships, introducing six main restaurants and replacing a traditional buffet with a group of food stalls serving dishes to order. After just three years of service, Scarlet Lady underwent a makeover, introducing a Chinese-inspired dining concept called Lucky Lotus, which takes over the Razzle Dazzle restaurant at night. The ship was also given more suites, six VIP poolside cabanas and a new cocktail bar on its 15th deck. Ordinary cabins were also given more drawers and storage. Even the mermaid on its bow was given a touch-up. Valiant Lady (2,762 passengers) Following on so soon from Scarlet Lady, the second Virgin Voyages ship – launched in Portsmouth before heading to Miami in 2022 – retained most of the same features. There were subtle differences in the sculptures and artwork and a new, black mermaid on her bow, created by artist Hillary Wilson. Sails to: Caribbean Resilient Lady (2,762 passengers) The line's third ship made her debut in the Greek islands in 2023. It features exclusive shows like Persephone, a modern retelling of the Greek myth; Another Rose, a cabaret dining experience; and Lola's Library, a mix of song, dance, acrobatics and comedy that's presented in three themed chapters that invite the audience to either stay all night or pop in and out. The Latina mermaid was created by New Mexican native Jodie Herrera. Brilliant Lady (2,762 passengers) Launching in September 2025, the fleet's fourth ship will debut seven new shows in the entertainment arena, The Red Room and The Manor, including a time-travelling comedy (watch out for the acrobatic cavemen), a murder mystery and an ultraviolet show featuring a jellyfish parade. It certainly promises to be different. There will also be a new Spanish-inspired dining concept, Rojo by Razzle Dazzle. The mermaid is designed by Toronto-based illustrator Janice Sung, taking inspiration from Renaissance paintings as well as Japanese and Chinese art, fashion and beauty. 4. Loyalty scheme Passengers who sail on a single full-fare voyage are automatically enrolled in the Virgin Voyages Sailing Club. They receive members-only offers and perks which can range from a speciality coffee a day to $100 (£75) onboard credit. 5. Access for guests with disabilities Virgin Voyages offers a variety of cabins for people with disabilities. These feature wider doorways, step-free bathrooms, a ramp out to the balcony and other features. Customers are asked to book early and specify all their requirements to the Sailor Services crew or travel agent.
Daily Mail
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE A day with billionaire Richard Branson as he sips a piña colada before noon and parties at a private beach club
It seems that Sir Richard Branson 's day-to-day life isn't always what one would expect, especially since he's a billionaire who runs one of the biggest companies, the Virgin Group. The 74-year-old's business empire includes 40 companies in over 35 countries, which employs over 60,000 people. From airlines and space travel to hotels, cruises and telecommunications, overseeing the venture capital conglomerate of the Virgin Group seems like an extremely busy task. But for the British entrepreneur, he makes it look easy. Especially while sipping on a piña colada as he carries on his duties for the day. got an exclusive look at what his day in the Bahamas was like as he joined Virgin Voyages cruise goers on May 8 as part of the Celebration Voyage, which set sail from Miami four days prior. After landing in Bimini in the Bahamas via a seaplane from Miami, Richard boarded Virgin's Valiant Lady cruise ship for an intimate meet and greet with media and influencers. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the Daily Mail's new Showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. Normally, when he's not jet-setting, he kicks off his mornings with a workout, whether it be a game of tennis at 6am or - if he's on one of his cruises, for example - he'll run around the jogging track, which provides a 360-degree panoramic view of the sea. But, on this particular day, he met with a group of journalists at 10 am at Richard's Rooftop on Deck 16 - an exclusive rooftop bar and lounge area for the cruise's 'RockStars' - with a piña colada in his hand (his tall glass even had an 'R' for Richard embellished on it). The casual meet and greet included an impromptu chess game (his favorite game) against a journalist as others looked on, taking photos of videos. During the nearly hour-long session, Richard spoke about the exciting news of Virgin Voyages' newest Lady Ship setting sail from New York harbor this September, which will be the fourth ship to launch as part of the brand's fleet. The businessman reflected on the four-year journey of Virgin Voyages and how it had a rocky start, but finally launched at the end of 2021. 'When we started Virgin Voyages a few years ago, we arrived in England and the Spice Girls were coming to celebrate with us, and they didn't turn up. They rang me up and said, "There's something called Covid out there, on cruise ships." 'And I told them... "what a load of buttocks." Anyways, they turned out right and I was wrong. So, we had a suspicious start to a cruise line.' He continued, 'It is brilliant to have a fourth cruise ship arriving and doing some West Coast of America, Alaska, Canada, Panama Canal. It's very exciting,' referring to the destinations that are part of Brilliant Lady's itineraries once it launches. Richard took a seaplane from Miami to spend a day in the Bahamas with sailors on Virgin's Celebration Voyage, which set sail from Miami on May 4 Virgin recently announced that Spice Girl Melanie C will be joining after all. She's set to headline the Celebration Voyage departing from Lisbon, Portugal, this July. Following the morning meet and greet, and some more photo opportunities with fans on the cruise, Richard, accompanied by his team who made sure to take content of him all day for the brand's social channels, disembarked from the massive ship and, with help from a golf cart, made his way to the beach. But it's not just any beach. Virgin Voyages' has its own private adult-only Beach Club that overlooks the ocean and has its own set of beach chairs. Plus, two swimming pools, multiple bars and food stations throughout (which are free for cruise goers). Talk about paradise. Richard, being the billionaire that he is, had his own private area (even more private than the exclusive Rockstars area) where he could cool down and relax inside an Airstream camping trailer... or hang out with superstars like Nicky Jam. The Latin award-winning singer was spotted with Branson before both stars surprised people in the lagoon-style pool as a DJ took over around 1.00pm. Joined by Virgin's CEO Nirmal Saverimuttu, Nicky, 44, hyped up the crowd ahead of his nighttime performance on the cruise as it was announced that there was an exclusive voyage just for Nicky Jam sailing from San Juan this December. Following this, Richard surprised the crowd by spraying a bottle of champagne over the people partying in the pool. Then, he proceeded to have some sparkling wine for himself before he made another surprise. Motioning for the crowd to make way, the Virgin Group founder shocked everyone by jumping into the pool - via a cannon ball - splashing those around him. Coincidentally, the music playing in the background was Spice Up Your Life by one of his favorite female pop groups, The Spice Girls. The afternoon poolside fun came to an end for Richard as he changed into some dry clothes and wrapped up his festivities for the day. After some more casual meet and greets with sailors who were enjoying the private beach club, Mr. Branson took the seaplane back to Miami around 7pm. For more entertainment, Nicky Jam performed poolside on the cruise starting at 9pm where he brought a ton of energy as he performed his Reggae chart-topping hits to sailors aboard Valiant Lady. Meanwhile, Richard was seemingly recharging for another jam packed day of events for the following day. He previously noted that he needs 'six hours sleep to do it all again,' but 'a little differently' the next day. In an exclusive interview with which took place at the end of April, he spoke about growing his empire and the prospect of reopening Virgin Megastores since people are buying vinyl records again. 'We used to have a great Megastore in New York. And we may even go as far as reopening some Megastores in other places,' he spilled, 'because I think people are loving discovering vinyl again, and Virgin could also sell them some holidays, Virgin balloon trips, and a few other things in these Megastores. 'They're still going in the Middle East, so maybe we can get them going again in the UK.' He added, 'We'll most likely give it a shot.' Richard's revelation came during the unveiling of Virgin Hotel London-Shoreditch's brand-new listening bar Hidden Grooves. After seeing it come to life, he said that he's decided 'on the spur of the moment' to open a Hidden Grooves at Virgin Hotels' New York City location, which opened early 2023. Richard, whose homebase and where he spends a lot of his downtime is the private paradise Necker Island, confessed to that his 'mind is always racing' when it comes to building his conglomerate. 'If I feel that something's not been done well, I'll just jump in and do it. And obviously, I'm lucky, because I own the company, I can just say, "Screw it, let's do it," and get it done,' he said. 'And I try to enable everybody who works for Virgin to be able to do that, but, in the end, the buck stops with me, so I can just make decisions and get on with it.' Richard has plenty of business plans over the next few years, including more Virgin Atlantic flights, Virgin Voyages cruises to the Red Sea, the launch of high-speed trains to rival Eurostar through the Channel Tunnel, and 'building a number of spaceships' with Virgin Galactic that 'should be ready to fly' by the end of next year, he says.
