Virgin Voyages has announced the first sailings for its new ship, Brilliant Lady, after some delays. The fourth ship joining Virgin Voyages fleet will start its journeys next year, offering longer sailings of up to 14 nights from various US ports. Initially planned to start in December this year, it will now begin in 2025 from ports like New York City, Miami, Los Angeles, and Seattle.
The ship will start its voyages on September 5, 2025, from New York’s Manhattan Cruise Terminal, offering five trips ranging from five to 13 nights. During these trips, Brilliant Lady will visit places in Canada and the US including Quebec City, Maine, Charleston, Boston, Halifax, and New Brunswick. It will also sail from Miami on 17 trips to the Caribbean islands like Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao, with durations between seven to 12 nights.
After Miami, the ship will move to Los Angeles and run four cruises to places like Baja California, Puerto Vallarta, and San Diego. From May to September 2026, it will offer various Alaska trips from Seattle. There’s also a special 16-night trip through the Panama Canal planned for March 2026.
Virgin Voyages revealed these details in a live broadcast and mentioned that passengers who were booked for the earlier planned launch will get priority for these new trips.
Brilliant Lady will have a new mermaid design on its hull by illustrator Janice Sung from Toronto. The cruise line will gradually share more about the dining and entertainment options on this ship.
Virgin Voyages’ CEO, Nirmal Saverimuttu, expressed excitement about offering trips from new locations like New York, Los Angeles, and Alaska. He promised memorable new experiences for passengers.
Sir Richard Branson, the founder of Virgin Group, highlighted the growth of Virgin Voyages from a simple idea to a leading cruise line with a full fleet of ships. He emphasized the potential of the new destinations that Brilliant Lady will explore.