Virgin Voyages' second cruise ship Valiant Lady is getting the final touches with the mermaid design on the hull. The mermaid represents beautiful tension between strength and vulnerability – of the black American woman who is unafraid of her own power and never backs down. The hull art was created by artist Hillary Wilson, who wanted to convey the balance between the two and drew a mermaid who is confidently moving forward toward her dreams.
"Like the Scarlet Lady that came before her, the Valiant Lady will feature a glamorous new mermaid at the helm. Virgin Voyages’ leading ladies, its mermaids, are an important symbol for the brand and meant to keep guests safe on their voyage," the cruise line said.
Hillary’s background, the classical art that is creative and extremely precise results in a mermaid that looks like a real woman, a work of art that celebrates the human form in all its glory. “The breadth of people that live and exist in the world – I feel so lucky that I get to experience them and create art from them. How lucky are we to get to paint all these kinds of people? To rejoice in all the kinds of people that exist and all the ways you can draw them,” said Hillary to Virgin Voyages. “You don’t need permission to make someone Black,” was the open thought from Hillary, after the Cruise company expressed their wish for inclusive group of mermaids to reflect and celebrate diversity and make sure that its models, brand logos and depictions of people aren’t predominantly white.
Valiant Lady’s cruises: Canary Islands, Spain, & Portugal – an 11-night voyage setting sail from Portsmouth, UK, with stops in La Coruña, Funchal, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Gran Canaria, and Lisbon. Long Weekender in Zeebrugge – a three-night cruise from Portsmouth, UK, to Zeebrugge (Bruges), with time to explore the historic seaside town. Late Nights in Portugal and Spain – a one-way, 12-night sailing from Portsmouth, UK, to Valiant Lady’s homeport in Barcelona, stopping in La Coruña, Lisbon, Cádiz, Gibraltar, Málaga, and Palma de Mallorca along the way. The Irresistible Med – a seven-night voyage from Barcelona, sampling the Med and its islands, visiting Toulon, Marina di Carrara, Ajaccio, Cagliari, and Ibiza. French Daze & Ibiza Nights – a seven-night cruise from Barcelona, experiencing French glamour in Marseille and Monte Carlo, before partying the night away in Ibiza. Spanish Obsession – a seven-night voyage from Barcelona to experience a selection of Spanish delights, including Palma de Mallorca, Gibraltar, Málaga, and Ibiza.
