One question that’s been asked time and time again is; When Will Brilliant Lady Launch? Well, today Virgin Voyages shared a sneak peek into the future of their fleet with new details of Voyages Brilliant Lady will launch. The much-anticipated Lady Ship has sparked curiosity and excitement among travellers and Virgin Voyages fans eager to experience Virgin’s innovative cruising style in new destinations.
As the countdown to the official reveal begins, we delve into what we know so far and what potential sailors can expect.
UPDATE:- Details have been revealed, check this post for all the details:-
Launch Delays and Anticipations – When Will Brilliant Lady Launch
Whilst we don’t have a date yet when Brilliant Lady will launch, Virgin Voyages has shared a date when we will learn more. A new teaser video on Virgin Voyages’ homepage hints at some potential ports that the ship could be calling at.
Initially set to embark on its maiden voyage in December 2023, Brilliant Lady’s journey was unexpectedly postponed. Citing external factors and supply chain issues, Virgin Voyages has kept the proposed launch details under wraps until now. However, today on Wednesday 24th April 2024, Virgin began teasing details, with a teaser on the Virgin Voyages Website pointing to an official unveiling on May 1, 2023, at 5 PM UK time.
Teaser Reveal and Speculations
The video cycles through the animated outline of some famous landmarks and shapes that clearly hint at new potential ports, or more specifically what we think are new embarking and disembarking ports.
Here are the obvious ones:-
- The Statue of Liberty hints at New York being a key port.
- The Hollywood Hills hinting at possible cruises from LA
- Seattle Space Tower hints at departures from the North West corner of the US
Then we have some cryptic symbols/shapes that are more open to speculation, but our best guess:-
- Flamingo is the national bird of the Bahamas, but we suspect this is hinting at Bahamas sailings from Miami, which is the homeport for Virgin Voyages.
- Star This one isn’t featured in the animated teaser but is on a still graphic that has been shared with Virgin Voyages First Mates, many are speculating it’s a hint at sailings from Texas.
Potential Routes and Destinations
Virgin Voyages seems to be setting the stage for all-new destinations and routes with the launch of Brilliant Lady. With what clearly seems to be a host of repositioning cruises from New York, right through to Seattle, the possibilities are certainly intriguing:
- East Coast Departures: The inclusion of Miami and New York is almost certain, catering to the core cruise market, with demand for winter cruises to the Caribbean and Bahamas, we expect this ship to launch with sailings from New York to the Bahamas, possibly, as early as Winter 2024/2025.
- Transitioning the Panama Canal: We know Brilliant Lady can transit the Panama Canal due to a change in the configuration of the lifeboats, so this opens up the ever-popular Panama Canal sailings to Virgin for the first time.
- Gulf of Mexico: Could we then see Virgin do several sailings from Galveston to Mexico, or will this just be a potential stop on her route to the West Coast of the United States?
- West Coast Insights: Then we could see Virgin Voyages make their debut on the West Coast, with sailings from LA to Mexico already popular with other lines, could Virgin be looking to introduce those routes for Spring/Summer 2025?
- Seattle and Beyond: Seattle is a popular starting point for two bucket list destinations, Alaska and Hawaii. Whilst more popular with traditional cruises, rather than core Virgin Voyages warmer weather sailor base, there is no denying the allure of these bucket list destinations done the Virgin Voyages way.
Book your Virgin Voyages Cruise Today
If you would like to book your Virgin Voyages Cruise today, you can use the below link to see the latest offers and self-service your booking. Any bookings made using this link will be linked to Magical Traveller (it will say Sold and Serviced by Kieran Miller at the top); you will have complete control over your booking and can pay Virgin Voyages directly.
If you book using our Book and Go link by clicking the image below, we will add bonus sailor loot to your account as a thank you, $25-$200, depending on cruise duration and cabin purchased. Sea Terrace cabins receive $100 on sailings four nights or more as a guide. An email will be sent within 24 hours from Magical Traveller confirming the loot will be added within 30 days before you sail.
If you would like to add hotels and accommodation, don’t hesitate to contact us, and we can make your cruise a fully ATOL-protected holiday.
Could Australia and Asia be on the cards for Winter 2025?
Virgin Voyages was proving popular with its Australian fans, but the rising tension in the Red Sea made transiting the Suez Canal too high a risk and going around Africa non-profitable.
But could we see Brilliant Lady make the Virgin Voyages return to Australia sailing via Japan, Shanghai and South East Asia?
Ship Configuration and Adaptations
It has been widely reported that Brilliant Lady has adapted to allow her to transit the Panama Canal. The main changes we are currently aware of are around the way the lifeboats are configured, They will be able to be brought up closer to the ship’s hull, however, that does mean some cabins had to be altered to compensate for that.
Introducing the (Slightly) Smaller Sea Terrace Cabin
Brilliant Lady will introduce a new cabin category called the (Slightly) Smaller Sea Terrace, this cabin will offer all the same features of the Sea Terrace Cabin but will have a smaller balcony with two Hammocks, and no deck furniture. These haven’t been listed as Limited View, but they are in the same location as Limited View on her sister ships.
You can see where these new cabin classes are located on the deck plan
- Year of Build: 2023
- Builder: Fincantieri, Italy
- Class: Lady Ship
- Cost: EUR 700 million (approx. USD 810 million)
- Length: 278 m (912 ft)
- Beam (Width): 38 m (125 ft)
- Gross Tonnage: 110,000 GT
- Passenger Capacity: 2,770 – 2,860
- Crew: 1,160
- Decks: 17
- Cruising Speed: 20 knots (37 km/h; 23 mph)
- Maximum Speed: 22 knots (41 km/h; 25 mph)
- Adults-Only Policy: Yes
Closing Thoughts
The addition of Brilliant Lady to the Virgin Voyages fleet marks a significant step forward in boutique cruising. With advanced features and diverse routes, the ship is set to offer unparalleled maritime adventures. As we await further details from Virgin Voyages, the excitement only grows.
You can always check out all the Virgin Voyages cruises on sale by using our cruise search tool but vising our dedicated Virgin Voyages Page