Heidi BucoloRichard Branson’s brilliantly disruptive travel company, Virgin Voyages, is making waves again with the debut of its fourth vessel, Brilliant Lady. Hitting the high seas in September of 2025, Brilliant Lady will sail on an epic sea trip when she debuts.
The ship will embark on the ultimate cross-country adventure with a series of longer itineraries up to 14 nights. For her inaugural season, Brilliant Lady’s North American Tour will feature highly requested homeports like New York City to Bermuda and Canada, Los Angeles to Mexico, Miami to the ABC Islands, and Seattle to Alaska. There’s even one epic voyage through the Panama Canal.
Sir Richard Branson, Founder of Virgin Group, said, “Virgin Voyages started as a simple idea for me and has blossomed into the world’s top cruise line with a full fleet of ships. This ship is going to be brilliant in every possible way, and that includes the incredible new places we can travel to. Alaska, LA, New York – here we come!”
Brilliant Lady’s Features
As Virgin Voyages’ final vessel in its current fleet of Lady Ships, Brilliant Lady will carry through many of the signature touches Sailors have grown to know and love. Making its return are Virgin Voyages’ thoughtfully designed interior spaces, red balcony hammocks, 20+ award-winning eateries, a Happenings Cast in lieu of a traditional cruise director, and a collection of high-end wellness spaces ranging from a yoga perch with sweeping ocean views to a mermaid-inspired spa.
What’s new, however, is the adapted frame. This means that Brilliant Lady is designed to sail through the Panama Canal and to navigate rugged new landscapes including the vast glaciers and fjords of Alaska.
Like her sisters before her, Brilliant Lady will feature a beautiful new mermaid. Designed by Toronto-based illustrator Janice Sung, Brilliant Lady’s mermaid takes inspiration from both historic Renaissance paintings as well as traditional Japanese and Chinese art, fashion, and beauty.
Further, Virgin Voyages will slowly release details on all new dining and entertainment options available on its newest vessel.
Brilliant Lady’s epic inaugural season will commence in September 2025 from New York City. Sailors previously slated to sail on Brilliant Lady will be given priority access to book a MerMaiden voyage.
Brilliant Lady Voyages:
New York City || September 2025 – October 2025, Five voyages from 5-13 nights || MerMaiden: September 5, 2025
Back where it all started, Virgin Voyages kicks off the Brilliant Inaugural Season tour in the city that never sleeps. Following a premiere showcase for New Yorkers, Brilliant Lady will sail from Manhattan Cruise Terminal with itineraries ranging between five and 13 nights.
The 100+ islets and cays await in Bermuda while Quebec City shines for its charming European ambience, history, and architecture. Other new ports of call include Maine, Charleston, Boston, Halifax, and New Brunswick.
Miami || October 2025 – April 2026, 17 voyages from 7-12 nights || MerMaiden: October 17, 2025
Warming up for the winter season, Brilliant Lady will embark on a collection of extended Caribbean getaways. These options range between seven and 12 nights. Sailing from Terminal V in Miami, the ABC islands (Aruba, Bonaire & Curaçao) in the Southern Caribbean, along with Cartagena, are standouts.
Sailor favorites like Turks & Caicos, Antigua, and Grand Cayman are back to delight, along with newcomer Ocho Rios, Jamaica. Its lush tropical rainforests, pearly shores, and cascading waterfalls turned this small fishing village into Jamaica’s most coveted port.
Panama Canal Crossing || March 2026, One epic voyage for 16 nights
This crossing from Miami to Los Angeles spans 16 nights. And it is just one of several options in the brand’s Sea Change Series, what Virgin calls its repositioning voyages.
Departing on March 21, 2026, Brilliant Lady will say adios to Miami, sailing south towards Colombia and Panama. Then, she will complete an eight-hour passage through the iconic Panama Canal. After a day at sea, Sailors can discover Costa Rica’s lush jungles before immersing themselves in the culture of Antigua, a UNESCO World Heritage Site overlooking Guatemala’s acclaimed Lake Atitlán. One final stop in Los Cabos takes Brilliant Lady to LA, arriving April 6th.
Los Angeles || April 2026 – May 2026, Four voyages from 5-8 nights || MerMaiden: April 7, 2026
While sunset used to refer to Virgin Voyages’ sailaway times and daily Moët happy hours at Richard’s Rooftop, now Sailors can cruise down Sunset Boulevard or catch Santa Monica’s famous orange skies when Brilliant Lady docks in LA.
Five- to eight-night itineraries along Cali’s West Coast include calls in Baja California, Puerto Vallarta, and San Diego. California’s coastal gems like Santa Barbara and Catalina Island put the classic Spanish architecture, golden beaches, and waterfront promenades on full display.
Seattle || May 2026 – September 2026, Voyage details coming soon || MerMaiden: May 2026
Summer 2026 will take Brilliant Lady to the vast landscapes of Alaska’s woody shores. Wildlife is abundant, giving Sailors ample opportunities to spot some of America’s most elusive animals including bald eagles, orca, seals, bears, and humpback whales.
Departing from Seattle, Virgin Voyages will offer a mixture of itineraries from May through September.
Alaska Front(ier) of the Line Pass
Given the anticipated high demand for Alaskan voyages, starting May 8, 2024, Sailors can submit an early deposit to secure their priority window to book one of the limited Alaskan itineraries before they open to the public. Placeholders are $500 for Sea Terraces, $1,000 for RockStar Quarters, and $2,500 for Mega RockStar Quarters.
Brilliant 4 You Pass
Following the overwhelming success of its Summer Season Pass – which sold out in less than 48 hours – Virgin Voyages is introducing a “Brilliant 4 You Pass”. This pass will give guests unprecedented access to all of Brilliant Lady’s MerMaiden voyages. Digs in a RockStar Suite (Seriously Suite) are complemented by one Shore Thing per voyage.
Comments
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