Don BucoloBrilliant Lady is the fourth and newest ship in Virgin Voyages’ fleet, with a similar layout and feel to the first three Lady Ships. These adults-only vessels feel more like stylish boutique hotels than traditional cruise ships, with modern styling and a social atmosphere.
As the first ship for the brand to sail in Alaska, Brilliant Lady features a slightly slimmer profile (to allow transit through the Panama Canal) and subtle enhancements, including new shows and activities, a redesigned and more open central Roundabout, a new restaurant, an enhanced Athletic Club, and plenty of unique Alaska experiences, along with enhanced menus fleetwide.
We just returned from an Alaska cruise on the vessel, and we’re sharing what we loved, what missed the mark, and whether Virgin Voyages’ newest ship is worth booking. In this Brilliant Lady cruise review, we cover everything from the entertainment and dining to cabins, amenities, and everything in between to help you decide if it’s the right ship for your next vacation.
Entertainment
Brilliant Lady’s signature entertainment is the area where she stands out most. As an adults-only cruise line, Virgin has come a long way in defining what that means since its debut. Sure, the shows are still a bit more risque, with plenty of innuendo and some mature language. But we personally like the balance that Brilliant Lady strikes between unique entertainment offerings and more traditonal cruise shows. They’re still different but not as over-the-top.
The Red Room is the ship’s main theater. On Brilliant Lady, it hosts Festival Stage acts, which are more akin to headliners on other cruise lines, like comedians or mentalists, along with three signature performances. Our favorite Virgin show of all time still remains Duel Reality. This Shakespearean cirque performance pairs talented performers with a modern retelling of Romeo & Juliet. The hour-long production features jugglers, acrobats, and even some wrestling, and it’s unlike anything you’d find on another cruise line.
While at times cheesy, Red Hot is an interesting story of Richard Branson’s success. The show progresses through his career alongside music from the Virgin label’s archives, complete with CGI-rendered mermaids and occasional bad AI screens of Branson himself. But the lead singers and the rest of the cast delivered on the vocal performances and dance moves. The show was upbeat and engaging.
The other performance is similar to a typical cruise revue with an outrageous plot. Out of Time is a fun and quirky time-traveling tale with pop music spanning decades. It has plenty of jokes and references aimed directly at us 40-somethings.
Along with being the ship’s nightclub and hosting several parties throughout the cruise, The Manor is also home to a few signature shows of its own.
The closest thing to some of the previous Virgin entertainment is Love, Love, Love with the Hostess. This cabaret-style performance offers a much tamer look at the five love languages, with only minimal audience participation.
Murder in the Manor is by far the best performance here. Given its popularity, it is the only show that requires a reservation on Brilliant Lady. Bookings open up late afternoon on embarkation day.
This hilarious and immersive show is filled with plenty of 80s references and pop music as the story takes guests on a whodunit journey surrounding the death of popstar Sheena.
The same cast returns for Up With a Twist, a roaring 20’s supper club where guests step into Lady Valentina’s Emporium of Excess. This dinner show costs extra. At $50 per person, it was a solid show, with mediocre food and five cocktails (which seemed a bit much). If we had to pick, the complimentary Murder in the Manor is the clear winner.
Three featured singers from Up With a Twist also appear in Duets, alongside a live band. Yes, a show called Duets features a threesome: two female performers and one male singer. Only on Virgin Voyages. On a ship with so many entertainment offerings, we’d confidently say you could skip this one.
Nightlife
One drawback to Virgin’s ship design is the limited number of bars and lounges able to accommodate live music simultaneously. The Roundabout and On the Rocks are located adjacent to each other, so musical acts alternate between these two Deck 6 venues on most evenings.
Peach and Bourbon was Heidi’s favorite. This Australian duo offered a mix of modern songs and classic rock and pop. Heidi much appreciated the nightly Usher soundtrack.
Jack Sheppard was another looper, and his sets were filled with jam-band-style tracks.
The Soulo Lyon Trio offered funky takes on everything from classic rock to bubblegum pop. The Larger Than Lions lead female singer had a soulful voice and plenty of power as she belted out standards and rock hits.
Both the Diva and The Hostess also offered one-woman cabarets at the venue.
Still, given the limited number of musical venues, the Roundabout was often standing room only for pre-dinner and post-dinner performances.
It’s never been clear to me why a duo or acoustic guitarist doesn’t reside in the Dock House on a regular basis. Or why there aren’t some live performances in the Sip cocktail bar. They could easily add an electronic piano to this venue to spread out the crowds from the center of the ship.
Later in the evening, The Manor is the place for near-nightly parties and dancing. The traditional PJ Party on embarkation night ensured yours truly was donned in a red plaid pajama set.
There are also themed dance parties, like Disco Circus or Electric. But these are all essentially the same to me. Different logos and outfits, but still loud music and people crowding the dance floor.
Of course, the biggest party on any Virgin cruise is Scarlet Night. This is when the ship turns red, literally, and sailors wear their brightest hues to celebrate the forbidden love of an octopus and a sailor. Hey, I didn’t write the plot.
Given Brilliant Lady is sailing in Alaska, the culminating pool party was moved to the Red Room. With pop-up events happening around the inside of the ship and a Moon Party in The Manor, it did feel a tad more tame than our other Scarlet Night experiences, which is okay by us.
Bars and Lounges
Brilliant Lady boasts the same exact lineup of bars and lounges as her sister ships, but some of the menus have been updated since we last sailed with Virgin Voyages. Plus, there were several Alaska exclusive cocktails featuring Alaskan spirits and wine. These signature drinks are noted on the menus with a bear icon.
We appreciated the expanded options and focus on local flavor.
At the heart of the ship on Deck 6, On the Rocks is one of the more popular indoor bars, given the nightly live music featured here. While this menu did get an update, we stuck with our classic cocktails here.
Up one deck, the Draught Haus is the craft beer spot. Although on Brilliant Lady, this space in the Roundabout is more open, with a more welcoming design and plush seating. On our Alaska sailing, it poured a rotation of Alaskan craft beers. So did the Loose Cannon, the nautically themed bar tucked behind the Social Club. However, Heidi did appreciate that the Draught Haus now has a few cocktails on tap, like the Lemon Drop.
Another new offering that you don’t want to pass up are the dirty sodas at the Social Club. These pair great with the hot dogs, pretzels, and popcorn also served here.
Sip is the champagne and cocktail lounge, with a menu of signature drinks plus a wide range of wine and champagne. We enjoyed the Commonwealth Spritz made with bourbon, and Heidi sipped the Coquettish Charm featuring vodka.
Our favorite spot on any Virgin ship is still The Dock though, with its upscale resort feel, plush seating, and endless ocean views. The equally chic indoor counterpart, The Dock House, serves the same menu of food and drinks. It is a great place to unwind after a long day ashore.
The Alaska-exclusive sangrias here were a highlight, including the Blueberry Mirlo and Strawberry Rhubarb.
Several outdoor bars up on Decks 15 and 16 mix up similar but slightly different menus. These bars include the Aquatic Club Bar, the Gym & Tonic Bar, and the Sun Club Bar. With the Alaskan weather, we didn’t spend much time on the pool deck. Although, we did warm up at the Athletic Club Bar with an Alaskan mulled wine and a boozy hot chocolate while taking in glacier views.
Even the casino featured exclusive drinks with Alaskan spirits, like the Nutty Old Fashioned.
But of course, talking about bars and lounges wouldn’t be complete without one of our favorite spots, the Grounds Club coffee house. This venue features a menu of signature coffees and teas, espresso martinis, and even a few Alaskan specials. The best part is that as part of Virgin’s Sailing Club loyalty program, we definitely took advantage of the free daily specialty coffee perk!
There’s also a separate juice shop on Brilliant Lady. JuiceSea serves up cold-pressed juices, smoothies, and healthy shots for an upcharge.
Onboard Activities
When we first sailed on Virgin Voyages back in 2021 and 2022, we balked at the limited number of things to do on the ship. Well, Virgin heard our pleas and said, hold our beer. Or in this case, our microphone.
The Happenings Cast delivered a fully stocked list of onboard activities and events. While many are familiar activities found on many cruise lines, Virgin adds its own signature twist.
Trivia was a staple, usually held in the Social Club. From general trivia to music trivia and even Alaska-themed trivia, this place was the hub of daytime activity. There was also arts and crafts with the Artist, various cruiser competitions like puzzle races, and The Big Mix music challenge held in the Red Room. There were also dance classes, group fitness classes, and upcharge tastings and mixology classes.
Karaoke sessions were a regular occurrence too. Or, small groups could sign up for private sessions in the Groupie karaoke lounge located forward on Deck 7.
This was an Alaska cruise, so many events and challenges were themed to the region. These included Bear Wit It trivia, the Gold Rush Gamble ($50 buy in), and the Lumberjack Games on the sports deck, complete with Velcro axe throwing, to name a few.
Given the itinerary, the Brilliant Lady daily activities also featured enrichment sessions led by the two onboard Alaska experts. These ranged from formal sessions in the Red Room to more intimate sessions in The Manor, The Scene, and On the Rocks. The naturalist also hosted wildlife-viewing sessions on the pool deck and ran a WhatsApp chat group.
While we had low expectations for the enrichment on Virgin Voyages, the cruise line surprised us. They were actually some of the most informative and intriguing sessions, albeit different, that we’ve had across our eight Alaska cruises. (For a full breakdown of the Alaska-specific offerings, see our Virgin in Alaska review.)
Not to mention, plenty of other activities filled the time between ports of call, including video game competitions, scavenger hunts, a retro arcade with free video games, and a variety of self-led board games. So, there was certainly never a dull moment onboard. Unless, of course, you just wanted to relax and chill at the Dock. In fact, we found it difficult to fit everything into our week-long schedule.
Casual Eats
Over 20+ eateries are included in your cruise fare on Virgin Voyages Brilliant Lady, and many of them are casual spots. The ship features all of the same venues you find on other Virgin ships, but we still think the cruise line offers some of the best variety and quality at sea.
The Pizza Place is still a standout. The personal-sized pies remain some of the best pizza we have eaten on any cruise. The menu of grilled skewers and snacks at the Dock House has been updated since our earlier Virgin sailings, but the new offerings still deliver. I particularly enjoyed the new beef kafta skewers.
One touch specific to our Alaska sailing: during golden hour, this venue featured unique complimentary snacks, with themed Alaska cocktails available for an upcharge.
The main hub for casual dining is The Galley, the ship’s food hall. Here, you order freshly prepared items from a variety of themed stalls rather than shuffling down one long buffet line.
Standouts include the breakfast burritos from Let’s Taco About; burgers, chicken sandwiches, and French fries from Burger Bar; all-day breakfast at Diner and Dash; and rotating pastries and dessert from The Sweet Spot. Plus, there are paninis, avocado toast, and more from Off the Press; custom bagels and salads at Daily Mix; sushi boxes at Bento Baby; ramen and miso at Noodle Around; and a variety of breads and breakfast sandwiches at Well Bread.
There were lines, and finding a seat indoors was difficult especially at peak times on the cold, wet sea days. However, if you find a table and prefer not to wait in line for your food, you can also order tableside.
Besides the casual dining that we’ve already mentioned, a few other spots are easy to overlook. The Sun Club Cafe, tucked forward on Deck 16, serves poke bowls and bao buns. And at the Social Club, you can grab candy and snacks like pretzels, popcorn, and chicken wings.
And then there’s ice cream. Every cruise line includes ice cream, usually soft serve on the pool deck. But the ice cream parlor on Virgin Voyages serves complimentary gelato with a few daily specials.
Main Dining Rooms
In the evenings, cruisers choose from six sit-down restaurants on Virgin Voyages Brilliant Lady. Each venue offers a distinct concept rather than one main dining room with a rotating menu. All restaurants require reservations, and we highly recommend you make them before you board.
When you can book depends on your fare type and stateroom category. Rockstar Suite guests get the earliest access for advance reservations. Most sailors have access to dining reservations around the 45-day mark. Only those on the base fare will need to wait until 15 days before sailing to reserve.
We ate at every restaurant except the Test Kitchen this sailing, and none disappointed.
Rojo by Razzle Dazzle is new and exclusive to Brilliant Lady, a Spanish tapas restaurant that replaces the Razzle Dazzle After Dark menu previously found on the other ships. Brunch is the same spread served fleetwide, with some of the best bacon at sea and a mouth-watering frittata.
Dinner is where Rojo won us over. We sipped sweet sangrias and shared tapas like patatas bravas, grilled octopus, and jamón croquettes. The roasted cod, an Alaska exclusive, and the ribs were both delicious. Further, the basque cheesecake was so good we ordered it both times we dined here.
Pink Agave boasts Mexican specialties and is still one of our favorites. The venue is warm and vibrant, and the menu features shareable small and medium plates. We worked through guacamole, grilled corn, and enchiladas, and I particularly enjoyed the achiote-spiced salmon, an Alaska exclusive on this menu.
Extra Virgin is the ship’s Italian restaurant with an open kitchen turning out house-made pasta. The menu has been updated so each ship now carries its own signature dishes.
I started with the fritto misto and moved on to the braised lamb girella, both exclusive to Brilliant Lady. The braised pork cheek impressed me as well, and the affogato lets you build a custom dessert tableside.
The Wake is the glamorous steakhouse aft on Deck 6 with impressive ocean views. The Wake serves up a refined dining experience that would easily be a $65 upcharge on any other cruise line. As a Bostonian, I was impressed with the New England Clam Chowder, prepared tableside.
My steak came out perfectly seared to medium, with sautéed mushrooms and French fries that were a perfect complement. We also tried the loin of venison, a signature dish exclusive to our Alaska sailing, which was tender and full of flavor. You can’t pass up the lemon cheesecake and not-so-baked Alaska desserts either. Not to mention, The Wake also serves up brunch with a menu of benedicts, brioche French toast, and more.
Finally, Gunbae is Virgin’s Korean barbecue built around communal grill tables. This multi-course menu has been updated since our last visit with new items as well. It is a fun alternative to the typical teppanyaki restaurant, but the food was hit-or-miss for us this time. Still, the Korean fried chicken was a hit.
Outdoor Decks
Like the other ships in the fleet, Brilliant Lady’s outdoor areas are one of its biggest drawbacks; although, there are a few small updates.
There are two pools, both on Deck 15. The main pool, located midship, has a small wading area with an even smaller spot to actually take a dip.
Just aft is the wellness pool, a smaller circular pool ringed by loungers and outdoor workout equipment. That gear is a bit of an eyesore, and it eats up valuable lounger space. Given the itinerary, this was less of an issue on our sailing.
Across the two outdoor decks, there are only four hot tubs, with only the two on Deck 16 actually overlooking the water. This is certainly a drawback for an Alaska cruise.
On Brilliant Lady, our deck time was more about the scenery than sunbathing. And unlike other ships sailing in the region, there are no forward-facing spots for scenic viewing, not even a bow that can be opened up for glacier day.
The Athletic Club on Deck 16 has some circuit equipment and a boxing ring, but it’s also the one outdoor space that saw a real change on Brilliant Lady. The seating area has been redesigned to make it easier to use the rail space for sightseeing. Some shade covers have also been added to the other seating options. Still, the Net remains, taking up valuable deck space.
Elsewhere, there is a small outdoor sports court and a dedicated jogging track. There are two indoor gyms as well, one for cardio and one for strength, plus dedicated rooms for fitness and spin classes. Virgin Voyages fares include all group fitness classes.
Forward on Deck 16, there’s also an exclusive area for Rockstar Suite guests, Richard’s Rooftop. This sundeck features two hot tubs, lounge furniture, and a private bar, but no pool.
Beyond these two top decks, the only other outdoor spaces are the Deck 7 promenade and The Dock. Even the outdoor midship promenade area is partially obstructed by tall glass, and the rest of the walkway views are blocked by the lifeboats. Not ideal in Alaska.
That said, there was still plenty of space for guests at The Dock and the reconfigured Athletic Club, albeit both aft-located.
Stateroom
For this voyage, we booked a Sea Terrace room and were assigned cabin 12294. This portside balcony cabin is located forward of the forward elevators. While slightly enhanced with some wood accents and blankets to use during the sailing, the staterooms on Brilliant Lady are basically identical to the other ships in the fleet.
And if we are being honest, the staterooms are another drawback, particularly when it comes to storage for an Alaska cruise.
Virgin Voyages staterooms simply do not compare to other premium lines like Celebrity Cruises‘ or Princess Cruises‘ newest mega ships sailing in the region in terms of decor or amenities. They also lack storage and more comfortable seating options. In fact, Virgin’s staterooms are the least trendy area on the ship.
Walking into our stateroom, the tiny bathroom was immediately to our left, with the small closet opposite. The closet includes a clothes bar and hangers, with a curtain reminescent of a dorm room. Nearby is one run of shelves and a shoe rack. With more outerwear and bulkier clothing, it took some strategic unpacking to stow all our gear. Even so, we still had to stack several packing cubes and utilize magnetic hooks and an over-the-door organizer to stash the small stuff like toiletries and chargers to sunglasses and sunscreen, hats and gloves, and other accessories.
And we’ve said it before, but we’ll say it again, the bathrooms are the smallest in the industry. Though, I remain a fan of the rainfall shower, which is a touch larger than the typical cruise shower. But the bathroom has no above-vanity shelves or storage space for personal care items.
Near the balcony, there’s a small chair and a multi-purpose table. There is also a desk with the nearby mini-fridge. Since the stateroom attendants no longer reconfigure the seabeds during the day, the floor-level square table beside the bed became an additonal storage space, but that meant there was no sofa.
We did appreciate the additional 120-volt outlets and USB-A and USB-C connections throughout the stateroom. This gave us ample power to charge all our devices throughout the week.
Out on the balcony, the space was just right, with two chairs, a small table, and Virgin’s signature red hammock. Even with the cool Alaska weather, it was a good perch for taking in the scenery.
Brilliant Lady Cruise Ship Review Recap
Virgin Voyages’ Brillant Lady was perhaps the most unique Alaska cruise we’ve taken in the region. The ship offers a distinct experience that is ideal for the right traveler.
The food remains the headline. The cruise line offers some of the best casual dining and lineup of sit-down restaurants. The new Rojo by Razzle Dazzle, exclusive to Brilliant Lady, is a standout addition. Plus, the updated menus across the ship gave us plenty of new food and drinks to test out.
Brilliant Lady’s entertainment is also top-notch. With a mostly new lineup of production shows and parties, along with exclusive Alaska experiences, there’s plenty to keep new and repeat Virgin cruisers busy.
The ship is not without its downfalls, though. The staterooms are short on functional storage, which we felt more than usual on an Alaska cruise with additional layers. The outdoor decks for wildlife viewing and scenic sailing are not ideal either, with no forward-facing spaces and no indoor observation lounge.
Weather is always a wild card in Alaska, and, unfortunately, the rain kept us indoors more than we would have liked this trip. That said, Brilliant Lady handled it well with plenty of indoor spaces for relaxing and socializing, including the Dock House, Social Club, and newly redesigned Roundabout.
Brilliant Lady still appeals to the same trendy, adult travelers that Virgin has always courted. The vibe is casual, inclusive, and never stuffy. The crowd on our Alaska sailing was diverse, but they were all seeking the same thing: a modern, kids-free Alaska cruise. And Brilliant Lady delivered just that!
You will likely love Brilliant Lady if you are:
- An adults-only traveler who wants a kids-free, no-judgment atmosphere
- A foodie who values variety and execution over white-gloved formality
- A cruiser who prioritizes dining, bars, entertainment, and nightlife on an Alaska sailing
- Someone who likes a mid-size ship with plenty to do but without mega-ship overwhelm
- A cruiser willing to lean into Virgin’s casual, trendy vibe
You may want to look elsewhere if you are:
- A cruiser who needs a spacious, highly functional cabin with generous storage
- A sun-deck lover who wants multiple pools and sprawling outdoor lounging space
- An Alaska traveler expecting unobstructed open-deck viewing from every angle
- Anyone cruising with kids, since Virgin Voyages is 18+ only
- A traveler who prefers a more classic and traditional cruise atmosphere
Comments
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