Virgin Voyages will put its fourth ship, the Brilliant Lady, into service starting in September 2025, sailing from New York City.
Sir Richard Branson, founder of the Virgin Group, declared: “Virgin Voyages started as a simple idea for me and has blossomed into the world’s leading cruise company with a full fleet of ships. This ship is going to be brilliant in every possible way, and that includes the amazing new places we’ll be able to travel to. Alaska, Los Angeles, New York… here we come!”.
As the latest addition to Virgin Voyages' current fleet of Lady Ships, Brilliant Lady will retain many of the signature touches that passengers have come to know and love. Notably, however, the ship has been modified from its sister ships to allow transit of the Panama Canal and will operate in Alaska during the summer of 2026.
Virgin Voyages CEO Nirmal Saverimuttu said: “The world has been waiting for us to announce the debut of Brilliant Lady, and it’s almost here. It’s wonderful to give our sailors and first officers what they wanted: new North American itineraries of 5 to 14 nights with new experiences they’ll remember forever. As the fourth and final ship in our fleet for now, Brilliant Lady will not disappoint.”.
Beginning in September 2025 from New York City, Brilliant Lady's epic inaugural season includes routes from:
New York | September 2025 – October 2025
Five voyages from 5 to 13 nights | Inaugural Voyage: September 5, 2025 – Following a debut for New Yorkers, Brilliant Lady will set sail from the Manhattan Cruise Terminal with itineraries ranging from 5 to 13 nights. The archipelago of more than 100 islets and cays awaits in Bermuda, while the Canadian city of Quebec shines with its charming European atmosphere, rich history, and incredible architecture. Other new ports of call include Maine, Charleston, Boston, Halifax, and New Brunswick.
Miami || October 2025 – April 2026
17 voyages of 7-12 nights || Inaugural Voyage: October 17, 2025 – The Brilliant Lady will embark on a collection of extended Caribbean getaways with options ranging from 7 to 12 nights sailing from the company's Terminal V in Miami.
Panama Canal Crossing || March 2026
An epic 16-night voyage – Departing on March 21, 2026, Brilliant Lady will bid farewell to Miami, sailing south to Colombia and Panama before its eight-hour transit through the iconic Panama Canal. After a day at sea, sailors will discover Costa Rica, Antigua, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and views of Guatemala’s acclaimed Lake Atitlán. A final stop in Los Cabos will take Brilliant Lady to Los Angeles, where it will arrive on April 6.
Los Angeles || April 2026 – May 2026
Four 5-8 night voyages || Inaugural Voyage: April 7, 2026 – Five-to-eight night itineraries along California's west coast include stops in Baja California, Puerto Vallarta, and San Diego.
Seattle || May 2026 – September 2026 – Summer 2026 will take the Brilliant Lady to the vast landscapes of Alaska’s forested coasts. Departing from Seattle, Virgin Voyages will offer a mix of itineraries from May to September.
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