We boarded Virgin Voyages ' Resilient Lady for a fantastic itinerary through Greece, Croatia, and Montenegro. Launched in May 2023, the Resilient Lady is like a boutique hotel at sea. It joins Virgin Voyages, which debuted in 2021 with the Scarlet Lady, followed by its sister ship, the Valiant Lady, a year later. A fourth ship, the Brilliant Lady, is expected to begin sailing the Caribbean in 2025, and the expansion is set to continue.
Article from CruisesNews magazine no. 69 – June 2024
As is typical of all companies under the Virgin brand, Virgin Voyages aims to "revolutionize" the cruise industry by bringing its freedom and fun to the sea, in true Sir Richard Branson style. The question is whether this is possible with so much competition on the market. And yes, not only is it possible, but it surprises even the most seasoned travelers. A very high level of service, an elegant and cosmopolitan design with well-thought-out and practical spaces, and, most importantly in my opinion, its culinary offerings.
Gastronomy at its finest.
Food is always an important part of the onboard experience, and Virgin Voyages delivers in spades, offering a selection of top-notch restaurants included in the price, which can and should be booked through their very useful and practical app. You won't find your typical buffet onboard; the closest thing is the spacious dining area called The Galley, which functions as a food market with all kinds of food stations, from quick snacks available all day, to Asian cuisine, grilled meats, burgers, tacos, noodles, salads, desserts, sushi with bento boxes, and more.
There's food to enjoy right away or to take away, like the Ice Cream bar or The Pizza Place, which offers freshly made artisanal pizzas throughout the ship day and night. The fact that there are also counters with takeaway food and fresh fruit always available is a real plus.
But it's Virgin's restaurants that deserve all the attention. The laid-back Razzle Dazzle, with its vegetarian menu, is a standout, where "sailors" (as Virgin Voyages calls its passengers) can opt for a brunch with meaty accompaniments or choose from vegetarian dishes like pumpkin ravioli, among others.
For a sophisticated tasting menu dinner, The Test Kitchen is the place to go. The innovative menu and the presentation of the dishes are exceptional. The cocktail list, perfectly paired with the menu, along with the excellent service and decor, have made it my favorite. The trompe-l'œil dishes, the smoking process right before your eyes, and the superb presentation and decoration of the plates deserve applause.
Gunbae is the place to go for Korean barbecue, and Pink Agave for Mexican food. Extra Virgin serves excellent pasta and seafood, while The Wake grill has butter-roasted bone marrow, a more than decent salt-baked sea bream, and one of the best New York strip steaks you'll ever get on a boat.
The food is fantastic, and with so many high-quality options, you don't have to repeat dishes if you don't want to. Besides the regular menus, there's always a special or something new to try. At The Test Kitchen, they changed their menu after just four days, so we had a brand-new tasting menu again, all without having spent a penny at the restaurants.
If the ship docks far from the city center, Virgin offers a free shuttle service
Virgin Voyages follows the all-inclusive model, with gratuities, Wi-Fi, meals, coffee, tea, soft drinks, and fitness classes included. You only pay for alcoholic drinks if they haven't included onboard credit, which is usually the case.
The atmosphere on a Virgin ship is relaxed when you want it to be and lively if that's what you're looking for; it's for everyone and adults 18 and over. A Virgin cruise is like a floating version of the brand's hotels: the colors are vibrant, the music is great, the dining is interesting and never boring, and the shows are cutting-edge.
Virgin Group founder Sir Richard Branson puts it best: “Exclusively for adults, boutique glamour, relaxed luxury, from ordinary to extraordinary, no kids on board!”
Virgin Voyages has a relaxed service culture. The crew's uniforms are very casual, and it's not unusual to see piercings, tattoos, and dyed hair without it affecting the quality of service in the slightest.
The shore things.
That's what Virgin calls everything you do off the ship, including excursions. Because originality reigns supreme at this company.
This 7-day cruise, with sailing days to further enjoy being on board, started in Athens to explore Split and Dubrovnik, Kotor and Corfu before disembarking again in Athens.
Like all airlines, Virgin offers the option to purchase excursions that include activities such as winery visits, cooking classes, and expeditions in ATVs, boats, and kayaks. But the extended stays at the destination, sometimes until 11 p.m., and the ease of using Virgin's shuttle services, allow you to visit destinations at your own pace, enjoying the shops and local cuisine.
This company's itineraries often include overnight stays in port. The Scarlet Lady, which departs weekly from Barcelona, spends the night in Ibiza, and naturally, the ship is almost empty.
Another differentiator is the Virgin Voyages app; it has everything. You can make dinner reservations, order breakfast in your cabin, find all the activities and experiences, chat with customer service so you don't have to go down to reception for anything, and you can open the app, confirm your order, and they'll deliver, for example, a bottle of Moët to wherever you are in 10 minutes, anytime. Excellent, very useful.
This ship of course features outdoor pools, onboard shops, a casino, deck jacuzzis, a spa and a large gym, but also the Squid Ink tattoo parlor, an outdoor running track that surrounds the ship, a basketball court, a boxing ring and free fitness classes, including an intense HIIT (high-intensity interval training) class.
Resilient Lady features innovative and sustainable technologies, such as transforming the heat from the ship's engines into clean energy
The main pool is captivating. The "beach club" atmosphere, with everyone socializing while relaxing in or out of the water, drink in hand, is amazing. The DJs with playlists of 80s and 90s hits provide the perfect touch to create that irresistible vibe, but if you prefer something more laid-back, the second pool is the other option.
Many started their evening at The Social Club with popcorn and drinks, even milkshakes. It's the place where people gather to play board games, visit the vintage arcade (Super Mario, Space Defenders, etc.), participate in contests, or sing karaoke. Lively, fun, and different.
But there's entertainment all over the ship. There are several lounges with live music and shows. The Scarlet Night is a highlight, when the entire ship dresses in red for a poolside party, complete with splashing and dancing in the shallow end. It's a night to remember, along with the pajama party, which is fun and, of course, optional.
Cabins
There are several cabin categories on the Resilient Lady: XL Sea Terrace (20 m²), Sea Terrace (18 m²), Sea View (12-17 m²) and Insider (9.75-16 m²).
They have everything you need, conveniently located, and with a bed that converts into a sofa or vice versa.
A tablet controls the cabin lighting, curtains, and television, and in addition, all "sailors" receive a nautical wristband with a microchip as a card, with which to enter and leave the ship, pay, enter your cabin, etc.
The scarlet hammock on the balcony is not only a distinctive decorative detail, it is extremely comfortable and gets used more than you might imagine.
The 'RockStar' suites.
But there are also superior classes. The Massive Suite (199 m²), Fab Suite (88 m²), Posh Suite (77 m²) and Gorgeous Suite (52 m²).
The suites also feature a king-size bed, a separate living room, and a record player for the sailors to use and request a selection of vinyl records. These suites grant guests privileged access to a dedicated RockStar agent and daily perks such as a bar account, entry to the exclusive Richard's Rooftop area, and full use of the thermal suite at Redemption Spa.
Upon arrival, these guests are taken to the Sip Bar to enjoy a glass of Moët champagne while all the VIP benefits are explained to them.
Virgin Voyages has managed to revolutionize cruises, surprising even the most well-traveled
In short, at Virgin Voyages, details matter and there's a focus on innovation. An excellent product, an exceptional cruise.
Sustainability
Virgin Voyages takes action when it comes to reducing its environmental impact by integrating sustainability into both operations and the guest experience.
Resilient Lady features innovative and sustainable technologies, such as transforming the heat from the ship's engines into clean energy and purifying wastewater for drinking.
Eco-sensors in cabins and suites automatically close window shades, turn off lights, and lower the air conditioning settings when unoccupied to conserve energy. Tinted glass, LED lighting, and room sensors are other design features that ensure Resilient Lady uses less energy and minimizes its carbon footprint.
Virgin Voyages has also banned unnecessary single-use plastics and offers carefully selected food and products.
Onboard amenities include hammocks made from recycled ocean plastic by a company that empowers women in Thailand and sunglasses made from recycled ocean plastic. The culinary team has also eliminated buffets to minimize waste and serves sustainably sourced seafood and fair trade or direct trade coffee.
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