Valiant Lady Cruise Ship Guide: Everything You Need to Know (2026–27)
Valiant Lady is Virgin Voyages' second ship: an adults-only (18+), 110,000-ton ship carrying around 2,770 guests, with every restaurant included in the fare and no buffet or main dining room. In autumn 2026 she's sailing New York to Bermuda, then spends winter 2026–27 on Caribbean cruises from San Juan, Puerto Rico. She came out of a May 2026 dry dock with a new Indian restaurant, Ariya, which you'll only find on this ship.
We've sailed Valiant Lady ourselves, in 2025 and again for Scarlet Night in2026. Every photo on this page is ours, and both videos below were filmed on board.
Technical Specifications
Explore the engineering and operational data of the world's most iconic cruise vessels.
110,000 GT
Gross Tonnage
2,770 guests (Adults Only)
Passenger Capacity
1,160
Crew Size
2021
Year Built
New York (Brooklyn)
Home Port
Where Does Valiant Lady Sail in 2026–27?
Valiant Lady moves around more than any other ship in the Virgin fleet. This is what her current schedule looks like:
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Autumn 2026 – New York to Bermuda. Five and six night round trips from Brooklyn to Royal Naval Dockyard, Bermuda, several with an overnight in port. These run until mid-October.
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19 October 2026 – New York to San Juan. A 12-night repositioning cruise via Bermuda, Bimini, St Croix, St Maarten and Tortola.
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Winter 2026 –27 – Caribbean from San Juan. Six to eight night round trips covering the Eastern and Southern Caribbean: St Maarten, Barbados, St Lucia, Martinique, St Kitts, Antigua, Tortola, Aruba and Curaçao. There's a Halloween sailing from 31 October and a Thanksgiving sailing from 20 November.
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February 2027 – "Sisters at Sea". A one-off sailing from San Juan where all four Lady Ships meet up in the Caribbean.
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2027 – Caribbean from Miami. Short four and five night trips to Bimini, Nassau, Grand Turk, Cozumel and Puerto Plata are on sale from spring 2027.
Earlier in 2026 she spent the summer in Europe. She sailed Mediterranean round trips from Barcelona (Rome, La Spezia, Cannes, Ajaccio and an Ibiza overnight), then Northern Europe from Portsmouth, including a UK Comedy Fest sailing. She then crossed to New York via Iceland, Greenland and Canada.
Itineraries change, so always check Virgin Voyages for the latest dates before you book.
Planning a Barcelona sailing? Read our Barcelona cruise port guide.
What's Included on Valiant Lady? (Virgin's 2026 Fares Explained)
Virgin still includes more in the fare than most mainstream cruise lines. On every fare you get:
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All 20+ restaurants and eateries. There are no specialty dining charges anywhere.
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Essential drinks: still and sparkling water, sodas, drip coffee, teas and non-pressed juices.
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WiFi: the level depends on your fare (see the table below).
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Group fitness classes: yoga, spin, HIIT, bungee and more.
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All entertainment, including Red Room shows and Scarlet Night.
Since 7 October 2025, Virgin has sold three fare types under a system it calls VoyageFair Choices:
Virgin Valiant Lady Balcony Room
Are tips included on Valiant Lady?
Not on new bookings. For anything booked on or after 7 October 2025, Virgin charges gratuities separately: $20 per Sailor per night if you prepay, or $22 per night if it's charged to your onboard account. Bookings made before that date are on the old "legacy" fare, and their tips are still included. Virgin says it cut its advertised fares by the same amount when the change came in. Once you've paid the service charge, you won't be asked to tip again on board.
Is Valiant Lady Adults Only?
Virgin Valiant Lady Rockstar Suite
Yes. Every Virgin Voyages sailing is strictly 18+. There are no kids' clubs, waterslides or family programmes on board. The space a family ship would give to those goes to spas, bars, nightlife and outdoor lounging instead. It feels much more like a boutique hotel in Ibiza or Miami than a traditional cruise ship.
What Makes Valiant Lady Different
No buffet, no main dining room
There are no set dining times and no traditional buffet. You book restaurants in the Virgin app, and casual food is served at The Galley, a food-hall-style space with separate counters.
Fitness that's actually good
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B-Complex: a gym split into dedicated studios, with ocean views.
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The Athletic Club: an outdoor top-deck area with a boxing ring, old-school gym kit and big daybeds for afterwards.
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The Runway: a red elevated running track around the upper deck.
Redemption Spa
The spa has a mud room, salt room, quartz beds, cold plunge pools and a hydrotherapy pool. Some nights it hosts DJ-led parties.
Squid Ink tattoo studio
Valiant Lady has a full tattoo and piercing studio on board, with resident and guest artists. It's the most permanent souvenir you can bring home from a cruise.
The Band
Instead of a keycard, you wear a wristband made from recycled ocean plastic. It's your cabin key and your onboard wallet. In your cabin, a tablet controls the lighting, curtains, TV and room service.
Virgin Valiant Lady Razzle Dazzle
Valiant Lady Cabins and Suites
Every cabin has app-controlled mood lighting, curtains and air conditioning.
Cabin type, Approx. size, What you get
Insider (interior) From around 105 sq ft Clever space-saving layout and mood lighting that mimics daylight
Sea View Up to around 190 sq ft Window seat with ocean views
Sea Terrace (balcony) Around 225–265 sq ft Private balcony with Virgin's red hammock.
The most popular choice on board
RockStar Quarters (suites)352 sq ft up to 2,147 sq ft (the Massive Suite)Tom Dixon design, marble bathrooms, in-suite bar, many with hot tubs, and access to Richard's Rooftop, a private suite-only deck
Our tip: a Sea Terrace is the sweet spot. The hammock alone is worth it on a Caribbean sea day.
Valiant Lady Restaurants (All Included)
There's no upcharge at any of these. Book the sit-down restaurants in the app as soon as your reservation window opens. Gunbae and The Test Kitchen fill up first.
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Ariya (new for 2026): a modern Indian restaurant created with celebrity chef Maneet Chauhan. It takes over the Razzle Dazzle space every evening, seats 220 and has its own cocktail bar. It's only on Valiant Lady.
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Razzle Dazzle: still open by day for breakfast and brunch.
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The Wake: steak and seafood in a glamorous, retro setting at the back of the ship.
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Extra Virgin: Italian, with fresh handmade pasta.
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Pink Agave: upscale Mexican with sharing plates and a huge tequila and mezcal list.
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Gunbae: Korean BBQ at shared tables, with drinking games. Allow 90 minutes, and it's a great first-night pick for meeting people.
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The Test Kitchen: an experimental tasting menu with a lab-style feel.
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The Galley: a casual food hall with different counters. This is your lunch spot.
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Also on board: The Pizza Place, Lick Me Till Ice Cream, the Social Club diner, The Dock, and Grounds Club coffee.
Entertainment and Nightlife on Valiant Lady
Don't expect Broadway shows. Virgin's entertainment is immersive, cheeky and built around late nights.
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The Red Room: a theatre that changes shape completely between shows. It switches from seated theatre to a standing dance floor. The headline shows rotate, so check the Virgin app for your sailing's line-up. (Duel Reality, the acrobatic Romeo and Juliet show, left Valiant Lady in March 2025 and now runs on Brilliant Lady.)
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The Manor: a nightclub inspired by Richard Branson's first recording studio. The mirrored entrance is one of the most photographed spots on the ship.
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The Groupie: private karaoke booths.
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On the Rocks: an intimate martini and cocktail bar.
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Pop-up performances turn up in stairwells, lounges and on deck throughout the voyage.
Scarlet Night on Valiant Lady: What Happens and What to Wear
Scarlet Night is Virgin's signature party, held once on every voyage. The whole ship turns red, the crew act out a story across the evening, and it ends in a huge party on the pool deck. We filmed it on Valiant Lady, and you can watch the video below.
What to wear for Scarlet Night
Pack something red. There's no strict dress code, but almost everyone joins in. You'll see everything from red T-shirts and sundresses to sequins, feather boas and full costumes.
Wear something you don't mind getting wet. The night usually finishes with guests jumping into the pool fully dressed, so a red swimsuit under your outfit is a smart move.
Our Scarlet Night tips
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Book dinner early. Go for 7pm or 7:30pm. If you book a 9pm table, you'll miss the pop-up performances that build up to the main party.
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Follow the cast. If a performer invites you somewhere, go. You might end up at a secret mini-show.
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Bring a waterproof phone pouch. The party ends in the pool, and you'll want to film it.
Virgin Valiant Lady Scarlet Night
Virgin Valiant Lady Scarlet Night
Virgin Valiant Lady Scarlet Night
Valiant Lady FAQs
Is Valiant Lady adults only?
Yes. Valiant Lady, like every Virgin Voyages ship, is strictly 18+. There are no kids' clubs or family facilities.
Where does Valiant Lady sail in 2026–27?
In autumn 2026 she sails New York (Brooklyn) to Bermuda. From late October 2026 she's based in San Juan, Puerto Rico, for Caribbean cruises. In 2027 she also sails short Caribbean trips from Miami.
Is WiFi free on Valiant Lady?
Yes, some WiFi is included on every fare. Base fares get basic WiFi on one device. Essential fares get Classic WiFi on one device. Premium fares get streaming-capable WiFi on two devices.
Are tips included on Valiant Lady?
Not on bookings made since 7 October 2025. Gratuities are $20 per Sailor per night prepaid, or $22 per night if charged on board. Older bookings still have tips included.
Are drinks included on Valiant Lady?
Basic drinks are included on every fare: water, sodas, drip coffee, tea and non-pressed juices. Alcohol, cocktails and specialty coffee cost extra, unless you book a Premium fare, which comes with a Bar Tab credit.
What is Ariya on Valiant Lady?
Ariya is a modern Indian restaurant by chef Maneet Chauhan. It opened after Valiant Lady's May 2026 dry dock and takes over the Razzle Dazzle space each evening. It's only on Valiant Lady, and it's included in the fare.
What do you wear on Scarlet Night?
Anything red. There's no strict dress code, but most guests dress up. Wear something you don't mind getting wet, because the party usually ends in the pool.
Is there a buffet on Valiant Lady?
No. Virgin doesn't have a traditional buffet. Casual meals are served at The Galley, a food hall with different counters.
How big is Valiant Lady?
Valiant Lady is 110,000 gross tons and carries around 2,770 guests and 1,160 crew. She's mid-size compared with modern megaships, so she feels less crowded.
Gallery
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