Virgin Voyages just dropped its fourth, and reportedly final, Lady-class ship. Brilliant Lady launched in late 2024, and if you've been curious about the adults-only cruise experience Virgin's been selling, this might be the ship that seals the deal.
Here's what you need to know about Brilliant Lady, from the design to the dining to those new Alaska itineraries everyone's talking about.
What Makes Brilliant Lady Different
Brilliant Lady is the youngest sister in Virgin's fleet, joining Scarlet Lady, Valiant Lady, and Resilient Lady. At around 110,000 gross tons with space for 2,860 passengers across 17 decks, she's big enough to offer variety without feeling like a floating city.
The real difference? She's Panama Canal-capable. That means Virgin can finally sail Alaska and work the West Coast routes the other Ladies can't access. If you've been waiting for Virgin to show up in Alaskan waters, this is your ship.
Early reviews are giving Brilliant Lady perfect 5/5 ratings. One cruiser called her "the cleanest ship I've sailed", impressive considering she was handling back-to-back maiden voyages when that review dropped.
The Adults-Only Advantage
Let's address the obvious: Brilliant Lady is 18+ only. No kids. No teens. No family reunions with screaming toddlers at the pool.This isn't a gimmick. Virgin designed the entire experience around adult travelers who want to cruise without the family-friendly chaos. You won't find character meet-and-greets or water slides with height requirements. Instead, you get late-night entertainment, sophisticated dining, and spaces designed for grown-ups who want to relax or party on their own terms.
The vibe is somewhere between boutique hotel and nightclub cruise. It's not stuffy, there are literal swings and seesaws on Deck 16, but it's also not trying to be all things to all people. Virgin knows its audience and leans into it hard.
If you've ever wished for a cruise where you could sleep in without hearing kids running past your cabin at 7 AM, Brilliant Lady delivers.
Design and Spaces That Actually Impress
From the outside, Brilliant Lady looks understated, gray hull, clean lines, nothing flashy. Step inside and it's a completely different story.
The interior design uses bold colors, unexpected spatial layouts, and playful details throughout. The Roundabout atrium welcomes you with Virgin's signature scent (yes, they have one), setting the tone before you even find your cabin.
The Red Room is the main theater, and it's not your typical cruise ship auditorium. The seating transforms into different configurations depending on the show. One night it's theater-style, the next it's cabaret seating with tables. The flexibility keeps things interesting.
Head up to Deck 16 for what Virgin calls the "adult playground." You'll find swings, seesaws, and hammocks mixed with more traditional pool deck furniture. It's quirky without being cringeworthy, and it photographs well if you're into that.
Storage and natural light were clearly priorities in the design phase. Staterooms feel more spacious than the square footage suggests, with clever built-ins and windows that don't feel like portholes.
Cabins Built for Solo Travelers and Couples
Virgin's Solo Insider stateroom deserves special mention. It's a cozy, cocoon-like cabin designed specifically for solo cruisers. You get an in-room tablet that controls everything: lighting, climate, entertainment: without getting out of bed.
Solo cabins on other cruise lines often feel like afterthoughts. Virgin actually designed these spaces for people traveling alone, and it shows. The layout works. The pricing makes sense. You're not paying a massive single supplement just to cruise by yourself.
For couples, the Sea Terrace and Sea View cabins offer modern design with plenty of storage. No dark wood paneling or dated floral prints. These rooms look like they belong in a contemporary hotel, not a ship from 2005.
All staterooms come with the amenities you'd expect: quality linens, solid water pressure in the showers, USB charging ports where you actually need them.
All-Inclusive That Actually Includes Things
Virgin's pricing model bakes in what other cruise lines charge extra for. Your fare includes:- Wi-Fi throughout the ship
- Gratuities for crew
- Dining at all restaurants (no upcharges)
- Fitness classes
- Entertainment and shows
- Basic beverages
Early reviews noted that dining service ran slower than expected: some meals stretched 90 to 120 minutes. Reviewers attributed this to teams still finding their rhythm on maiden voyages. The food quality itself earned consistent praise for refusing to play it safe and "swinging for the fences" with bold flavors and creative presentations.
Alaska Itineraries and New Routes
Here's where Brilliant Lady opens new possibilities for Virgin Voyages. Being Panama Canal-capable means the ship can work Alaska summers and reposition to the Caribbean or Mediterranean during off-season.Virgin's Alaska sailings offer something different from the traditional family-focused cruises that dominate the market. You get glacier viewing and port stops in Juneau, Ketchikan, and Skagway: but you're doing it without kids running around the observation deck.
The Alaska itineraries also include overnights in certain ports, giving you more time to explore without rushing back to the ship. If you've cruised Alaska before on traditional lines, the adults-only experience changes the dynamic completely.
Beyond Alaska, Brilliant Lady will work Caribbean routes and potentially Mediterranean sailings. Virgin keeps itineraries flexible, so check the Virgin Voyages forum for the latest routing announcements.
Who Brilliant Lady Is For
Brilliant Lady works best for:- Solo travelers who want to cruise without awkward couples-focused activities
- Couples looking for a sophisticated vibe without family chaos
- First-time cruisers who think they're "not cruise people" because of preconceptions about traditional ships
- Adults who want late-night entertainment and bars that don't close at 10 PM
- Design enthusiasts who appreciate modern spaces over nautical themes
If you prefer traditional cruise ship formality: assigned dining times, dress codes, classic entertainment: this isn't your match either. Virgin's style is deliberately different, and Brilliant Lady doesn't try to appeal to cruisers who want a floating resort with conventional expectations.
The Verdict
Brilliant Lady delivers what Virgin promised: a fresh, design-led, inclusive cruise experience with an edgy attitude that feels distinctly different from traditional cruise lines.The crew brings warm, authentic Virgin personalities. The vibe: created by both staff and passengers: generates energy that reviewers called "electric." You're cruising with people who chose Virgin specifically because it's not like other cruise lines.
Is Brilliant Lady the "best" of Virgin's four Ladies? That depends on what you value. She offers itineraries the other ships can't sail, and she benefits from lessons learned during the first three launches. The refinements are subtle but noticeable if you've sailed her sisters.
For adults-only cruising that doesn't feel like a floating retirement community or a party ship, Brilliant Lady hits the mark. She's modern without being pretentious, fun without being chaotic, and inclusive without being boring.
If you've been curious about Virgin Voyages but haven't booked yet, this is the ship to try. Share your experiences in the CruiseVoices community: we want to hear what real cruisers think about Virgin's final Lady.