Ship review: Brilliant Lady, Virgin Voyages

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Overview: Brilliant Lady is Virgin Voyages’ fourth ‘lady ship’. It has a similar feel to its sister ships, but the 2,700-passenger vessel has a slimmer design to enable it to traverse the Panama Canal. There have been tweaks on board, with more outward-looking spaces and venues designed specifically for cooler climates such as Alaska.

Cabins: The ship has 1,404 cabins, of which 78 are RockStar Quarters or suites, 1,130 are Sea Terraces, 91 are Sea Views and 105 are Insiders. Every terrace has the line’s distinctive hand-woven hammocks, along with contemporary decor, customisable lighting and tablets.

New for Brilliant Lady are the Slightly Smaller Balcony cabins. These carry a lower price with a smaller terrace and two red hammock chairs, instead of a small table and two chairs, to accommodate Panama Canal crossings.

Food and drink: Brilliant Lady has more than 20 bars and restaurants, with no extra charge or reservations required. Rojo by Razzle Dazzle (pictured below), a new creation for the ship, is a Spanish-inspired restaurant where passengers can enjoy a cocktail and tapas before the evening entertainment begins.

The oxtail montadito (open sandwich) and grilled octopus were particularly memorable. Other speciality options are Pink Agave, offering Mexican cuisine; Gunbae for Korean barbecue; Extra Virgin, providing an Italian trattoria experience; The Test Kitchen, which is a ‘laboratory-style eatery’; and The Wake seafood-and-steak restaurant.

Main dining is in The Galley, where a range of ‘food trucks’ offer dishes from tacos to ramen and bento boxes made freshly to order. For a drink on the top deck, try The Athletic Club, which has new shady areas, or Draught Haus, which is perfect for a late-night drink taking in the hustle and bustle of The Roundabout atrium.

Facilities: Virgin Voyages is known for its entertainment, and Brilliant Lady maintains that reputation with six new shows, from full stage productions to small, flashmob-style events called ‘Happenings’ that take place across the ship.

Murder in the Manor, an immersive murder mystery, transports passengers back to the 1980s to solve a crime with a mix of comedy, dance and a little pantomime. In the same venue, there is soulful medley performance Duets, supper club-inspired show Up With A Twist, neon UV dance party Electric and a high-energy disco and circus mashup called Disco Reimagined.

Musical shows Out of Time and Red Hot, a revue of 50 years of Virgin Records’ legacy, will debut in The Red Room.

USP: With the arrival of Brilliant Lady, Virgin Voyages has expanded its range of destinations with trips in its inaugural season from New York, Los Angeles and Seattle opening the way to the line’s first Alaska sailings.

Book it: A five-night SoCal & Ensenada: Halloween Edition sailing from Los Angeles on October 24, 2026, starts at £791 per Insider Cabin.
virginvoyages.com