As we sailed past the Statue of Liberty, I leaned over to do a champagne toast with my mom. We weren’t celebrating anything important, but any time we’re on a cruise together is worth clinking glasses and sipping on a glass of bubbly. This time, we were sailing on Virgin Voyages’ brand new lady ship, Brilliant Lady, on its MerMaiden Voyage from New York City.
Onboard, the vibrant entertainment and food scene dominate the conversation. We couldn’t wait to try the newest addition to the restaurant lineup, a Spanish-inspired restaurant called Rojo by Razzle Dazzle, and also get a slice of our favorite pizza at sea from the Pizza Place. We also learned that the entertainment on Brilliant Lady is all new and exclusive to the ship, so we mark all of the shows we want to see on the app.
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After an easy embarkation from Pier 90 in New York City, we set sail on the way to our one port-of-call, the Royal Naval Dockyard in Bermuda. Over the subsequent five nights, my mom and I dined on exceptional meals and the best ice cream at sea, spent time on a private rooftop deck, and saw some of Virgin’s most unique entertainment yet.
The ship
Brilliant Lady is laid out nearly the same as Virgin Voyages’ other cruise ships, with only slight differences in a few locations, such as the ship’s onboard tattoo shop and a slightly larger main pool. After sailing on Scarlet Lady and Valiant Lady previously, this made getting around Brilliant Lady pretty easy since I was already familiar with the layout of each of the decks.
There is plenty of space to enjoy the outdoors on the ship. I love the deck 7 outdoor space, which features couches and lounge chairs, but without the party atmosphere of the pool. This is a great spot to relax, read a book, or just take in the ocean views.
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Then there’s Richard’s Rooftop, a private sundeck for those staying in concierge-level cabins, which Virgin calls Rockstar Quarters. The space has comfortable day beds, plenty of traditional lounge seating, a private bar, and a hot tub. Even better, every day from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m., Richard’s Rooftop hosts sunset hour, where champagne is flowing freely as bartenders walk around the area with bottles of bubbly constantly refilling your glass.
There were a few days when the weather wasn’t on our side, and many people congregated inside at the Roundabout, the Virgin version of a central atrium, or along the Deck 7 corridor, where the Social Club and the Dock House offered indoor games, entertainment, and food. Additionally, Sip, the champagne lounge, was great for people watching. Sip also serves a fantastic afternoon tea on sea days, complete with your choice of tea and a tower filled with tiny sandwiches, scones, and sweets.
Cabins on Virgin Voyages
One thing I was hoping would be different on the new ship was the cabins. My mom and I stayed in a central sea terrace, which was a mid-ship standard balcony room. While spacious, I don’t think Virgin’s cabins have enough storage for longer sailings. I also don’t like how low the beds are to the ground, which means you can’t store suitcases underneath. I ended up putting our suitcases in the closet, which wasn’t ideal.
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The bathrooms are standard cruise ship bathrooms, but the rainfall shower is a nice touch, and the strong water pressure was a welcome surprise. Outside on the balcony, a set of two metal chairs and a small cafe table was available to use, as well as Virgin’s signature red hammocks from Yellow Leaf Hammocks. I used the hammock a few times, and it was a nice way to relax between activities.
Entertainment on Virgin Voyages’ Brilliant Lady
Virgin Voyages is renowned for its lively entertainment that ranges from live bands to unique dinner shows and performances that bring the action right to your seat. On Brilliant Lady, there are seven new original productions, plus some returning favorites. The two main areas onboard for entertainment are the Red Room and The Manor. Inside the Red Room, you can see Out of Time, a show that will bring you back in time to the 1920s and beyond on a wild ride through history. Additionally, Duel Reality, a modern take on Romeo and Juliet, is a fan-favorite you can’t miss.
I spent most of my time in The Manor, which you may know from Virgin’s online presence. The glittery hallway is all over Instagram and TikTok, and makes for a great photo spot onboard. Inside, you can catch Murder in the Manor, a live true crime show with a 1980s twist. A new late-night party, Electric, complete with UV lights and plenty of neon clothes, also takes place here.
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Up With a Twist, an additional cost dinner show ($50 per person), is inspired by classic supper clubs of the 1920s. From the moment I walked into The Manor for dinner, I was greeted with showgirls dripping in diamonds perched in larger-than-life martini glasses, a magician doing close-up magic, and an array of passed canapés before I even sat down for dinner. The actual dinner was great, with a set menu but a choice of a steak or fish entree. The show features a unique variety of acts, including tap dancing and a sword swallower.
Scarlet Night
And of course, there’s Scarlet Night, Virgin’s iconic party that takes place once a sailing. The entire ship is draped in red, and guests don their best red outfits for the evening. It all kicks off at the Roundabout (the central staircase in the middle of the ship), then spreads through the rest of the ship with pop-up entertainment, mini-shows, and even conversation starter questions at some of the main bars. Then the night ends with a big pool party bash while a DJ spins the hottest hits. Even though Scarlet Night ends up being a very late night, it’s always fun to dance the night away under the stars.
When Brilliant Lady goes to Alaska next summer, the Red Room will be the spot to be. This space will serve as the host for Scarlet Night when the weather is too cold or too rainy for the outdoor pool party.
Dining on Virgin Voyages’ Brilliant Lady
There’s no shortage of dining onboard Brilliant Lady, and nearly all of it is included in your cruise fare. I love Virgin’s ice cream and pizza, which are conveniently located right next to each other. The hard-pack ice cream flavors change daily (my favorites were orange-ricotta and blackberry sorbet), and the pizza is all fired to order and comes in one 8-inch personal size (though any size pizza is a personal-sized pizza if you try hard enough). Other fast-casual options include The Galley, a food hall concept with stations that serve tacos, burgers, ramen, sandwiches, and more. For a meal with a view, head to The Dock, an aft-facing eatery where Mediterranean plates reign supreme.
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Then there are the “specialty dining” restaurants, which are more like restaurants on land versus specialty dining restaurants on other cruise ships. The Wake dishes out big city steakhouse vibes with cooked-to-order steaks and sides, and Pink Agave is making some fantastic upscale Mexican food at sea. One new addition to Brilliant Lady, and my favorite restaurant on the ship, is Rojo by Razzle Dazzle, an all-new take on the original Razzle Dazzle restaurants on Virgin’s other vessels. The new iteration is a Spanish-inspired restaurant that feels warm and cozy. The menu has a wide variety of shareable tapas and larger entrees. Don’t skip the croquettes from the tapas section or the house-made churros with chocolate dipping sauce from the dessert menu.
Overall experience on Virgin Voyages’ Brilliant Lady
If I had to describe Virgin Voyages’ Brilliant Lady in one word, it would be vibrant. From the entertainment and mix of dining to the crew and onboard spaces, every single thing was pure fun. The crew ensures every single guest is well taken care of, whether they are serving dinner or making sure spaces are primed for the nightly parties. Over the five nights my mom and I were onboard, we experienced some of the most interesting shows at sea, enjoying top-notch dining, and spent some time outside on the pool decks to catch those last few summer rays in New York City.
