When Virgin Voyages was first announced back in 2014, it came with all the cheekiness you’d expect from Richard Branson’s Virgin brand. This wasn’t going to be your parents’ cruise line—or your kids’, for that matter. The company promised an adults-only experience with a heavy dose of rock-and-roll attitude. After years of teasing, the first ship—Scarlet Lady—was supposed to sail in 2020. But then, well… we all know what happened in 2020.
The pandemic threw the entire cruise industry into chaos, and Virgin’s launch timeline took a serious hit. Scarlet Lady finally entered service in late 2021, followed by her sisters, Valiant Lady and Resilient Lady. Despite the delays, Virgin delivered on its promise to shake things up: no kids under 18, no buffets, no main dining rooms, and no tired “Broadway-style” song-and-dance revues. Instead, think boutique-hotel-at-sea with food from celebrity chefs, edgy entertainment, and an unapologetically playful vibe.
Virgin didn’t just enter the cruise industry; it crashed the party and redecorated the place.
The Virgin Fleet and Brilliant Lady’s Long Road
Brilliant Lady’s story is a bit like that one friend who always takes forever to get ready for a night out. Her steel was cut in 2018, right before the pandemic introduced us to one-way grocery store aisles, social distancing, and masking-up. Work slowed, resources shifted to getting the earlier ships completed, and Brilliant Lady was left waiting. And waiting. And waiting.
When building finally resumed, Virgin made a bold decision: reposition the lifeboats so the ship could transit the Panama Canal and unlock brand-new itineraries. A clever davit system was introduced, enabling the lifeboats to move farther inboard during canal passages That adjustment wasn’t without its ripple effects—midship balconies on Deck 8 were reshaped, deck-7 overhangs were removed, and even guest views and cabin layouts were tweaked to accommodate the changes.
Supply chain constraints didn’t make things any easier—materials like specialty steel, lighting, and fabrics were delayed, pushing her debut further back.
The MerMaiden Voyages
Brilliant Lady just wrapped up her MerMaiden voyage out of New York, making headlines and winning over sailors (that’s what Virgin calls its guests). It was a debut that was a long time coming—she was originally supposed to set sail in December 2023 from San Juan, Puerto Rico, offering Southern Caribbean itineraries. But delays in construction and the lifeboat retooling pushed her launch nearly two years down the line.
Now she’s on her way to Miami, where I’ll step aboard for her first sailing from PortMiami on October 17, 2025. For Virgin, Miami has always been a short-cruise port for the line, offering mostly 4- and 5-night itineraries. Brilliant Lady changes that with longer sailings to the Caribbean, finally giving Virgin’s U.S. fan base a chance to enjoy more than just a quick getaway.
I haven’t tried Virgin Voyages until now for one reason—their cruises out of Miami were just too short. I typically don’t book anything less than seven nights, and Virgin’s short sailings were never really attractive to me. Brilliant Lady is different. With itineraries stretching past the 7-night mark, she finally convinced me it was time to take Virgin on a test drive.
What I’m Looking Forward To (a.k.a. The Fun Part)
Alright, let’s get into the good stuff. Here are the things that have me counting the days until embarkation:
- No Kids – I dislike (a ship full of) kids. Yes, parents will ALWAYS say their offspring are well-behaved. Even if they’re not. Kids left to run amuck, overtaking areas, stomping down the halls, and making every single person say, “thank God I don’t have kids” is something I’m really looking forward to. Virgin’s 18-and-up policy means the loudest tantrum onboard will probably be my own if the bartender runs out of gin.
- No Buffet – Listen, I’ve done my in at buffet stations, fighting for the last piece of bacon while someone in front of me builds a leaning tower of pancakes. Virgin ditches the buffet entirely, replacing it with made-to-order eateries. And you don’t have to pause and wonder why bacon is only served every other day… looking at you Carnival!
- No Main Dining Room – If you’re one of my followers, you know that me and the main dining room, on most ships, don’t get along. Virgin replaced the main dining room with more than 20 different eateries, all included in the fare. From Korean BBQ to vegan treats to steakhouse classics, it’s dining with zero upcharges and no MDR rubber chicken.
- The Entertainment – Drag shows? Yes, please. Murder mystery at sea? Count me in. This isn’t watered-down “safe” entertainment. It’s bold, campy, and a little risqué—basically everything Governor Ron DeSantis probably wouldn’t approve of if he stepped onboard. I’m here for it.
- The Vibe – Virgin calls its ships “lady ships,” and everything about them is designed to feel more boutique hotel than cruise liner. Think hammocks on balconies, tattoo parlors at sea, DJs until sunrise, and champagne delivered with the shake of an app.
- Longer Itineraries – I said it already, but it’s worth repeating: I’m most excited about not having to pack up after just four or five nights or going thru the hassle of doing a back-to-back for two short trips. With Brilliant Lady offering longer sailings, I can finally dig into the Virgin experience without rushing through it.
So, what exactly does Brilliant Lady’s Miami MerMaiden look like? Here’s the plan:
- Oct 17, 5:00 PM – Departing from Miami, Florida
- Oct 18 – At Sea
- Oct 19 – At Sea
- Oct 20, 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM – Philipsburg, St. Maarten
- Oct 21, 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM – Tortola, British Virgin Islands
- Oct 22 – At Sea
- Oct 23 – At Sea
- Oct 24, 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM – Bimini, Bahamas
- Oct 25, 6:30 AM – Returning to Miami, Florida
Brilliant Lady has had a long road to get here—pandemic delays, redesigns, and supply chain headaches—but she’s ready to sail, and I’m ready to see if Virgin lives up to the hype. I’ll be documenting every step of this MerMaiden, so be sure to follow along here, on the Scott’s Cruises Facebook page, and of course on YouTube and TikTok for updates, videos, and more.