After years of anticipation and several schedule shake-ups, Virgin Voyages’ Brilliant Lady has finally made her way home to Miami for her long-awaited MerMaiden Voyage. Originally announced back in 2021 as the fourth ship in the Virgin fleet, she is the sister to Scarlet Lady, Valiant Lady, and Resilient Lady — but with some very important differences that kept her in the shipyard longer than planned.
Brilliant Lady’s journey to launch was anything but smooth sailing. Her debut was delayed multiple times as Virgin made engineering and design adjustments to allow her to visit ports her sisters couldn’t – such as transiting the Panama Canal, sailing from Los Angeles, and cruising Alaska – all of which are on tap! The bulk of those modifications involved reconfiguring lifeboats and adjusting passenger cabins, now make her the most versatile ship in the Virgin Voyages fleet.
For me, this is a particularly exciting trip because it’s my first ever Virgin Voyages cruise. I’ve been curious about the adults-only style and edgy entertainment for years, but until now, all their sailings from Miami were shorter jaunts – four- and five-nighters that don’t quite fit my travel style (I rarely book anything under seven days). When Brilliant Lady’s schedule was finally revealed with longer Caribbean itineraries, I knew it was time to give the brand a try.
Just a but of housekeeping before I go on: in the Virgin Voyages world, passengers are referred to as “Sailors” – a nautical twist the line uses to emphasize that sense of adventure. And yes, “adult” means adults only – sailors must be at least 18 years of age to cruise on Virgin Voyages.
The ship officially set out on her Maiden Voyage in early September 2025, followed by five celebratory “MerMaiden” sailing from New York City before heading south. This week marks her Miami MerMaiden, a voyage kicking off her inaugural Caribbean season with calls in St. Maarten, Tortola, and the line’s own beach club at Bimini.
Adding to the excitement, Sir Richard Branson himself is onboard, joining sailors to celebrate the brand’s newest ship. And on the last night of the cruise, a headlining performance by Kelis will wrap things up. Yeah, I had to Google her too, sorry Kellis.
It’s also worth noting how Virgin Voyages does cruising a little differently: there’s no traditional drink package here. Drinks are charged as you go – standard beers around $8, seltzers around $11, mixed drinks $12 and up. You can purchase what they call a Bar Tab before your sailing to get a small discount. The good news: some drinks are included – water, sparkling water, juices, and soda are all complimentary. The same goes for dining – there’s no main dining room, and no buffet. Instead, Virgin offers a buffet alternative in the form of a food-hall style venue called The Galley, where you can order a variety of options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner from different themed counters. Replacing the main dining room are several restaurants ranging from steak and seafood, to Mexican, Italian and even Korean BBQ. Plus pizza, burgers, American-style diner fare, and more – all 100% complimentary.
While we’re discussing complimentary stuff, if you want to order food from room service, it’s free (except for a service fee, but more on that in a moment). No paying for WiFi either, unless you want to stream video, take video calls, or need VPN access for work stuff. Free basic WiFi that’s good for surfing, checking email, posting on Facebook, etc is free. Since I’ll be needing to do some video calls during the week, I upgraded my package for $210 to allow for streaming. It’s even more expensive for their Work from Sea package which allows that VPN access, since it’s blocked by default. It also offers higher speeds, but when you’re at sea, there’s no such thing as fast Internet anyway.
Then there’s gratituties. They are included in your cruise fare. However, Virgin just announced airline-style pricing, which still bundles in gratituties, but now they are broken out in the cruise fare breakdown, along with some other changes you can read about here. But one thing is for certain… you cannot go to Sailor Services to have gratituties removed like so many people do on other cruise lines, which blows my mind. While tipping is not expected from any Sailor, you’re more then welcome to slip some cash to those who have gone above and beyond to make your vacation memorable.
Let’s talk loyalty programs, on Virgin it’s called – The Sailing Club – and it has three simple tiers: sail once and you’re in; sail 3 and 4 times and you’re mid-level; more than 5 and you’re top tier and you unlock all the perks. Learn more about the Sailing Club here. I did a status match into the program and was matched to the middle tier known as Blue Extras (normally earned after about 3-4 voyages). This level includes perks such as one specialty coffee per day and a complimentary bag of wash-and-fold laundry (and yes, it’s a big, BIG, bag!).
When you hit five voyages, you reach the top tier – Deep Blue Extras – which comes with additional perks including a complimentary $100 Bar Tab along with other benefits.
Since this is the MerMaiden sailing, we do have some special shows and events lined up in addition to the performance by Kelis:
That’s just a brief introduction to the “Virgin Way” – I’ll be diving into items such as drinks, WiFi, loyalty, etc as the week rolls on, so be sure to keep following each daily report! Now let’s get this cruise started!
Embarkation at Terminal V, PortMiami
For this cruise, I took my favorite mode of transportation to PortMiami from Boca Raton – the Brightline high-speed train. My train left Boca Raton at 11:58 a.m. and pulled into the MiamiCentral Station about five minutes early, arriving around 12:50 p.m. Once off the train, I grabbed an Uber just outside the terminal and by 1:05 p.m., I was unloading my bags at Terminal V – yes, it’s that quick and easy!
When I arrived, boarding hadn’t begun yet. My assigned boarding time was 2:30 p.m., and there were clearly marked queues set up based on your boarding time. Once the VIP and suite guests were called, the first group of sailors began entering the terminal. At 1:50 p.m., my 2:30 group was waved in.
The terminal itself is bright, modern, and exactly what you’d expect from Virgin Voyages – sleek, efficient, and stylish. After riding up the escalator, check-in was quick and easy. That’s where I was issued “The Band” – a wearable device that acts as your room key, charge card, and all-around access pass throughout the cruise. It’s convenient, waterproof, and saves you from fumbling for a keycard every time you order a drink or return to your cabin. For those not in the suites, referred to as Rock Star accommodations, the bands are red in color. The baller’s bands are black! You can keep them at the end of the cruise to use as a lasting memento as they are a bit stylish, but you can’t use them on your next Virgin cruise, you’ll be issued a new one. If you don’t want to take it home, you can recycle it before leaving the terminal on debarkation day.
When comparing the band to a keycard or the Princess Medallion, I find the band to be my preferred choice. No fumbling for a card or keeping it on one of those ugly lanyards which some simply do to show off their triple-diamond-platimum-titanium status room key, or wearing a bulky Medallion.
Once checked in, it was a quick trip through security – and yes, there was a drug-sniffing dog walking among the guests – I felt a wet nose touch the back of my leg as he walked by. So, word to the wise: don’t try bringing any of the devil’s lettuce onboard. That pup’s nose is no joke!
After that, I was officially onboard the Brilliant Lady! Since this was my first Virgin Voyages sailing, I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect from embarkation, but I have to say, the process was impressively smooth. I spoke with several other sailors who confirmed that there’s really no point in arriving too early – Virgin runs embarkation on a strict schedule and it rarely begins before 1:00 p.m. That turned out to be great advice and absolutely true.
Fortunately, the waiting area outside the terminal is covered, and on this particular afternoon, the weather was perfect – not too hot or humid. But I can imagine that on a sweltering South Florida summer day, waiting outside could get uncomfortable. If you’re planning to sail Virgin Voyages from Miami, take my advice: stick to your assigned boarding time and avoid unnecessary waiting.
All in all, with the early arrival being on me, embarkation was quick, organized, and well-staffed. Every team member I encountered was friendly, upbeat, and clearly excited to welcome sailors aboard Brilliant Lady for her Miami MerMaiden voyage.
Stateroom 14170A – Central Sea Terrace (Balcony) Cabin
For this cruise, I was originally booked in a class of stateroom new to the Brilliant Lady – a Sea Terrace (balcony) Stateroom with a “Slightly Smaller” Balcony. This class of stateroom is unique to Brilliant Lady. As I mentioned earlier, with her retooling to travel to new destinations, especially through the Panama Canal for her future West Coast itineraries, the ship’s lifeboats were repositioned to allow her to fit through the canal’s narrow locks. To accomplish that, some balcony staterooms had their balconies “chopped off” slightly so the lifeboats could be tucked in closer to the ship’s hull. This created a new stateroom category that’s identical to the standard Sea Terrace cabins – just with a narrower balcony. These cabins also swap out the signature Virgin Voyages red hammock for a hanging egg chair instead.
A few weeks ago, I received an email – like many cruise lines and airlines send these days – inviting me to bid on an upgrade. I went ahead and placed a bid for a Central Sea Terrace Stateroom, which comes with a full-size balcony and a more central midship location. My offer was accepted, and I ended up being assigned stateroom 14170A on Deck 14 midship.
Once onboard, the first thing I did was head to my room – and surprise! My luggage actually beat me there. That was a nice touch. With a tap of my Band, the door unlocked, the lights turned on, the curtains opened automatically, and in front of me was a beautifully laid-out stateroom. Minimalistic in design but functional and very chic – if I dare use that word.
Upon entering, you’ll find the closet area to your left. It consists of a narrow cubby with a door that houses the life vests, safe, hair dryer, and a few shelves – but no enclosed hanging space. Next to that is an open hanging area concealed by a sliding curtain. There weren’t quite enough hangers to fit all my clothes, but there’s a shelf above the hanger rail that’s great for folded items like shorts, pants, or T-shirts. From a storage standpoint, there isn’t a ton of space for clothing, especially if you’re sailing with multiple people in the same cabin.
Next to the closet is a small vanity and desk area equipped with a mini fridge, telephone, and a compact workspace. Power-wise, there are two U.S. outlets, one European outlet, one USB-A port, and one USB-C port – plenty to keep your gadgets charged. Waiting on the desk were a bottle of still water, two glasses, and a couple of clever upsell items: a small plush octopus for $12 and a sexton bottle opener/corkscrew for $25. I can imagine a lot of these getting purchased – they’re cute, unique, and conveniently placed right there.
Virgin Voyages has a unique approach to its cabin layout, particularly the bed. The bed can either be arranged as a full-size bed or split into two twins that form an L-shape configuration. During the day, it can even transform into an L-shaped couch/daybed. Mine was set up as a full-size, but you can clearly see the platform where the mattress would go if split into two. That layout would have two people sleeping head-to-head or head-to-foot – a little strange if you ask me!
A quick note about the bed: it’s low. The top of the mattress comes just below my knee (for reference, I’m 5’9”). If you’re not used to a low bed, you soon will be. The room also includes a chair, a TV across from the bed, and on each side of the bed, light switches and power outlets. Each side has one U.S. plug, one USB-A, and one USB-C port, so there’s no shortage of options for keeping your devices powered up.
Other amenities include a breakfast tray, a small table that doubles as an ottoman or bedside table, and of course, the private balcony. The balcony is separated from the room by floor-to-ceiling glass doors and electronically controlled curtains. Outside, there’s the signature Virgin red hammock and a small setup with two chairs and a table.
Back inside, let’s talk about the bathroom. Simply put – it’s small. Nicely designed, yes, but tight on space. There’s a tiny sink, a small shelf for toiletries, and a surprisingly spacious shower. The shower features both a ceiling-mounted rain showerhead and a handheld wand, with excellent water pressure (no water-saving devices here!). The provided toiletries – shampoo, conditioner, and shower gel – are decent, but the dispensers themselves feel a bit cheap. Every time I pressed down to get a pump of shower gel, I thought I was going to snap the thing off.
Despite that, I’m impressed with the overall layout, design, and clever use of technology. Each stateroom includes a tablet that lets you control practically everything: TV channels, lighting, curtains, and even room service. Food from room service is free, but there’s a $10 delivery fee. The tablet also includes several mood lighting presets – one is even cheekily named “Get It On”, so you can imagine what that one’s for.
Lastly, there’s a full-size throw blanket provided, which is perfect for curling up in the hammock or adding a bit of extra warmth at night. But if you fall in love with it, beware – they sell them onboard for around $100, so don’t take it home unless you’re prepared to see it on your final bill.
Virgin Voyages Muster Drill
Like all cruise lines, Virgin Voyages requires every sailor to complete a safety muster drill – but unlike the old days of crowding onto the deck in the heat, this one is electronic. Before you can do anything you must first watch the safety video. You can view it right on your phone, the in-room tablet, or the TV.
Once the video is complete, it’s time to check in at your designated muster station. Muster stations don’t open until 2:30 p.m., so if you board before then and try to get it done early, you’re out of luck. As soon as 2:30 rolled around, I headed to my assigned location, which for me was the Roundabout – essentially the ship’s version of an atrium. With a quick tap of my wearable Band, I was marked as mustered in and good to go.
There’s no demonstration at the muster station – everything you need to know is covered in the safety video. The process was quick, painless, and efficient. However, when I returned to my stateroom later that night, I found a letter slipped under my door that read, “We Missed You!” It included instructions for what to do in case of an emergency or if we had to abandon ship. Oddly enough, I had completed both the video and check-in earlier in the day, so I’m not sure why I received it. Either way, better safe than sorry.
Sail Away: Free Bubbles & The Diva
After completing muster, I took a little time to unpack before heading up for the sail away at 4:15 p.m.. Well, it seemed like everyone onboard had the same idea because the top decks were absolutely packed. Why? Because there were free bubbles – and drag queens! Bubbles and drag queens… who could resist, right?
This was my first real taste of what makes Virgin Voyages different. Leading the celebration was The Diva – Virgin’s signature character who fills the role of what other cruise lines would call a cruise director, but with a lot more flair and a lot less formality.
Unlike traditional cruise lines, there’s no cruise director making constant announcements throughout the day. Instead, The Diva serves as the ship’s fabulous hostess, emcee, and personality-in-chief. She hosts events like Drag Queen Bingo, late-night shows, and, of course, the all-important “Sail Away Soirée.”
The atmosphere during sail away was incredible – champagne flowing and music pumping everywhere as Brilliant Lady began her departure from PortMiami. A fireboat even joined the celebration, spraying plumes of water high into the air to mark the occasion – the first time Brilliant Lady was officially sailing from Miami on her MerMaiden Voyage. It was the perfect kickoff to what promises to be an unforgettable week at sea.
Evening Activities & Dinner at Pink Agave
After showering and getting changed for dinner, I headed out to explore more of the ship. The first thing that stood out? There’s absolutely no dress code onboard Virgin Voyages. None. Zip. While there is one themed night – Scarlet Night, where everyone is encouraged to wear Virgin red – there are no elegant or formal nights. In fact, Virgin encourages sailors to come as you are. There isn’t even an official shoe policy, which is interesting in itself. The only rule? Don’t show up to dinner in your bathing suit.
And speaking of the dress code… there’s a topless sun deck. Hello? Is this 1989? Nope – it’s just Virgin Voyages, where pretty much anything goes (within reason, of course). It’s part of what gives the line its fun, edgy, and slightly rebellious vibe.
The ship itself is beautifully designed, with spaces that just flow and offer lots – and I mean lots – of open areas. Indoors and out, there are seating areas, communal tables, oversized daybeds, swings, and even a boxing ring. One of my favorite features is the full walk-around promenade deck, complete with cushioned loungers, conversational-style seating, and even classic steamer chairs. It’s a great spot to walk off all those calories, relax in the shade, or just enjoy a quiet moment away from the pool decks.
Bars, lounges, and food spots are seemingly everywhere – but as I mentioned earlier, Virgin Voyages does things differently. There’s no main dining room and no buffet. Instead, there are individual specialty restaurants, each with its own style and cuisine.
For tonight’s dinner, I made a reservation in the app for Pink Agave, the ship’s “elevated Mexican” restaurant. It’s not just about the food – the venue also features two of Mexico’s most famous exports: tequila and mezcal. In fact, Virgin claims Pink Agave has the largest collection of both at sea.
Pink Agave Menu on Brilliant Lady
My reservation was for 8:15 p.m., and I arrived right on time. After checking in, I was escorted to my table… which, unfortunately, was so close to the next one that I had to squeeze sideways between the chairs to sit down. Cozy? Maybe. Intimate? Not really.
My server arrived immediately to take a drink order and see if I was ready to order food. I wasn’t quite there yet, so I asked for a cocktail first. When she returned a few minutes later and asked again if I was ready, I got the hint – time to order. She offered a few recommendations, and I decided to try a few dishes from the menu, which is broken into small, medium, and large plates, plus dessert. For an upcharge of $35, you can do a cocktail pairing with each course, but I decided to order à la carte.
To start, I ordered the Aguachile – tuna with avocado and jicama. It was fresh, flavorful, and arrived just minutes after ordering. No sooner was that plate cleared than my next dish appeared: Camaron Amarillo – seared shrimp with mole amarillo and new potatoes. Another hit.
Next up was the main course: Pato – roasted duck breast with mole ahumado, duck confit, and a smoked yam purée. It was served with three small pancakes for making little “duck tacos,” and I have to say, the dish was outstanding. The duck was tender, flavorful, and cooked perfectly. I ordered another cocktail to go with it, but before I had even taken a few sips, dessert appeared – a warm bread pudding with vanilla ice cream. Delicious, yes, but also… McDonalds fast.
From the moment I sat down to the time I walked out, the entire meal lasted about 45 minutes. Everything was served back-to-back with almost no pause between courses. While I appreciate efficiency, it felt more like a main dining room experience where the goal is to turn tables quickly rather than a relaxed specialty restaurant experience. The food itself was very good, but I prefer a more leisurely dinner – time to enjoy my drink, digest between courses, and soak in the atmosphere. Hopefully, the rushed pacing was just a one-off, I wasn’t expecting to be in and out in under an hour.
The Diva Goes West
After dinner, I made my way to one of the ship’s show venues, The Manor, where the evening’s entertainment was a production called The Diva Goes West. Hosted by none other than the ship’s star personality, The Diva, the show was billed as “The Diva ropes cowboys and cowgirls in for a wild hoedown like no other, with audience participation moments like bronco riding and a lasso tossing contest. The over-the-top antics and quick-witted banter keep the laughs coming, while The Diva’s sensational vocals and your favorite country hits will have you fixin’ to get up and dance.”
And let me tell you – it was an absolute riot.
The Diva put on one heck of a show, complete with great vocals, sharp humor, and a healthy dose of sass. The performance featured plenty of audience participation, with a few brave souls called up on stage to ride stick ponies, lasso a stuffed sheep, and even join in for a bit of line dancing. It was 45 minutes of pure chaos – the good kind. Those who were wrangled up to participate on stage walked away with free drink vouchers for their efforts.
Now, I’ll be honest – I’m not usually a fan of drag or drag shows – but this one was sensationally fun and truly something only Virgin Voyages could pull off. It wasn’t just for the LGBTQ+ crowd either. The room was packed with sailors of all ages and backgrounds, and The Diva wasn’t shy about poking a little fun at everyone, including the straight folks in the audience. The result was a wildly entertaining, inclusive, and genuinely hilarious performance that I’d call a must-see if you’re sailing on Brilliant Lady. The show repeats several times during the cruise, both in the afternoon and evening, so there are plenty of chances to catch it.
After the show, the party continued with a Pajama Party up on the top decks, where sailors showed up in their PJs ready to dance the night away. I didn’t make it up there to witness the late-night shenanigans – instead, I decided to wrap up my night with a visit to the casino to try my luck before calling it a day.
Brilliant Lady’s Casino
Let’s talk about the casino. First off – it’s tiny, tiny, tiny. I’ll do a video tour later in the week and explain Virgin Voyages’ casino rewards program, but yes, the ship does have a casino with both slots and table games. It’s a very small, non-smoking space, so if you’re used to the big casino layouts on other lines, this one will feel more like a boutique version.
To play, you can either use cash or tap your wearable Band to sign into a slot machine. Sounds easy enough, right? Well, not exactly. The software isn’t very intuitive. I couldn’t for the life of me figure out how to charge play to my room – and the two guys sitting on either side of me couldn’t either. So, we called for assistance. Intuitively, you’d think the money icon on the screen would let you add funds, but it was grayed out. Instead, here’s what you actually have to do: go into Settings, select your Folio, request money, enter your PIN, wait for the transfer, then click on the money icon again, re-enter your PIN, and transfer that amount to the machine. By the time you finish all that, you’ve forgotten why you sat down in the first place.
Oh, and did I mention the fee? Each time you charge money to your room to play, you get hit with a $5 transaction fee. Yes, you read that correctly – every single time. So, if you’re going to play, either transfer a good chunk up front to avoid multiple fees or stick with cash. When you’re ready to cash out, the machines print out a paper ticket, which feels a bit old-school considering most casinos now just transfer balances electronically back to your account.
I played for a bit, didn’t win anything (shocker), and called it a night. Before heading back to my room, I wandered around the ship for a bit and it was deadsville – probably because most people were up on deck at the Pajama Party. It honestly reminded me of being on a Holland America Line ship after 9 p.m. – quiet, calm, and practically deserted. We’ll see if the nightlife picks up as the cruise goes on.
Back in my stateroom, I decided to spend a few minutes relaxing in the hammock on the balcony. Well, the combination of the sound of the sea, the ship’s motion, and the swaying of that red hammock lulled me right to sleep. I woke up around 1 a.m. still in the hammock.
We’ll be spending the next two days at sea as Brilliant Lady makes her way toward our first port of call, St. Maarten, arriving on Monday. Be sure to keep following along for more from this MerMaiden Voyage of Brilliant Lady from Miami!