Virgin Voyages Launches Adult Cruise Again, This Time Valiant Lady

JAKARTA - When the cruise ship company launched its first adult-only cruise ship, the Scarlet Lady last year, its aim was to 'shake up' the industry.

Success with the first ship, the company owned by conglomerate Richard Bronson launched a second cruise ship for adults, named Valiant Lady.

The 278 meter long ship can accommodate 2,770 passengers, and has the usual cruise amenities, such as a swimming pool deck above its 17 decks, along with slightly 'different' amenities, such as a tattoo parlor.

Nirmal Saverimuttu, president of Virgin Voyages, told CNN Travel the company hopes the Valiant Lady will be part of a summer cruising boom as pandemic restrictions ease.

"There's been a lot of pent-up demand for travel," he said, adding that the positive response to the Scarlet Lady had made Virgin confident its sister ship would be a success.

On the morning of 11 March, the Valiant Lady sailed from Essex in southeast England to London, where she docked at London's International Cruise Terminal for launch celebrations. Then, he will sail to England before leaving for Barcelona, including plans for a cruise in Australia.

The Scarlet Lady and Valiant Lady are nearly identical, with luxurious interiors, a boutique hotel atmosphere, and plenty of restaurants. The only real difference is the journey of each.

Virgin Voyages wanted their ship to feel different from a traditional cruise ship. For Captain Marco Carsjens, that is part of the appeal of joining this cruise ship company.

"I came from a ship that was designed more traditionally, but Virgin Voyages is very different and actually quite far from the exterior to the interior compared," said the captain, who has been in the industry for more than 25 years.

"I really like the design, so a brand that uses people who have never worked on a ship design before is very interesting and it works well," he said.

Apart from the control center on the ship's bridge which is said to have the best views, Captain Carsjens said another favorite spot on board is 'The Dock', an indoor or outdoor restaurant, with sun loungers and ocean views.

"The way this area blends from the inside out and has a superyacht feel, I love it," he said.

Meanwhile, Tom McAlpin, CEO of Virgin Voyages told CNN Travel in September 2021, Virgin Voyages is not 'your grandmother's cruise.'

There is no requirement to dress up for dinner. There are tattoo parlors mentioned above. There are pop-up entertainment shows. There are several restaurants rather than one large dining room with a buffet.

However, Saverimuttu would like to emphasize that Virgin Voyages is also looking at ways to provide services for passengers of all ages.

Separately, British cruise blogger Emma Le Teace, who runs the blog Emma Cruises, sailed on the Scarlet Lady last summer saying she was generally impressed with her experience sailing with Virgin Voyages.

As a cruise company, there are likes and dislikes, in her blog review she praised the fact crews are allowed to dress casually, and good food choices, noting that she was less than sure about small pools.

"Before my Virgin Voyages cruise I had heard a lot about how different cruise lines were. Virgin was targeting a new cruise market and it made me wonder if existing cruisers would like this product," he explained.

"Virgins definitely have a few things that set them apart from other cruise lines, like the included WiFi and soft drinks. However, I found the entertainment and boats quite similar to what I'd find on other cruise lines," he said.

Virgin Voyages said it would continue to implement COVID-19 health protocols, with everyone on board the Scarlet Lady and Valiant Lady having to be vaccinated, as well as being tested for COVID-19 before boarding the ship.

Saverimuttu stressed that his party did not have any major problems in terms of COVID-19-related illnesses on board. He said Virgin's vaccination requirements would minimize the impact of any outbreak on the plane.

He also added that Virgin Voyages plans to open up its travel schedule as COVID restrictions ease, with the Valiant Lady set to sail from Australia later this year.

To note, the third ship yet to be launched, the Resilient Lady, is slated to be launched later this year, with a fourth slated for 2023.

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