Review: Valiant Lady

What is the line? Virgin Voyages

Name of ship? Valiant Lady

Passenger occupancy? 2,700

Itinerary? Seven-night Western Mediterranean: Barcelona-Toulon-Marina di Carrara, Italy-Ajaccio, Corsica-Cagliari, Sardinia-Ibiza-Barcelona

Start out with the big picture—what is this cruise line known for? 

Virgin Voyages made its debut in 2022 with two ships and a mission to reinvent the experience for people who may never have considered a cruise before. Richard Branson, who confesses to hating the traditional idea of a cruise, has set out to disrupt the industry by offering adults-only itineraries appealing to the ‘young at heart’—with all-inclusive dining inspired by street-food trends, innovative entertainment that leans into club culture and stand-up comedy, and accomplished design by some of the brightest sparks on the block. Based on the inaugural voyage, it’s also extremely diverse, with a strong LGTBQ+ presence and a spread of ethnicities and age groups. There’s certainly an uninhibited, ‘party in the pool’ attitude onboard, but it never goes too overboard. And as a medium-sized ship, it’s able to dock at some interesting, lesser-known ports of call, such as Toulon and Ajaccio—plus it’s the only cruise experience that overnights on Ibiza, meaning those who want to keep the party going can stay out until the morning.      

Tell us about the ship in general 

The Valiant Lady is the second ship in the Virgin fleet (which will number four in 2023), having made her maiden voyage in March 2022. At 278 metres long, she’s a mid-sized ship with 1,330 cabins and 78 suites (almost all with sea views) capable of holding a total of 2,700 passengers. Those are the stats, but the ship’s character is defined by the Black mermaid painted on its hull and the red octopus that comes alive, flashlight eyes and all, on the pool deck during DJ sets – the sense of inclusivity and fun flows all around. From a distance, the Valiant Lady may resemble a typical cruise ship with a rather prominent red funnel, but look closely and you’ll see trampoline-style netting at the stern for sunbathing, a deckside boxing ring and a standalone running track that circles the ship like a halo. Safe to say it’s also the only cruise ship at sea with its own tattoo parlour, mezcal bar and vinyl store. A central circular staircase has that high-kicking ‘sashay-down-me’ vibe, a diamante-sparkling mirrored ‘infinity’ corridor leads to the Manor nightclub, and there are so many different bars and restaurants – each with their own distinct design identity – that you’ll still be discovering new places on your last day.  The main swimming pool is an obvious hub, and can get busy; a less obvious one is Richard’s Rooftop at the stern, an Ibiza-white space with hot tub, bar and sofas accessible only by suite guests. At times, the ship can feel like a floating festival, albeit one with that takes its health kicks seriously – the onboard spa is very slick, all marble and Scandi-style wood with a salt room and hammams with porthole views. 

Who is onboard? 

On the inaugural voyage in May 2022, the passenger list included everyone from experienced, 40-cruises-under-their-belts sea dogs to first-timers; birthday-party groups to singletons. They were mainly from the US and UK, and ranged from mid-20s to 60s. One female couple from Los Angeles were celebrating their honeymoon onboard; a single lawyer from New York was on his way to the F1 race in Barcelona. Having Sir Richard Branson onboard for its ‘MerMaiden’ voyage also helped pull in a few curious sailors (as passengers are referred to continually), as well as industry pros keen to experience the new launch.  

Describe the cabins

On the small side but comfortable – mine was a standard Sea Terrace Cabin with a bed that can be converted into a pair of sofas to maximise space, a curved desk and a terrace just large enough for two metal chairs and a Virgin-red hammock. There’s a touch pad to control temperature and request room service, USB plugs on either side of the bed, a small fridge and wall-mounted TV, while the bathroom has a rainforest shower. One smart detail is that a movement sensor automatically turns lights on and off and opens the curtains for you. The cabin was fine for a week’s voyage but nothing to put a message in a bottle about. More space can be found in the suites, the Rockstar Quarters, which come in a variety of sizes (the largest sleep four) and give guests fast-track access to excursions and restaurants, and to the Richard’s Rooftop deck lounge—a couple even have their own DJ decks and wall-mounted guitars. Of the cabins, 30 are accessible and 46 are designed for solo travelers.

Tell us about the crew 

A melting pot of 90 nationalities makes up the crew here, all of whom are clearly very happy to be working here. It’s very apparent that Virgin takes good care of their staff. They’re encouraged to take shore leave and use the ship’s facilities when they’re off-duty—so there’s no sense of them being hidden away below deck – and have their own bars, including one on the top deck. 

What food and drink options are available on board? 

This is where the Valiant Lady really stands out. There are 20 places to eat onboard, all of them included in the price of the voyage, and inspired by the New York and London dining scenes. Each of the spaces has been created by one of five different design studios—none of which has worked on a cruise ship before—which gives a very distinctive aesthetic. Razzle Dazzle, for example, was inspired by the camouflage pattern used by warships in WWI and II, while its plant-based menu includes heirloom squash ravioli, mushroom tartare and rainbow churros; Pink Agave, with its mezcal bar and Mexican menu of tamales, chicken enchiladas and rich mole sauces (a favourite) was designed by Tom Dixon, all blues and pinks with an entrance that’s very Sixties sci-fi. Gunbae is a boisterous Korean BBQ joint, where guests are thrown together on horseshoe-tables and encouraged to mingle while downing shots of soju, while Test Kitchen is a clever approximation of an experimental chef’s table, with a tasting menu prepared at an open kitchen and wine pairings. Elsewhere are options for pizzas, Mediterranean salads and small plates, while for quick fixes the Galley is a food hall with eight options, ranging from bento boxes to tacos. Of all the restaurants, I wish I’d spent more time at The Wake, an elegant surf-and-turf spot designed by Roman & Williams (Freehand hotels, Standard Highlight, NoMad London) in homage to mid-century Manhattan, an oyster-shell glow of a space with stern-window views, tableside Martini mixing and filet mignon and Maine lobster on the menu—though few had discovered its brunch potential. As for bars, there are standalone craft ale and Champagne options, a wine bar at the Extra Virgin restaurant and the outdoor Dock, a favorite for sundowner cocktails. Damn good flat whites, by the way, at Grounds Club, for those who despair of insipid cruise coffee. This isn’t, by the way, a ship to ask about getting a place on the captain’s table – though reservations are needed for individual restaurants. 

Is there a spa on board and is it worth visiting? 

Yes, wellness is a key feature of the Valiant Lady, at Branson’s request, and a lot of thought has gone into the Deck 5 Redemption Spa, a beautiful, free-flowing space that takes in a variety of hydrotherapy pools, a wood-lined sauna, mud room and salt cave, with cold plunge pools and even quartz massage beds – most of which have porthole views to the ocean outside. There’s also a mani-pedi bar, barbershop and hairstyling bar.

Activities and entertainment 

Even on the most sophisticated cruise ships there’s always a little corniness when it comes to entertainment, but the shows on Valiant Lady were among the most original and inventive I’ve encountered—a whole week went by without hearing a single note of Andrew Lloyd Webber. In fact, several were ones I’d pay to see if they ever toured my home city. There were kinetic dance performances that morphed into a club night with guests taking to the floor alongside a number of sequinned Carnival queens, a thrillingly acrobatic retelling of Romeo and Juliet, drag-queen karaoke sessions and a sexologist comedy show, Never Sleep Alone, which featured some toe-curling audience participation. The nightclub is partly inspired by Studio 54 (albeit without Bianca Jagger riding in on a white horse) and feels credible, with stage performers leading the dancing, while the unique shape-shifting theatre has seating and a stage that slides around to make various configurations; small impromptu performances also materialize in public spaces around the ship, along with a nightly blues session at the base of the circular staircase. There’s also a variety of activities such as cocktail mixing lessons, pajama parties and shuffleboard, as well as Pilates and yoga, and an outdoor gym. At the casino one night, I won and lost a mighty $20 over the course of an hour on the roulette wheel, and tried to figure out how on earth to play craps. Once a week, there’s a Scarlet Night pool party in which half the crew and guests end up jumping in (on the inaugural voyage, Branson led the way). 

How was the experience for families? 

This is a cruise line for the young at heart, but that doesn’t include children. 

Where did it sail and how were the excursions? Did anything stand out? 

Sailing between Barcelona and Ibiza and back, the Irresistible Med itinerary took us to some lesser-visited Mediterranean ports – as a mid-sized ship, the Valiant Lady is able to access ports that bigger ships can’t. Toulon is a mini Marseilles with modernist architecture and a pretty beach; Marina di Carrara, the famous marble quarries gleaming like snow-capped mountains in the distance, has a beautiful old town; Ajaccio is full of Napoleonic history and a busy food market. Once the ship docks in Ibiza Town, there’s a beach club just for guests, and the overnight anchorage means you can stay out all night at DC-10 if you like. Excursions are probably the most conventional aspect of Virgin Voyages, with longer trips to destinations such as Florence, and experiences such as snorkelling, pasta making and truffle-hunting with dogs. Groups signing up for different activities often found themselves at the same place. (A Napoleon tour of Cagliari was a gentle if underwhelming tour of the town, mostly spending time at a bistro for a 10.30am bottle of wine and an over-dubbed dramatised film about the Emperor’s life.) Using the app – which had teething problems—to book trips took away any personal contact with the excursion team and the opportunity to ask questions. The itineraries needed a little more detail, such as how long coach journeys would take.  

Are there any stand out sustainability or green initiatives about this cruise?

Virgin Voyages’ sustainable credentials are impressive, too: heat from the engines is converted into clean electricity,  and it’s the first carbon-neutral cruise line for direct emissions. Shoreside power is used where possible, waste water recycled into drinking water, and the presence sensors in the cabins ensure they flip into energy-saver mode once you’ve left. And rather than treading water, the cruise line has partnered with a variety of sustainable, waste-based fuel providers in order to reach net zero by 2050. There are no single-used plastics or takeaway cups onboard, and those bright-red hammocks were sourced from a community project in rural Thailand. 

Anything we missed 

The boarding experience in Barcelona (from the ferry port, meaning you can walk straight from town) was very speedy, a matter of minutes, and guests are given an electronic wristband that works as a room key (any payments are taken using this too). 

Finally, give a sentence or two on why the cruise is worth booking.

This is a design-savvy, wonderfully inclusive ship that offers a genuinely different cruising experience, with some of the most exciting and varied restaurant menus afloat, and entertainment that will grab you by the seat of your pants. Those expecting a traditional, dress-up-for-dinner experience may want to sit this one out, but for anyone who appreciates a fresh approach—along with a refreshingly diverse set of fellow sailors—the Valiant Lady’s an obvious choice.