As part of our CLIA ChooseCruise membership, we were invited to experience a day onboard Virgin Voyages Valiant Lady: our first experience of Richard Branson’s venture into the cruise industry.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Cruise line | Virgin Voyages |
| Maiden voyage | 18 March 2022, from Portsmouth |
| Guest capacity | 2,770 (adults-only, 18+) |
| Ship type | Mid-sized, 110,000 GT |
| Cabin categories toured | Sea Terrace, XL Sea Terrace |
| Eateries included | 20+, no speciality dining upcharges |
| Onboard highlights | Runway jogging track, suspended net, Richard’s Rooftop |
Experiencing Virgin Voyages wasn’t the only first, this was also our first trip to the port of Portsmouth.
Upon arrival at the terminal, you’re greeted with a giant AHOY! across the wall, signalling you’re in the right place. When we entered the terminal we were met by friendly Virgin staff, directed to check-in and to pick up our visitor badges. After a short wait and security checks, we were on a shuttle bus to the ship.
Hopping off the shuttle allowed us to have our first glance up close of the resplendent Valiant Lady with her striking grey and red livery – you certainly can’t miss the brand. After navigating the rather narrow, steep and temporary-feeling gangway, we were welcomed onboard with music and the entertainment team rehearing on the stairs of The Roundabout.
The day was structured with brunch, a guided ship tour and then some free time. As we got on early, ahead of the brunch meeting time, we took advantage and headed to the cabins they’d kindly opened up for us to view. On offer was a Sea Terrace and an XL Sea Terrace.
What’s the difference between a Sea Terrace and XL Sea Terrace on Virgin Voyages?
Sea Terrace — the standard balcony. Comfy layout, mood lighting, flexible wardrobe storage and sleep up to 4.
XL Sea Terrace — larger than a standard Sea Terrace and the extra room mostly goes into the bathroom with separate areas for the toilet and shower along with double vanity, and extra storage.
After a quick cabin tour it was time to join our fellow CLIA ChooseCruise members and travel agents for a brunch in The Wake, Virgin’s take on a classic American Steakhouse.
An extensive menu was available (yes there were three courses on offer!) and we opted for the following:
Starters
Wedge Salad served with bacon, boiled egg and blue cheese
Poached Shrimp presented with horseradish and a spicy cocktail sauce
Mains
Soft-shell Crab Benedict accompanied with corn cake and aleppo pepper hollandaise
Brioche French Toast served with caramelised banana, toasted pecan and whipped crème fraiche.
Dessert
Apple Tatin with caramelised apple, mascarpone crème and almond financier
Crepe Cake – think cheesecake with layers of crepe! Served with a pistachio crumble and strawberry & rhubarb compote.
All of the courses were excellent and we were certainly well looked after by the crew; the food was served in a timely manner but we didn’t feel rushed at all.
After brunch it was time to go and explore the ship with an expert from Virgin Voyages. It was great to have someone in the know to lead the way, providing detailed information on each of the venues onboard and answer our questions.
Our tour ticked off many of the unique hotspots onboard which included:
- The Runway jogging track
- The net where you’re suspended over the deck below. Not for the faint-hearted!
- The Athletic Club Bar
- Richard’s Rooftop
- A selection of the 20 included eateries onboard
- The Galley – Virgin Voyages answer to a buffet but better! With QR code scanning available to order your food from one of the 12 food stations, there’s a much more relaxed vibe to the food hall
- Lick Me Til Ice Cream (say it out loud) the onboard ice cream parlour
- The Test Kitchen bringing creative and innovative dishes for sailors to enjoy
- The Red Room which offers up immersive theatre productions with opportunities for audience participation
After rounding off the tour, our ChooseCruise group headed up to the Sun Club Bar to sample the extensive bar menu before it was time to disembark after a fantastic day onboard Valiant Lady.
For The Love Of Cruise 