Virgin Voyages plans first cruises from New York, Los Angeles with new ship
Virgin Voyages is finally bringing its adults-only cruises to the New York and Los Angeles markets.
The 2-year-old cruise brand, which currently operates most of its North America sailings out of Miami, on Wednesday announced it would soon offer its first regular sailings from the giant coastal cities as well as Seattle.
The trips will kick off in late 2025 on the line's next new ship, the long-delayed, 2,770-passenger Brilliant Lady.
As part of the announcement, Virgin Voyages said Brilliant Lady would finally start sailing in September 2025. That's nearly two years later than the line originally planned when it announced the vessel in 2018.
Brilliant Lady was originally scheduled to debut in December 2023.
Virgin Voyages on Wednesday outlined a year's worth of sailings for Brilliant Lady that included sailings to Bermuda, New England and Canada, the Caribbean and the Bahamas, the Panama Canal, the west coasts of Mexico and California, and Alaska.
Related: The 5 best destinations you can visit on a Virgin Voyages ship
The trips will kick off Sept. 5, 2025, with the vessel's maiden voyage (called a Mermaiden voyage by Virgin Voyages) out of the Manhattan Cruise Terminal in New York City.
Four more voyages out of New York, ranging from five to 13 nights, will follow during September and October of 2025.
The New York-based trips will include calls in Bermuda, as well as such eastern ports as Charleston, South Carolina; Boston; and Halifax, Saint John and Quebec City in Canada.
After operating out of New York, Brilliant Lady will reposition to Miami and then Los Angeles and Seattle for the following sailings:
- 17 voyages from Miami between October 2025 and April 2026. The trips will range in length from seven to 12 nights and include stops in Aruba; Bonaire; Curacao; Cartagena, Colombia; Turks and Caicos; Antigua; Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands; and Ocho Rios, Jamaica.
- One 16-night Panama Canal cruise departing March 21, 2026. The one-way voyage from Miami to Los Angeles will bring calls to Colombia, Panama, Costa Rica, Guatemala and Mexico.
- Four voyages out of Los Angeles starting April 7, 2026. The sailings will range from five to eight nights and bring calls along the west coast of California and Mexico.
- A yet-to-be-determined number of cruises out of Seattle starting in May 2026 through September 2026. Details of the sailings will be announced soon, the line said.
While details of the Alaska sailings have yet to be set, customers can secure access to a priority booking window for the sailings by placing a deposit of $500 to $2,500 with Virgin Voyages starting May 8, 2024.
The deposit program will be called the Alaska Front(ier) of the Line Pass. The required deposit amount varies depending on the type of cabin that a customer wants to book.
Like Virgin Voyages' first three vessels (Scarlet Lady, Valiant Lady and Resilient Lady), Brilliant Lady has been designed to shake up the cruise industry with a new, hipper style of cruising. The ship will have everything from a tattoo parlor to a colorful karaoke lounge. To ensure a proper party vibe, it also will be a kid-free travel zone, with a minimum age to sail of 18.
Related: Is Virgin Voyages right for you? Our thoughts
Since its first vessel sailed out of Miami in late 2021, Virgin has been going after travelers who might think themselves too cool to cruise. To that end, Brilliant Lady will have no buffets, no dress codes, and no big Broadway-style theater shows. For entertainment, expect interactive dance parties and DJ sets. Suites will have a rock star theme.
Virgin Voyages on Wednesday said customers (called "sailors" by the line) who were previously scheduled to sail on Brilliant Lady before its debut was delayed will be given priority access to book the ship's first voyages out of New York and Los Angeles.
Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:
- The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
- A beginners guide to picking a cruise line
- The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship
- The ultimate guide to what to pack for a cruise
- A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
- 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
- Top ways cruisers waste money
- The ultimate guide to choosing a cruise ship cabin
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Delta SkyClub access when flying Delta
- Annual companion ticket for travel on Delta (upon renewal)
- Ability to earn MQDs through spending
- Various statement credits for eligible purchases
Cons
- Steep annual fee of $650
- Other Delta cobranded cards offer superior earning categories
- Earn 100,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $6,000 or more in purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership and an additional 25,000 bonus miles after you make an additional $3,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months, starting from the date that your account is opened. Offer Ends 04/01/2026.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members receive 15 Visits per Medallion® Year to the Delta Sky Club® when flying Delta and can unlock an unlimited number of Visits after spending $75,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Plus, you’ll receive four One-Time Guest Passes each Medallion Year so you can share the experience with family and friends when traveling Delta together.
- Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. and select international locations (as set forth on the Centurion Lounge Website), Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. (see the Centurion Lounge Website for more information on Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge availability), and Escape Lounges when flying on a Delta flight booked with the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card. § To access Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 90 minutes of their departing flight (including layovers). To access The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 3 hours of their departing flight. Effective July 8, 2026, during a layover, Card Members must arrive within 5 hours of the connecting flight.
- Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars with MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $10 in purchases on your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card with MQD Boost to get closer to Status next Medallion Year.
- Enjoy a Companion Certificate on a Delta First, Delta Comfort, or Delta Main round-trip flight to select destinations each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. Delta Basic experiences are not eligible for this benefit.
- $240 Resy Credit: When you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card for eligible purchases with U.S. Resy restaurants, you can earn up to $20 each month in statement credits. Enrollment required.
- $120 Rideshare Credit: Earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month after you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card to pay for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- With your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, receive upgrade priority over others with the same Medallion tier, product and fare experience purchased, and Million Miler milestone when you fly with Delta.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
- $650 Annual Fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees