MIAMI, FL – April 8, 2026 – Virgin Voyages officially arrived on the West Coast on Monday, April 6, as Brilliant Lady made her highly anticipated debut at the Port of Los Angeles. The milestone moment welcomed more than two thousand guests onboard — including social media personality, singer and influencer Dixie D’Amelio and actress Brec Bassinger — alongside media, influencers, First Mates and devoted Sailors, ushering in a new era for the brand in California.
Designed to reflect the spirit of Los Angeles, the experience leaned into storytelling, production and discovery — offering an inside look at the elements that have defined Virgin Voyages as the World’s No. 1 Cruise Line for three consecutive years. From the moment guests stepped onboard, Brilliant Lady revealed a layered journey through its signature spaces, entertainment and culinary concepts.
The day unfolded as a behind-the-scenes exploration of the ship’s defining experiences. Exclusive broadcast segments with Good Day L.A. captured the breadth of the onboard offering — from West Coast–inspired spin classes, morning rituals and redesigned juice bars, to a culinary spotlight at Rojo, the ship’s Spanish restaurant — alongside previews of entertainment inside The Manor and a first look at upcoming itineraries sailing from Los Angeles to Mexico and Alaska.
Throughout the afternoon, guests explored at their own pace, moving between a First Mate Welcome Show for travel advisors, intimate Secret Vintage wine tastings and interactive moments like CTRL + ALT + DELUSION, all punctuated by pop-up performances from the Happenings Cast. The experience built steadily toward evening, as daytime discovery gave way to a more elevated, high-energy atmosphere.
Dining remained central to the experience, with a hosted media dinner at Rojo complemented by curated seatings across Pink Agave, Gunbae, Extra Virgin, The Wake and Test Kitchen. Across the ship, live music created a continuous rhythm from afternoon through midnight, while VIP First Mate gatherings and special guest moments added to the sense of occasion.
As night fell, guests were treated to the brand’s music-driven show Red Hot, an electrifying spectacle of Virgin Records' musical catalogue along with Up With a Twist, the brand’s new 1920s-inspired Supper Club show. The grand finale: Scarlet Night, Virgin Voyages’ signature, high-energy poolside celebration, topped off with a Virgin Atlantic flight giveaway.
Brilliant Lady set out on her LA MerMaiden yesterday, April 7th, marking a pivotal expansion for Virgin Voyages. She now begins a season of West Coast sailings, including itineraries to the Mexican Riviera and Baja California, before heading north for the brand’s first-ever Alaska season. With its arrival in California, Virgin Voyages introduced a new way to experience the Pacific, blending its signature style with the creative energy of the West Coast.
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About Virgin Voyages
Promising to Create an Epic Sea Change for All, Virgin Voyages is the award-winning, exclusively adult cruise line founded by Sir Richard Branson. Delivering unforgettable, relaxing vacations at sea, Virgin Voyages launched at the end of 2021. Inspired by superyacht design, its fleet of Lady Ships exemplify an elevated, boutique hotel at sea with contemporary spaces that strike the perfect balance of nautical chic and glamour. Currently departing from the sun-soaked cities of Miami, Barcelona, Athens and San Juan, the fleet offers more than 60 unique itineraries, sailing to 150+ incredible ports of call. On-board, 20+ eateries feature culinary experiences from Michelin-star chefs, stylish workout spaces and group fitness classes are offered daily, and a festival-like line-up of intimate and larger-than-life shows are on the agenda. Paired with modern, tech-savvy cabins, designer suites fit for a rockstar and a mermaid-inspired spa and thermal suite, the brand is taking the industry by storm. For three consecutive years – 2023, 2024 and 2025 – Virgin Voyages won best cruise line in Travel + Leisure’s highly coveted World’s Best Awards for mega-ship ocean cruise line, along with the 2023 and 2024 Condé Nast Traveler’s Readers’ Choice Awards for best large ocean cruise line.
