Virgin Voyages' Valiant Lady Celebrates Five Years of Service
Virgin Voyages' Valiant Lady has marked five years of service, having been delivered to the cruise line on July 1, 2021. The ship has undergone significant changes and updates since its maiden season.
## Five Years of Service for Virgin Voyages' Valiant Lady The Valiant Lady, a 2,770-passenger ship operated by Virgin Voyages, has recently celebrated five years of service. The vessel was delivered on July 1, 2021, and has since become a staple in the cruise line's fleet. Built at the Fincantieri shipyard in Sestri Ponente, the Valiant Lady is a sister ship to the Scarlet Lady and was designed to offer a unique and modern cruise experience. ## Maiden Season and Initial Itineraries The Valiant Lady's maiden season was marked by a three-night itinerary to Belgium, departing from Portsmouth, England. The ship spent 27 hours in Zeebrugge, a gateway to other Belgian destinations such as Bruges and Brussels. The vessel continued to sail from its British homeport through May, offering additional itineraries to Northern and Western Europe. In the summer, the Valiant Lady repositioned to Spain for cruises in the Western Mediterranean, departing from Barcelona. The seven-night itineraries featured visits to a range of destinations, including Ibiza, Cagliari, Ajaccio, Marina di Carrara, and Toulon. ## Modern Approach to Godmother Role While a traditional naming ceremony was not held ahead of the first sailing, singer Jennifer Lopez is considered the vessel's godmother. In a release issued in 2022, Virgin said that the move aimed to redefine the role of the godmother, evolving from its ceremonial duties "to a truly modern, change-making partnership." Lopez is also an investor in the company and serves as its chief entertainment and lifestyle officer. ## Upcoming Itineraries and Updates The Valiant Lady has recently returned to Portsmouth for a short season in Northern Europe and Iceland. The vessel will then sail to Canada, New England, and Bermuda before arriving in San Juan for a series of weeklong itineraries to the Southern Caribbean, departing from Puerto Rico. After completing the winter season in the region, the vessel is scheduled to return to PortMiami for short cruises to the Caribbean and the Bahamas. The ship has also undergone updates in drydock, introducing new features such as Ariya, an Indian restaurant.
