The Guide to Virgin Voyages’ Resilient Lady

The third and newest ship in the Virgin Voyages fleet is Resilient Lady, which was christened in 2023 and adds yet another bright red vessel to the high seas.

Virgin Voyages is an adults-only cruise line known for quirky modern design, entertainment that pushes the limits and exceptional, all-included specialty dining.

The Resilient Lady’s home port is in Athens, and the ship sails itineraries in the Mediterranean for part of the year. Then, to reposition itself, the ship makes a transcontinental voyage that visits Dubai, India and Southeast Asia, before cruising on to Australia and New Zealand.

The ship also spends time in Europe, making stops in the U.K., the Netherlands, Spain and Portugal, among others.

Don’t expect to find a lot of differences between the Resilient Lady and its two siblings, the Scarlet Lady and Valiant Lady — all three ships are nearly identical.

On the Resilient Lady, the nearly 2,800 passengers stay in just over 1,400 cabins across seven levels, ranging from solo rooms to large, impressive suites. Passengers also have access to amenities, restaurants and entertainment across another six decks, with a jogging track and yoga deck topping things off.

Expect to come aboard and find minimalist design, trendy music, lighting that changes throughout the day and a staff that sees entertaining as their raison d’etre.

The staterooms on the Resilient Lady are unique from the get-go. Instead of a traditional room key, cabins are unlocked using a bracelet made from plastic recovered from the ocean. Nearly all of the cabins come with balconies and many have a signature red hammock, allowing guests to lounge al fresco in privacy.

There are a handful of interior cabins without an ocean view. Social Insider cabins have bunk beds and are great for groups up to four, while Solo Insider cabins are smaller and perfect for the single traveler who doesn’t need a lot of space.

Both balcony and interior rooms typically have standard — and quite small — bathrooms with good lighting and wall-mounted Red Flower toiletries in the shower.

For a real treat, reserve one of the RockStar Quarters or the Mega RockStar Quarters. Some of these suites feature terrace whirlpools, living rooms and seaview showers.

Those lodged in RockStar Quarters and other suites are treated to a private area on one of the top decks known as Richard’s Rooftop. Here, the outdoor lounge serves complimentary drinks throughout the day, with live music at certain hours and whirlpools reserved for just these guests.

Other benefits of these cabins can include access to the spa’s thermal area, free laundry, comped minibars, and priority boarding. Roundtrip airport transfers are also available for these guests, and the largest suites have real guitars and amps for ensuite, self-made entertainment.

Rock Star Coordinators, otherwise known as cabin attendants, patrol the hallways of the most premium cabins to provide assistance in the room — making the bed, cleaning, helping with the ensuite record player or delivering room service.

In all staterooms, there’s an electronic tablet that controls the lights, temperature, shades, music and television. To provide extra space in some cabins, the beds can convert to a sofa during the day and revert back to a bed by night.

There’s no shortage of things to do while sailing on the Resilient Lady. You can shop in the onboard boutiques, sunbathe by the pool, play basketball, enjoy arcade games, drink at the bars, test your boxing skills or relax at the spa.

The thermal spa area has steam rooms, saunas, a salt room, plunge pools, a beauty salon and spa treatment areas. Topless sunbathing is also an option on one of the upper decks.

There’s also an outdoor jogging track and free fitness classes on a fixed schedule. For a permanent reminder of your trip, visit the onboard tattoo parlor.

With more than 20 dining options on the ship, you can eat somewhere different daily and enjoy a variety of global cuisines.

The restaurants on the Resilient Lady are identical to those on Virgin Voyages’ other ships, and dining at all of them is included in the cruise fare. Unlike other cruise lines, you won’t pay extra to dine at specialty restaurants aboard Virgin Voyages, though some premium menu items may cost extra.

Instead of one main dining room or buffet, there’s a food hall — akin to what you might find in a high-end shopping mall — called The Galley, serving all kinds of prepared-to-order dishes. You’ll find sushi, ramen bowls, fresh salads, burgers, all-day breakfast choices, tacos, and even bento boxes with to-go goodies to take to the cabin.

Specialty restaurants include Pink Agave, a Mexican outlet with flaming skillets for fajitas and authentic fare from around the country; The Wake, featuring steak and seafood; and The Test Kitchen, serving up molecular fusion cuisine offerings. There’s also Italian cuisine, veggie-forward spots and more.

Other favorites include an ice cream bar, a carnival-inspired, 24-hour diner with popcorn and booze-infused milkshakes, and a Korean restaurant that has guests cooking barbecue and playing drinking games during dinner.

You can also pay for a dinner theater show — which includes a multi-course meal accompanied by acrobatic entertainment — or an afternoon tea paired with Champagne.

One thing not included in the cost of sailing on the Resilient Lady is alcohol. There aren’t any drink packages like you’ll find on many other cruises. Instead, you can choose to pay in advance in the form of a bar tab, or as you go. If you choose to pre-pay your bar tab, you’ll get a bonus based on how much you spend.

There are numerous bars on the ship, from the rooftop pool bar to the ship’s own tap room, where you can order a beer growler to take elsewhere on the ship. And with the cruise line’s app, you can order a glass of Champagne to be delivered to you anywhere on board with just a quick shake of your phone.

For a pick-me-up, you can find all kinds of caffeinated brews at Grounds Club, and free Intelligentsia coffee is served in different venues on the ship. Travelers can also pay extra for cold-pressed juices and barista-made coffee drinks.

The ship’s main hub for evening nightlife is called The Manor. Drinks flow constantly, and nightly acts include live music, comedy and even an adult-themed comedy show with audience participation. You won’t find Broadway-style musicals aboard, but there is a Greek history-inspired song and dance show.

There’s never a shortage of entertainment and talented staff perform all over the ship in bars and lounge areas, so don’t be alarmed if someone dressed as a passenger begins performing for you.

Known as “happenings” or “pop-up moments,” these impromptu improv acts add a bit of intrigue to the cruising experience.

For those who want to belt out some tunes, there’s a karaoke room. Also on the program are a casino, drag shows, fashion shows, bar crawls and even scavenger hunts.

You’ll find arcade games, themed parties (like the Scarlet Night evening) and a full roster of staff-led activities, from dance parties to pool parties.

You can keep an eye on everything by downloading the cruise line’s app or asking reception for a printed schedule. It’s easy to get around the ship since maps are posted everywhere, and the three sets of elevators are color-coded to help you know where you are (purple is at the front, blue is at the aft).

When sailing aboard Resilient Lady, you won’t pay extra for gratuities, Wi-Fi, specialty restaurants or onboard activities. However, you will have to pay extra for alcohol, destination excursions and upgraded Wi-Fi for streaming.

The cruise allows passengers to carry on board two bottles of wine per cabin at embarkation, but no liquor. This can help cut down on the cost of beverages during the sailing. Keep in mind that the drinking age changes based on where the ship is located — in the U.S. it’s 21, while in Europe and international waters the age is 18.

Virgin Voyages has managed to transform the traditional cruise experience into something both upscale, but playful enough, to appeal to all ages.

Rarely feeling crowded, the ship is hardly as large as some of the biggest in the world, and what you’ll find on this Richard Branson-born gem is exactly what you would expect from the daring British entrepreneur. Just be sure to pack an appetite, your dancing shoes and a Titanic-sized sense of humor.

(Top photo courtesy of Virgin Voyages)