Sir Richard Branson's newest cruise vessel has completed its maiden Mediterranean voyage and the millionaire businessman was at the helm himself to make sure everything was shipshape. Valiant Lady is the second ship launched by Virgin Voyages, which pledges to disrupt passenger perceptions of traditional cruising.
If it was possible to capture the energy and radiance displayed by the ship's 1,500 crew, there would not be any power problems for the rest of us. That Valiant Lady verve is infectious from the moment passengers - or sailors as they are called - set foot on board.
Virgin Voyages prides itself on being different from other cruise operators. From obvious contrasts such as the informality of dining and lack of dress restrictions, to the more subtle touches of a relaxed staff uniform policy with cool, casual instead of starchy formal attire, life on the ocean wave is relaxed.
Valiant Lady redefines luxury cruising by combining premium elements from favourites on land with the freedom and simplicity of a best life ocean experience. And the chilled onboard vibe mirrors Sir Richard's own attitude to travel - and he vowed the Virgin Voyages' mantra will change the industry in the same way his airline changed the face of aviation.
He told me: "I’d never really wanted to go on a cruise – but that’s exactly why we created Virgin Voyages. We wanted to create something special, unlike anything ever seen before in the cruising world. We got a team together who had never worked on cruise ships before to design a brand new experience.
"What makes Virgin different to any other company is the brilliant people who work for us – and this is so evident at Virgin Voyages. There’s more than 80 different nationalities working onboard – that’s almost half the world’s countries represented on our ships, all working together and bringing the experience to life with a smile.
"We took a picture together onboard and it’s really heart-warming to see young Ukrainians standing next to and hugging young Russians– our ships are a place where we want everyone to feel welcome and included, no matter where you are from.
"We've created exclusive experiences, unforgettable surprises, and dashes of extra-special mermaid flair to make this voyage a truly once in a lifetime event. The nice thing is the feedback from people who've been on the ship is fantastic, the repeat bookings are fantastic and there are even one or two people who are living on our ship right now."
Holidaying on Valiant Lady will certainly raise the eyebrows of traditional cruisers. There's no need to worry about dressing for dinner or scrambling to get a seat at the Captain's Table. The biggest challenge is deciding which one of the ship's many eateries to choose - from a 4am full English fry-up in the Galley to the Michelin-starred standards of the Test Kitchen or the Wake.
There's the top-secret menu on the vegetarian-influenced Razzle Dazzle and the Italian trattoria flavours of Extra Virgin. Other options include a Korean BBQ, Spanish tapas bits, sushi and more. And after filling up with the delicious food and drink delights on board, there are plenty of opportunities to shed excess calories.
From sun-rise yoga to outdoor boxing, meditation to Hi-intensity workouts, sailors can become totally restored and ready for anything. There's even a barber's shop and tattoo parlour with the Redemption Spa offers treatments to rejuvenate the body and mind.
Money doesn't change hands on board. Most food and soft drinks on board are already covered, but any extra purchases for alcoholic drinks and designer items from the High Street array of shopping outlets are made through the sailor's wrist band which acts like a wallet, containing details on available spending power and how the bar tab is growing.
A variety of accommodation is available from standard Sea Terrace bedrooms to iconic Rock Star Quarters, complete with record decks, guitars and cocktail bar. The ship has 1,330 cabins and 78 RockStar Quarters including two iconic Massive Suites
One tip - don't try to get in the hammock on the terrace unless you have the flexibility of an Olympic gymnast because it could end in tears!
It's very easy to stay onboard throughout the voyage to discover everything Valiant Lady has to offer. But there are ample opportunities to step on dry land atMediterranean ports in France, Spain and Italy. There's even an overnight stop in Ibiza so revellers can take in a club or visit one of the iconic beach venues such as the Unexpected breakfast experience at Ushuaia in Playa D'en Bossa.
The boutique ship will be based in Barcelona for the summer season, before transiting to its homeport of Miami for the winter. It will operate a variety of cruise experience throughout the summer, including The Irresistible Med, which takes guests from Barcelona to the French Riviera.
French Daze & Ibiza Nights, lives up to its name with a stop in Marseille, a night of glamour in celebrity hotspot Cannes, paired with an unforgettable night in Ibiza. Spanish Obsession will sail around the Balearic Islands from Majorca and Ibiza to Málaga.
For more details on Virgin Voyages and Valiant Lady cruises, check here.
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