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Spend the day on Brilliant Lady, the new Virgin Voyages ship, for 7500 Virgin Points!

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Virgin Voyages is gearing up to launch its fourth vessel, Brilliant Lady.

Before it sets off, it is holding an open day on Wednesday 20th August in Portsmouth.

Everything is on the house once you are there, including an evening meal in one of the restaurants, shows in the theatre and a late evening party.

Spend the day on Brilliant Lady, the new Virgin Voyages ship

Tickets cost 7,500 Virgin Points each via the website here. We’d value these at £75 if used for a premium cabin flight redemption, so the event certainly isn’t ‘free’.

However, if you are thinking of a Virgin Voyages cruise or – like me – like the idea of having a good poke around a cruise ship without the bother of actually having to sail somewhere, it is quite tempting.

This is how the event is described:

That’s right, Brilliant Lady is throwing open her gangway for a launch party like no other – and you’re invited to step aboard and discover what it means to sail The Virgin Way.

You’ll have a full afternoon and evening to explore. Once onboard, the bars will be on hand to serve up a sample of your favourite tipples – whether it’s bubbles, spritzes, or something a little stronger.

Live music will echo through the decks and vibrant pop-up acts will appear in unexpected places. Signature karaoke lounge, The Groupie, will be available for those who fancy a singalong or just want to soak up the fun. Plus, you’ll be among the first to enjoy one of Brilliant Lady’s brand-new shows, created exclusively for her debut season.

Of course, no visit would be complete without a taste of Virgin Voyages’ award-winning dining. For your evening meal, you’ll pre-book a glamorous, one-night-only dinner show or a table at one of the ship’s six elevated restaurants. Whether it’s perfectly cooked steak at The Wake, upscale Mexican at Pink Agave, or modern Spanish-inspired fare at Rojo – a new concept unique to Brilliant Lady – you can expect nothing short of exceptional.

Spend the day on Brilliant Lady, the new Virgin Voyages ship

Either side of your dinner reservation, there are plenty more options for casual bites and late-night cravings. Grab a slice from the pizzeria, cool off with a scoop from the ice cream parlour, or graze your way through countless food market-style eateries. One thing’s for sure: you won’t go hungry.

As the sun sets, prepare to dive headfirst into Scarlet Night, Virgin Voyages’ iconic ship-wide celebration, brought to life in full. Think dazzling visuals, immersive characters, pulsating beats, and surprises around every turn. A splash of red is encouraged, whether in your outfit or accessories – because this is no ordinary evening: it’s bold, brilliant, and unmistakably Virgin.

Please note this event is not an overnight stay, and there will be no access to cabins, spa facilities, the casino, or retail spaces during your visit. The party will conclude by 23:00, so be sure to make the most of every minute onboard.

You can find out more, and redeem, on the Virgin Red website here or in the Virgin Red app. You may need to search in the app for the word ‘brilliant’ to bring it up.

Note that no under 18s are allowed. This is, in theory, a full day event if you stay for the party in the evening – you’ll have nine hours on board if you are there at the start.

Comments (47)

  • Mark says:

    We’ve booked. Great day out. Shame they’ll be no cabin use, would be good if they did it as an add on. Worth it for somewhere to freshen up and get changed etc.

    I’ve booked the travel lodge opposite the port. 12pm checkin, free parking and cancellable

  • Mark says:

    Strangely, just been offered a 5 night freebie from New York on the same ship. Alas too busy.

  • Nigel says:

    Has anybody received the follow-up confirmation email which allows dinner booking etc yet?

    • David S says:

      Not me and no indication of timescales for it arriving either – hours, days or weeks. Who knows !

    • Yvo says:

      It came through within ten minutes and we had to enter passport details to make the dinner booking.

      • Nigel says:

        Did you book the ship visit with Virgin Red today? We did it this morning and still haven’t received email… wondering if there might be a delay as it’s the weekend?

  • paul-uk says:

    Are we SURE that drinks are included – cruise lines are notorious for saying “all inclusive” and then offer drink packages on top.

    • Ladyshopper says:

      I must have missed the bit where it said drinks are included, and I read it three times! It says the bars are open, but doesn’t say they’re included?

      Soft drinks and hot drinks on Virgin cruises are included as standard, but alcoholic drinks are not, so definitely something worth checking.

      • paul-uk says:

        It hasn’t stated included alcohol, merely implied it.

        £75 each (7500 points x 2) for a meal and a show
        £60 each for a budget hotel
        £20 for parking
        £20 for Taxi to/from hotel
        £50-£75 each for alcohol (cruise pricing) ??
        £30 fuel
        2 days off work midweek

        All of a sudden it loses it’s appeal lol

    • Nigel says:

      The Virgin Red site does say:

      “Will I need to pay for anything extra on board?
      Nope – everything is included in the ticket price.
      Just a heads-up: alcohol is complimentary but only available while supplies last.”

      https://membersupport.red.virgin.com/hc/en-gb/articles/36258278803473-Will-I-need-to-pay-for-anything-extra-on-board

  • stevenhp1987 says:

    Good day out for 7,500 VS miles, even if alcoholic drinks are not included (doesn’t say they are on Virgin Red…).

    I was beginning to wonder if we’d make it onboard a VV ship this year.

    We normally go straight to the pool deck on embarkation but without a cabin that will be interesting as if others have the same idea then the 2 pool bathrooms will be busy with people changing.

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