It was our first evening on board Virgin Voyages’ Resilient Lady at the Pyjama Party, and it soon became clear that there is a sea change afoot in the cruise line industry. The vessel and its two sisters, Scarlet Lady and Valiant Lady, are the world’s leading adults-only ships, with a fourth, Brilliant Lady joining Virgin’s small but perfectly formed fleet in 2025. And although the ships are pristine and provide pure luxury, if you’re looking for a traditional cruise experience, with strict sailing etiquette, dress codes and rules, you’re probably looking in the wrong place. Instead, a stay on board a Virgin Voyages Lady Ship can soon turn into one long party.
My friend Martin and I were booked onto one of Resilient Lady’s Adriatic Sea & Greek Gems voyages, and after arriving at the port in the Greek capital Athens, getting on to our new home for the next seven days was a breeze. We had both completed the necessary registrations on Virgin’s easy-to-navigate app weeks beforehand, so it was merely a case of us slipping on our wearable wristbands (which you use to access your cabin and pay for drinks and shopping), boarding the ship and having some fun.
Our cabin was a Sea Terrace room, and rather than having two single beds side by side, the mega-helpful attendant arranged them into an L-shaped configuration, meaning we had plenty of room to walk around and store our stuff. There was also a decent-sized bathroom with a rain shower, while the red hammock and chairs on the cabin balcony was the ideal setting to watch the ship dock in the mornings or for an afternoon nap.
Martin and I were lucky enough to be given a pair of special black wristbands rather than the usual red, which gave us access to the exclusive Richard’s Rooftop area on deck 16. This was our favourite part of the ship — and for one reason. From 5-6pm every evening, they hold a sunset hour (or more like two hours if you ‘double park’), in which VIP sailors from the Rockstar Suites can drink as much Moët & Chandon champagne, cocktails, wines and beers as they wish. The servers weren’t shy topping up the drinks and, along with our new pals Jon and Sharna, we staggered out of Richard’s Rooftop most early evenings, worse for wear.
Returning home after a week on board one of Virgin Voyages’ Lady Ships, my body wasn’t feeling too ‘Resilient’ to be honest and I was in need of a detox and some sleep. Now, where did I put those pyjamas?
How to do it
Adults-only cruise line Virgin Voyages offers a seven-night Adriatic Sea & Greek Gems cruise aboard Resilient Lady from €845 per person, excluding flights. The price is based on two people sailing in July 2025 and sharing an inside cabin. It includes all meals, water, soft drinks, tea and coffee, plus free Wifi, tips, group fitness classes, entertainment and bus and tender boat transport from the ports. This article originally appeared in The Sunday World, and Richard’s trip was hosted. For more information and to book, go to virginvoyages.com
