Virgin’s Resilient Lady to be based in Melbourne

Resilient Lady will arrive at Station Pier in Port Melbourne at the end of 2023 after a 44-night trans-continental voyage from Athens to Sydney. 

“Australia has a very special place in my heart, and we can’t wait for Australians and New Zealanders to meet our Resilient Lady and experience all that she has to offer in true Virgin style,” says Virgin Group Founder Sir Richard Branson.

From Melbourne the Resilient Lady will cruise the east coast of Australia and Tasmania on a series of itineraries from two to 14 nights and will make its way to New Zealand ports like Picton, Napier, Tauranga, Auckland, Christchurch, and Dunedin.

Cruises departing on the Scarlet Lady from Terminal V at the Port of Miami enjoy a luxury experience before they even board. 

“Normally cruise terminals are dull, lifeless places where people are herded onto even more boring boats,” Branson says; however, he assures travellers that Terminal V “will be filled with colour and fun, a place where people can really begin their voyage of a lifetime.”

Valiant Lady and Resilient Lady will be making their debuts in the Mediterranean in March and July 2022.  So, what can travelers expect from Virgin's 'kid-free' journey?

Four interior options, each decorated in its own style: Insider, Sea View, Sea Terrace, and Rockstar Quarters.

Forget fixed mealtimes and crowded buffets: Scarlet Lady offers à la carte meals and an app that lets you order champagne from your phone from anywhere on the ship.

Unlimited fitness classes, outdoor weight rooms and a red jogging track on the top deck cater to those who take their fitness seriously.

For travelers looking to get their heart rate up in a different way, Virgin Voyages offers the world's first at-sea tattoo parlor, a multipurpose theater called The Red Room, a sports bar and a variety of dining options that offer an elegant experience.

All passengers are over 21, allowing the design team the freedom to enjoy their holiday, giving adults flexibility and choice, relaxation, and excitement to create a truly memorable experience.

"This is great news, great news for Melbourne, great news for Australia. Richard Branson loves Australia," said Nirmal Saverimoto, president, and chief executive of Virgin Voyages.

"The Virgin brand has always been a welcome addition to the cruise industry with its fantastic new products. We have won the biggest five-star rating: Best New Ship and we are delighted to have it, especially in Melbourne. Melbourne is an iconic city; an iconic destination and Station Wharf is a beautiful harbour.

“You will be able to see this beautiful ship from the shore of St Kilda and from there we will be able to offer you all the exciting activities we have discussed.

Virgin Voyages is a premium adults-only cruise experience with unrivaled Virgin-style service. We offer unique experiences, yoga at dawn and dusk, and an outdoor yoga deck. Ambient lighting in all cabins, hammocks on the balconies, juice. bar and cafe, 20 seats, different dining options, yacht style decor and my favorite 'champagne shake'. If you shake the phone at Virgin Cruises, I'll give you a few minutes of champagne, hopefully to continue the slate.

"The summer of '23 is a long wait, so anyone who wants to board Virgin Cruises before us will be sailing to the UK and leaving Athens and Barcelona early."

He continued: "The flexible ship will sail from Melbourne. It will sail to Hobart and spend several nights there and sail to New Zealand. The main ports are there, Napier and Picton and all over Milford Sound and around the world. " Magnificent fjords.

"As I said before, we have a fantastic route between Athens and Australia. We're about 60% booked to Singapore, Colombo, great places like Sri Lanka, Athens and Dubai, and we're sailing through the Zeus Strait, so there there are many fantastic routes for everyone."