Valiant Lady Returns to Service After Major Two-Week Dry Dock

Virgin Voyages’ Valiant Lady is back and better than ever following a two-week dry dock at Fincantieri’s Palermo shipyard. 

The 110,000 gross ton ship entered dry dock on May 9, 2026, and finished up on Memorial Day, May 25. The ship is only six years old, having originally launched in May of 2020, but Virgin Voyages clearly has no intention of letting her become outdated. 

“Valiant Lady was already one of the most compelling ships at sea, but we kept asking ourselves how to make her even more worth coming back for,” said Nirmal Saverimuttu, CEO of Virgin Voyages.

More than just a touch-up, this dry dock was a full-on refurbishment, upgrading spaces throughout the ship as well as introducing brand new venues. Cruise Hive has gotten the scoop on all of the exciting upgrades.

New retail options have been added, including onboard TAG Heuer and Pandora shops. Additionally, a ton of spaces onboard received upgrades and refreshes.

Read Also: Who Owns Virgin Voyages and How It All Started?

The Athletic Club on Deck 16 now features new shaded daybeds and upgraded ocean view lounge seating. 

The central hub of the ship, The Roundabout, has received a facelift as well, now adorned in the ship’s signature plum color and new furniture. On the Rocks, the ship’s center bar located just below The Roundabout, has improved guests’ sight-lines by relocating a stage and adding additional seating.

Additionally, The Dock has added a windscreen and a new stage setup to remain as comfortable as possible in changing weather conditions.

In The Manor, the ship’s main late-night entertainment venue, Virgin Voyages has removed the raised platforms to open up the space to more freedom of movement on the dance floor.

Finally, to keep the party going and the drinks flowing, The Grounds Club Too, a specialty coffee shop in The Galley on Deck 15, now transforms into a full bar in the late afternoon and into the night.

But it’s not just spaces that have gotten an overhaul. Onboard entertainment has also been refreshed with new interactive shows and games to get everyone in on the fun.

New offerings include Sports Smarts in the Red Room theater, where you put your sports trivia knowledge to the test alongside your physical fitness through various challenges.

Or, if you’re more into spilling tea, you may prefer Dirty Laundry, which, according to Virgin Voyages, “turns strangers into teammates, secrets into conversation starters…”

The foodies amongst us may be more interested in some of the brand new food and drink experiences, such as Trust Your Tongue, in which you’ll rank unconventional flavor combinations.

And, speaking of food, perhaps the biggest change onboard is the addition of Ariya by Razzle Dazzle. Announced back in March 2026, Ariya is an upscale new restaurant serving modern Indian cuisine.

Developed in partnership with Indie Culinaire and acclaimed Indian-American chef Maneet Chauhan, Ariya seats 220 guests, serving food inspired by dishes across India, in a setting inspired by the country’s many eclectic spice markets. The dining venue’s name is taken from the great-great-grandmother of Virgin Voyages’ founder, Sir Richard Branson.

The menu will feature Indian classics like Lamb Shank Biryani, puffed rice, and avocado chaat, as well as unique Indian-inspired cocktails.

Valiant Lady Is Already Sailing Again

Following this overhaul, Valiant Lady went right back into service, departing on her first post-dry-dock sailing on May 31, 2026. This sailing departed from Barcelona on a seven-day Spanish Isles itinerary, stopping at Palma de Mallorca, Civitavecchia, Cannes, and Ibiza before returning to Barcelona on June 6.

She continues to sail Mediterranean and European itineraries, including a 12-night “Total Eclipse of the Med” full solar eclipse Mediterranean cruise on August 10, 2026, from Barcelona, and the seven-night “Virgin Voyages Comedy Fest” sailing from Portsmouth in the UK on August 20, 2026.

In September 2026, she will reposition to New York for five to six-day Bermuda sailings and then onward to San Juan, where she will offer six to eight-night Caribbean cruises through April 2027.

If you’re looking forward to experiencing all of the upgrades and new spaces aboard Valiant Lady, there are a lot of itineraries to choose from!