Virgin Voyages Announces its First-Ever Comedy Festival

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Virgin Voyagesย has announced its first-ever comedy festival will be added to its lineup in 2024. Launching aboard theย Resilient Lady, the unique event will take place from September 14 to 19, 2024, and will feature a collection of renowned U.K. comedians, including Russell Howard, Andre Vincent, and Ria Lina.

Passengers on the five-night voyage departing from Portsmouth, England, will enjoy performances by these comedy stars and up-and-coming talents each night, as well as an in-house performance of โ€œThe Dark Room.โ€

Virgin Voyages Comedy Fest
Virgin Voyages Comedy Fest (Photo Courtesy: Virgin Voyages)

The worldโ€™s only live-action video game show, โ€œThe Dark Roomโ€ is an interactive comedy show created and hosted by John Robertson in a surreal dungeon setting where the audience makes decisions that affect the outcome.

โ€œItโ€™s an unmissable voyage where laughter meets luxury and Sailors will get to experience our usual lineup of award-winning entertainment, five-star dining, and always-luxury accommodations while being part of Virgin Voyages history on our first-ever comedy sailing,โ€ said the cruise line owned by Virgin Group.

Virgin Voyages inaugural comedy festival aboard Resilient Lady will be headlined by Howard, who gained popularity with โ€œRussell Howardโ€™s Good Newsโ€ on the BBC. Joining Howard is Vincent, who began his career as a circus performer before transitioning to stand-up comedy. Heโ€™s appeared on various TV shows, including โ€œThe Sunday Showโ€ and โ€œLive at Jongleurs.โ€

Rounding out the lineup is Lina, a British comedian, writer, and actress who has earned nominations and awards, including the EMMA Award for Best Comedian.

A Hub of Entertainment

Resilient Ladyย is the newest addition to the Virgin Voyages fleet. Debuting in late 2023, it followed sistersย Scarlet Ladyย andย Valiant Ladyย and accommodates 2,770 passengers. Featuring over 1,400 cabins and suites, the 110,000-gross-ton ship features a variety of dining options, from gourmet restaurants to casual eateries.

Entertainment on board beyond comedy includes vibrant nightlife options, immersive theater experiences, and a lineup of live music performances around the ship. Its popular Scarlet Night features a red theme and parties across the entire fleet.

Read Also: Virgin Voyages Reveals Mermaid for Resilient Lady

The comedy festival cruise will stop in Amsterdam, home to several comedy festivals and events, such as the Boom Chicago Comedy Festival, featuring a mix of stand-up, improv, and sketch comedy. Venues like Comedy Cafรฉ and Toomler also showcase established and rising stars to keep the laughs going on shore.

Scarlet Night on Virgin Cruises
Scarlet Night on Virgin Cruises (Photo Credit: AVOXY)

The cruise will also visit the fairytale city of Brugges in Belgium, renowned for its medieval architecture.

Virgin Voyages continues to innovate cruising with Virgin Groupโ€™s Sir Richard Branson bringing his unique flair. Ahead of the summer cruise season, Branson himself surprised guests with free cruises during an airport terminal takeover and a flight to Puerto Rico and another on the streets of London in a red double-decker bus.

In July, it will bring back its popular Eat & Drink Festival. Spanning two months, the third annual culinary event showcases international flavors, unique pairings, and gourmet meals prepared by world-renowned chefs.

The cruise line also offered a Season Pass to allow passengers to book multiple cruises throughout the season at a reduced rate, as well as opportunities to Work From Helm on month-long cruises with high-speed internet.

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Lissa Poirot
Lissa Poirot
Lissa Poirot has been covering travel for more than a decade, including sites such as TripAdvisor, CruiseCritic, The Points Guy, Family Vacation Critic, and Family Traveller. Her love of travel has led Lissa to visit more than 43 countries and has her on a mission to see every state in the U.S. (only 4 states to go!). When she's not traveling, she's exploring new attractions and events on the weekends, be it in New York City or Philadelphia, as Lissa lives between both fabulous cities.

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