What’s New With Virgin Voyages

From new perks for advisors and their clients to the highly anticipated debut of Brilliant Lady this fall, big things are happening at Virgin Voyages, the award-winning cruise line founded by Richard Branson. In case you missed the news, we’ve rounded up everything advisors need to know about the exciting updates.

Circles Becomes ‘Circles, Groups, and Weddings’

In early March 2025, Virgin Voyages announced changes to its popular Circles program to “give First Mates more time and flexibility to build their groups while offering better perks for their Sailors.” Now referred to as “Circles, Groups, and Weddings,” the cruise line says the revamped initiative boasts greater flexibility, better benefits and improved offers — and all of the changes were inspired by travel advisor feedback. Wondering what kind of perks Sailors can look forward to under the fresh programming? Virgin Voyages said group travelers who book through a First Mate (travel advisor) will receive a 10% travel discount, up to $300 in free drinks as well as a dedicated group dinner at one of Virgin Voyages’ six onboard restaurants. Regarding the changes, the cruise line said the improved Circles, Groups, and Weddings programming, “directly addresses agents’ requests while maintaining the brand’s value proposition, making group bookings simpler and more rewarding while continuing to be extraordinarily fair, flexible, and inclusive.”

Key Updates To Circles Include:

• No cabin minimum required
• No deposit required
• More combinability, including “My Next Virgin Voyage”
• More time to form groups
• Price and promo protection
• Choice between one complimentary Sea Terrace or a 2% bonus commission for travel conductors once a 10 cabin threshold is met

Key Features of Groups Include:

• Eight cabin minimum
• No deposit required
• 30-day hold
• On-board Bar Tab options
• Price and promo protection

Key Features of Weddings Include:

• No minimum cabin requirement
• 30-day hold
• On-board Bar Tab options
• Price and promo protection

“Thanks to our incredible First Mates we are having a record Wave season with a more than 60% increase in revenue from February of last year, and more than 80% increase coming specifically from our dedicated travel partners,” said Nirmal Saverimuttu, CEO of Virgin Voyages. “We made a commitment to our Travel Advisor community to always take feedback and turn it into action. This new program is a direct result of listening, learning, and making improvements. The First Mate community is everything to us as we build this brand together and celebrate a record-breaking Wave season.”

To learn more about Virgin Voyages’ improved Circles, Groups, and Weddings program, visit the company’s website.

Brilliant Lady Teases Fresh Entertainment Offerings

Virgin Voyages’ newest, and final, Lady Ship, Brilliant Lady, is expected to make her grand debut this fall in NYC, and she’s bringing a bevy of incredible entertainment with her. In response to First Mate and Sailor Feedback, the brand has reimagined its entertainment offerings to include a fresh lineup of comedy, live music and immersive storytelling acts for vacationers to enjoy. In fact, Brilliant Lady will feature not one, not two, but seven thrilling original productions in addition to a variety of new Happenings to surprise and delight new and repeat Virgin Voyages’ guests alike.

Following Resilient Lady’s 2025 USA Today 10Best win for “Best Entertainment at Sea,” Virgin Voyages says Brilliant Lady is poised to continue the brand’s success and maintain its reputation as an industry disruptor.

“Brilliant Lady has so much in store for our Sailors and travel advisors. The new incredible additions to our entertainment is just the first reveal in a series of imaginative experiences we’re unveiling for our fourth and final ship,” said Saverimuttu. “Our brand has come so far since our launch in ‘21, and we’re grateful to our travel advisor community for being such an important part of our journey. Thanks to their valuable feedback, we’re constantly challenging ourselves to raise the bar by offering more entertainment and never-before-seen experiences. Not only will Brilliant’s entertainment take us to the next level, but it will also answer the areas where we needed to grow.” 

New Entertainment Aboard Brilliant Lady

Virgin Voyages describes Brilliant Lady’s new entertainment programming as follows:

Red Room Shows

• Red Hot: “A high-energy musical revue tracing Virgin’s 50-year legacy through five decades of iconic hits from Virgin Records’ musical catalogue. Featuring archival clips and inspired by the rebellious spirit of Sir Richard Branson, there is something for everyone with this jukebox.”
• Out of Time: “A creative collaboration between Virgin Voyages and No Ceilings, this time-traveling comedy is a wild ride through history thanks to Dr. Victoria Vortex’s time machine. When things go off-track, the road back makes its way through a cavalcade of music, fashion, dazzling flappers and a few acrobatic cavemen.”

The Manor Shows

• Up With a Twist: “Inspired by the roaring 20s is this decadent new installment of Virgin Voyages’ Supper Club Series. Sailors find themselves at Lady Valentina’s Emporium of Excess, which offers both elevated dining and high-concept characters on the menu. Alongside a live band, vintage numbers from yesteryear and summer soundtrack favorites are given a modern twist with audience members even having a say in the show’s ending.”
• Murder in the Manor: “Heavily influenced by today’s true crime fascination and 1980s murder mystery novels, this immersive theater performance blends spectacle, spooky mystery and incredible dancing. Created by No Ceilings, this show puts Sailors front & center. They’ll be tasked with assisting the hapless investigators who seem to keep missing the most obvious clues. Together, they’ll help a plain-Jane figure out who killed her rockstar twin sister.”
• Duets: “A showcase of soulful duets across generations and genres, this stage show features Motown, classic rock and contemporary ballads, all performed with jazz-infused arrangements.”
• Electric: “Dive into the depths of Brilliant Lady’s immersive UV wonderland. Teeming with fluorescent accents, UV reactive ‘fits,’ neon face paint and even a jellyfish parade, this electric dance party is pure luminous joy. Of course, this epic glow party wouldn’t be complete without the Electric Slide (boogie, woogie, woogie).”
• Disco Reimagined: “Studio 72 is getting a major upgrade in this reimagined take on a disco party. Dance breaks and circus moments take hold in a 90-minute explosion of sequins, flared pants and acrobatics so good Sailors will gasp.”

Reimagined Fleet Favorites

• Scarlet Night Red Room Glow Up: “The night that celebrates the octopus goddess and reigns supreme above all others is getting an indoor glow-up when Brilliant Lady makes her way to Alaska’s woody shores. On nights too cool for an under-the-stars, poolside affair, the Red Room will come alive with specialized programming designed to keep the energy as high as it would be outdoors.”
• Duel Reality: “The fleet’s acrobatic flagship returns to Brilliant Lady with its high-flying acrobatics and breathtaking aerial feats. A modern take on Romeo and Juliet, Duel Reality made history as the first cruise ship production to go from sea to land, debuting in Boston last year.”