Virgin Voyages is preparing for the inaugural Mediterranean season for its second ship Valiant Lady.

The ship is set to arrive in Barcelona on Saturday (14 May) and will operate seven-night itineraries, visiting destinations such as Ajaccio, Marseille, Cannes, Olbia and Ibiza.

The cruise line also reported a 174 per cent uplift in UK bookings, “indicating a strong return to cruising in 2022”, according to a statement.

Virgin Voyages CEO Tom McAlpin said: “We are so excited to finally bring our beautiful Valiant Lady to Barcelona and begin her European tour.

“With her sister ship Scarlet Lady sailing the gorgeous Caribbean seas, the stunning Mediterranean was the dream destination for our next home.

“From Palma de Mallorca, to Cagliari or Toulon, we’re thrilled to be able to offer sailors the Virgin access to some of Europe’s most stunning destinations.”

Virgin Group founder Richard Branson added: “The spectacular Mediterranean is home to some incredible destinations that everyone should have the pleasure of enjoying, and I can’t wait for everyone to experience this region with us.

“When we started Virgin Voyages, we knew we wanted to create something special, unlike anything ever seen before in the cruising world.”