Virgin Voyages has revealed that its second ship, Valiant Lady, will be showcased to the trade in March ahead of its inaugural sailings.

The ship will arrive in the UK and visit the ports of Tilbury and Liverpool, before starting its maiden cruise from Portsmouth.

Valiant Lady will reposition from Portsmouth on 2 May on a 12-night sailing to its summer base in Barcelona, until October.

According to Virgin Voyages CEO Tom McAlpin, the cruise line has seen a 70 per cent increase in bookings since December 2021.

McAlpin added: “Following the success of our first lady ship, Scarlet Lady, we are so excited to debut Valiant Lady to the UK this March and begin our European tour.

“The lifting of UK travel restrictions has already shown promising signs with 70 per cent uplift in bookings since December – and we can’t wait to welcome sailors on board.

“We’ll be showcasing our newest lady in Tilbury and Liverpool, where fans are invited to wave her in before we kick off our bookable European sailings from Portsmouth in March and our new homeport in Barcelona in May.

“Our epic sailings have curated itineraries that are unbelievably accessible for those in the UK wanting to cruise differently, and we look forward to hitting the high seas and showing both budding and avid sailors how to voyage the Virgin way.”

Richard Branson added: “Virgin Voyages has been a dream in the making since my 20s and today is a momentous day launching our second ladyship, Valiant Lady.

“It’s exciting to be able to celebrate our continued growth as a brand that’s on a mission to voyage like no other. In our five decades in business, Virgin has always sought to offer our customers something extra special, and Virgin Voyages has worked tirelessly to do just that.”

Introducing Valiant Lady

Valiant Lady has 1,330 cabins and 78 ‘rockstar quarters’, while 86 per cent of cabins on board have a balcony and 93 per cent have an ocean view.

Prices start from £898 for the three-night Long Weekender voyage to Bruges on 18 March. This cruise sails from Portsmouth to Zeebrugge and features a canal sailing through Ghent.

Other itineraries on board Valiant Lady include The Irresistible Med, which will visit Toulon, Ibiza, and Ajaccio, among other destinations.