First-Time Cruisers, First-Time Alaska, and a Brilliant Surprise

“I had secretly hoped Virgin Voyages might be the perfect cruise line for our family. By the end of the week, I had my answer. It absolutely was.”

Sometimes the timing of a trip is simply too good to ignore.

I had just finished attending the Travel + Leisure Cruise Summit in Vancouver when Virgin Voyages’ newest ship, the Brilliant Lady, departed Seattle for her inaugural Alaska season. Rather than flying home, I headed south for a long overdue family trip with our sons.

This was a true family adventure. Joining my husband and me were our adult sons and their girlfriends, my brother Rafe — a fashion and travel designer — and my childhood best friend Frank, who now lives in Manila after many years in New York. It was the first Alaska cruise for all of us, and the first cruise ever for our sons, their girlfriends, and Frank. We should have been twelve, but travel—and life—had other plans. Rafe’s husband was unable to join us after severe weather led to a flight cancellation.

I had secretly hoped Virgin Voyages might be the perfect cruise line for our family.

By the end of the week, I had my answer.

It absolutely was.

Meet Brilliant Lady

Brilliant Lady is the fourth and final ship in Virgin Voyages’ Lady Ship fleet. Carrying approximately 2,770 passengers at full capacity, she offers more than 20 dining venues, adults-only accommodations, included Wi-Fi, gratuities, fitness classes, and a distinctly different approach to cruising.

Basic Wi-Fi is included for all sailors. As someone who is always working while traveling, I upgraded to Premium Wi-Fi and found it more than adequate for emails, video calls, and staying connected throughout the voyage.

There are no formal nights, no buffets, and no assigned dining times. Instead, guests create their own experience, whether that means filling every hour with activity or finding a quiet corner to watch Alaska drift by.

First Impressions

I should confess that I am not naturally a big-ship cruiser.

Most of my recent voyages have been aboard luxury ships carrying around 1,000 guests—or expedition vessels carrying closer to 120. Brilliant Lady was, by far, the largest cruise ship I have ever sailed.

Embarkation day felt a little overwhelming. I got lost more than once and wondered whether a ship this size would ever feel comfortable.

By Day Two, I was completely at ease.

The cabins played a major role in how quickly everyone settled in. Across our family, the consensus was that the rooms were exceptionally comfortable and thoughtfully designed. Modern touches like iPad controls for lighting, curtains, temperature, and entertainment made the cabins feel intuitive and contemporary rather than overly complicated.

The showers delivered genuinely powerful hot water—something seasoned travelers know not to take for granted at sea—and the housekeeping staff struck the perfect balance of attentiveness and friendliness, often checking in to ask about our day without ever feeling intrusive.

What ultimately won me over were the outdoor spaces. Unlike many ships where the outdoors feels secondary, Brilliant Lady seemed designed to encourage guests outside. Whether it was a quiet corner overlooking the Inside Passage, a lounger with glacier views, or a hidden deck tucked away from the crowds, it was remarkably easy to find solitude.

Rafe was equally impressed by the ship’s design. Throughout the week, we found ourselves discussing how thoughtfully the public spaces flowed from one area to the next. The interiors felt contemporary and stylish without being trendy for trend’s sake—very chic and eclectic, in his words.

Although Brilliant Lady can accommodate approximately 2,770 passengers, there were roughly 2,500 sailors onboard our voyage. Even so, there was a surprising sense of space throughout the ship. It rarely felt crowded.

The Biggest Surprise

The biggest surprise wasn’t Alaska.

It was Sir Richard Branson.

The Virgin founder sailed with us for the entire voyage. We’d see him at breakfast, pass him at lunch, spot him watching the evening shows, or playing outdoor chess on deck. There was no entourage and no sense of distance between him and the guests.

Seeing SRB, as we affectionately called him, genuinely enjoying the product he created was refreshing and unexpectedly endeared me to the brand.

Why Virgin Worked So Well

Virgin Voyages attracts a younger demographic than many traditional cruise lines, with most sailors falling somewhere between their mid-30s and mid-50s. Onboard, the mix felt balanced: younger couples, groups of friends, empty nesters, and active travelers of all ages.

One of the most interesting aspects of the voyage was how well it worked across different travel styles. As a luxury travel advisor, I naturally notice service, design, and culinary experiences. My sons and their girlfriends, however, are not luxury travelers in the traditional sense. What they appreciated was something different: the relaxed atmosphere, the freedom to do what they wanted, the absence of dress codes and formalities, the variety of dining options, and the fact that everything felt approachable rather than intimidating.

Virgin manages to deliver what I would call “accessible luxury”—a high-quality experience that feels stylish and elevated without ever feeling exclusive or pretentious. The entire ethos of the brand was relatable, and that authenticity resonated with both generations traveling together.

Part of that accessibility comes from technology that actually works. The Virgin Voyages app became our constant companion throughout the week. Dining reservations, show bookings, fitness classes, shore excursions, and onboard activities could all be managed from a smartphone. The planner function made it easy to organize each day and coordinate with family members without endless text messages or paper schedules.

Perhaps even more refreshing was what we didn’t hear. There were no hourly loudspeaker announcements interrupting conversations, no constant sales pitches, and none of the background noise often associated with larger ships. Information and reminders lived in the app, allowing the ship itself to remain surprisingly calm and quiet.

In many ways, Virgin has mastered what might best be described as quiet luxury at sea.

For those wanting activity, there were pools, hot tubs, a sprawling fitness center, jogging track, wellness programs, a casino, arcade, private karaoke rooms, shopping, salon and barber services, spa treatments, and even a tattoo studio. For those seeking relaxation, there were private cabanas, outdoor lounges, hidden seating areas, and countless places to simply watch Alaska drift by.

Ryan became obsessed with the running track, saying there was something surreal about jogging through the Alaskan scenery with cold ocean air and mountains surrounding the ship. Alex loved the kayaking excursion, while Mimi declared Sitka her favorite stop because of all the whales.

That was the beauty of the experience: everyone found their own rhythm.

The People

One aspect that resonated deeply with our family was the crew.

Throughout the week, we found ourselves commenting on how diverse and inclusive the staff was. Team members represented an extraordinary range of cultures, backgrounds, ages, and identities.

More importantly, they seemed genuinely comfortable being themselves.

There was a warmth and ease in every interaction that felt authentic rather than scripted. Hospitality is about making guests feel welcome, and Virgin somehow manages to create an environment where the crew appears welcome too.

Frank appreciated how informed and helpful everyone was, while Rafe noted the staff’s humor, warmth, and genuine hospitality.

That energy was contagious and contributed significantly to the relaxed atmosphere onboard.

Dining and Entertainment

One of Virgin’s most revolutionary ideas is that specialty dining is included.

Pink Agave quickly became a family favorite. Ryan raved about the cocktails, steak, and staff, while Janice loved the Spicy Margarita and lively atmosphere, especially during the restaurant-wide tequila and pineapple toast that kicked off one evening’s DJ set.

Janice became our unofficial food critic at Rojo by Razzle Dazzle, where she insisted the oxtail montadito and Basque cheesecake were mandatory ordering. Sara gravitated toward The Test Kitchen, describing it as “a sensory delight” with experimental presentations suitable for vegans, vegetarians, and everyone in between.

Alex declared Gunbae the best food onboard, though he jokingly noted that the portions were so generous it occasionally felt excessive. Rafe appreciated the incredible variety of cuisines onboard—from Korean and Italian to Japanese and Spanish—though he wished Virgin would lean even further into Filipino cuisine after enjoying the Pork Adobo special served at The Diner, which also became Abe’s favorite dish onboard.

Some of the most memorable meals came from the casual venues. Mimi repeatedly returned to The Galley for desserts, while Janice became loyal to the complimentary macadamia chocolate chip cookies at Grounds Club.

Unlike some cruise lines, alcoholic beverages are not included. Guests can purchase a Bar Tab or pay as they go. We found pricing quite reasonable, with cappuccinos around $5, beer around $8, mocktails around $9, cocktails from approximately $11, and wines by the glass starting around $16.

The nightly productions in The Red Room were, without question, the best cruise entertainment I have ever experienced.

These weren’t recycled Broadway medleys or predictable production shows. Virgin has created original performances that blend theater, music, acrobatics, technology, and storytelling into something genuinely fresh and contemporary.

My husband, who has a theater background and is not easily impressed, described them as professional, dynamic, and exciting.

Sara and Alex both singled out Duel Reality as the standout production, with Sara comparing its Chinese pole sequences to Cirque du Soleil.

Scarlet Night

One of Virgin Voyages’ signature experiences is Scarlet Night, the ship-wide celebration that transforms the entire vessel into a sea of red.

As evening fell before our return to Seattle, the lights dimmed, music filled the public spaces, and both sailors and crew embraced the theme with varying levels of enthusiasm and creativity. Scarlet Night felt less like a scheduled cruise activity and more like a collective party unfolding throughout the ship.

Even family members who normally avoid organized cruise activities found themselves swept up in the atmosphere.

Alaska Remained the Star

While the ship impressed us all, Alaska itself remained the real star.

Michael’s favorite experience was cruising through Endicott Arm toward Dawes Glacier, while Frank—on his very first cruise—summed up the week simply: “The fjords. One hundred percent.”

Abe and Mimi both loved a wildlife and crab excursion that combined nature cruising with seemingly endless piles of fresh Alaskan crab. Alex, meanwhile, kept returning to the scenery itself.

“The vistas have been the real star,” he said at one point during the voyage.

It’s difficult to argue with that assessment.

Our Alaska Itinerary

May 21: Seattle embarkation
May 22: Scenic cruising through the Inside Passage
May 23: Ketchikan
May 24: Sitka
May 25: Endicott Arm & Dawes Glacier
May 26: Prince Rupert, British Columbia
May 27: Sea day
May 28: Seattle disembarkation

The itinerary offered a wonderful balance of scenic cruising, fascinating ports, and enough time onboard to fully enjoy the ship itself.

Final Thoughts

Looking back, what strikes me most is not that we all loved the voyage, but that we all loved different parts of it.

Ryan found joy on the running track. Alex loved kayaking and Gunbae. Janice chased cocktails and tapas. Mimi wanted whales and desserts. Sara gravitated toward experimental dining and acrobatics. Rafe appreciated the design and hospitality. Frank simply fell in love with the fjords.

And somehow Virgin Voyages created space for all of it.

Alaska was magnificent, as expected.

What surprised me was how much I enjoyed the ship itself.

For a family taking its first cruise to Alaska—and for someone who usually prefers much smaller ships—it could not have been a better introduction to Virgin Voyages.

And judging by the conversations we had on the flight home, it certainly won’t be our last.

Ready to Try Virgin Voyages?

If you’ve been curious about Virgin Voyages but weren’t sure whether it was the right fit—or if you’ve always thought cruising wasn’t your style—I hope this gives you a different perspective.

Whether you’re considering Alaska, the Caribbean, the Mediterranean, or one of Virgin’s longer voyages, I’d be delighted to help you determine if it’s the right match for your travel style.

As a Virgin Voyages First Mate, I can assist with selecting the right itinerary and cabin, securing the best available promotions, and sharing firsthand insights from my own experience onboard.

Reach out to travelswithtesa or visit Travels with Tesa to start planning your voyage.

You may discover, as our family did, that your first Virgin Voyages sailing won’t be your last.