 Valiant Lady in Antigua, 2024
| |
| History | |
|---|---|
 Bahamas | |
| Name | Valiant Lady |
| Owner | Virgin Voyages |
| Operator |  Virgin Voyages |
| Builder | |
| Laid down | 8 February 2019 |
| Launched | 20 May 2020 |
| Acquired | 1 July 2021 |
| Maiden voyage | 18 March 2022 |
| Identification | IMO number: 9805336 |
| Status | In Service |
| General characteristics | |
| Tonnage | 110,000 GT |
| Length | 278 m (912 ft) |
| Beam | 38 m (125 ft) |
| Draught | 8.05 m (26.4 ft) |
| Decks |
|
| Installed power |
|
| Propulsion | 2 × 16,000 kW (21,000 hp) ABB Azipod units |
| Speed |
|
| Capacity | 2,770 |
| Crew | 1,160 |
Valiant Lady is a cruise ship operated by Virgin Voyages. After she was ordered in October 2016 with Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri, her coin ceremony was held in February 2019 and she was floated out in May 2020 from the shipyard in Sestri Ponente. She was delivered to Virgin in July 2021 as the fleet's second vessel and sailed her maiden voyage in March 2022 from Portsmouth. At 110,000 GT and measuring 278 metres (912 ft) long for a capacity of 2,770 passengers, she was built with similar proportions to older sister ship Scarlet Lady.
Construction and career
Planning and construction
On 4 December 2014, Virgin Group founder Richard Branson announced that Virgin Group was forming Virgin Cruises, together with the backing of Bain Capital, and revealed plans to build two new cruise ships. On 23 June 2015, Virgin Cruises announced that it signed a letter of intent with Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri for three cruise ships that could each accommodate approximately 2,800 guests and 1,150 crew for seven-day Caribbean voyages. The three-ship order reportedly cost US$2.55 billion, with the second ship scheduled to begin operating in 2021. The order's contract for the ships was formally signed on 18 October 2016, the same day Virgin Cruises rebranded as Virgin Voyages. In joining her sister ship, initial details revealed she would measure 110,000 GT, 278 metres (912 ft) long, and 38 metres (125 ft) wide, with 1,400 passenger cabins to house up to approximately 2,700 passengers, accompanied by 1,150 crew members.
On 20 July 2018, Virgin inaugurated the construction for its second ship with the ship's steel-cutting ceremony at Fincantieri's shipyard in Sestri Ponente. The ship's coin ceremony was performed on 8 February 2019. On 19 November 2019, Virgin revealed the name of its second ship as Valiant Lady. During the COVID-19 pandemic, construction delays arose after Fincantieri's operations were suspended. Originally expected to be floated out in March 2020, Valiant Lady was floated out from her dry dock two months behind schedule, on 20 May 2020, and was moved to a new berth to complete her outfitting work. The ship was delivered on 1 July 2021.
Operational career
Valiant Lady entered service on 18 March 2022, sailing a three night cruise from Portsmouth, England to Zeebrugge, Belgium. She continued sailing from Portsmouth with itineraries visiting Belgium, Spain, Portugal and the Canary Islands before repositioning to the Mediterranean in summer 2022. From May 2022, she sailed from Barcelona to destinations in Italy, Spain, Gibraltar and France. She then repositioned to Miami, Florida in October 2022 to operate cruises to the Caribbean over the winter, before returning to the Mediterranean in summer 2023.
During a cruise in the Atlantic ocean in April 2023, a young woman fell off a balcony and fell on another person. The former died from her injuries.
March 2024 sees the Valiant Lady playing host to the first ever WPT Voyage, a 1-week charter full ship takeover by the World Poker Tour.
References
- ^ "Scarlet Lady Floats Out, Second Virgin Ship Construction Well Underway". Cruise Industry News. 8 February 2019. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
- ^ "Fincantieri Completes Float Out of New Cruise Ship Valiant Lady". The Maritime Executive. 4 June 2020. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
- ^ "Fincantieri Celebrates Double Milestone for Virgin Voyages". 2 July 2021. Retrieved 2 July 2021.
- "Mega cruise liner Valiant Lady leaves Portsmouth for maiden voyage to Belgium". www.portsmouth.co.uk. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
- ^ "Fincantieri Begins Work On Second Ship For Virgin Voyages With Steel Cutting Ceremony". Marine Insight. 24 July 2018. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
- Stieghorst, Tom (4 December 2014). "Richard Branson to enter cruise business". USA Today.
- Schaal, Dennis (23 June 2015). "Virgin Cruises to Debut 3 Ships in Miami Starting in 2020". Skift.
- Drescher, Cynthia (23 March 2017). "Virgin Voyages Begins Construction of First Cruise Ship". Conde Nast Traveler.
- ^ Eisenberg, Sherri (20 July 2018). "Virgin Voyages Names First Ship Scarlet Lady". Travel Pulse. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
- Sheivachman, Andrew (18 October 2016). "Virgin Cruises Rebrands as Virgin Voyages, Finally Signs Deal for Three Ships". Skift.
- Arrojas, Matthew (19 November 2019). "Virgin Voyages unveils name of second ship". South Florida Business Journal. Retrieved 10 July 2020.
- "Mega cruise liner Valiant Lady leaves Portsmouth for maiden voyage to Belgium". www.portsmouth.co.uk. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
- Edwards, Robert (1 March 2022). "Virgin's newest cruise arrives in Portsmouth for the first time". hampshirelive. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
- Bretz, Sarah (18 March 2022). "Second Virgin Voyages Ship Enters Service in Europe". Cruise Radio - Daily Updates On The Cruise Industry. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
- "Virgin Voyages cruise passenger dies after falling from balcony on ship near Miami".
- "Set Sail with WPT Voyage! A Week-Long Poker Cruise Extravaganza". Cardplayer Lifestyle. Retrieved 13 March 2024.