These New Changes Make Valiant Lady an Even Better Cruise Ship
FFor a cruise ship, a dry dock is a pretty routine thing. Most ships undergo maintenance every 5 years or so, and cruise lines often use that time to make updates around the ship. Unfortunately, many of those “improvements” seem more focused on generating revenue than improving the guest experience.
Recently, we’ve seen Royal Caribbean remove the top level of the popular music venue on Ovation of the Seas to add more slot machines. On Harmony of the Seas, the cruise line removed adult-only deck space to make room for additional cabins.
That’s what makes Valiant Lady’s refresh stand out. Rather than focusing on ways to generate more revenue, many of Virgin Voyages’ changes address real pain points from the ship’s original design and make public spaces more comfortable, functional, and enjoyable for guests.
Razzle Dazzle Becomes Ariya by Razzle Dazzle
Like we’ve seen on sister ships Brilliant Lady and Scarlet Lady, Valiant Lady’s Razzle Dazzle has been changed. It’s now called Ariya by Razzle Dazzle, one of the first Indian sit-down restaurants on a cruise ship sailing out of North America.
Virgin Voyages first told us about this change back in March (read about it here), but the renders didn’t do it justice. It’s almost unrecognizable. The warm tones and pops of green from the plants give the space a whole new feel. It’s a far cry from the visually busy and somewhat gaudy Razzle Dazzle experience from before.
The restaurant’s menu was made in partnership with celebrity chef Maneet Chauhan, who you may have seen on Chopped and various other Food Network shows. Some of the dishes on the menu will be lamb shank biryani, Goan curried mussels, puffed rice & avocado chaat, and tandoori pistachio-crusted snapper.
The Athletic Club
One of my biggest “misses” when I sailed Valiant Lady was The Athletic Club, located at the back of Deck 18. Normally, this premium space would offer amazing ocean views that would be highly desirable. Other ships, like Norwegian’s Prima class, put their pricey The Haven area here. But when the ship debuted, Virgin Voyages made the odd choice of blocking all the views and putting the beds all facing inward, effectively wasting the space. I remember looking down during sail away and watching people standing on the beds trying to peek over the railing.
Now, they’ve improved it to the new design that debuted on Brilliant Lady. The whole deck now has clear glass partitions, and the beds face the ocean. They also added shaded areas in the middle, which provide much-needed shade from the hot Caribbean sun.
They kept the large cargo nets, which were very uncomfortable and felt like a gimmick, but Virgin vastly improved this space as a whole.
Grounds Club Too
Located in The Galley, Virgin Voyages’ take on the buffet, Grounds Club Too, is the second location to get premium specialty coffee drinks. The space would be busy during the day, but deserted at night. Virgin Voyages optimized the design by giving it a full bar from late afternoon on and adding comfortable seating in the area. It makes it a great stop for a cocktail before dinner at nearby Gunbae or after evening events.
The Manor
The Manor is the large two-story club and entertainment space on Valiant Lady. While it is really sizable, the actual dance floor felt very tight and compact. Virgin Voyages improved on this design by removing some raised platforms, giving more space and better sightlines for everyone.
On the Rocks
On the Rocks is one of the best performance spaces at night for live music. It’s on the lower level of The Roundabout, the heart of the ship. But the performance space was tucked away in an awkward corner, with little seating offering views of the performers.
Virgin Voyages took out a curved wall and moved the band stage closer to the back. Not only did it free up more seating, but it also added more natural daylight and improved sightlines.
The Roundabout
Speaking of The Roundabout, it also had a makeover that improves functionality. The space has better seating options and makes it a place you can hang out, not just walk through. Comfy seating in a variety of configurations can be found here, great for day or night use.
In addition, they’ve revamped the Draught Haus bar. Previously, dividers made the space feel closed off, and many sailors would overlook it. They’ve now opened it up more and added better seating to make it more usable as an actual bar.
The Dock
The Dock is the exterior promenade-level outdoor space where you can watch the ship’s wake while enjoying refreshing cocktails, light bites, and live music. It was absolutely one of my favorite spots on Valiant Lady, so it’s great to see some minor improvements. They relocated the stage so more guests could see the performer and added a windscreen to make the space more usable in high winds and more challenging weather.
New Retail Opportunities
Valiant Lady also has some new places you can shop onboard. They’ve added TAG and Pandora in the shops area. They’ve also relocated the VV Brand Shop, giving this popular store much more merchandising space for a wider selection of Virgin-branded options. My Valiant Lady T-shirt, which I bought on board is still one of my favorite T-shirts. It’s so comfy.
New Events and Entertainment
It’s not just about new venues. Entertainment has also been refreshed with 20 different “Happenings” events led by the entertainment staff onboard.
New Shows and Game Shows
The main theater on Valiant Lady, The Red Room, has a new game show called “Sink or Swim” and a new event, “Sports Smarts,” which blends physical challenges with sports trivia.
In The Manor, they’ve added “Pay Attent!on,” which is a vintage TV-style game show, and “Nice Box!,” a mystery retail event.
Food and Drink Experiences
The Foodie, the entertainment staff member whose expertise is all things food and drinks, also has some new activities. You can see Virgin Voyages is doubling down on the options and what they’ve always said: there’s something for everyone on the ship. From the extrovert who wants to be at all the parties, to the introvert who wants to relax and rejuvenate, to someone who wants to learn something new while enjoying the relaxing sea vibes.
Virgin Voyages describes them as:
- Extra Virgin: “Aperitivo Club” explores classic spritzes, premium olive oils, and the art and science behind pasta pairings.
- “Trust Your Tongue” tests unconventional culinary combos while rating and ranking these unusual flavors at Test Kitchen.
- “Espresso Yourself” pours three espresso martinis, live music, and coffee-inspired art into a tasting that becomes more than just a drink.
- “Sweet Aft Matcha” invites Sailors to get their whisk on while sampling the rich history, flavor pairings, and versatile delights of matcha.
More Laid-Back Activities
And for those who want a more relaxing and laid-back vibe, there are new experiences as well. “Silent Sweat” is a health-focused take on the Silent Disco where guests put on headphones and go through a workout while enjoying the amazing views at the top-deck location, The Perch. Or go to the highly popular VHS workout, but with a new twist. “VHS Volume 2: The Great British Burn Off” has a British pop theme.
Creative and Intellectual Activities
You can also express your artistic side with new hands-on activities, “Upcycle Club,” “Knot Today,” and “Hooked,” which turn reclaimed materials, ropework, and crochet into tactile take-home memories.
For more intellectual activities, try “Check, Please,” which is a social chess tournament, or “Knees Up,” a proper pub quiz. Or you can try activities like “Destination Unknown” or “Stargazers” for map-based adventures and beautiful stargazing at night on The Dock.
My Take: Some Really Impressive Changes for Valiant Lady
Valiant Lady is only 4 years old and didn’t really need any major changes, but at the same time, Virgin Voyages has learned a lot about cruise ships since the ship debuted in 2022. It’s really nice to see Virgin take those learnings and apply them to improve an already solid cruising experience. These changes aren’t drastic, but they could make your sailing more enjoyable. Many of the changes above address pain points I mentioned during my sailing on Valiant Lady (follow that cruise blog here).
Kudos to Virgin Voyages for continuing to invest in the experience.
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