Valiant Lady Sep 2026
I sailed on Virgin Voyages’ Valiant Lady from New York City to Bermuda, and I had such a great experience, especially as a first-time solo traveler. I was honestly nervous about traveling by myself, but from the beginning, the staff was incredibly welcoming and the other sailors were friendly and easy to talk to. I met new people and made friends, but I also had plenty of opportunities to enjoy being alone, relax, and appreciate the solitude. It ended up being a really great balance.
The ship itself was beautiful. One of my favorite features was the walking track on the upper deck. I spent about an hour just walking with nothing but the ocean around me, and it was probably one of my favorite moments of the trip. I also liked that there were plenty of fitness and activity areas available, even though I didn’t personally use most of them.
The parties were fun, the drinks were great, and I really appreciated that Virgin doesn’t have a traditional buffet. The dining overall was good. Test Kitchen was a cool experience, Gunbae was fun, and Ariya, the Indian restaurant, was probably my favorite meal of the trip. The food there was excellent.
I also really appreciated the Sailor Loot and booking through my First Mate. It made the overall experience feel like a good value.
Our Bermuda itinerary was unfortunately shortened because of severe weather, and our departure from New York was delayed by a day. The only genuinely negative part of the trip was the boarding process after that delay. Because everyone was trying to board Sunday night, we stood outside in the cold and rain for more than two hours. In retrospect, I probably would have waited and boarded the following morning. Given the unusual weather circumstances, though, I don’t think that experience reflected the rest of the cruise at all.
Even with the shortened Bermuda visit and delayed departure, I had an amazing time. I came home already wanting to book another Virgin cruise and have recommended it to several of my friends.
For anyone considering traveling solo but feeling nervous about it, I would absolutely recommend Virgin Voyages. I felt comfortable, welcomed, entertained, and completely fine doing things on my own when I wanted to. I would definitely sail on Valiant Lady—and with Virgin Voyages—again.