Brilliant Lady from Los Angeles to Vancouver: Our Honest West Coast Trip Report

We sailed on LA Lights & Vancouver Vistas, an 8-night repositioning voyage on Brilliant Lady from Los Angeles to Vancouver on 3rd May 2026. The itinerary called at Catalina Island, San Francisco, Astoria and Victoria before Brilliant Lady continued north toward her Alaska season.

This was not a typical Virgin Voyages sailing. Instead of Caribbean beaches and pool weather, we spent eight nights traveling up the West Coast through California, Oregon and British Columbia. It had the food, entertainment, crew and onboard energy we expect from Virgin, but the cooler route gave the whole trip a different feel. It became part cruise, part city-hopping adventure, and part preview of what Brilliant Lady can offer on colder-weather itineraries.

Before the Voyage: A Short Stay in Los Angeles

Before boarding, we spent a little time in Los Angeles and stayed near Universal Studios Hollywood. LA is always a city where travel time matters, so we planned carefully around getting from our hotel to the Port of Los Angeles on embarkation day.

We originally looked at Brilliant Lady’s longer Panama Crossing, but that was not practical for us this time. This shorter Los Angeles to Vancouver sailing gave us the chance to experience Brilliant Lady on a rarer West Coast route without committing to a 16-night itinerary.

Day 1: Embarkation in Los Angeles (May 3rd)

Embarkation day started with the drive down from Universal Studios Hollywood to the Port of Los Angeles. In theory, it was around an hour. In practice, LA traffic meant we were glad we had allowed extra time. After returning the rental car, we took an Uber to the terminal and dropped our bags with the porters. The process at the port was very quick with no real notable issues as we arrived just 5 minutes before boarding started.

Once onboard, we headed to The Galley for lunch, caught up with friends from a previous voyage and started settling back into Brilliant Lady. Sail Away took place outside, with Abi the Hostess and The Happenings Cast setting the tone for the voyage. It was a strong start and one of those moments where the ship immediately begins to feel alive. We decided to take advantage of more of the events on the first night, so we ate in The Galley for dinner.

Day 2: Catalina Island (May 4th)

Catalina Island was a gentle and scenic first port. Because it was a tender port, Brilliant Lady anchored offshore and sailors were transferred to land by smaller boats. The process was straightforward, but it naturally took longer than simply walking off the ship. It was a useful reminder not to plan tender days too tightly.

For our time ashore, we booked the Discover Avalon: Scenic Drive Shore Thing. The excursion lasted around 50 minutes and took us around parts of the island by tram, including several scenic viewpoints overlooking Avalon and the coastline. While it was a relatively short tour and expensive for what it was, it provided a good introduction to Catalina Island and had the added benefit of allowing us to head ashore without needing to reserve a separate tender time.

Avalon itself had a relaxed waterfront feel and made a pleasant contrast to the scale and pace of Los Angeles. After the excursion, we spent some time exploring the town and eating some local seafood before returning to the ship.

Back onboard, we after attending the LGBTQ+ meetup we had dinner at The Test Kitchen, where the service really elevated the meal thanks to our server, who shared additional insight into the dishes and menu concepts that we’d never heard from. Test Kitchen was running all three menus on this sailing with Menu A being the first 3 days, Menu B the next 3 days and Menu C the final day.

Later that evening we saw Electric, one of Brilliant Lady’s signature club nights featuring The Happenings Cast, neon costumes and plenty of high-energy entertainment. It was a fun way to end the day and helped us get a better feel for the ship’s entertainment lineup.

Day 3: Sea Day (May 5th)

The first sea day came at the right time. After the travel, embarkation and first port day, we kept things slower and spent time around the ship, relaxing and working in the newer Roundabout. Lunch in The Galley was a highlight, especially the daily specials. It is worth checking each station because several can have a special each day. The soups, for example, are consistently great and felt fresh and well prepared throughout the voyage.

That evening we returned to Rojo by Razzle Dazzle, Brilliant Lady’s Spanish-inspired restaurant. It had been one of our favorites from our previous time onboard, and it remained a standout here. The Basque cheesecake was once again one of the best desserts on the ship as well as almost all of the tapas options available, the Oxtail in particular is always excellent.

Later, we saw Red Hot for the first time. The show feels central to Brilliant Lady’s entertainment identity and combines a wide range of musical numbers with a storyline built around Richard Branson. While it is not currently among our favorite Virgin Voyages productions, largely because of its heavy reliance on AI-generated visuals, it was undeniably popular with the audience and featured several standout moments, including a Spice Girls sequence that received a particularly strong reaction. It is also a show we would watch again, especially now that we know what to expect. One practical tip: sit a little further back if possible, as it gives a much better view of the full stage and visual effects than the front row seat we had.

Day 4: San Francisco (May 6th)

San Francisco was one of the best days of the trip. We had originally booked a Virgin Voyages Shore Thing focused on Silicon Valley, but it was canceled because there were not enough bookings. Sometimes this can happen when a trip does not hit the required number of participants. Luckily, it was canceled on day one, so we had time to make other plans.

In hindsight, the cancellation probably improved our day. Having the flexibility to create our own itinerary meant we could spend more time doing the things that genuinely interested us rather than following a fixed schedule. It ended up being one of our favorite port days of the voyage.

We hired a jeep and headed up to Apple Park to nerd out at the Apple Visitor Center. We then took advantage of Waymo’s autonomous taxis to do some shopping and travel through central San Francisco for sightseeing.

San Francisco exceeded our expectations. Between exploring the city, trying autonomous taxis and sailing out beneath the Golden Gate Bridge, it felt like one of those port days where the destination and the voyage really came together.

That evening, we had dinner at The Wake as Brilliant Lady sailed out of San Francisco. The timing almost lined up perfectly with passing under the Golden Gate Bridge, so we headed to the Dock to take in the view.

Bingo Blitz was on this night, which is part club night and part bingo session. It is always fun, although the prize pots felt smaller this time, with the maximum being $1,000 prize money. At $50 a ticket, it is a tougher price tag for a club night. I would hope to see more people there with a smaller price tag, because to me this should be more about the fun of the game than big prize money. But at $50, you expect to see more. It is one to keep an eye on, as it has changed since we first participated and actually won in September 2025.

Day 5: Sea Day (May 7th)

After San Francisco, another sea day gave us time to recover and enjoy the ship properly. This is where repositioning voyages can work well. The ports are interesting, but the sea days give the itinerary enough breathing room so the trip does not feel too rushed.

By this point in the voyage, it was becoming clear just how different a West Coast itinerary feels compared to the Caribbean. We were spending much more time in venues like On the Rocks and The Roundabout rather than around the pool deck.

One aspect I do still think is missing is a good working space, many sailors including ourselves have to work on board to keep everything going and there is a lack of quiet spaces around the ship. Dedicated slots in The Scene would make for a great co-working space.

That evening we went to Up With A Twist, Brilliant Lady’s cabaret-style supper club in The Manor. It was a paid experience, but for us it was one of the strongest extras onboard. This was our first time seeing the second cast, and it remained an amazing show. The show, food and included drinks made it feel like good value, especially if you have Sailor Loot to use during the voyage.

Day 6: Astoria (May 8th)

Astoria was a quieter and more unexpected port. It is known for its film connections, including The Goonies, Kindergarten Cop, Short Circuit and Free Willy, but the arrival experience itself was fairly low-key. The weather was not especially kind, and the walk through parts of the port area was not the most scenic.

While Astoria was quaint and the Astoria-Megler Bridge was impressive, it did not feel like there was enough to fill a full port day. We stretched our legs for about 2 hours, did some light shopping then went back to the ship. It felt more like a stop designed to break up the itinerary than a major highlight. Even so, it had charm. It rewarded a slower pace and felt very different from the larger city ports.

For future sailors, this is a port where I would research transport options in advance and pack properly for changeable weather.

Back onboard, Scarlet Night moved indoors because of the colder conditions (which will always be the case in Alaska), nothing will ever replace the beloved Pool Party but the glow-up version of Scarlet Night’s Red Room party is significantly better on Brilliant Lady to other ships.

One thing that stood out throughout the voyage was how well Brilliant Lady adapted to the changing weather. Some days were warm enough to spend time outside, while others, particularly around Astoria, were much cooler and wetter. As a result, more of the onboard activity naturally shifted indoors. Our Scarlet Night was held inside, and while it felt different from the traditional pool deck version, the energy was still there and the ship seemed to handle the adjustment well. It was a useful reminder that Virgin Voyages’ entertainment offering is not entirely dependent on outdoor spaces.

Day 7: Sea Day (May 9th)

The next sea day was a useful recovery day after Scarlet Night. We kept things simple, had a slower morning and returned to The Galley for lunch. One practical tip from this sailing: if The Galley is busy, check whether Gunbae is being used as overflow seating. On our voyage, it was, and it made finding a table much easier and it’s much quieter, you can still get service at the table too.

This day was probably the warmest of the trip and the ocean was calm so quite a few sailors enjoyed the pool deck area. We joined a few trivia sessions and smaller activities around the ship.  You can find a full breakdown of events and entertainment on Brilliant Lady here.

We also spent a lot of time listening to live music around the ship. One standout for us was Penny from Larger Than Lions, who we had previously seen on another voyage. We found ourselves repeatedly stopping whatever we were doing to catch another set. On a cooler itinerary where more time is spent indoors, performers like this become a much bigger part of the experience than they might on a Caribbean sailing. Combined with the other musicians performing throughout the ship, there was always something worth stopping for.

Day 8: Victoria (May 10th)

Victoria gave us one of the most memorable days of the entire voyage. We booked a whale-watching Shore Thing and chose the RIB boat option rather than the larger vessel. We had done something similar before and thought we knew what to expect.

In reality, it was much more intense than expected. We were given protective overalls and warned we might get wet, but the experience was colder, wetter and wilder than that made it sound. Despite being freezing cold and thoroughly soaked by the end, it was one of the most memorable excursions we have ever done. It is not for everyone, but if you are looking for adventure rather than comfort, the RIB experience certainly delivers.

If you are considering a RIB-style whale-watching excursion, be honest with yourself about how much movement, spray and cold you are prepared for. We were glad we did it, but we were also very glad to get warm and dry afterward.

After returning from Victoria, the final-night feeling started to set in. We packed, sorted out the cabin and got ready for one last evening onboard Brilliant Lady. We were treated to one of the most spectacular sunsets of the trip. We spent a good part of the evening sitting on our balcony watching the coastline disappear into the distance as Brilliant Lady made her way toward Vancouver.

The final-night party was Disco Circus, Brilliant Lady’s silver-themed celebration with performers, acrobats, The Happenings Cast and a lot of disco energy. It gave the voyage a clear endpoint and worked well as a final burst of entertainment before arriving into Vancouver the next morning.

After the Voyage: A Short Stay in Vancouver

Disembarkation in Vancouver was slightly more chaotic than we expected. Departure times were pushed back due to what was described as tidal conditions, although it appeared there may also have been some congestion in port as Disney Wonder arrived ahead of schedule. Even with the delays, the process moved steadily once it got underway.

One advantage of Vancouver is how compact and walkable much of the city is. Our hotel was around a 15-minute walk from the cruise terminal, so we simply wheeled our luggage there rather than arranging transport. Taxis and ride shares are readily available, but many sailors may find they can walk depending on where they are staying.

We spent a few days in Vancouver after disembarkation, and it turned out to be one of the biggest surprises of the trip. The weather was sunny throughout our stay, which made the city feel bright, easy and immediately likable.

During our time there we explored downtown, visited Stanley Park & Granville Island and took a short seaplane flight, which gave us a spectacular view of the city and surrounding mountains from the air. Vancouver felt clean, easy to navigate and far more relaxed than many North American cities.

As a post-cruise stay, Vancouver worked extremely well and felt like a worthwhile extension of the voyage rather than simply a place to fly home from.

Would We Do It Again?

Absolutely! Our Los Angeles to Vancouver voyage on Brilliant Lady was one of the most distinctive Virgin Voyages trips we have taken. It was not always warm, smooth or predictable, but that was part of what made it memorable.

This sailing taught us that Brilliant Lady works well on colder and more scenic routes, but it also requires a different mindset. You cannot pack or plan as if you are sailing the Caribbean. Layers, waterproofs, sensible shoes and flexible expectations all matter.

It also showed how important the ship itself becomes on itineraries where the weather is more unpredictable. Food, entertainment, live music and indoor spaces carried a lot of the experience, and Brilliant Lady handled that well. The Galley, Rojo by Razzle Dazzle, The Wake, Up With A Twist, Scarlet Night and the live music around the ship all helped give the voyage its personality.

The Sea Terrace worked particularly well on this itinerary because we found ourselves spending far more time watching the coastline, wildlife and scenery than we would on a traditional Caribbean voyage.

What surprised us most was how little we missed the traditional warm-weather cruise experience. The combination of scenic cruising, interesting ports, cooler weather and plenty of time onboard created something completely different while still feeling unmistakably Virgin.

This is also where repositioning voyages can really shine. They are not always the easiest sailings to plan around, and the weather can be less predictable, but they often offer more unusual ports and a different pace from the standard Caribbean or Mediterranean schedule.

Would we do it again? Absolutely. In fact, we enjoyed it enough that we would happily sail this route again and would also love to experience the reverse Vancouver-to-Los Angeles repositioning in the future. While Astoria was not a standout port for us, destinations such as San Francisco, Victoria and Vancouver more than made up for it, and the sea days felt perfectly spaced throughout the itinerary.

For repeat sailors, this kind of repositioning itinerary is a strong option if you want something different from the usual Virgin Voyages routes. For anyone considering one of Brilliant Lady’s Alaska sailings, this voyage showed how well the ship adapts when the focus shifts from sunshine and sea days to scenery, destinations and life onboard.

Similar Routes

Because Virgin Voyages repositions Brilliant Lady along this route each year for the Alaska season, visits are likely to continue for years to come.

• September 11, 2026 – Vancouver to LA
• May 2, 2027 – LA to Vancouver
• September 10, 2027 – Vancouver to LA

Video Companion

You can watch the two-part video version of this trip report here:

• Part one: Los Angeles to San Francisco
• Part two: San Francisco to Vancouver

For more planning help, see our Virgin Voyages Sailor Guide, our Bar Tab Calculator and Complete Guide, and our guide to Virgin Voyages’ Alaska season.