Brilliant Lady Tour Nears Finale as MerMaiden Sailings Approach
Brilliant Lady’s preview tour is wrapping up as the ship prepares for two West Coast MerMaiden sailings and a look at onboard programming.
Virgin Voyages’ newest ship, Brilliant Lady, is nearing the end of her preview tour as the line prepares for two milestone MerMaiden sailings on the West Coast.
Over the past several months since her September 5th debut the ship has hosted sailings from Miami including preview events with DJ Khalid & Sir Richard Branson, media visits, and First Mate tours ahead of her first full deployment in Alaska. The tour is now approaching its final stage as attention shifts toward the ship’s upcoming inaugural sailings from Los Angeles and Seattle.
The Final Two MerMaiden Sailings
Virgin Voyages has two one-time MerMaiden sailings scheduled for Brilliant Lady’s West Coast debut.
LA MerMaiden: Los Angeles Roundtrip
- Dates: April 7 to April 12, 2026
- Length: 5 nights
- Roundtrip from: Los Angeles, California
- Ports: Santa Barbara, San Diego, and Ensenada
Seattle MerMaiden: Alaska and the Inside Passage
- Dates: May 21 to May 28, 2026
- Length: 7 nights
- Roundtrip from: Seattle, Washington
- Sailing highlights: Inside Passage and Tracy Arm Fjord
- Ports: Ketchikan, Sitka, and Prince Rupert (British Columbia)
Here’s What to Expect on the MerMaiden Sailings
Both MerMaiden sailings will include a number of special touches designed to mark Brilliant Lady’s arrival on the West Coast. While the core Virgin Voyages experience remains the same, these inaugural voyages typically include a few additions that are only available during launch sailings.
Passport to Flavors
Part of 2025 Eat & Drink Festival programming returns for the MerMaiden voyages. Passport to Flavors will feature a Galley takeover highlighting dishes inspired by Brilliant Lady’s US homeports. Sailors can expect small bites representing different regions, including items such as arepas and mofongo celebrating Miami alongside cedar smoked salmon inspired by Seattle and Alaska.
MerMaiden Memorabilia
Sailors sailing on either MerMaiden voyage will also have access to exclusive souvenirs created specifically for these inaugural sailings. These items are typically only available onboard during MerMaiden voyages and serve as keepsakes for those among the first to sail on the ship.
Shows and Special Events
Virgin Voyages is also expected to introduce new experiences as part of Brilliant Lady’s West Coast debut. In addition to headline productions, new Happenings Cast events and pop-up programming are likely to appear across the ship during these sailings.
Abi Returns as Hostess for the MerMaiden Season
Abi will return as hostess for Brilliant Lady’s MerMaiden season. She is scheduled to rejoin the ship on March 21, 2026 and will be onboard for both MerMaiden sailings and the remainder of Cast 2’s season through July 16, 2026, helping host onboard moments during these two one-time voyages alongside Cast 2.
Brilliant Lady – Happenings Cast 2
Private Launch Event Planned in Los Angeles
Before the Los Angeles MerMaiden sailing departs, Virgin Voyages will host an invite-only event for media and First Mates. The Brilliant Lady LA Launch Celebration is scheduled for Monday, April 6, 2026 overnight. At this time there are no public tickets for this event.
What Happens Next for Brilliant Lady
With the preview tour coming to a close, Brilliant Lady’s focus now shifts to the Panama Canal these two West Coast MerMaiden sailings, and then the Panama Canal repositioning voyage that follows.
If you are considering either MerMaiden, it is worth checking the latest cabin availability and pricing sooner rather than later, since both are scheduled as one-time sailings and it’s the last chance to get on a Virgin Voyages maiden for some time!
