Valiant Lady accidents and incidents

02 April 2023Crew / Passenger Deaths

On April 2, 2023, soon after leaving PortMiami (Florida USA), a female passenger died after falling overboard (allegedly jumped) from her cabin's balcony (on Deck 14) and landing onto Deck 7 (below). Virgin Voyages confirmed the incident and added that the woman actually tumbled on top of another passenger, who, luckily, was alive and doing OK.

Despite receiving immediate medical attention, the woman passed away. Following the death, the ship immediately turned around and returned back to Miami, arriving at Cruise Terminal V at ~2 am (6 am UTC). The voyage was restarted but because of the incident the itinerary had to be adjusted, and the scheduled visit to Isla Roatan was canceled.

Valiant Lady was on a 6-day "Western Caribbean Charm Cruise" (itinerary Apr 2-8, roundtrip from Miami) with call ports in Honduras (Mahogany Bay/Roatan Island, Apr 4/canceled), Mexico (Costa Maya/Apr 5) and The Bahamas (Resorts World Bimini/Apr 7).

October 2022Other Incidents

In mid-October 2022, Virgin Voyages announced that Richard Branson (Virgin Group's Founder) will attend the 7-night "Valiant Miami Mermaiden" (Halloween-themed voyage) on which the number of passengers was limited to 500. The roundtrip from PortMiami (Oct 30 - Nov 5) visited Isla Roatan (Honduras), Costa Maya (Mexico) and North Bimini (Bahamas).

Virgin Voyages also organized (via pre-cruise booking) the Shore Thing event aiming to break the Guinness Record for the world's largest merfolk gathering (single meeting of mermaids and mermen). All Shore Thing's attendees received a mermaid tail, a digital photo, a certificate, bragging rights, and exclusive access to a themed onboard cocktail party.

The "Valiant Miami Mermaiden" voyage also featured the "Scarlet Fright Night" (the largest sea-monster bash at sea), a fun competition (for winning a free cruise), as well as commemorative gifts.

On November 4th, at Beach Club Bimini (on White & Blue Beach) gathered a total of 457 cruise passengers with mermaid tails. During the beach event (featuring music, dancing, makeup sessions, Champagne showers) the Guinness adjudicator announced that the previous record is officially beaten.

The previous Guinness Record (388 people/men, women, children) was set during the "2022 Mermaid Challenge" in Plymouth (England UK).

July 2022Other Incidents

On July 11, 2022, premiered the Season 19 of ABC's “The Bachelorette” (American TV series/reality dating game show, ABC debut on January 8, 2003) hosted by Jesse Palmer.

Season 19's episodes were all filmed on the Virgin's cruise ship Valiant Lady and featured two American bachelorettes  - Gabriela Maria Windey (1991-born, ICU nurse) and Rachel Joanne Recchia (1996-born, flight instructor), popular for their appearances in The Bachelor's Season 26th. Both women were accommodated in two separate RockStar Suites and dating while cruising in the Mediterranean.

To honor the show, Virgin Voyages started a promotion campaign on Valiant Lady's Mediterranean cruises (2022 schedule). Starting August 1st, the company offered up to GBP 490/USD 600 worth of gratuities (per cabin, included in the fares) and a 50% discount on the second passenger (1x full-priced plus 1x half-priced ticket).

31 March 2022Crew / Passenger Deaths

On the morning of March 31, 2022, a male passenger was reported missing and overboard. The investigation/CCTV footage showed that the man intentionally jumped overboard.

The incident happened at the end of the "Long Weekender in Zeebrugge" (3-night itinerary/March 27-April 1), while the boat was navigating off Portugal's coast, being en route from Zeebrugge (Belgium) back to homeport Portsmouth (England).

Due to the conducted search and rescue operation, as well as because of a medevac (medical emergency that forced the ship to dock in Lisbon earlier in the voyage), the return to Portsmouth was delayed. The UK arrival (in Portsmouth) was in the evening on April 1st, impacting the next voyage (scheduled to depart on April 1) which was rescheduled for April 2nd.

As compensation, Virgin Voyages offered all passengers a free European cruise (to be redeemed during the summer of 2022).

March 2022Other Incidents

On March 14, 2022, Virgin Voyages canceled 3x Valiant Lady cruises, unofficially, because of a "full private charter", allegedly, for the filming of a TV show on the ship.

The canceled voyages were all roundtrips from Portsmouth (Hampshire, England UK), including departures:

• (April 4-15) 11-day itinerary "Coast The Canary Islands, Spain, Portugal" (US$3960 pp) with call ports La Coruna (Spain/Apr 6), Funchal (Madeira Portugal/Apr 8), Santa Cruz de Tenerife (Canary Islands Spain/Apr 9), Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (Canary Islands Spain/Apr 10), and Lisbon (Portugal/Apr 12)
• (April 15-18) 3-day itinerary "Long Weekender In Zeebrugge" (US$1200 pp) visiting Zeebrugge, (Belgium/Apr 16)
• (April 18-29) 11-day itinerary "Coast The Canary Islands, Spain, Portugal" visiting La Coruna (Apr 20), Funchal Madeira (Apr 22), Tenerife (Apr 23), Gran Canaria (Apr 24), Lisbon (Apr 26)

All affected customers were allowed to rebook (with added 50% FCC/future cruise credit, to total 150% of the fare paid) or receive a full refund plus 25% FCC (to total 125% of the fare paid).

April 2021Other Incidents

Due to the ongoing Coronavirus crisis, in April 2021 Virgin Voyages rescheduled the ship's Inaugural Cruise from May 2 (7-day "The Irresistible Med" from Barcelona) to November 14 (6-day "Western Caribbean Charm" from Miami).

The cancellation affected a total of 26 departures/itineraries (the boat's entire Mediterranean 2021 program) based on homeporting in Barcelona Spain.

• 7-day "The Irresistible Med" - dates May 2-23, June 6-27, July 11, August 1-15, September 5-19, October 10
• 7-day "French Daze Ibiza" - dates May 9-30, June 13, July 7-18, August 8-22, September 12-26, October 17
• 7-day "Spanish Obsession" - dates May 16, June 20, July 25, August 29, October 3

The 15-day Transatlantic repositioning crossing from Barcelona to Miami (October 24 through November 8) was also cancelled.

11 February 2021Other Incidents

On February 11, 2021, Virgin Voyages launched the "Shipload of Love" promo media campaign, giving away a total of 2021 Scarlet Lady cruises. The initiative was meant to pay tribute to "those who have impacted our lives in a meaningful way", "starting with an open call to nominate a person who has inspired you, cared for you, and helped you to navigate this past year [2020] for the vacation of a lifetime".

Entrants had to submit a short video on the company's website (virginvoyages.com/ahoy/stories/shipload-of-love) to share their nomination and demonstrate why they should get the free cruise on Scarlet Lady.

With submissions accepted through March 16, 2021, the first 1000 nominations were officially opened on Valentine’s Day (February 14).

December 2020Other Incidents

On December 10, 2020, Virgin Voyages cancelled all Valiant Lady cruises in Europe between May 2 and/including October 24, 2021. The ship's Inaugural Cruise was rescheduled from May 2 (7-day "The Irresistible Med") to November 14 (6-day "Western Caribbean Charm").

The cancellation affected a total of 26 itineraries - the new ship's entire Mediterranean 2021 program - with roundtrip departures from homeporting Barcelona, Spain.

• 7-day "The Irresistible Med" - dates May 2-23, June 6-27, July 11, August 1-15, September 5-19, October 10
• 7-day "French Daze Ibiza" - dates May 9-30, June 13, July 7-18, August 8-22, September 12-26, October 17
• 7-day "Spanish Obsession" - dates May 16, June 20, July 25, August 29, October 3

The 15-day Transatlantic repositioning cruise from Barcelona to Miami (October 24 through November 8) was also cancelled. For the call ports of the cancelled itineraries see at the Valiant Lady ship's Wiki section.

20 May 2020Structural and Technical Issues

On May 20, 2020, Valiant Lady was floated-out from drydock and moved to Sestri Ponte Shipyard's outfitting berth. The vessel's float-out was originally scheduled for March 20. However, because of the Coronavirus pandemic, the shipbuilder Fincantieri temporarily (for ~2 months) suspended works at all its European facilities, which resulted in delayed delivery (to Virgin Group) and cancelled inaugural cruises.

Next are listed all planned for May-June 2021 Virgin cruises for Valiant Lady, with prices in USD pp (double-occupancy Inside Cabin rates). The exact cancellations are soon to be announced. All itineraries are 7-day Mediterranean roundtrips from Barcelona (Spain).

• May 2 "The Irresistible Med" ($4050)
• May 9 "French Daze Ibiza" ($3850)
• May 16 "Spanish Obsession" ($3850)
• May 23 "The Irresistible Med" ($3750)
• May 30 "French Daze Ibiza" ($3400)
• June 6 "The Irresistible Med" ($3200)
• June 13 "French Daze Ibiza" ($3200)
• June 20 "Spanish Obsession" ($3200)
• June 27 "The Irresistible Med" ($3200)