Virgin Voyages to celebrate debut voyage of latest ship with exclusive, one-night party

Cruise curious? Virgin Voyages is hosting a huge housewarming aboard its latest vessel, Resilient Lady, to show off what their renowned voyages are like. All of Australia is invited, but if you want to come, you'll have to get in quick and book a ticket. 

All aboard Virgin Voyages ... this is going to be one wild party.

Virgin Voyages is inviting Australians onboard Resilient Lady for a one-night party that will give them a sneak peek at what it's like to go on one of their cruises.

Virgin Voyages being a notoriously cheeky, irreverent brand, this is a great chance for Aussies to judge for themselves whether the onboard experience lives up to the mystique of their marketing. 

The cruise line, which is the brainchild of Richard Branson, is calling all Aussies onboard Resilient Lady, the third ship the brand has taken delivery of, for this one-night experience, before the ship officially sets off on its 'MerMaiden' voyage in mid-December.

Virgin Voyages says the event will suit foodies, travel lovers, social butterflies and everyone in between, as it offers a taste of the brand’s acclaimed restaurants and party panache, all without ever leaving the dock.

Virgin Voyages is hosting a wild party for cruise curious Australians, and you're invited.

If you're keen to revel in rebellious luxury for the night, tickets cost $99. There will be two of these one-night events - one on Tuesday 5 December in Sydney and another on Sunday 10 December in Melbourne.

The $99 ticket includes food, cocktails and entertainment, and all proceeds will go towards the Citizens of The Great Barrier Reef. The night starts with a multi-course, Michelin-inspired culinary experience, which - if the awards Virgin Voyages has won in this area are anything to go by - ought to be quite the feast.

Virgin Voyages was awarded "best dining" in Cruise Critic's 2023 Cruisers' Choice Awards, after making the bold call to ditch buffets and formalities and design its restaurants to be more like what you'd expect at on-shore, world class restaurants. 

Is it time to banish the buffet forever? Virgin Voyages says yes.

At the upcoming Sydney and Melbourne parties, attendees will be able to come aboard and sample one of Resilient Lady’s six signature restaurants, whose menus were designed by acclaimed chefs including New York City’s Brad Farmerie (of PUBLIC) and Sohui Kim (of Gage & Tollner and Insa), who helped bring to life the world’s first Korean BBQ at sea.

For $99 per person, guests will be able to journey to the vibrant streets of Mexico City on an immersive odyssey of local cuisine at Pink Agave; be transported to the classic steakhouses of the mid-20th century at The Wake; be dazzled with daring, veggie-forward dishes at Razzle Dazzle; try their hand at Korean BBQ grilling at Gunbae; indulge on regionally-inspired Italian food at Extra Virgin; or expand their palette with an Insta-worthy, molecular gastronomy experience at The Test Kitchen.

Guests are also invited to explore the ship and its "stylised spaces" as well as enjoying the first Australian performance of the acclaimed Persephone - a larger than life retelling of a classic Greek myth (Persephone is the goddess queen of the underworld).

Virgin Voyages has promised to paint the town red with its 'Scarlet Night' celebration.

Finally, there's Scarlet Night. A celebration unlike any other, the exclusive party, awash with red, will commemorate Resilient Lady’s highly awaited arrival into Australia.

Virgin Voyages’ Chief Executive Officer, Nirmal Saverimuttu said: “We’ve been excited about coming to Australia for over a year now, and the time has finally arrived. Before we kick off our first sailing season, we wanted to find a way to give Aussies a little taste of what they can expect on-board. Our hope is that they step aboard in Sydney and Melbourne, fall in love with the spaces, the food, the vibe and the undeniable energy Virgin Voyages creates, then paired with the incredible scenery of Australia and New Zealand, find their new favorite way to vacation.”

Tickets are limited and went up for sale on Wednesday 1 November. To book a ticket to the exclusive on-board events, please click here for Sydney, and here for Melbourne. 

Originally published as Virgin Voyages to celebrate debut voyage of latest ship with exclusive, one-night party