Virgin Voyages Debuts in Australia with Resilient Lady

Last Monday, the third ship of the cruise line, the Resilient Lady, docked in Darwin, and passengers disembarked to discover the tropical capital and surrounding areas.

The Resilient Lady, an adult-only vessel, set sail from Athens on 22 October and stopped in Dubai, Mumbai, Phuket, Singapore, and Bali on her 44-day repositioning cruise to its new homeport in Melbourne.

“We’re finally in Australia!” Virgin Voyages’ CEO Nirmal Saverimuttu said. 

“This marks a historical milestone for Virgin Voyages. We’ve been dreaming about sailing in Australia and New Zealand for years, so reaching Darwin and entering Aussie water is incredible.

“We can’t wait to see what our MerMaiden voyage from Melbourne has in store.”

After leaving Darwin, the ship cruises along Australia’s East Coast. It has made port calls in Cairns and Airlie Beach before arriving in Sydney on 5 December, before heading to Melbourne to “officially begin her Australian season.”

Virgin Voyages has invited Australians to a unique one-night-only experience on board the Resilient Lady in Sydney and Melbourne to introduce the ship to the market for the first time.  

Virgin Voyages is donating the proceeds from its launch events in Sydney and Melbourne to the local non-profit Citizens of the Great Barrier Reef as part of its commitment to sustainability and the ocean.

• Tuesday, 5 December 2023 – Overseas Passenger Terminal, The Rocks, Sydney.
• Sunday, 10 December 2023 – Station Pier, Port Melbourne.

Locals have been asked to “paint the town red,” joining in for one night only of incredible dining entertainment. The now-sold-out ticket offers a multi-course dinner at one of Resilient Lady’s six signature restaurants while the ship is docked at Circular Quay and Port Melbourne in preparation for her Mermaiden Voyage.

During Resilient Lady’s voyages, sailors can arrange “Shore Things” (Virgin journeys’ euphemisms for shore excursions) to immerse themselves in the region’s spectacular vistas, local food, and Australian culture.

Virgin Voyages announced AU$850 million in worldwide growth ambitions in September, including 27 new itineraries and 19 debut destinations sailing throughout the world, as well as a second season in Australia in 2024-25