Virgin Down Under

Virgin Voyages celebrates its launch in Sydney.

14 December 2023

Virgin Voyages, the acclaimed cruise line under the wing of Sir Richard Branson, orchestrated a stellar Scarlet Night soiree in Sydney to herald the arrival of cruise ship Resilient Lady to Australian shores.

The Scarlet Night bash, synonymous with Virgin Voyages’ extraordinary sailing escapades, unfolded aboard Resilient Lady, currently stationed at the Overseas Passenger Terminal in Circular Quay as a prelude to its upcoming summer sailing season.

The tech-savvy vessel made a grand entrance into Sydney after an impressive 44-night journey from Athens, Greece.

Playing host to the festivities was none other than Sir Richard Branson, the visionary behind the Virgin Group.

A slew of familiar faces graced the occasion, with the likes of Hugh Sheridan, Natalie Imbruglia, Sonia Kruger, Natalie Bassingthwaighte, and the dynamic duo Lisa and Jess Origliasso of The Veronicas, among others.

The Scarlet Night bash was held aboard Resilient Lady.

Playing host to the festivities was none other than Sir Richard Branson.

Guests congregated around the massive pool.

The star-studded event marked the first taste of the Virgin Voyages experience.

Over 1,200 Australians snagged exclusive tickets for the one-night extravaganza.

The star-studded event marked the first taste of the Virgin Voyages experience for over 1,200 Australians who snagged exclusive tickets for the one-night extravaganza.

The fortunate attendees not only gained unprecedented access to Virgin Voyages’ newest ship but also indulged in a culinary preview of the cruise line’s six signature, Michelin-inspired restaurants. The evening unfolded with the first Australian performance of Persephone, followed by the Scarlet Night poolside revelry.

Sir Richard Branson expressed his sentiments about returning to Australia, a place with a special spot in his heart: “Australians have been loyal fans of the Virgin brand for more than two decades, and we know you love to cruise, so it’s only natural we introduce Virgin Voyages Down Under.”

Virgin Voyages CEO Nirmal Saverimuttu, a Sydney native, reflected on the pinch-me moment of celebrating in his hometown. He shared insights into the unique features of their ships, emphasizing superyacht design, exceptional value, scratch-made delectable food, wellness amenities and sustainable practices.

Resilient Lady made a grand entrance into Sydney after a 44-night journey from Athens.

The 17-deck Resilient Lady was the centre of attention in Sydney Harbour.

Resilient Lady is now in its new home port in Melbourne.

The decor aboard Resilient Lady is part boutique hotel, part nightclub.

Bar and dining areas are brilliantly designed to convey the allure of cruising.

The vessel boasts superyacht design, six restaurants, wellness amenities and sustainable practices.

All the spaces on board this tech-savvy vessel are designed for a contemporary cruise passenger.

Guests have several choices when it comes to deck spaces for relaxing and recovering from the nightlife.

The Aussie MerMaiden voyage takes in Tasmania with stops in Burnie and Hobart.

Festivities ended up in the pool, led by Richard Branson and Virgin Voyages CEO Nirmal Saverimuttu.

Guests were eager to follow their hosts' lead and make a splash at the launch party.

The call to action is Book Now to Avoid FOMO!

The 110,000 gross tonnage Resilient Lady cruise ship can accommodate 2,770 passengers and 1,160 crew members. It has an overall length of 278 metres, a width of 38 metres, draft of 8.05 metres and 17 decks. The cruising speed of the ship is 20 knots, with a maximum speed of 22 knots.