Brilliant Lady arrives into Los Angeles on 6th April, which is a bit of a milestone for Virgin Voyages. It’s their first proper go at the West Coast, and rather than just moving one of their existing ships in LA and calling it a day, they’ve tweaked the onboard experience to match what they think West Coast travellers want.

Which, in short, seems to be: wellness, routines, and doing something vaguely productive before breakfast.

A sunrise silent disco is now a thing

The Balancer, a member of the Virgin Voyages Happenings Cast, leading the Radiance sunrise wellness and silent disco session on Brilliant Lady. — *Image: Virgin Voyages*

The main new addition is something called Radiance. It takes place at sunrise and starts off fairly sensibly — breathwork and stretching — before turning into a full-on dance session with everyone wearing headphones.

So yes, it’s essentially a silent disco at 7am. It’s currently exclusive to Brilliant Lady and hosted by "The Balancer." You can see what they’re going for—a shared, feel-good start to the day. Some people will absolutely love it; others will be watching from a sun lounger with a coffee, wondering what’s going on.

Spin classes, but with themes (Vibe Rides)

Virgin Voyages is doubling down on fitness with “Vibe Rides.” There are eight themed cycling classes, ranging from festival-style sessions to "theatrical" rides with breakup playlists and diva anthems.

This is a clever move. Spin classes are already popular onboard, and giving them personality makes them feel less like a chore. Most importantly, they’re still included in the fare—which isn’t always the case on other lines.

The Juice Bar has been expanded

It now features:

High-protein and low-calorie smoothies.
Full macro breakdowns for every drink.
Options aimed at people using GLP-1 medications.

It’s all very current and clearly aimed at people who don’t want to abandon their routine. Whether you actually want to think about macros on a cruise is… up for debate.

Who this West Coast cruise is really for

This feels like Virgin leaning further into its niche, rather than trying to broaden its appeal. If anything, this version of the product is even more specific:

People who already go to spin classes at home.
People who like the idea of “wellness” but not in a quiet spa way.
People who want their cruise to feel a bit more like their normal lifestyle.

If you’re more in the “buffet, pool, afternoon nap” camp, it might feel like a lot of effort. And that’s fine — Virgin has never really been aimed at everyone.

Watch our first impressions of the Virgin Voyages Brilliant Lady.

The Itineraries

The LA season kicks off with a five-night "MerMaiden" sailing (7th–12th April) calling at Santa Barbara, San Diego, and Ensenada. The ship then moves into 5–8 night California coastal itineraries before heading to Seattle for Alaska in May. It’ll be interesting to see if this wellness angle lands the same way in the colder climates.

To find out more about Virgin Voyages’ inaugural West Coast season, visit Virgin Voyages.com.

Overall

Instead of trying to compete with mainstream lines on their terms, Virgin is doubling down on being different. A sunrise silent disco and protein smoothies won't be for everyone, but for the right crowd, it’s exactly what they’ve been waiting for.

Virgin Voyages is offering Expanded Wellness on its Brilliant Lady in LA