Sir Richard Branson Welcomes Resilient Lady To Australia

Billionaire Sir Richard Branson has welcomed his cruise ship, Resilient Lady by Virgin Voyages, into Sydney Harbour for the first time. Branson drove a slick wooden speedboat beside the ship as it made the final approach towards Circular Quay. Passengers packed the top deck to watch the celebrations while Brandso also climbed the Sydney Harbour Bridge to mark the occasion.

Virgin Voyages ship Resilient Lady has sailed all the way from Europe to be based on Australia for the summer. Holding up to 2770 passengers, this ship marks the first travel brand in the Virgin Group to enter the Australian market since Virgin Australia, then called Virgin Blue, launched in the country in 2000.

Sir Richard Branson And Resilient Lady By Virgin Voyages

“Sydney is one of my favourite cities in the world, and we wanted to ensure our arrival was as spectacular as the Sydney Harbour itself. To stand at the summit of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and watch Resilient Lady come into Circular Quay was one of the most exciting moments since we founded the Virgin brand,” said Branson.

Virgin Voyages CEO, Nirmal Saverimuttu said: “Australians love to go on holiday, and they’ve shown how much they love cruising. We’re excited to make our mark here in Australia with the newest ship in our fleet. We celebrate being different, and it’s why we decided to push the envelope and do things in a fresh and exciting way. Richard challenged us to create a cruise line he’d want to take his mates on, and we’ve succeeded.

Resilient Lady By Virgin Voyages

Resilient Lady Itinerary 2024 + 2025

The Resilient Lady will spend two nights in Sydney before sailing to Melbourne, its new homeport for the summer season. Following this, Resilient Lady will sail three itineraries from her homeport in Athens from May through to July 2024. On the agenda are the popular “Greek Island Glow” to the islands of Santorini and Mykonos; “Adriatic Sea and Greek Gems,” sailing along Croatia’s Dalmatian Coast, before stopping in Kotor and Corfu. Finally, “Starry Nights in Green & Croatia,” which offers a mix of the other two seven night itineraries.

Virgin Voyages also recently added 19 new ports and 27 new itineraries through to April 2025, spanning all corners of the globe. Named the number one mega-ship ocean cruise line in Travel + Leisure’s 2023 World’s Best Awards, Virgin Voyages is loved for its incredible value, exclusively adult experiences, Michelin chef-curated menus, impeccable service and a focus on relaxation and wellbeing. 

“Our loyal sailors have been asking for more places to visit with us, so we’re delivering in a big way. New ports, new itineraries and more local and immersive experiences to create unforgettable getaways,” said Michelle Bentubo, SVP Service Excellence and Travel Operations. “From Morocco to Mooloolaba, Amsterdam to Bordeaux, Catania to Port Douglas, we now offer more than 120 incredible places you can explore aboard our award-winning ships you know and love. After all, it’s not just about where you go; it’s about who you go with and make a holiday one to remember.”

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