Resilient Lady Review

The Resilient Lady Deck Plan Features Intimate Spaces for Meet-Cutes, Dates and Friend Hangs

As soon as you step aboard, the Resilient Lady deck plan is recognizably different. The name of the game is intimacy, and the ship's spaces are crafted like social venues in dense, big cities. You won't find any juggernaut theaters, an endless ship-length casino, or even a multi-deck promenade. Resilient Lady isn't going for megamall amusement park sprawl.

Intimate isn't a code word for cramped. Resilient Lady's Deck plan -- all of those human-sized spaces -- features something to see or do in almost every corner. That helps mitigate uncomfortable crowds and excessive lines, from The Manor nightclub and cabaret venue to Resilient Lady's popular restaurants, fitness options and even pools. That's a feat, especially if you've endured backups waiting to get into main dining rooms or theaters on other lines, or have had trouble finding a sun lounger.

Like other ships in Virgin Voyages' fleet (Scarlet Lady, Valiant Lady and the forthcoming Brilliant Lady), entertainment is front and center on Resilient Lady, and the deck plan leverages its countless dining, drinking and party-ready spaces to keep passengers in the midst of some cool happening or event. Scarlet Night, the line's mid-itinerary shipwide party, weaves a tale of lost love at sea into interactive performances and set pieces everywhere on the ship (yes, everywhere: random corners of the outdoor decks near the lifeboats, in the rotunda, on the pool deck -- wherever).

The layout masterfully keeps the most boisterous venues and high-traffic areas away from rooms. Decks 5 and 15 are the only ones where cabins and public spaces are found together among the Resilient Lady deck plan. Those cabins are also a bit of a rarity among large ocean ships: Only 6% of Resilient Lady rooms are interior rooms. That means you'll have a view of the sea from almost any room, a design choice that keeps that inimitable ocean light always visible.

Resilient Lady Rooms Are Sharp and Simple, Though Rockstar Suites Feature Luxe (Sometimes Quirky) Perks

Resilient Lady's rooms -- almost all of them -- prioritize ocean views, but the cabins themselves are easy on the eyes as well. Expect sharp neutrals with pops of the line's signature scarlet hue in soft furnishings and balcony hammocks (another line signature). Beds are incredibly comfortable; there are no seams of which to speak when twin mattresses are combined. Note that if you're traveling with a friend and want separate beds, your twin beds will be arranged in an "L" fashion. In this case, a banquette is set up in place of the second bed during the day.

Bathrooms are standard sized for a cruise ship, though you'll find upmarket Malin + Goetz toiletries made especially for Virgin Voyages on offer. We also salute the proper rainfall showerheads -- that tiny detail does up the ante on Resilient Lady.

Things are decidedly more high-end in the 78 Resilient Lady suites, which are referred to as Rockstar Quarters and divided into Rockstar and Mega Rockstar categories. No matter which you choose, your room will come with a proper bar, turntable and curated Virgin records, swanky bathrooms with marble details plus king beds and time-of-day coordinated mood lighting. Balconies in Resilient Lady suites are larger than other rooms, and many have panoramic views of the ship's wake.

If you step up to Resilient Lady's Mega Rockstar suites, extras include separate bedrooms and living areas, and perks like an electric guitar and high-end sound system. Rockstar Agents -- essentially a cross between a butler and concierge -- are available for suites on Resilient Lady and score rave reviews from previous passengers. All suites provide access to Richard's Rooftop (which is, in fact, only for Rockstar Quarters guests).

Resilient Lady Restaurants Include High-End Tasting Menus, Creative Mexican Fare and Veggie-Forward Plates

Resilient Lady -- like all Virgin Voyages ships -- includes all specialty restaurants in its fare (though drinks are a different story and there are a few premium dishes that may cost extra, like the Wagyu beef at Gunbae). What you won't find, though, are stuffy dining rooms, forced group seating, mandated dining times, or tuxedo-clad staff. That goes hand-in-hand with the overall vibe of Resilient Lady, which has a natural come-as-you-are ethos. There's also something for everyone, as the ship has over 20 different spots to grab a bite.

Resilient Lady's most talked-about restaurant is Razzle Dazzle. Here, you'll find plenty of vegetarian-forward dishes (though meat eaters are in luck as well), that take typical brunch and dinner fare up a notch. The frequently-changing menu includes awesome veggie-friendly dishes like beet pierogi and Nashville hot cauliflower (a play on Nashville hot chicken). But you'll also find other creative international fare like slow-roasted lamb shanks and cabbage-wrapped red snapper.

Other solid restaurants on Resilient Lady include Test Kitchen, with its cool design and funky tasting menus, plus Pink Agave, which offers a blend of Mexican street food such as esquites and typical platos fuertes like enchiladas, chiles rellenos and moles. You'll find surprisingly excellent Roman-style pizzas at the casual Pizza Place. If you're in need of an afternoon snack, the mezze and small hot dishes at casual-cool The Dock are easily some of the best bites onboard.

Entertainment on Resilient Lady Ranges from Eye-Popping and Interactive to Existential Game Shows

Will it shock anyone that a cruise line spearheaded by the man who founded Virgin Records (Sir Richard Branson, of course) has some of the best entertainment at sea? Not at all. Is it meant for everyone? Again, no.

Resilient Lady, like all Virgin ships so far, doesn't have a traditional Broadway-style theater. The two main performance venues are The Manor and The Red Room. The former hosts interactive events like Another Rose (an additional-cost dinner theater experience that pairs great tasting menus with a high-flying tale of complicated love) and Lola's Library (a racy cabaret show split into three acts). After those events, it serves as Resilient Lady's nightclub.

The Red Room is the only venue on the ship that has traditional theater seating, though it retracts to create an immersive standing-room experience for shows like eye-popping Persephone. You'd also be remiss to skip Miss Behave. The show comes directly from the Edinburgh fringe festival and can only be described as a DIY existential game show. Drag entertainment is on The Dock House as well on Resilient Lady.

Scarlet Night is the brand's marquee event and consists of a series of games, microtheater, torch songs, costumes and more across the entire ship. It culminates in a wild party at the main pool.

If you'd like to read more about the entertainment onboard Resilient Lady, check out our experience on the ship's Mermaiden Voyage. Also, it's worth noting that while you'll see smiles across the faces of almost any demographic onboard (and yes, that includes baby boomers), most entertainment skews racy. You should expect to hear cursing and see some skin. But for those with a sense of adventure, that's only part of the fun. Note, too, that entertainment does change on Virgin's ships, so check your itinerary before sailing.

Who Is Onboard Resilient Lady?

Resilient Lady is a true adults-only ship and the atmosphere reflects that. You're likely to see a wide range of ages, from millennials through Gen X and the baby boomer set. In fact, multi-generational families (minus kids under 18, of course) aren't exactly uncommon either.

The line unabashedly courts LGBTQ+ travelers, and that inclusivity is on display in Virgin's entertainment casting as well. Solo travelers are also fairly abundant, and the social atmosphere fosters making fast new friends (if so desired).

You'll need to be a fairly independent traveler when sailing on Resilient Lady. Virgin Voyages, while excellent when it comes to customer service, doesn't hold your hand and guide you through your trip unless you ask. Don't expect daily flyers on your bed listing things to do or a cruise director blaring daily announcements into your ears in your cabin (or wherever you may happen to find yourself bright and early in the morning).