Hello from beautiful, sunny Alaska! It is rare to be able to say that, but our recent sailing to Alaska brought us absolutely perfect weather almost every day. Alaska is always beautiful, but it’s definitely not always sunny!
On this sailing, we were aboard Virgin Voyages’ new Brilliant Lady. She began sailing in 2025, and this is Virgin’s inaugural season sailing in Alaska.
Seattle skyline
The embarkation process begins at Pier 91 in Seattle. This pier is just outside the city center and many downtown hotels offer a shuttle to the pier. Staying downtown lets you explore the area, too. Take a stroll through Pike Market, visit the original Starbucks, see the sights from the Space Needle, and have some fish and chips!
We stayed at a Marriott, and the shuttle was quick and easy. One thing we really love about Virgin is that while your arrival time is generally a bit later than on other cruise lines, your stateroom is usually ready when you board. That means you can go directly to your room, drop off your backpack, and begin enjoying the ship. The layout of Brilliant Lady is almost identical to the other three Virgin Lady Ships with just some slight alterations made to allow her to navigate the Panama Canal as she travels back and forth between Alaska and the Caribbean.
We had a balcony stateroom that, of course, came with Virgin’s iconic red hammock. This is always a highlight for my wife—she loves to sit out there and watch the world pass by. But this time, we were in Alaska, where it is traditionally much cooler. The day we sailed into Dawes Glacier was especially chilly, but Virgin was prepared. Extra blankets were provided both in our stateroom and on the outside decks, where guests could sit and enjoy the amazing scenery while staying warm.
Virgin added extra staff to its Happenings Cast for the Alaska sailings this season. The Naturalist and the Lumberjack provided a special touch, offering insight into the wildlife and storytelling unique to Alaska. Other nice touches created specifically for the Alaska sailings included special dishes at the restaurants and themed drinks at the coffee bars and lounges. We particularly liked the Achiote Salmon at Pink Agave and the birch syrup featured in the Denali Latte at Grounds Club.
As always, the food on Virgin was delicious. You can dine at all of their restaurants without the upcharges that some other cruise lines require to experience certain specialty dining locations.
The entertainment on Brilliant Lady is as unique as ever for the Virgin brand. Duel Reality provided an acrobatic retelling of the classic Romeo and Juliet tragedy. Other acts included an Irish comedian, a country music-singing Diva, the super-talented funk trio Soulo Lyon, and a wide array of other entertainment options. But the highlight for us was the dinner show, Up With A Twist.
The port stops on this sailing were Ketchikan, Sitka, and Prince Rupert, British Columbia. The ship also sailed the Inside Passage from Seattle along with the previously mentioned sailing into Dawes Glacier. (Remember, when you sail round-trip from Seattle, legally you have to stop at a foreign port, so Prince Rupert in British Columbia ticked that box for us! This is not a common port stop, and it’s unique to Virgin Voyages.)
While in Sitka, our group took a small-boat tour with just six people and a local guide. He showed us bears, bald eagles, whales, sea otters, and seals. His knowledge of the waters around Sitka was amazing, which made sense when we learned that he had previously worked for the Sitka Police Department on its boat patrol unit.
In Ketchikan, our group of four each chose a different excursion—from fishing and sourdough bread baking to touring local restaurants. This is one of the great things about Alaska cruises: there is SO much to do in each port!
This was our fourth time cruising the Alaska region, and each time we have done something different. We still feel like we haven’t even come close to experiencing everything Alaska has to offer.
With Virgin now sailing in Alaska, there is yet another way to experience this incredibly scenic and beautiful destination. Reach out to one of our Stars at Upon A Star Travel, and we can help find the cruise line and Alaska itinerary that best fits your family’s travel style and vibe. Ready to see Alaska? Contact us!