Virgin Voyages officially starts Alaska season with new onboard programme | News
Virgin Voyages has launched its first Alaska season, with sailings from Seattle which began (May 22) onboard Brilliant Lady.
There will be a total of seven itineraries available, across 17 sail dates ranging from seven to 12 nights. The season includes destination-inspired dining and a range of Alaska-exclusive onboard experiences.
Entering Alaska the Virgin Voyages way
Highlights of the season include:
• More than half of Alaska Shore Things (shore excursions) operated by sustainable tour operators, including those certified through Adventure Green Alaska and Travelife
• The onboard marine team partnering with ORCA for detailed training on whale sighting
• A wildlife expert onboard full-time to help educate Sailors (guests)
• Voluntary speed reductions throughout the region to help protect large cetaceans and marine life
• Advanced wastewater treatment systems and shore power capability
New expert guests and immersive programming
Virgin Voyages is introducing two new ‘Happenings Cast’ members created specifically for the Alaska season. The cast are performers and activity leaders on the ship and will comprise:
• The Lumberjack, who will be onboard select voyages and bring Alaska’s timber legacy to life through storytelling and destination insight linked to Ketchikan.
• The Naturalist, a wildlife and ecology expert, who will help Sailors learn more about Alaska’s glaciers, whales, wildlife and wider ecosystem through informal and small-group conversations.
Virgin Voyages will also include a Cultural Heritage Guide from ‘Alaska Native Voices’ on select sailings. The guide will host conversations and workshops focused on art, storytelling, contemporary culture and the lived experiences of Alaska Native communities. They will be joined by Indigenous makers, contemporary Alaskan artists and representatives from local communities.
New Alaska-inspired onboard experiences include:
• Primetime Ports: A visual alternative to traditional port lectures, designed to prepare Sailors for the destinations they are about to visit
• Drawn to the Wild: Hosted in The Manor, Sailors can sketch on birch canvases inspired by Alaska’s landscapes and wildlife
• Northern Nightcaps: A hands-on mixology workshop featuring Alaska-inspired cocktails, including Glacial Toddies and Forest Negronis
• Baking Alaska: An interactive Alaska inspired dessert class paired with a wine flight
• Crack the Crab: An Alaska-themed trivia game, featuring Sailors battling with oversized foam crab claws to snap up the correct answers
Alaska-inspired dining
Virgin Voyages’ culinary team has developed eight Alaska-themed dishes, with selected restaurants offering an elevated “Treat Yourself” dish using regional ingredients.
Examples include:
• The Wake: Pan-roasted Alaskan halibut with fondant potato, spinach and champagne caviar sauce
• Pink Agave: Chorizo-crusted black cod with red rice, mole poblano and Alaskan king crab
• Extra Virgin: Squash wrapped halibut with king crab stuffed zucchini blossom, cherry tomato and basil seeds
• Rojo: Grilled squid with king crab, marcona almond and chorizo shellfish sauce
• The Dock: Smoked salmon taramasalata with kalamata olives, pickled pearl onion and pita chips
The onboard beverage programme has also been adapted, with expanded hot drink and local beer options available across the bars and Ship Eats – the brand’s onboard food and drink delivery service.
Alaska on High Street
Alaska will also be reflected on High Street – Virgin Voyages’ onboard retail area – with 10 brands featuring artisans or products from the region. Cold-weather items, including Ahoy beanies, textured knitwear and layered outerwear, will also be available onboard.
SJ Walker, Virgin Voyages’ UK Director of Sales, said: “For the UK trade, Alaska represents a significant expansion of the Virgin Voyages product and a massive opportunity. The programme is in direct response to demand from our guests, more than 30% of whom return to sail with us again. It gives First Mates another option for clients looking for a premium, adults-only cruise experience beyond our established Caribbean and Mediterranean programmes.”
Alaska cruises onboard Brilliant Lady are on sale now. Prices start from £729pp, for a seven-night ‘Alaska: Inside Passage & Glacial Fjords’ sailing June 4, 2026, round trip from Seattle.
Prices include dining across more than 20+ eateries, group fitness classes, entertainment and Wi-Fi, equating to more than $1,000 USD in included value per voyage.
Brilliant Lady’s Alaska sailings follow the current agent commercial offering, including a 16% commission structure and no non-commissionable fares (NCFs), meaning First Mates earn commission on the full fare.
First Mates can access resources, training and booking tools through Seacademy and sellvv.co.uk.
