Resilient Lady – the third ship from Virgin Voyages – has officially arrived in Australian waters as part of her first season Down Under.
The exclusively-adult Resilient Lady made her entrance to Darwin at 8 a.m. this morning with excited sailors stepping off at Darwin Cruise Ship Terminal to explore the Northern Territory’s tropical capital and surroundings.
The stopover is part of Resilient Lady’s 44-day repositioning voyage, which departed Athens on 22 October and has made bucket-list stops via Dubai, Mumbai, Phuket, Singapore and Bali along the way.
Today’s arrival to the Northern Territory marks Virgin Voyages’ first-ever port of call in Australia. It also signals the beginning of Resilient Lady’s journey down the East Coast of Australia. The ship will make stops in Cairns, Airlie Beach and Sydney before settling into her new homeport of Melbourne.
“We’re finally in Australia! Today marks a historical milestone for Virgin Voyages. We’ve been dreaming about sailing in Australia and New Zealand for years, so reaching Darwin and entering Aussie water is an incredible moment for us. We can’t wait to see what our MerMaiden voyage from Melbourne has in store,” Virgin Voyages’ chief executive officer, Nirmal Saverimuttu said.
While in Darwin, Sailors are encouraged to immerse themselves in the local culture. Among the Shore Things (Virgin Voyages’ term for shore excursions) are a visit to Darwin’s Botanical Gardens or the famous Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory (MAGNT). Also on offer is an eco cruise around Darwin’s waterways, an immersive food tour sampling the cultural melting pot of Top End cuisine, as well as an iconic outback pub hop via helicopter.
Named the No. 1 large cruise line in Condé Nast Traveller’s 2023 Readers’ Choice Awards, Virgin Voyages is pushing the bounds of traditional cruising. Offering an exclusively adult experience on the high seas, every voyage includes incredible, Michelin-inspired dining, immersive and awe-inspiring entertainment and zen-inducing wellness experiences for Sailors to relax and recharge.
Travel Weekly spent a week onboard Resilient Lady earlier this year. Check out our full review here.
