‘After a nightmare first cruise, I swore I’d never go again. Thankfully, I did’

It’s been more than a decade since I last went on a cruise ship.

After a nightmare first cruise, where I fell in port in a tropical destination and later suffered cellulitis − and maybe thinking cruises are a little boring − I swore off cruise ships forever.

In fact, a cruise would have to be really, really good, to sway me.

Cue Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Voyages, and the company’s brand new Brilliant Lady ship.

I was lucky enough to join a sailing on the new ship in Alaska (one of the hugely popular cruise destinations for Aussies) and the trip made me completely fall in love with cruising again. And I don’t say that lightly.

You’ll never get bored on a Virgin Voyages ship, which are strictly adults-only, and that’s part of Branson’s whole ethos.

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The business mogul, 76, said he created his own cruise line specifically for the kind of ship, and journey, he’d want to go on himself.

It feels modern, fresh, and fun.

I boarded Brilliant Lady in Seattle, Washington, for the seven-night Alaska: Inside Passage & Glacial Fjords voyage.

I took my mum as a plus one and our cabin was roomy and comfortable enough for two. Here’s what it was like.

The cabin

In a fun touch, every room has a red hammock, perfect for reading on your balcony while soaking up the pristine views outside.

Our voyage from Seattle started with a party, with dancing crew members and music pumping out on the pool deck and drinks flowing under the sun.

It was a warm, fun welcome onboard and there was a good mix of ages among the other guests, which Virgin calls sailors.

We also had access to a members-only sundeck and bar on the ship.

Things to see and do on board

I never thought in my life I would say this about a cruise; but this trip made me feel like I never wanted to get off the ship.

I almost felt like I didn’t have enough time on board, thanks to the sheer size of the ship, with so many restaurants, shops, bars, shows, and swim spots to check out.

There’s also a casino, a nightclub, a spa, gym and outdoor pickleball and basketball court. Our travel group quite enjoyed the karaoke nights, booking private rooms on board. Talk about FUN!

One of my favourite activities onboard was a paint and sip class, that saw sailors paint a mountain and lake terrain with the help of an expert.

There were also Zumba and dance classes, a pyjama party, drawing sessions, a You Don’t Know Lumberjack interactive event, stargazing, trivia, acrobatic shows, you name it.

One show which was incredible was Duel Reality, a fun and energetic take on the iconic Romeo and Juliet – with acrobatics.

‘Shore Things’ on port days

Obviously, as travellers, you also want to see the towns and cities you’re travelling to.

Our first stop was a day in Ketchikan, Alaska. Mum and I really wanted to see some bears on our trip − and we got lucky.

We saw three black bears in their natural habitat on the Alaska Rainforest Sanctuary and Black Bear Viewing excursion, a mama bear and her two babies catching salmon in a stream.

This was an incredible, pinch-me moment.

We also had time to walk around town, and one popular tourist attraction is Dolly’s House at Creek Street, in Ketchikan. It is a historic former brothel turned museum and the strip of buildings is painted in a series of bright colours.

It should also be noted if you’re new to cruises, you don’t necessarily have to book shore excursions, the towns and ports are interesting enough to spend hours looking around, or you can stay on board the ship for some downtime.

There are plenty of shops and eateries around too if you want to try some local cuisine. Big around this part of the world is seafood, like crab and bug rolls.

In Sitka, our group enjoyed a wildlife cruise and a trip to a cabin in the woods were we had S’mores (marshmallows and chocolate in a biscuit, made over an open fire), which was a nice touch.

We saw a number of different kinds of whales, a sea lion, otters, as well as bald eagles near shore.

World-class dining

Cruise ships really are a foodie’s heaven.

On the Brilliant Lady, there is a pizza bar called The Pizza Place which is open late if you want some late night snacking. It is open from 12pm to 2am, and pizzas taste like they’re wood fired.

A restaurant standout on board is Gunbae, a Korean Barbecue eatery with the friendliest staff and drinking games.

Go there with a big appetite, as the amount of food you get served, from rice, to fresh BBQ’d seafood and meat, is endless.

They also have some decadent and lavish cocktails. Mine was served in a disco ball.

Pink Agave is a Mexican-inspired restaurant with eye-catching decor and even better food.

Think share plates; the potatoes with chorizo was a standout for me. You can’t go past the chocolate taco for dessert too.

For something more high-end, Test Kitchen featured michelin-inspired dishes in a stunning setting.

One dish was the corn truffle dish, which was a blend of corn and truffle in a rich and buttery texture, shaped like corn on a cob.

Wellness at the Redemption Spa

Who knew there could be such luxury and relaxation on a cruise ship?! Certainly not me, until now.

The Brilliant Lady is home to the Redemption Spa, and mum and I had an incredible Swedish massage while on board. It was perfect to decompress after a long flight to the US.

The spa offers treatments like facials, and you can book in to use amenities including a sauna, steam room, and even a salt and mud room.

They also have cold plunge pools, a hot tub, and a room temperature pool for the ultimate relaxation.

You can complete your spa experience by relaxing on hot stone loungers, which I used to sit and read a book on.

After this trip, I already can’t wait to go on another one, and that’s something I never thought I’d ever say.

The writer was a guest of Virgin Voyages.