Virgin Voyages has announced initial details of the upcoming drydock refurbishment for MS Valiant Lady, which is scheduled to take place in May 2026.
The planned project will include routine maintenance work as well as several operational and hospitality updates before the ship returns to service on May 25th, 2026.
The most significant addition planned during the refit is the introduction of a revised dining concept within the existing Razzle Dazzle venue. The updated restaurant, to be known as Ariya by Razzle Dazzle, will focus on Indian cuisine and has been developed in collaboration with Indie Culinaire and chef Maneet Chauhan.
Under the new arrangement, the venue will continue to operate as the Razzle Dazzle restaurant during the morning and midday periods, serving breakfast and brunch. In the evening, the same space will transform into Ariya, presenting menus based on regional Indian culinary traditions with emphasis on spice-forward dishes and traditional preparation methods. The redesigned restaurant is expected to accommodate approximately 220 diners within the reconfigured space.
Menu selections are planned to draw inspiration from different regions of India and will include both street food–style dishes and slower-cooked specialties. Among the items previewed by the company are lamb shank biryani, Goan-style curried mussels, Malabar coconut crab cake, puffed rice and avocado chaat, and snapper prepared with a tandoori pistachio crust. The dining experience is intended to begin with a traditional welcome beverage known as jaljeera, made from tamarind and cumin, while the accompanying bar programme will incorporate cocktails influenced by Indian ingredients such as cardamom, saffron, and jaggery.
The development continues the cruise line’s practice of adapting the Razzle Dazzle concept across its fleet. A similar transformation occurred aboard Scarlet Lady during its 2024 refit with the introduction of Lucky Lotus by Razzle Dazzle, while Brilliant Lady later received the Rojo by Razzle Dazzle concept. Both venues were introduced as specialized culinary spaces designed to diversify the onboard dining portfolio.
Additional changes revealed during the Red Hot Sailing Club voyage included plans to introduce the updated Roundabout concept that first appeared aboard Brilliant Lady. The revised layout features expanded seating, improved viewing areas within the venue, and modifications to the Draught Haus bar space. Specific details regarding the adaptation of this design aboard Valiant Lady have not yet been disclosed.
Alongside these additions, the vessel will undergo routine shipyard work typical of scheduled dry dock periods. Such maintenance intervals are used by cruise operators to conduct technical inspections, refresh public areas, and carry out minor updates in passenger cabins and service facilities. The work is expected to take place at the shipyard of Fincantieri in Palermo, the same facility that handled the dry dock of Scarlet Lady in 2024 and which was involved in the construction of the ships in the Virgin Voyages fleet.
Following completion of the refit, Valiant Lady is scheduled to resume service on May 25th, 2026 with a 6-night voyage departing from Rome via its cruise port of Civitavecchia. The itinerary, titled Amalfi Coast, Cannes and Ibiza, will include calls at Salerno, Cannes, and two days in Ibiza before concluding in Barcelona.