Valiant Lady delivered to Virgin Voyages on same day Resilient Lady floated out
Virgin Voyages marked a double milestone at Fincantieri’s Sestri Ponente (Genoa) shipyard this week with the delivery of Valiant Lady and the float out of its next cruise ship Resilient Lady, both of which are sister ships to Scarlet Lady.
Scarlet Lady was delivered last year, but has yet to enter service, but Valiant Lady won’t face as long a wait to enter service as the cruise industry is preparing to reopen worldwide, while Resilient Lady will only be delivered in July, 2022.
Valiant Lady is the second ship to join the Virgin Voyages fleet, while Resilient Lady will be the third. A fourth as-yet-unnamed vessel has also been ordered by the cruise line, which took delivery of its first ship just prior to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. All three vessels are 110,000-gross tons, 278-metres in length and carry 2,800 passengers. The ship are also “comfort class” certified by the shipyard, meaning they emit the lowest possible levels of noise and vibration.
The ships are also highly automated, with guest technology to make the cruise experience more convenient. By installing an app on their smartphones, guests are able to manage a wide range of cabin functions (such as air conditioning, lightening, opening and closing of blinds, music, and television).
Fincantieri said in a release that this class of ships also “stands out for the design, as well as for the particular attention paid to energy recovery, featuring cutting-edge alternative technologies that reduce the ship’s overall environmental impact.”
Each of the ships is equipped with an energy production system of approximately 1 MW, which uses the diesel engine’s waste heat. There is also a scrubber system for the waste management of sulfur dioxides, and a catalytic converter, which reduces nitrogen oxides.
“They are entirely equipped with LED lights to reduce energy consumption, while the hydrodynamic design of the hull provides excellent performance with consequent fuel saving,” the shipyard added.
These environmentally friendly systems are in addition, of course, to a range of guest-friendly features, from karaoke bars and tattoo parlours, to dozens of complimentary specialty restaurants and some of the most unique guest accommodations in the industry.
