Virgin Voyages to launch new Indian restaurant aboard Valiant Lady

Virgin Voyages is introducing a new Indian restaurant at sea called Ariya, launching aboard Valiant Lady in May 2026.

The venue will replace the ship’s Razzle Dazzle restaurant in the evenings following a dry dock, adding another global cuisine to the cruise line’s growing collection of onboard dining experiences.

The restaurant [below] has been developed with Indie Culinaire and celebrity chef Maneet Chauhan, known for her work as a restaurateur, television personality and cookbook author. The concept focuses on showcasing the diversity of Indian cuisine through regional dishes and layered spice flavours.

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A new Indian restaurant at sea

Indian cuisine has gained increasing global recognition in recent years, with regional cooking styles and ingredients gaining prominence in fine dining and restaurant guides worldwide. Ariya aims to bring that depth of flavour to Virgin Voyages’ adult-only cruise ships.

The name of the restaurant also has a historical connection to Virgin founder Sir Richard Branson. Ariya was his great-great-grandmother, a traveller from the coastal town of Cuddalore in Tamil Nadu who journeyed between ports and believed that food had the power to connect people across cultures.

The restaurant will operate in the same space currently used by Razzle Dazzle [below], which will continue to serve breakfast and brunch during the day. In the evenings, the venue will transform into a 220-seat restaurant designed around the colours and atmosphere of India’s spice markets.

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Inside the Ariya restaurant on Valiant Lady

The interiors will reflect spices commonly used in Indian cooking, including turmeric, cardamom and peppercorn. Layered wood tones and textured wall coverings will add warmth while hammered metal and woven cane accents create a handcrafted feel.

Guests will enter through a softly lit corridor designed to shift the mood from the rest of the ship into a slower dining environment. Inside, the restaurant will feature smaller booths inspired by the coastal town of Cuddalore and a semi-private dining space framed by decorative screens designed to resemble a jewellery box interior.

A central bar and DJ soundtrack will form part of the evening atmosphere, playing a mix of Indian classics, Bollywood music, Punjabi pop and international tracks.

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What’s on the Ariya Indian restaurant menu?

Virgin Voyages has focused heavily on food as part of its onboard experience. Ariya will add Indian cuisine to the cruise line’s collection of chef-driven restaurants.

The menu will highlight dishes from across India’s regions, using layered spices and aromatic ingredients. One of the key influences is chaat – India’s popular street food known for its crispy textures and tangy flavours.

Dishes expected to appear on the menu include Lamb Shank Biryani, Goan Curried Mussels, Malabar Coconut Crab Cake, Puffed Rice & Avocado Chaat and Tandoori Pistachio-Crusted Snapper.

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Indian-inspired cocktails at Ariya

Alongside the food menu, Ariya will feature a cocktail list built around spices and ingredients linked to India’s historic trade routes.

Guests will be welcomed with a complimentary sip of jaljeera, a chilled drink made with tamarind and cumin. Signature cocktails include the Maharani Morning with rose, cardamom and sparkling wine, the Golden Hour Spritz layered with saffron and honey, the Saffron & Silk made with scotch and toasted coconut smoke and the Bangalore Old Fashioned featuring jaggery and cardamom.

There will also be a non-alcoholic cocktail called The Seventh Leaf alongside a curated wine list, Indian small-batch spirits and a traditional chai tea service.

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Why Virgin Voyages is launching Ariya

“Ariya is the next chapter in our food and beverage collection that we’ve been building with real intention since day one. Every restaurant we open is a statement about what we believe dining at sea can be, and Ariya says something we haven’t said before. Indian cuisine, done with this level of craft and this much heart, belongs on Valiant Lady. Sailors who’ve sailed with us before will understand immediately why this belongs here. For those who haven’t, Ariya might be the reason they book,” says Nirmal Saverimuttu, CEO, Virgin Voyages.

Chef Levi Mezick, Senior Director of Culinary Program Development at Virgin Voyages, added: “Indian cuisine is finally getting the global recognition it has always deserved and our Sailors get to experience it at its best, with Chef Maneet. The spice combinations alone will surprise people. That’s the goal: to make every Sailor at that table think, ‘I didn’t know food could do that,’”.

Ariya will debut exclusively on Valiant Lady in May 2026.

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