Greenock Cruise Port welcomed Virgin Voyages’ Valiant Lady to the Clyde for her inaugural visit on Saturday, marking the occasion with a traditional plaque exchange and a memorable Scottish send-off.

Representatives from Greenock Cruise Port and the local community joined the Captain and crew onboard for the plaque ceremony, celebrating the ship’s first visit to Greenock and the growing importance of the Clyde as a cruise destination.

The striking Valiant Lady, known for Virgin Voyages’ distinctive and contemporary approach to cruising, proved a popular sight on the waterfront throughout the day.

Her departure was equally memorable, with Inverclyde Pipe Band playing on the quayside as guests gathered on deck, before a Svitzer tug accompanied the ship from the berth with a spectacular water cannon escort down the Clyde.

Allison McGuire, Head of Operations at Greenock Cruise Port, said:

“It was a real pleasure to welcome Valiant Lady to Greenock for the first time. She is such a beautiful and fun ship and certainly managed to bring out the inner child in a few of us when we went onboard!

“What made the day particularly special was seeing so many of our partners and members of the local community involved. A successful cruise call is never delivered by one organisation. There is a whole team working behind the scenes, often from very early in the morning, to make sure our ships and their guests receive the best possible welcome.

“The pipe band and water cannon escort created a fantastic atmosphere for her departure and gave guests a real taste of the warmth and character of Inverclyde. We very much hope this will be the first of many visits from Valiant Lady.”

Greenock Cruise Port also recognised the contribution of its partners throughout the 2026 season, including Mirren Marine, Peel Ports’ operational team, OCS Security, Inverclyde Tourist Group, Swordfish Sign, together with Scott’s Restaurant at Greenock Ocean Terminal, which regularly welcomes international cruise guests and visiting representatives.

The inaugural call forms part of another busy cruise season for Greenock, bringing international visitors directly into Inverclyde and providing a gateway to Glasgow, the Clyde and the wider west of Scotland.