Virgin Voyages Adds Indian Dining Experience to Valiant Lady

Virgin Voyages is bringing Indian cuisine to Valiant Lady with the addition of Ariya, an evening only venue.

Developed in partnership with Indie Culinaire by celebrity chef, television personality, and cookbook author, Maneet Chauhan, Ariya presents a range of Indian cuisine, pairing classics with coconut-rich coastal flavors, and regional specialties.

“Ariya is the next chapter in our food and beverage collection that we’ve been building with real intention since day one,” said Nirmal Saverimuttu, CEO, Virgin Voyages. “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.”

At Ariya, the menu travels the length of India, with standout menu items such as lamb shank Biryani, goan curried mussels, Malabar coconut crab cake, puffed rice and avocado chaat, and more.

Drinks are also specialized during Ariya’s open hours with every table receiving a complimentary jaljeera, a chilled blend of tamarind and cumin. Other specialized cocktails include the Saffron & Silk, featuring scotch and toasted coconut smoke; the Golden Hour Spritz layered with saffron and honey; a Bangalore Old Fashioned with jaggery and cardamom; among others.

A curated wine list, Indian small-batch spirits and a traditional chai tea service round out Ariya’s beverage experience.

“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,’” saidChef Levi Mezick, senior director of culinary program development, Virgin Voyages.

Ariya is located in the popular Razzle Dazzle during the evening hours – the breakfast and bunch option remains during the day. During Ariya’s open hours, an electric DJ sets the tone with a soundtrack of Indian classics, Bollywood hits, Punjabi pop, and more.

The restaurant’s name holds special meaning to Virgin founder Sir Richard Branson. Ariya was Branson’s great-great grandmother, a traveler from the coastal town of Cuddalore in Tamil Nadu. She believed food could cross oceans more easily than language. That belief is the foundation of the restaurant, celebrating how a shared meal shortens the distance between worlds.

Ariya debuts this May onboard Valiant Lady following its dry dock.