Port Saint John will kick off its 2026 cruise season over two months ahead of schedule with the arrival of Virgin Voyages’ the Valiant Lady expected on April 8 at the Diamond Jubilee Cruise Terminal.

“Our ability to embrace opportunities like this on short notice speaks to the strength of our port and tourism ecosystems, as we come together collectively to ensure every call is a success,” said Natalie Allaby, director of cruise excellence at Port Saint John.

“We’re proud to welcome the Valiant Lady and her Sailors and show them the very best of what Saint John has to offer.”

The Valiant Lady will make her inaugural visit to Saint John with roughly 2,000 passengers aboard as part of a weather-diverted itinerary originally bound for Bermuda.

The vessel will arrive in the port city at 6:30 a.m. local time after sailing north from New York on April 6.

The Valiant Lady is the sister ship of the Brilliant Lady, which has called at Port Saint John previously.

The port community and broader tourism ecosystem came together on short notice to ensure this unexpected call will be a success, according to the port.

The Valiant Lady will complete her Bay of Fundy debut when she departs in the early hours of April 9 and is then scheduled to return to Port Saint John in September.