England to Amsterdam & Iceland
Bears & Gay Group Cruise 2026

10 nights from Portsmouth (London), UK to Reykjavik, Iceland

August 27 – September 6, 2026
Virgin Voyages Valiant Lady

Awe-inspiring sites and electric Icelandic nights. This 10-night one-way voyage departs from Portsmouth and visits Amsterdam, Edinburgh, Invergordon, Akureyri, and Ísafjörður, before ending in Reykjavik. An overnight stay in Amsterdam gives you the opportunity to enjoy the city’s legendary gay nightlife, before heading to Scotland where you’ll get lost (in a good way) exploring Edinburgh’s medieval stone architecture.

Imagine the wind in your hair as you glide peacefully through crystal-clear waters, surrounded by towering mountain peaks and cascading waterfalls; or the serene beauty of a colourful village covered in a light dusting of powdery snow.

Icelandic port town Akureyri offers breathtaking natural beauty, whale watching and a spa where you bathe in beer. Ísafjörður is a charming patchwork of 18th-century timber and tin-clad buildings, towering peaks and dark fjord waters. Reykjavik features otherworldly landscapes, blue lagoons, volcanoes, glaciers, lava fields and a thriving nightlife.

For some of the world’s most dramatic scenery, head north: whether you explore by water, land or sky, a cruise to Iceland has all the elements of a beautiful holiday. Home to a Viking history, the northern lights and an enviable music scene, it isn’t hard to see why many choose to venture on a cruise to Iceland.

As the capital, Reykjavík is a popular city and bustles with most of the country’s population. You can catch some of the awe-inspiring views at the famous church Hallgrímskirkja, while a trip to the Golden Circle allows a glimpse of the waterfalls and geysers.

At Gruff Cruises, our mission is to celebrate and uplift the gay Bear community by creating unforgettable cruise experiences where Bears, Cubs, Otters, Daddies, their friends, allies, and admirers feel fully at home. We believe travel is more than just reaching new destinations, it’s about building authentic connections, embracing diversity, and enjoying life in a space that honours Bear culture and identity.

Our cruise is carefully designed to blend relaxation, community spirit, and vibrant entertainment, offering every guest the chance to be seen, valued, and celebrated for exactly who they are. Our bears & gay group cruise features a vibrant calendar of exclusive events. From welcome mixers and themed parties to social hours, entertainment nights, and group shore excursions where you can explore new destinations together in good company.

Valiant Lady - Designed for Fun!

You’ll never mistake Valiant Lady for any other ship, except maybe one of her sisters. From her dramatic red and grey exterior to dazzling cool interiors, she’s the combination of the talents of world-class designers. Built to create an immersive, interactive, and playful experience everywhere.

The Valiant Lady has pulled out all the stops to become a floating design icon. From the VIP top deck, club lounge and sky rooms through to that unique tattoo studio, you’ll find that no detail has been overlooked. You’ll be cruising the Mediterranean in a ship that’s full of theatrical spaces and nautical touches, spiced up with a sense of drama and fun. And not a beige bedspread in sight.

Luxury Ship Features
If you’re in the Mediterranean, you better make absolutely sure you’re making the most of every sun-kissed second. The Dock, the ship’s exclusive outdoor lounge, is where you can find total peace and tranquillity, with just the gentle sound of the waves and the occasional chatter of dolphins as they play in the bow waves. Feeling a little more active? The Athletic Club is the spot to head to, with the world’s largest daybed (they never do anything by halves onboard the Valiant Lady) to relax on when you need a breather from all that chilling out.

At night, the stars emerge with the glitz and glamour of The Manor nightclub. This dazzling club tips a nod to Richard Branson, charting his history in the music industry, and then celebrating that heritage by banging out some insane tunes until the small hours. If you want a break from the beat, head out on deck where you can gaze out at the ocean while a billion stars shine. This is the stuff memories are made of (oops, looks like another trip to Squid Ink, then…).

Fuelling up on Food
No luxury ship is complete without food, food, and more food, and the Valiant Lady doesn’t short-change you when it comes to chowing down. There’s over 20 choices of meals whenever you’re peckish – there’s no set menus or enforced meal times here. Whether you want a healthy snack at 6am or a midnight feast, the crew will cater for you.

First up, there’s Razzle Dazzle, where you’ll discover your inner vegan. Or, try the gloriously opulent Pink Algarve, serving Mexican fusion with all the trimmings.

And wait, what’s this? Street food onboard a ship? At the Valiant Lady’s Galley, you’ll find eight different food stalls selling everything from tacos to sushi, burgers to bento boxes and noodles. You may be cruising the Caribbean, but that doesn’t mean the rest of the world can’t join in.

Wellness and Zen Time on your Adult Voyage
There’s a concept at Virgin Voyages – Vitamin Sea. There’s nothing quite like the ocean to restore that inner wellness we all crave, so onboard you’ll get the time to re-energise with some state-of-the-art activities in the Crow’s Nest.

You can detox with sunrise or sunset yoga classes, or retox with a few rounds in the boxing ring. The B-Complex gym space gets your heart pumping with some serious cardio, or go for some zen time in Redemption, the Valiant Lady’s onboard spa.

Wallow about in glorious mud pools, get your chakras aligned on a quartz bed, or zone out with a spa treatment. Be warned, though: at night this mermaid’s hideaway transforms into a killer club, where the resident DJ gets things buzzing with some serious tunes.

Valiant Lady entertainment - mind-blowing revelry
Grab your glad rags, throw on your dancing shoes and be prepared to be amazed by some of the best cruise ship entertainment on the high seas. Virgin Voyages are going back to their musical roots with on board entertainment that’ll have you boogying until the sun comes up. Choose from a line-up of brand new, original shows and gigs developed by some of the best entertainers in the business. Like everything else on the Valiant Lady, cruise entertainment doesn’t get much better than this.

Keep levelling up with an on-board party at the Manor, the Valiant Lady’s exclusive nightclub. Bag some front-row seats in the Red Room and be prepared to laugh your socks off or just stare slack-jawed in amazement at 21st-century magic and mayhem. The festival vibe keeps the curious entertained, and the cravers coming back for more. After a glorious meal and the best cocktails, it’s time to dance until dawn as the Valiant Lady steams her way to your next port of call.

Slumber at Sea in Luxury Cabins
Time for some snoozing, and Virgin Voyages have made sure that the cabins maintain that gloriously indulgent luxury you’ll find all over the Valiant Lady. Tom Dixon’s had a hand here too, designing the RockStar suites with flair and individuality, but with absolutely no compromise on comfort. All of the RockStar suites are on Deck 15, just under Richard’s Rooftop (RockStar VIPs get exclusive access to the club).

Book a RockStar suite and you get a host of VIP extras including airport transfers, luggage assistance and a private walk down the terminal pathway on arrival, as well as anytime boarding and early booking for special events. If you want to feel like a real rock star, this is your chance.