Virgin Voyages is to feature in a 20-part fly on the wall TV documentary starting on Sunday.

‘The Cruise’ on Channel 5 promises to provide an “unfiltered, energetic glimpse” into the lives of crew and passengers.

Filmed across both of Virgin Voyages’ ships Scarlet Lady and Valiant Lady, the programme aims to provide an authentic look at the inner workings of operating a 110,000-ton boutique hotel at sea.

Tasked with “making ship happen,” the crew navigate the world of quirky passenger requests, last-minute weather challenges and unique surprises and delights for milestone celebrations, according to the line.

Narrated by the Sheridan Smith, the first hour-long episode is scheduled for 9 pm on June 19.

International sales vice president Shane Riley said: “We’re so excited to give our UK fans a peek into life below deck. It’s rare to see the inner-workings of a cruise ship or to follow the crew beyond sailors’ [passengers] time on board. That’s what makes this series so unique and fun to watch. 

“The UK was the birthplace of the Virgin brand and has played such an integral role for Virgin Voyages. We’ve had tremendous positive feedback from our sailors in the UK, and can’t wait to show audiences what truly goes into delivering an epic experience at sea.”

New ships Resilient Lady, which will sail from Athens, and Brilliant Lady, whose itineraries are soon to be named, join the fleet next year.

The launch of Resilient Lady was put back from August to next spring due to supply chain issues, uncertainty due to the Ukraine war, staff shortages and Covid travel restrictions.