John McGuire Travel insights from Jenna Buege, senior editor of The Compass
After securing $550 million in funding from Ares Management in early September 2023, Virgin Voyages is beginning work on an epic global expansion with 19 new ports of call and 27 new itineraries. While the brand’s new offerings are set to traverse every corner of the globe, a few highlights from Virgin Voyages’ recent announcement include the cruise line’s return to the UK, additional ports in Australia and new sailings to the Caribbean. These exciting additions bring the total number of itineraries offered by the Virgin Voyages fleet to 63, and they will be available through April 2025.
“Our loyal sailors have been asking for more places to visit with us, so we’re delivering in a big way. New ports, new itineraries and more local and immersive experiences to create unforgettable getaways,” said Michelle Bentubo, senior vice president of service excellence and travel operations for Virgin Voyages. “From Morocco to Mooloolaba, Amsterdam to Bordeaux, Catania to Port Douglas, we now offer more than 120 incredible places you can explore abroad our award-winning ships you know and love. After all, it’s not just about where you go; it’s about who you go with and make a holiday one to remember.”
Virgin Voyages’ New Itineraries Include:
The Resilient Lady
The newest of the Lady ships, Resilient Lady will feature three itineraries from Athens from May through July 2024: “Greek Island Glow”, “Adriatic Sea and Greek Gems” and “Starry Nights in Greece and Croatia.” Then, from mid-August through September 2024, Resilient Lady will embrace Virgin Voyages’ British roots with a variety of three- to six-night sailings on its “English Sights and European Delights” itinerary. Finally, in October 2024, Resilient Lady will embark on an epic 44-night journey from Athens to Australia with stops in places like Dubai, Mumbai, Singapore and Bali along the way.
The Valiant Lady
This winter, Valiant Lady is keeping things tropical as she begins the 2023 season with her signature itineraries from Miami: “Eastern Caribbean Antilles” and “Western Caribbean Charm.” Then, from January through March 2024, the ship will operate out of San Juan, Puerto Rico where she will offer two southern Caribbean voyages: “The Southeastern Caribbean Isles” and “Sunsets in the Lesser Antilles.” Beginning in April 2024, Valiant Lady will trade places with Scarlet Lady to offer Virgin Voyages’ classic four- and five-night Caribbean rotations in addition to a special six-night “Holidaze and Nights” voyage.
The Scarlet Lady
From May through October 2024, Scarlet Lady will take on Valiant Lady’s two seven-night Mediterranean itineraries: “Irresistible Med” and “French Daze and Ibiza Nights.” Then, on November 3, she will embark on an 11-night adventure from Barcelona to Civitavecchia with stops in Mallorca, Corsica and Sardinia before dry docking for general maintenance, enhancements and recalibrations. Later, the ship will hit the water again with a 16-night voyage from Rome to Miami where it will dock on December 14, 2024. From there, Scarlet Lady will offer Virgin Voyages’ signature six- and eight-night winter voyages through the spring of 2025 including “Western Caribbean Charm” and the “Eastern Caribbean Antilles.”
In addition to details surrounding its global expansion, Virgin Voyages shared important news regarding Brilliant Lady, the brand’s fourth mid-sized vessel. The company shared that, despite careful planning, external factors like supply chain issues, unexpected construction and staffing shortages have resulted in the cruise line’s decision to postpone the ship’s highly anticipated launch. When Brilliant Lady will officially set sail is still TBD.
“We’ve built a brand that has taken the industry by storm, but even the strongest businesses face unforeseen challenges every now and then,” said Bentubo. “We are sorry that our Sailors and First Mates who were excited about Brilliant Lady will have to wait a little bit longer for her launch. We know they will love the new itineraries as much as we do, and we look forward to welcoming them on-board.”
To book Virgin Voyages’ new itineraries or for more information surrounding Brilliant Lady, visit Cruise Trip Planner.
About the Author
Senior Editor for VAX VacationAccess and world explorer, Jenna loves writing about all things travel. When she’s not busy creating content, she spends her time exploring the great outdoors, cuddling with her two black cats and researching her next big (sometimes strange) adventure.
