Welcome to the Rumor and Tidbit Roundup for April 2025. Stay informed and get more updates by subscribing to our newsletter, following us on Instagram, X, BlueSky and Facebook and becoming an Insider.

Virgin Voyages Considering Sports-Themed Sailings

Virgin Voyages is exploring the idea of offering sports-themed sailings, particularly surrounding major global events like the 2026 World Cup. While Virgin has not traditionally focused on sports programming, they have been steadily improving access to major games onboard. Designated areas like the Athletic Club and Social Club now regularly display schedules and game times, and during major events, games may be shown in multiple venues or even available via in-cabin TV. Discussions are ongoing about how to expand these offerings in the future. (Source: First Mates Masterclass call)

Check out our full guide to watching sports onboard:

Watching Sports on Virgin Voyages

Brilliant Lady’s Stay in Málaga Coming to End

Virgin Voyages’ Brilliant Lady remains anchored off the coast of Málaga, where she has been stationed since October 2024 for crew training and final preparations. Although she was originally expected to head to the United States by early May, her stay has now been extended until she heads to wet dock.

While the ship has drawn attention from locals for her long-term presence, she has also attracted criticism for emissions visible from shore, especially from neighborhoods like La Malagueta and Pedregalejo. Experts have clarified that, although the ship must run engines at a minimal level while anchored, Brilliant Lady uses advanced environmental systems that dramatically reduce her impact compared to traditional vessels. In fact, she is one of the most energy-efficient ships in the world, equipped with autonomous energy systems, exhaust gas cleaning, and minimized fuel consumption technology. (Source: Sur in English)

 

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Digital Boarding Passes Rolling Out Across Fleet

After months of being spotted by sailors testing the feature, Virgin Voyages has officially started rolling out digital boarding passes fleetwide. Once check-in and the Health Pass are completed, sailors can download a boarding pass that includes their cabin number, muster station, and sailing details. The boarding pass can be saved to a phone’s digital wallet, helping streamline the embarkation process particularly when you have low data. (Source: First Mates Masterclass Call and Sailor feedback)

Virgin Voyages Partners With Disability Aviation & Maritime

Virgin Voyages has announced a partnership with Disability Aviation & Maritime (DAM), an organization dedicated to making travel more accessible for people with sensory processing conditions and additional needs. Together, they aim to make cruising even more inclusive, ensuring that more travelers can experience barrier-free travel. You can learn more about DAM’s mission on their website.

We have also added a new page that highlights all of the accessible and ambulatory cabins:

Accessible Cabins

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