Virgin Voyages Reroutes Resilient Lady Due to Red Sea Tensions

Virgin Voyages has announced a rerouting of its vessel, the Resilient Lady. This decision comes amidst escalating tensions in the Red Sea region, resulting in the passing through the Suez Canal being unsafe. This follows a number of  other cruise lines changing course from the region including Carnival, MSC & AIDA.

Direct Communication and Rebooking Options

Affected sailors who had previously booked voyages aboard the Resilient Lady will receive direct communication from Virgin Voyages or their travel agent. They will be provided with personalized assistance to discuss generous rebooking options tailored to their preferences.

“The safety of our passengers and crew is our number one priority. Like many other cruise brands, we have been watching the current conflict in the Middle East closely, connecting regularly with global security experts to consider the impacts to the repositioning voyages planned for Resilient Lady in 2024. We remain concerned about potential escalations in this part of the world over the next 12 months and the risk that this presents for safe passage through the region. As a result, we have been left with no choice but to make changes to Resilient Lady’s repositioning voyage taking place on March 27.”

– Virgin Voyages Public Relations

Whether coordinating through their travel agent or reaching out directly to Virgin Voyages, passengers can expect dedicated support in rescheduling their travel plans.

Rebooking Options

Offer 1

Rebook on one of the new itineraries with a price guarantee – available to rebook directly with Virgin Voyages or your preferred travel advisor on 10 February. Virgin Voyages will protect their original voyage fare as long as it’s in the same cabin category. Plus, they will still honor any previous promotions they had when they first booked, including the Bar Tab bonus.

Note: If you had previously transitioned from a Brilliant Lady canceled sailing, you will be able to re-book onto any voyage currently on sale for with the same promotional offers and price as before.

Offer 2

100% refund of original voyage fare. – If you decide not to rebook at this time, you have the option to request a full refund of the total amount paid, if sailors do nothing, Virgin Voyages will automatically process a refund starting 16 February. The refund amount will go back to your original form of payment.

Impacted Sailings

The rerouting affects several voyages, including the 27th March, Sydney to Singapore Crossing, a 15-night journey, the 11th April, Singapore to Dubai Crossing spanning 14 nights, and the 25th April, Dubai to Athens Crossing, also a 14-night voyage. We covered the crossing from Athens to Sydney late last year when tensions were significantly lower.

The ship will now travel around Africa to head back to the Europe region with a unique once in a life time sailing. Instead of her usual repositioning voyages, she will now set sail from Sydney on a memorable journey around the African coast. This new route, consisting of three separate legs, includes stops in Eden and Fremantle (Perth), Australia; Port Louis, Mauritius Islands; Durban and Cape Town, South Africa; Walvis Bay, Namibia; Praia, Cape Verde; Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain; Casablanca, Morocco; Barcelona, Spain; Valletta, Malta; as well as Santorini and Piraeus (Athens), Greece—allowing for ample time at sea.

Passengers booked on the previous legs of the repositioning voyages are guaranteed spots on these sailings at no extra charge, with price protection measures in place. If the new dates are not suitable, passengers can opt for a Future Voyage Credit or a full refund based on their paid balance.

New Itineraries In Detail

Itinerary 1: Journey from Australia to South Africa

• Dates: 27 March 2024 to 17 April 2024
• Itinerary Name: “From Australia to South Africa”
• Duration: 21 nights
• Ports of Call: This adventurous journey will take you from the bustling city of Sydney, Australia, to the serene beauty of Eden, Australia. From there, you’ll visit Fremantle (Perth), Australia, before sailing across to Port Louis, Mauritius. The voyage continues along the African coast with stops in Durban and Cape Town, South Africa.

• 27 Mar | Sydney, Australia (Departs 6:00PM)
• 28 Mar | Eden, Australia (10:00AM – 6:00PM)
• 29 Mar – 1 Apr | At Sea
• 2 Apr | Fremantle (Perth), Australia (8:00AM – 5:00PM)
• 3 Apri – 9 Apr | At Sea
• 10 Apr | Port Louis, Mauritius (9:00AM – 5:00PM)
• 11 Apr – 13 Apr | At Sea
• 14 Apr | Durban, South Africa (9:00AM – 8:00PM)
• 15 Apr – 16 Apr | At Sea
• 17 Apr | Cape Town, South Africa (Arrives 7:30AM)

Itinerary 2: Voyage from Cape Town to Barcelona

• Dates: 17 April 2024 to 4 May 2024
• Itinerary Name: “From Cape Town to Barcelona”
• Duration: 17 nights
• Ports of Call: Begin your journey in Cape Town, South Africa, and set sail for the picturesque Walvis Bay, Namibia. The itinerary will take you across the Atlantic to Praia, Cape Verde, and Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain. The journey concludes with a visit to the historic city of Casablanca, Morocco, before reaching the vibrant streets of Barcelona, Spain.

• 17 Apr | Cape Town, South Africa (Departs 5:00PM)
• 18 Apr | At Sea
• 19 Apr | Walvis Bay, Namibia (11:30AM – 8:00PM)
• 20 Apr – 26 Apr | At Sea
• 27 Apr | Praia, Cape Verde (9:00AM – 5:00PM)
• 28 Apr – 29 Apr | At Sea
• 30 Apr | Santa Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain (8:00AM – 6:00PM)
• 1 May | At Sea
• 2 May | Casablanca, Morocco (8:00AM – 5:00PM)
• 3 May | At Sea
• 4 May | Barcelona, Spain (Arrives 9:00AM)

Itinerary 3: Barcelona to Malta & Greece

UPDATE: This itinerary is now on sale for any sailor to book onto. Click here for more details.

• Dates: 4 May 2024 to 9 May 2024
• Itinerary Name: “Barcelona to Malta & Greece”
• Duration: 5 nights
• Ports of Call: Departing from Barcelona, Spain, this shorter voyage offers a taste of the Mediterranean’s rich history and stunning landscapes. You’ll visit the historic city of Valletta, Malta, followed by the iconic island of Santorini, Greece. The journey concludes in Piraeus (Athens), Greece, the gateway to ancient Greek civilization.

Future Red Sea / Suez Canal Voyages

Virgin Voyages are currently reviewing the safety of future routes over the next year that are due to sail through this area particularly the October 2024 crossing back to Australia. Virgin Voyages have confirmed that they will be in touch directly with passengers once a decision has been made by the end of February. With Resilient Lady due to head back to Australia again later in the year we expect to see further changes if necessary, at this time the sale of any Resilient Lady cruise between September 29th 2024 and May 4th 2025 has been paused.

“With the very likely continuation of this escalated regional conflict top-of-mind, and in an effort to minimize further disruptions to our passengers’ future vacation plans, Virgin Voyages is now conducting a full review of other geographically similar repositioning voyages and linked sailings. We will provide an update before the end of February on any further changes we will need to make.”

– Virgin Voyages Public Relations

Conclusion

Virgin Voyages’ decision to reroute the Resilient Lady demonstrates its commitment to prioritizing passenger safety and satisfaction. Despite potential challenges, the company’s proactive approach ensures that travelers’ well-being remains a top concern. Rebooking options will be provided to affected sailors at the earliest opportunity, offering flexibility in adjusting their travel plans.

Source: Virgin Voyages