Virgin Voyages is expanding its partnership with Canva, with Sailors on one upcoming Scarlet Lady voyage set to receive access to Canva and exclusive cruise-themed creative tools.

The new pilot will take place on Scarlet Lady’s October 4, 2026 Mediterranean: Athens to Barcelona sailing. Sailors booked on the voyage will also receive up to 60 days of Canva access for free.

The experience will also include exclusive Virgin Voyages graphics and templates inspired by the Lady Ships and destinations visited by the cruise line.

What Sailors Will Get Through Canva

Virgin Voyages says Sailors will be able to use Canva to turn memories from their cruise into personalized designs.

Examples include designs for T-shirts, water bottles, videos, social media posts and other personalized cruise keepsakes.

Canva’s AI-powered creative tools will also be included. Sailors will therefore be able to use the platform to help create and customize their designs.

For physical items, Virgin Voyages says custom products can be printed and ordered directly through Canva.

Pilot Limited to One Scarlet Lady Sailing

For now, the program is limited to Scarlet Lady’s October 4 sailing.

Virgin Voyages describes the initiative as a pilot, so features and functionality may change as the company gathers feedback from Sailors.

The seven-night Mediterranean voyage travels from Athens to Barcelona.

Virgin Voyages is contacting booked Sailors directly with more information about how they can access the Canva offer.

This Is Not Virgin Voyages’ First Canva Partnership

The new Sailor pilot follows an earlier Canva partnership aimed at Virgin Voyages First Mates, the cruise line’s name for travel advisors.

Virgin Voyages previously brought Canva and its AI tools to First Mates, providing travel advisors with branded templates, graphics and creative tools.

The First Mate initiative was designed to make it easier for advisors to create Virgin Voyages marketing materials and social content.

This latest test takes the partnership in a different direction. Instead of focusing on travel advisors, Canva is now being tested as part of the Sailor experience itself.

Our Take: An Interesting Idea, But There Are Questions

The Canva partnership is an interesting experiment, but the use of AI may divide opinion. Part of the appeal of cruise souvenirs is that they feel personal and connected to the trip. AI-generated designs can make creating something quicker, but they can also feel less distinctive than artwork created specifically for Virgin Voyages.

It is also unclear how the program will fit into Virgin Voyages’ wider retail offering. Each Lady Ship already has a Virgin Voyages Brand Shop selling official clothing, accessories and other merchandise.

If Sailors can create and order their own Virgin Voyages-inspired products through Canva, there could be some overlap with what is already sold onboard. On the other hand, Canva could give Sailors a way to create more personalized items that would not normally appear in the Brand Shop.

For now, this is only a pilot, so the October sailing should give Virgin Voyages a chance to see whether Sailors actually use the tools and how the idea fits alongside its existing merchandise.