Virgin Voyages has announced that it will defer the launch of its third "Lady Ship," Resilient Lady, to the second quarter of 2023. The ship was initially scheduled to set sail from Athens in mid-August this year; however, Resilient Lady will remain in Genoa for the completion of on-board work, hitting the high seas next spring.
Despite pandemic-related challenges, Virgin Voyages introduced two ships in the span of a year, including the launch of its new Terminal V at PortMiami in February. The brand is operating its first ship Scarlet Lady in the Caribbean and second, Valiant Lady in the Mediterranean.
That said, Virgin Voyages is not immune to the global challenges the world is facing, the company said in a press statement; this includes supply chain obstacles, a level of regional uncertainty for international travelers in countries in East Europe, crewing challenges based on government regulations and restrictive COVID-19 entry requirements back into the U.S. Therefore, the cruise line determined to postpone the debut of the ship.
Tom McAlpin, CEO of Virgin Voyages, said: “As a new brand that is just getting started, we’ve accomplished so much this past year, and the future for us is exciting. The momentum that we’re seeing with Scarlet and Valiant Lady is incredible. The fantastic reviews and awards our ships and crew have won are very heartening, so we thank our guests for sailing with us. That is why we remain focused on delivering brilliant vacations, and this pause will ensure we will be ready to go on Resilient. The travel industry is recovering well, and this month, we’ve seen record bookings, a significant increase in on-board spend, and we’re currently seeking to close out our next round of funding, which sets us up for continued growth. There’s so much to be proud of, and I also send my thanks to our amazing crew for all they do every day.”
Over the next several days, Virgin Voyages will contact all passengers and "First Mates" (travel advisors) impacted by this updated launch schedule, with generous make good options, subject to applicable terms and conditions, including: 200 percent Future Voyage Credit (FVC) or a full refund of the amount paid, plus 25 percent FVC; passengers opting for the 200 percent FVC who rebook in 2022 will get the option of another free voyage (*excluding taxes and fees); assistance with travel changes and penalties; and commission protection for travel partners on funds paid.
For more information, visit virginvoyages.com.
Related Stories
Virgin’s Resilient Lady Headed for Australia in 2023
Coral Princess Arrives at New Homeport of Brisbane