September 2021

Lindsey is Sales Manager on the West Coast for Virgin Voyages, a new concept of relaxed, upscale, experiential cruises. Part of Richard Branson's Virgin Group, these cruises are geared toward the "young at heart" and feature overnights in select ports. 

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Q. How does Virgin Voyages stand out from other cruise lines? 

A. First -- and foremost --we are Adults Only! Eighteen and older, adults-only and by design: every space, every restaurant has been designed for adults by adults. Virgincurated a Creative Collective, a team of six different architect and design firms that have never touched a cruise ship to create the ideal "boutique hotel" on the water. 

No matter what industry Virgin operates in, we do not like to nickel and dime the customer. So, for Virgin Voyages, we have a value of $600 in inclusions per Sailor for each voyage: all food, 20+ eateries, 6 specialty restaurants with no premium dining charge, no buffets, no main dining room, no forced formal wear. Restaurants are open late and there is a bar in every restaurant. We’ve created the kind of specialty restaurants you’d expect if you were in Las Vegas or New York City.  Also included are Tips & Gratuities, Entertainment, Group Fitness Classes, like Sunrise yoga, outdoor boxing, meditation, HIIT workouts, and curated hikes while in port. Also included are unlimited WiFi (because that's a basic human digital right!), and basic beverages, like drip coffee, waters, non-pressed juices, sodas, tea, and lemonade. 

Here's some fun press published the other week about Scarlet Lady from Cruise Critic.

Q. What itineraries are open for travel now?
A.  We originally were supposed to launch April 1st, 2020 with Scarlet Lady out of Miami. Then COVID happened. So we pivoted and did a soft launch out of the UK on August 6, 2021, with 3- and 4-night "Voyages to Nowhere" for our UK Sailors. Our first US voyage is from Miam on Scarlet Lady on October 6, 2021, a 4-night Fire & Sunset Soirees sailing.  Scarlet Lady will be permanently docked in Miami sailing 4 & 5-night Caribbean itineraries year-round.

Q. Well, because it's Richard Branson, is anything special planned for this long-awaited grand kickoff?
A. (laughs) I can't say, but it will be a Virgin experience like no other. 

Q. And what Voyages are next?
A. Valiant Lady's first voyage from the UK is March 18, 2022. She will be sailing on 3-, 11- & 12-night voyages to islands and cities throughout Spain, Portugal, Belgium, and the Canary Islands. She then begins her Mediterranean season on May 15, 2022, and will sail on three unique itineraries that will include a fabulous overnight in Ibiza, Spain.  Valiant Lady then begins her Winter Season in the Caribbean out of Miami, FL on October 30, 2022, sailing the Western Caribbean on 6- & 8-night itineraries.

Resilient Lady's first voyage from Athens, Greece is August 14, 2022. Heading out from our homeport in Piraeus (Athens), she'll island-hop the Greek Isles, Croatia’s sun-drenched coastline, and the scenic terrain of Montenegro. And top it all off with a Friday to Saturday overnights on Mykonos. After her Summer season, she will sail from Puerto Rico on November 12, 2022, on 7-night itineraries in the Southeastern Caribbean, including some epic stops in Aruba, Curacao, Martinique, the British Virgin Islands, Barbados, St. Lucia, and more. 

Q. What are the hottest cruise destinations these days?
A. We are seeing an incredible response to our Mediterranean & Greek Isles voyages on our Valiant Lady and Resilient Lady 2022 itineraries. The opportunity to explore Ibiza & Mykonos is a HUGE draw for our Sailors. Allowing you the time and space to immerse yourself in these ports of call without feeling rushed speaks to how we are looking to turn our voyages from Ordinary to Extraordinary. We want our Sailors to be able to dine late like the locals at tavernas under the stars, drop into a club and dance to a DJ, or hop from spot to spot in a seafront bar. With more than 24 hours to make the most of Ibiza and Mykonos, both Valiant & Resilient Lady sailings give you the time you need to fall in love with these iconic islands.

Q. What COVID policies are in place?

A. In advance of the upcoming October 6 Scarlet Lady sailing, 100% of the Crew will be vaccinated. 100% of Sailors will need to be vaccinated. Virgin will operate all its sailings at reduced capacity. Scarlet Lady accommodates 2,700 Sailors max, she will be sailing with much less. Our UK sailings are at around 50%. Obviously, the situation is ongoing and fluid, but we will be sailing at reduced capacity. We are setting out to create “The Safest Way To Travel,” giving Sailors and our Crew peace of mind when traveling the world. From our ambitious goals for redefining health measures at sea, we have put into place the Voyage Well program. Limited ship capacity, as mentioned, allows us to adhere to social spacing/physical distancing recommendations. We'll also be limiting large groups at events through virtual ticketing and keeping empty seats, and leaving tables empty between groups at eateries. We also feature contactless drop-off and pick-up through our ShipEats delivery food service and provide limited contact through a digital experience: The Band for contactless payment, service chats for digital assistance, and virtual queues so that Sailors won’t have to physically stand in line. There will also be rapid testing at the terminal and onboard, we will be following the same mask guidelines as on land. As an adult-only cruise line, this allows us to offer a highly controlled, safe environment for everyone on board. 

Q. What do you love most about Virgin Voyages?

A. I am a HUGE foodie, and our ships will have it ALL for our Sailors. Our Michelin-starred chef collective has created incredible onboard dining experiences. As I mentioned, we've ditched buffets and pre-set dining times to bring you made-to-order food and leisurely brunches from our 20+ unique eateries. And, all food is included - meaning no exclusive spots you have to pay to get into. 

My absolute favorite spot I can't wait to check out is Razzle Dazzle. It is a veggie-forward eatery that delivers a healthy dose of nice with just the right amount of naughty. I absolutely can not wait to try out the “1/2 Fried Chicken with Buttered Cholula Hot Sauce”; I've been staromg at that photo for years! You can choose from one side that skews towards plant-based vegetarian and vegan dishes including must-have munchies such as the Impossible Burger, or the indulgent side – meaty cheats, sweets, and gluttonous treats. You'll also enjoy healthy smoothies and juices by day and the re-tox with signature cocktails by night in a lively, bustling environment. 

Oh, and at Virgin, we believe that everyone should have access to champagne, anytime and anywhere. So, I challenge you to find a better service: we have created on-demand champagne delivery through our phone app.  Sailors open the app, shake their phone, bubbles appear, a button says “PUSH ME.” You push to confirm and a bottle of Moet & Chandon is delivered to you wherever you are on the ship ($95 with delivery/gratuity/service included). Your location is traced through The Band you wear, which is your wallet, ID, cabin key, and GPS locator. 

Q. Anything else you'd like to add? What else should travelers know about Virgin Voyages?

A. Another aspect I would love your readers to be aware of...after working for this company for 3+ years, I'm incredibly proud of how diversity is a huge part of who we are. We are open to everyone, and we realize that Sailors and Crew come in many different forms. We embrace our true selves and celebrate the differences that make us special and encourage whoever joins us to do the same. We foster a community and environment of inclusiveness and "come as you are". I know this will translate to an onboard experience that will create a lasting impact for everyone and hopefully give them an unforgettable holiday at sea. Richard Branson’s philosophy is simple and it works: if you take care of your employees first, then they’ll take care of your customers. 

As travel resumes, we are revisiting some of the best images from years past.  Please #planethoppers your Instagram photos so we may follow all your future journeys!