Resilient Lady Launch Deferred to 2023
News Flash!
Virgin Voyages Revises Launch Schedule for Third Ship, Resilient Lady
Press Release from Virgin Voyages Wed 8 June 2022
A decision rooted in guaranteeing the delivery of brilliant guest and crew experiences, Virgin Voyages will defer the upcoming launch of its third Lady Ship to Q2 2023. Initially scheduled to set sail from Athens mid-August of this year, Resilient Lady will remain in Genoa getting on-board work completed, hitting the high seas next spring. As part of an ambitious launch sequence, Virgin Voyages is now operating two ships, its first, Scarlet Lady in the Caribbean and second, Valiant Lady in the Med. Despite challenges stemming from the pandemic, the new brand introduced two ships in the span of a year, including the launch of its new Terminal V at PortMiami in February.
As an experience-led brand with strong ties to the Virgin legacy of disrupting industries, Virgin Voyages did not land on this decision lightly, and despite making tremendous strides alongside the cruise industry as a whole, the brand is not immune to the global challenges the world is facing. 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 entry requirements back into the US.
Commenting on the update, 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 everyday.”
While this delay was not anticipated, Virgin Voyages is successfully operating its first two Lady Ships and looks forward to welcoming Resilient Lady to its fleet early next year, with its fourth ship in the fleet, Brilliant Lady, soon thereafter.
Over the next several days, all passengers and First Mates (travel advisors) impacted by this updated launch schedule will be contacted by Virgin Voyages directly with generous make good options, subject to applicable terms and conditions, including:
200% Future Voyage Credit (FVC) or a full refund of the amount paid, plus 25% FVC
If you choose the 200% FVC and rebook in 2022, you will get the option of another free voyage (*excludes taxes and fees)
Assistance with travel changes and penalties
Commission protection for travel partners on funds paid