Virgin Voyages has made the difficult decision to cancel its second Australia season due to concerns about potential escalations in the Red Sea. Originally, the cruise line had planned repositioning voyages for its ship, Resilient Lady, from Australia to the Mediterranean, but recent developments have prompted a change of course.
The 2024/25 repositioning voyages from Europe to Australia have been scrapped, along with the second Australia season. Passengers affected by these cancellations will have the option to rebook on an alternative cruise or receive a full refund. They will also be given priority if Virgin Voyages is able to resume Australia sailings in the 2025 season.
Virgin Voyages stated, “Based on the advice we have received from regional and government sources, we have serious concerns about potential escalations in the Red Sea in the coming year. This ongoing conflict poses unacceptable risks for the safety of our passengers, crew, and vessel, leaving us with no choice but to cancel our plans for Resilient Lady.”
Resilient Lady will wrap up its Mediterranean season in October 2024 and head to San Juan, Puerto Rico for a new Caribbean season, offering exciting voyages to destinations like St. Maarten, St. Vincent, Colombia, and Dominica.
While Virgin Voyages is reviewing Resilient Lady’s repositioning routes from Athens to San Juan, they assure passengers that these routes will feature stunning ports including Catania, Casablanca, and Tenerife.
Expressing disappointment over the cancellation, Virgin Voyages emphasized the importance of minimizing potential disruptions to passengers’ holiday plans and ensuring their safety. They remain hopeful about returning to Australia and the Asia Pacific region in the future when repositioning opportunities become more viable.
