Virgin Voyages, the travel brand company founded by billionaire Richard Branson, has made the decision to cancel its Australia and New Zealand 2024-2025 program.
Virgin Voyages, which commenced Australian operations in December 2023, cited safety concerns related to traveling through the Red Sea as the primary reason for this announcement. According to Virgin Voyages, the ongoing conflict poses unacceptable risks for safe passage through the region.
Vigin's vessel Resilient Lady would have been required to navigate through the Red Sea (Suez Canal) to reposition between Europe and Australia, where the ship was scheduled for deployment in 2024-2025 winter season. Due to the Red Sea crisis (Houthi rebels' attacks on marine vessels) the relocation voyages through Egypt's Suez Canal (RepositionCruises.com) are currently considered highly risky.
Despite the cancellation, Virgin expressed satisfaction with the ongoing success of the company's inaugural Australian season.
The adult-only Resilient Lady is currently homeported in Melbourne offering roundtrips to popular destinations in Australia and New Zealand.
A statement from the company said:
"To say that we are disappointed to have come to this tough conclusion is an understatement.
"These adjustments are happening now in order to minimize potential future disruption to our passengers' holiday plans knowing there is a high likelihood that changes would need to happen in the future."
Virgin Voyages said it was working through options to return to Australia/the Asia Pacific region once regional repositioning opportunities became more tenable.
Passengers who have booked can get a refund/choose another cruise.
Virgin's other "lady ships" (Resilient Lady's sister-vessels Scarlett Lady and Valiant Lady) are currently deployed in the Caribbean and Europe/Mediterranean.