When we heard that Virgin Voyages were heading Down Under, we were overjoyed! At last, an adults-only cruise that looked fresh and exciting – we were so excited to sail into the sunset. But now, it seems like we may not have the chance to fulfil our idyllic cruise dreams, with the company suddenly axing all of its cruises that were set to depart from Australian shores.
The news broke on Tuesday, February 27 that the cruise line would be cancelling almost all of its upcoming voyages for the 2024 to 2025 season. A statement from the company cited safety concerns regarding "potential escalations in the Red Sea over the next 12 months". The cruise company had a short-lived run in Australia, after the maiden voyage from our shores kicked off in December 2023. The brand-new cruises mainly departed from Melbourne, with some also leaving from Sydney.
"This significant and ongoing conflict puts unacceptable risks for safe passage through the region for our Sailors, crew and vessel (Resilient Lady)," the statement from Virgin Voyages read. "As a result, we have been left with no choice but to cancel our 2024-25 voyage season plans for Resilient Lady, impacting the late 2024 and early 2025 repositioning voyages between Europe and Australia and a second sailing season in Australian waters."
It's a shame, but certainly a good thing that the company is taking safety concerns seriously. If there's any time to be cautious, it's when you're voyaging on the high seas.
If you're devastated to miss out on the opportunity to experience this luxe cruise, don't despair. Virgin Voyages have also said that they definitely plan to return to Australia as soon as possible. So watch this space.