Virgin Voyages Adjusts Course: Resilient Lady’s Australia Season Cancelled Due to Red Sea Tensions

Virgin Voyages has announced the cancellation of the Resilient Lady’s winter 2024-25 season in Australia, citing the ongoing conflict involving Houthi rebel strikes in the Red Sea as the primary reason for the decision. In response to the escalating situation, the cruise line is redirecting the vessel to the Caribbean, prioritizing the safety of its passengers and crew.

The decision follows an earlier announcement this month where Virgin Voyages revealed that the Resilient Lady would be rerouted around Africa to avoid the Suez Canal and Red Sea due to safety concerns. This rerouting impacted three itineraries slated for late March and early April.

As the situation in the Red Sea continues to pose significant risks, Virgin Voyages has opted to cancel the Resilient Lady’s upcoming second winter season in Australia. This move also affects the ship’s repositioning voyages between Europe and Australia scheduled for late 2024 and early 2025. The company expressed its concern over the potential for escalation in the region, emphasizing that the ongoing conflict presents unacceptable risks for safe passage.

Instead of heading Down Under, the Resilient Lady will conclude its Mediterranean season on October 20 and set sail for San Juan, Puerto Rico. There, the ship will embark on a variety of Caribbean voyages, including 7-, 8-, 10-, and 11-night journeys with destinations such as St. Maarten, St. Vincent, Colombia, and Dominica. These new itineraries will be available for booking starting February 29.

Virgin Voyages is still in the process of finalizing the repositioning cruises from Athens to San Juan but anticipates including stops in Catania, Casablanca, and Tenerife.

The cruise line’s leadership expressed disappointment over the necessity to cancel the Australian and New Zealand season, especially following a successful inaugural season. The decision was made to minimize future disruptions to passengers’ holiday plans, with an understanding of the high likelihood of required changes due to the ongoing conflict.

Virgin Voyages is committed to providing its customers and travel agent partners with ample time to make alternative arrangements. Affected travelers are being offered a full refund or the option to rebook on another cruise.

This adjustment by Virgin Voyages is part of a broader trend within the cruise industry, as other lines including MSC Cruises, Crystal Cruises, Silversea Cruises, and Royal Caribbean have also modified their itineraries in response to the unrest in the Red Sea. The safety and security of passengers and crew remain the top priority as the situation continues to evolve.