As main cruise traces are making shorter Caribbean getaways a precedence (assume Royal Caribbean, which created one of many world’s largest vessels only for 3- and 4-day voyages), Sir Richard Branson’s cruise line seems to be to be following swimsuit.
Though no official announcement has been made, eagle-eyed passengers – or Sailors – have noticed Virgin Voyages swapping Valiant Woman’s 10-plus-night cruises with shorter, 6-, 7-, and 8-night journeys.
And the transition has not been effectively acquired by all, with friends booked on 2025 and 2026 Caribbean sailings sharing their frustrations on social media and calling out the cruise line for cancelling their lengthy journeys in favor of shorter choices.
“Right here I’m once more, compelled to decide on between lesser sailings with ports I’m not considering or dropping a big sum and my MNVV [My Next Virgin Voyage] deposit if I select a refund,” lamented one visitor.
“My 10-day Thanksgiving week cruise out of San Juan was simply cancelled as Virgin is altering to shorter sailings,” he posted.
“Similar factor for us,” wrote one other. “It seems to be like they’re eliminating the 10-day cruise and changing it with a 7-day cruise.”
“Simply obtained an e-mail our journey was cancelled (no clarification)! Guessing that is why,” added a further Sailor.
It seems there are 4 cancelled itineraries for the 110,000-gross-ton, 2,770-passenger Valiant Woman.
They start with the Thanksgiving 10-night “Solar-Soaked Seas & Saint Isles” cruise, departing from Valiant Woman‘s San Juan, Puerto Rico, homeport on November 22, 2025.
Moreover, two 10-night voyages departing on December 2, 2025, and January 31, 2026, and an 11-night cruise departing on February 10, 2026, have been affected.
The vessel’s new itineraries haven’t been launched, however at press time, Virgin Voyages teased an enormous announcement that will likely be revealed on March 12, 2025.
Choices for Virgin Voyages Sailors
Though not all passengers receiving cancellation notices got choices, Virgin Voyages is, the truth is, providing them to anybody crusing on considered one of its cancelled cruises.
One visitor stated the cruise line provided her celebration the selection to switch to an 11- or 12-night journey on the brand-new Sensible Woman, making her debut as Virgin Voyages’ latest and remaining vessel on September 5, 2025.
Departing from the vessel’s homeport in Miami, itineraries embrace a 12-night journey to Curacao and the Cayman Islands on November 8, 2025, and three 11-night choices departing December 7, 2025, and January 4 and February 1, 2026.
These sailings will go to Willemstad, Curacao; Oranjestad, Aruba; Cartagena, Colombia; Ocho Rios, Jamaica; and George City, Grand Cayman.
Whereas most of the calls have been featured on a number of the cancelled cruises, none of them function beforehand scheduled stops within the Virgin Islands, St. Kitts, Antigua, Martinique, Barbados, St. Lucia, or St. Maarten.
As a gesture of goodwill, passengers who go for a Sensible Woman crusing additionally obtain $100 in Sailor Loot per cabin. (Not per individual, nevertheless.)
Learn Additionally: I Spent 7 Days on My First Adults-Solely Virgin Voyages Cruise
These not considering rescheduling to the brand new ship, at the moment underneath development at Fincantieri’s shipyard in Italy, have 60 days to rebook considered one of six shorter sailings on Valiant Woman.
The cruises will sail from San Juan between November 22, 2025, and February 14, 2026. Visitors may even obtain $100 in Sailor Loot per cabin.
There isn’t any point out of receiving any worth differential again as a refund, nor any point out of compensation for flight adjustments. The ultimate choice for affected Sailors is to simply accept the cancellation and obtain both a Future Voyage Credit score (FVC) or money.
Source link
