Virgin Voyages has announced the cancellation of the Resilient Lady’s 2024-25 Australian season due to security concerns in the Red Sea. The company has decided to cancel its upcoming voyages, including the late 2024 and early 2025 repositioning trips between Europe and Australia, as well as its second season in Australian waters. The decision follows advice from regional and governmental sources and concerns over potential escalations in the Red Sea area, posing risks to passengers, crew, and the vessel itself.
Instead, the Resilient Lady will end its Mediterranean season on October 20, 2024, and will reroute to San Juan, Puerto Rico to begin a new Caribbean season with itineraries of 7, 8, 10, and 11 nights, visiting locations such as St. Maarten, St. Vincent, Colombia, and Dominica.
Virgin Voyages expressed deep regret over the cancellation, “Virgin Voyages was embraced by the Australia and New Zealand markets with a warm welcome and celebrated an extremely successful inaugural season – the love was mutual. To say that we are disappointed to have come to this tough conclusion is an understatement.”
The company is exploring options to return to the Australia and Asia Pacific region when conditions allow and promises to update future fleet itineraries. Priority for future sailings will be given to customers who had bookings for the cancelled season.
Affected customers will be offered the chance to rebook their journey or receive a full refund. Virgin Voyages also highlighted the ongoing European sailings from Barcelona, Athens, and Portsmouth, inviting Australian and New Zealand tourists to explore Europe with them.