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“We’ve been keeping a secret, and it’s almost time to let you in on it. Something Brilliant is coming — trust us, you’ll want to sea this.
Catch the big reveal live on 1st May at 5 pm BST — only on virginvoyages.com.”
Lots of images of places in the US including New York, Seattle, Miami.
The speculation begins here!
Thank you, I love these cruises and am definitely interested – for some reason I do not receive any emails even though I am subscribed.
That its on virginvoyages suggests its prolly not points related as otherwise it would be virgin red?
It’s likely to be the new announcement of the very delayed ship Brilliant Lady. I’d be very surprised if there is a points deal to be had as the new ship launches tend to sell well.
New ship launch – not really a surprise tbh
If it’s the exact same as all the others, with the same dining, I think they should stop making such a fuss 😁
Two things
1) If you’re desperate – https://cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/2024/04/virgin-set-for-second-virgin-celebration-voyage/
2) If you’re quick (and gullible) – https://cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/2024/04/virgin-voyages-expands-status-match-program/
Personally, not for me.
This will be Brilliant lady launch – their new ship.
I was very impressed with the Greek/Croatian voyage we did last year. Good food, excellent entertainment and interesting ports. Unfortunately not on the points deal, but cash which was fine with good drinks deal. Currently prices still fairly high compared to last year, but they are apparently filling them. Will be interesting if further points deals arrive.
Another ship to fill…I honestly can’t see Virgin Voyages staying in business long term as my understanding is that the current ships are still way under capacity for most sailings around Europe (and certainly the two sailings with them that I’ve done were about half full …).My next one is totally sold out ( possibly as they were virtually giving it away 🤣🤣). Beardy has been self promoting again with free cruises too ..Australia didn’t really work so I’m guessing it’ll be more USA routes again ( which I have zero interest in).
They have absolutely zero appeal for me.
We’ve now done 67 cruises with a further 3 booked this year and have experienced 6 cruise lines to date.
We’re not averse to trying something new and were one of the first to try MSC cruises. Terrible experience but we upgraded to their Yacht Club and love that experience.
But nothing about Virgin even registers any interest for us.
The idea has classic Virgin written all over it: disrupt an ageing and “uncool” category.
The issue for their Europe sailings is threefold: the cruising market IS ageing (sorry), people in Europe are very accustomed to flying on the cheap and as pennies are pinched, there’s little demand to “just try out” a mid-market premium economy cruising that doesn’t quite know what it offers and to whom. Plus no families means wiping out a huge chunk of potential customers is wiped out.
Only thing I would disagree with is your view that cruise passengers are getting older.
Cruise lines have done an amazing job of attracting younger guests under 40 and with families.
I believe across the board the average age now is under 40.
As you’ve stated, Virgin are trying to attract those younger cruisers but are banning their children – an extremely limited market when you need 15,000 guests every single week.
They are just a bigger version of easy cruise and we know how long they lasted.
The other problem farther down the line is their ships are so different to conventional cruise ships, who would buy them when they come to market.
@paul-uk interesting. We’d like to try a cruise one day and would be tempted by a Virgin Voyage. Currently approaching mid forties, but will wait until the kids are a bit older before we leave them for a week again. Hoping VV still exist and that they still offer the superb points offers.
How are the Virgin ships so different? Having never set foot on a cruise ship, nor looked in much detail im genuinely intrigued as to what is so different.
Only thing I would disagree with is your view that cruise passengers are getting older.
Cruise lines have done an amazing job of attracting younger guests under 40 and with families.
I believe across the board the average age now is under 40.
As you’ve stated, Virgin are trying to attract those younger cruisers but are banning their children – an extremely limited market when you need 15,000 guests every single week.
They are just a bigger version of easy cruise and we know how long they lasted.
The other problem farther down the line is their ships are so different to conventional cruise ships, who would buy them when they come to market.
Only thing I would disagree with is your view that cruise passengers are getting older.
Cruise lines have done an amazing job of attracting younger guests under 40 and with families.
I believe across the board the average age now is under 40.
As you’ve stated, Virgin are trying to attract those younger cruisers but are banning their children – an extremely limited market when you need 15,000 guests every single week.
They are just a bigger version of easy cruise and we know how long they lasted.
The other problem farther down the line is their ships are so different to conventional cruise ships, who would buy them when they come to market.
The other problem farther down the line is their ships are so different to conventional cruise ships, who would buy them when they come to market.
That’s hardly VV problem. More like a problem for VV’s creditors.
Cruise lines have done an amazing job of attracting younger guests under 40 and with families.
I believe across the board the average age now is under 40.
As you’ve stated, Virgin are trying to attract those younger cruisers but are banning their children – an extremely limited market when you need 15,000 guests every single week.
L
The demographic targeted isn’t too small. So many young childless couples with decent income; people in 20s and 30s still living with parents or postponing kids; middle aged parents who’d like a short break with friends, but don’t want an old crowd.
The demographic targeted isn’t too small. So many young childless couples with decent income; people in 20s and 30s still living with parents or postponing kids; middle aged parents who’d like a short break with friends, but don’t want an old crowd.
People in their 20s and 30s especially on the Europe routes can get a much longer break than a Virgin Voyages — like a luxury all-inclusive hotel which they’ll likely be more familiar with. Plus they’ve likely not been on a cruise before, so it’s a perception issue / psychological risk, especially as budgets tighten.
They haven’t quite strengthened the hotels (or arguably the flights) business to make them as successful as they could be either. This feels like a grand old waste of private equity cash.
How are the Virgin ships so different? Having never set foot on a cruise ship, nor looked in much detail im genuinely intrigued as to what is so different.
The ships are brand new which makes a huge difference ( some of the other ships I’ve been on have literally been OAPs ). Minimalist / modernist kind of vibe with decor and furnishings in general . Wi-Fi included (which some other cruise lines are still charging extortionate rates for). Everything communication wise done through the (temperamental) app.
Dining is a bit different in that there are no ‘ traditional ‘ buffets. Apart from The Galley / Pizza Place all the restaurants need to be booked in advance (fine if the ship is half full but more difficult if the ship is at capacity). Some people rave about the food but for me it wasn’t anything overwhelming ( Test Kitchen was a total flop IMHO on both my trips ). Pizzas were amazing though ! The menus don’t change either so even though our sailings were months apart the food was exactly the same.Entertainment is not for me – again attempting to be hip and cool and failing miserably but some people rave about it ..We did a few shows on the first but didn’t bother with any of them on the second.Big gym ( not that I set foot in it ) and an emphasis on wellness . Free exercise classes which had to be prebooked ( so same issues as with the restaurants ). Tips all included and staff genuinely helpful (they also get paid a decent wage and have better time off etc in comparison to other cruise lines).Relatively small ships when compared to companies like MSC. No dress code as such.
Lots of positive stuff and some not so positive stuff. For me it felt that the company is really trying to attract the Insta crowd ( there were lots of ‘effluencers ‘ who’d been given complimentary passage too ). Real age mix onboard -we took my fit and able 86 year old mother on the second trip (and she wasn’t the oldest passenger on board either as there was a 92 yr old chap).Thank you
The other problem farther down the line is their ships are so different to conventional cruise ships, who would buy them when they come to market.
That’s hardly VV problem. More like a problem for VV’s creditors.
Its Virgins problem when they need to raise further funding – if the actual ships were more saleable lenders would accept more risk.
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