Virgin Voyages adjusts ‘Sea Change’ sailings from Australia to Athens

Virgin Voyages is advising that it is making changes to its ‘Sea Change’ repositioning sailings from Australia to Athens that were scheduled for March aboard the Resilient Lady.

With the safety of its passengers and crew the ‘number one priority,’ the cruise company said in a statement that: “Like many other cruise brands, we have been watching the current conflict in the Middle East closely, connecting regularly with global security experts to consider the impacts to the repositioning voyages planned for Resilient Lady in 2024.”

The statement continued: “We remain concerned about potential escalations in this part of the world over the next 12 months and the risk that this presents for safe passage through the region. As a result, we have been left with no choice but to make changes to Resilient Lady’s repositioning voyage taking place on March 27.”

New departure from Sydney

As a result, Virgin Voyages is advising that the Resilient Lady will now be departing from Sydney, embarking on a sailing around the coast of Africa with a brand new route stopping in:

• Eden and Fremantle (Perth) in Australia
• Port Louis (Mauritius Islands), Durban and Cape Town (South Africa)
• Walvis Bay (Namibia)
• Praia (Cape Verde)
• Santa Cruz de Tenerife (Spain)
• Casablanca (Morocco)
• Barcelona (Spain)
• Valletta (Malta)
• Santorini and Piraeus (Athens) in Greece

Guaranteed spots on sailings

All stops feature extended time at sea. The cruise company notes that all passengers on these former three legs of the repositioning voyages will have guaranteed spots on these sailings at no additional cost and a price protection commitment in place.

The statement continues that if these dates are not convenient, passengers can receive a Future Voyage Credit based on their paid balance or a full refund.

Virgin Voyages states: “We know that based on our conversations with passengers and travel partners, they understand the complex geopolitical challenges that have arisen making this change necessary. In addition to this, we are committed to remaining a good partner to our First Mates (travel advisors) and will be protecting their commissions.”

And the statement concludes: “With the very likely continuation of this escalated regional conflict top-of-mind, and in an effort to minimize further disruptions to our passengers’ future vacation plans, Virgin Voyages is now conducting a full review of other geographically similar repositioning voyages and linked sailings. We will provide an update in the coming weeks on any further changes we will need to make.”

Go to www.virginvoyages.com for more.