As Resilient Lady‘s inaugural season Down Under is nearing its end, Virgin Voyages has made changes to the ship’s repositioning voyages from Australia to Athens that were slated for next month.
In a statement the cruise line says: “The safety of our passengers and crew is our number one priority. 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. 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.”
Resilient Lady was originally scheduled to depart Sydney, Australia on March 27, 2024. During the first leg of her repositioning cruise to Athens – a 15 night Australia Bali & Singapore sailing – the ship would visit a total of 7 different cruise port destinations, including Airlie Beach, Queensland, Australia; Yorkey’s Knob, Australia; Darwin, Australia; Benoa, Bali, Indonesia. During the second leg of her crossing – the 14 night Singapore sights & Dubai delights sailing departing April 11 – the ship would visit a total of 9 different cruise ports. These included her departure port Singapore; Port Klang, Malaysia; Phuket, Thailand; Colombo, Sri Lanka; Mormugao and Mumbai, India before arriving in Dubai, U.A.E. During the final stretch of her impressive repositioning cruise – the 14 night Modern Dubai to ancient Athens sailing – Resilient Lady would visit a total of 7 different cruise port. After leaving Dubai the ship would call at Safaga, Egypt before transiting the Suez Canal. She would then visit Alexandria, Egypt; Rhodes and Santorini before arriving in Piraeus, Greece.
In place of her former repositioning voyages Resilient Lady will now be departing from Sydney, embarking on an iconic, once-in-a-lifetime 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), as well as Santorini and Piraeus (Athens) in Greece – all with extended time at sea.
All passengers on the 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. If these dates are not convenient, they can receive a Future Voyage Credit based on their paid balance or a full refund.
With the very likely continuation of this escalated regional conflict top-of-mind, and in an effort to minimize further disruptions to its passengers’ future vacation plans, Virgin Voyages is now conducting a full review of other geographically similar repositioning voyages and linked sailings. The cruise line will provide an update in the coming weeks on any further changes they will need to make.
Contact us for additional information and to book your voyage with Virgin Voyages.