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What to Expect?

Voyages by cargo ship

Travelling on a cargo ship is a unique experience, offering an exclusive and authentic insight into the world of commercial shipping.

We are able to offer voyages on several different types of vessel such as container ships, bulk carriers and car/vehicle carriers. 

Accomodation

Cargo ships usually offer single, twin or double bed cabins. Most of the vessels have exterior cabins with sitting areas, desk, shower and WC all fitted to a good standard of comfort. Remember though that these are hard working cargo ships, not cruise ships!

Cargo ships can carry a maximum of 12 passengers although most vessels only have accommodation for 4 to 6 passengers.

We have passengers from all walks of life, ranging from single travellers to families. If you have the wanderlust and want to enjoy travel the old fashioned way - this could be just what you are looking for!

In all cases, the common denominator is a love for the sea, the adventure and possibility of visiting different ports and enjoying the serenity and tranquility you can only get on a cargo vessel. Port calls and duration are always subject to cargo priorites; it is not always possible to go ashore in every port.

In all cases a good level of general health and unaided mobility is required (steep gangways and internal stairways).

Age restrictions apply to most services; generally lower age limit is 18 years and the upper 78th birthday. Medical certification may be required for selected voyages.

Other services:

As a full service travel organiser we are able to asssit with all aspects of your voyage planning including access to specialist visa advice, world wide travel insurance, flights, transfers, car hire, airport hotels and parking. Using our network of tour operators we can also arrange a land tour at your country of embarkation/disembarkation if you wish.

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Imagine for a moment that you are on the deck of a ship, sipping a glass of wine. You turn your head towards the water just in time to spot a pod of dolphins swimming by or flying fish, providing company in the ocean. After lingering in the sunshine for a while, it's time to head inside for a 3-course evening meal and a splash in the pool before retiring to bed.

Now, what kind of vessel are you on?

No, you are not on a standard commercial cruise ship. You are not on a packed luxury liner hopping between Caribbean islands. You are aboard a modern freighter. Hundreds of cargo ships, carrying everything from fire engines to apples, are crossing the world's oceans, and many are happy to take you along for the ride. Adventurous travelers, including the Transitions Abroad family, have been doing so for years, as have many long before us.

What Does Travel on a Cargo Ship Feel Like?

A far more intimate and relaxed experience than you might imagine! The experience on board contrasts sharply with the rough and industrial outward appearance a container ship tends to project. You will be one of a handful of passengers among a crew likely to number up to a dozen or a few more. There will be no evening cabaret shows as on a standard cruise, though you may have access to TV, video, and board games in a common area on the ship where passengers may meet the crew. You may even play cards with the crew under the night skies. You might be invited to karaoke with the sailors, and you will almost always dine alongside the captain, who is far more likely to turn up in shorts and a t-shirt than in full uniform. Some cargo ships also offer equipped exercise rooms or pools.

Here was our first taste of the wonders of sea travel. Our introduction to freighter travel was a relatively short 5-day sailing between Australia and New Zealand. We joined the French ship CMA CGM Utrillo in the busy port of Melbourne, where our luggage — including two bicycles and bags — was quickly hauled on board and into a spacious cabin by a host of cheery Filipino deckhands.

What are the Costs of Cargo Ship Travel?

Depending upon your destination (Transatlantic, Transpacific, South Seas, Worldwide, and other special combinations), your daily freighter travel costs will be about $100-$130 per day per person per day with a luggage allowance of approximately 30kg-100kg (66-220lbs) depending on the line you are taking. Generally, US dollars are the primary currency used onboard to buy soft drinks, snacks, beer, and toiletries. You can then use your credit cards at each location you disembark.

What kind of Hospitality Can You Expect on Board?

Our next surprise was how quickly we felt part of the family. Just moments after arriving, our fellow passenger (a French woman "going around the world in 80 days”) hinted that the captain was sure to throw us a welcome barbecue. “He does that for every one new,” she said with a wink. Sure enough, the next evening was spent on the back deck of the ship, feasting on grilled fish and chatting with the seamen as the sun went down.

One of our concerns before sailing was that we'd find the days long. It was just the opposite. There were three square meals a day (hearty plates of meat and vegetables for workers) and our time between eating was filled with strolls around the deck and trips up to the bridge to check our position and ask questions.

Had there ever been stowaways? Yes, once a harmless passenger was allowed to board. What about pirates? Not here, but there were off the coast of Africa. And just how much fuel did a cargo ship need? In the current era of relatively low oil prices, $60,000 U.S. a day will generally cover the trip.

Why is it a Relaxing Way to Travel?

With our curiosity temporarily curbed, we would return to our cabin for reading our books or Kindle, journal writing, and a bit of table tennis if we felt especially energetic. Far away from the hustle and bustle of life on firm land, we were truly relaxed. The experience was in complete contrast to our usual hurried airplane trips.

For Hamish Jamieson, the owner of Freighter Travel NZ and one of only a handful of travel agents in the world licensed to book tickets on cargo ships, the simplicity of being at sea is the main attraction.

“When you're sitting up the front of the bow of the ship, on your own, and all you see is the sea going past and you hear the wind and waves, you're in heaven. For me, an afternoon...sitting right on the bow, watching the world go by with my binoculars, that's my heaven,” he said.

What Kind of Flexibility is Needed for Freighter Travel?

Of course, nothing in life is all smooth sailing. While we didn't encounter any problems during our trip, we did struggle with the uncertain nature of freighter travel before we boarded. Our initial departure date jumped forward first by three days and then seemed to bounce around by 12-24 hours every time we called to check the latest news. Ours was not an uncommon experience and you must prepare yourself for flexibility.

Even ports of call are not guaranteed because on a cargo ship, freight comes first, not the passengers. If the demand is not there for a certain stop, the ship will go where the business is.

“Our trip from the USA to Europe changed three times after initial booking,” said Rebecca Hogue and Scott Drennan, then on a journey around the world without using airplanes . Their initial trip from South Carolina to Belgium was from Florida to Italy. “Had we not been flexible with our departure times and locations, things would not have worked out.”

As Mr. Jamieson is fond of telling his passengers, when you go to sea, there are two things you must pack: a sense of humor and a sense of patience.

What are the Practical Issues?

Your trip may also involve some red tape, particularly concerning U.S. stops. American citizens are not permitted, for example, to travel within their country by cargo ship, although they can make international journeys. Meanwhile, travelers to the United States must have a visa, even if they would not need one to arrive by air. Only Canadians are exempt from this rule.

Be sure to budget time and money to get vaccinations like Yellow Fever if you are going through the Suez and Panama canals. A medical certificate declaring you in generally good health is another typical requirement.

Where in the World Do You Want to Go?

The hardest part of booking your cargo ship voyage is deciding where to go. Will it be to South America and around Cape Horn? How about a 55-day round trip from California to Australia and New Zealand via Tahiti and Mexico? Mr. Jamieson offers a few more ideas and favorite voyages based on years of experience.

“For me the ultimate voyage is from Auckland, in New Zealand, to Singapore. It takes 40-45 days to sail what you can fly in just under 12 hours but it visits nearly every island in the Pacific on the way and it stops for 2-3 days. The second choice for me would be from Singapore through to Houston in Texas. It goes up through Thailand, Vietnam, half a dozen ports in China, into Japan, then straight across the Pacific and through the Panama Canal.”

With enough time and money at your disposal--round-the-world trips can take 80 to 100 days or more--there are few places a cargo ship can't reach. Voyage destinations on cargo ships can change, so the many options available will often surprise you. You need to be adventurous enough to do your research, find a specialized cargo ship travel agent (see resources below), and then get on board.

The Golden Rules of Cargo Ship Travel

• Be prepared to make your own fun. There are seldom programmed activities aside from the odd safety drill.
• Go before you're too old. An upper age limit of 77-80 years is not uncommon, as no doctor on board and there are often plenty of stairs.
• Check that your travel insurance covers freighter travel.
• Be flexible. Schedules can and do change frequently. You may need 2-3 ships to reach your destination.
• Book in advance. Cabins are limited and the most popular routes can be sold out by ships months ahead.
• Forget about working in exchange for your passage. Current union rules mean this is no longer permitted.
• Take a good supply of seasickness pills. While not very common, rough weather can occur, sending tables, chairs, and your stomach flying across the room.
• Wifi and other modern electronics are now often available on cargo ships for travelers . If connectivity is important to you, ask whether those options are accessible and free in advance.

Friedel Rother gave up her job as a journalist for Reuters to ride a bicycle around the world with her husband. They have published two books in addition to cycling.

11 of History’s Most Famous Sea Voyages

By julie fogerson | mar 11, 2022.

Throughout history, sea travel in the name of exploration, trade, and research has provided a watery road to modern globalism. We have always wondered at the waves, finding ways to wade deeper and wander further: The world’s oldest known boat, the Pesse canoe , dates to around 8000 BCE; there is evidence Egyptians began sailing around 4000 BCE ; and the Phoenicians are credited with ship-building expertise that allowed them to circumnavigate Africa in 600 BCE. Here are 11 incredible sea voyages and voyagers that helped advance our understanding of the world.

1. Leif Erikson’s Voyage to North America // c. 1000

Born in 970, Norse explorer Leif Erikson was the second son of Erik the Red , a native of Iceland who colonized Greenland around 980. According to Viking sagas written a few centuries after the events, Erikson heard about an unfamiliar land to the west of Greenland and went to investigate it, eventually landing with a small crew on the northern peninsula of Newfoundland. Though the settlement didn't last long, archaeological evidence and the sagas suggest that Erikson’s Vikings were the first Europeans to set foot in North America .

2. Zheng He’s Seven Diplomatic Voyages // 1405-1433

Beginning life as Ma Sanbao in 1371, Zheng He grew up in a prosperous Muslim family in China. When he was about 10, he was captured during Emperor Hong Wu’s attack on his city and made to serve as a court eunuch. He eventually rose up the ranks, becoming a valued diplomat and commander of the Ming Dynasty’s navy. He embarked on his first voyage in 1405 , commanding the emperor’s enormous fleet of “treasure ships.” Some of the hundreds of vessels were 400 feet in length, and the whole armada was crewed by 28,000 sailors. During his seven expeditions to lands surrounding the South China Sea and Indian Ocean, Zheng He helped spread China’s culture and political influence. Chinese emigration increased, as did tributes to Chinese leaders . Upon Zheng He’s death in 1433, and the establishment of a new emperor, the expeditions’ ships and logs were destroyed. This ended the “golden era” of Chinese sea exploration, making room for Europeans .

3. Ferdinand Magellan’s Circumnavigation of the Globe // 1519-1522

Portuguese sailor Ferdinand Magellan’s voyage is credited with being first to circumnavigate the globe. In 1519, approximately 260 men and five ships set sail from Spain, searching for a western route to the Spice Islands (in modern-day Indonesia). Magellan named the Pacific Ocean ( Pacific means “peaceful”) and discovered the Strait of Magellan at the bottom of South America by accident (it's still used to this day for navigation between the Atlantic and Pacific). While Magellan deserves his due for masterminding the voyage, a poison arrow ended him in 1521 upon his arrival in the Philippines. According to some historians, Enrique , an enslaved Malay man in Magellan’s crew, completed the circumnavigation first, albeit over more than one voyage, before Magellan’s remaining 18 crewmembers made it back to Spain in 1522.

4. “Pirate Queen” Grace O’Malley’s Defense of Ireland // c. 1546-1586

Irish seafarer Gráinne Ní Mháille, a.k.a. Grace O’Malley, a.k.a. Ireland’s pirate queen, is considered one of the last Irish clan rulers to fight against English domination in Ireland. Born in 1530, Grace began her high-stakes, high seas career at age 11, when Ireland was ruled by about 40 Gaelic clans (the O’Malley clan motto was “powerful by land and by sea”). When her father died, it was Grace and not her elder brother who became clan leader, managing two galleys, 20 ships, and more than 200 men to plunder coastal strongholds and defend against English encroachment. When Grace negotiated the release of prisoners and seized land with Queen Elizabeth I, she demanded an audience as an equal . A respected matriarch in her time, she was omitted from history for centuries. Today, she is celebrated for her leadership at sea.

5. The Sea Venture’s Adventure // 1609-1610

The Sea Venture has been dubbed “ the shipwreck that saved Jamestown ” and inspired William Shakespeare while he wrote The Tempest . The ship, part of a convoy sent from England in 1609, was supposed to resupply the desperate Virginia colony . But when it sailed straight into a hurricane and rammed a reef around then-uninhabited Bermuda, the Sea Venture ’s adventure appeared to be over. However, all 150 souls aboard survived by swimming to shore and set about building two new ships to take them the rest of the way. The castaways arrived in Jamestown about 10 months later. Their story of survival not only restored England’s desire to make its American colony a success; it also led to the second English colony established in the Americas—not in New England, but in Bermuda.

6. The Mayflower’s Arrival in North America // 1620

The Mayflower , a second-hand merchant ship carrying 102 passengers, left Plymouth, England, for North America in 1620. Forty of the passengers were Protestant separatists (later known as Pilgrims) who sought to establish a colony in America where they could practice their religion freely. They had permission to settle anywhere on the coast between the Chesapeake Bay and New York Harbor. But two miserable months after launch, the Mayflower landed in New England, about one degree of latitude north of where it was meant to be. The colonists named the new settlement Plymouth, drafted a document to set guidelines for self-governance, and launched a historic experiment in democracy and religious freedom.

7. The Three Voyages of James Cook // 1768-1780

James Cook vowed to sail “ as far as I think it possible for man to go ” and ended up mapping more territory than any other mariner of his era. He joined the British Royal Navy in his twenties, and in 1767 produced a chart of Newfoundland that was so accurate it was still being used in the 20th century . Cook led his first exploratory expedition in 1768, destined for the South Pacific to observe the transit of Venus and to chart New Zealand, Tasmania, and parts of Australia. He came quite close to spotting Antarctica during a second circumnavigation to explore and map several South Pacific islands. In 1776, on his third and last epic voyage, Cook came within 50 miles of the western entrance to the Northwest Passage in the Bering Strait. He was the first European commander to visit Hawaii, where friction increased between his crew and the local people; Cook was killed by Native Hawaiians in 1779 and the expedition concluded without him the following year. Among his countless observations and discoveries, Cook found that fresh fruits seemed to prevent scurvy , without knowing just how the remedy worked.

8. The Wreck of the Whaler Essex // 1820

Another voyage serving up literary inspiration is the tale of the Essex . An 87-foot whaling ship, the Essex was built of incredibly strong white oak and fitted for a 2.5-year voyage. It left Nantucket in 1819, made its way around Cape Horn, and headed into the South Pacific. On November 20, 1820, an 85-foot sperm whale rammed the ship twice and caused it to sink, serving some small measure of justice on behalf of his species (numbering 300,000 today from an estimated 1.1 million prior to whaling). While the 20 crewmembers initially survived, they drifted in boats across the open ocean for three months and eventually resorted to cannibalism. Only eight made it home . Herman Melville based the climactic scene in Moby-Dick on the Essex tragedy.

9. Charles Darwin’s Voyage on the HMS Beagle // 1831-1836

Charles Darwin said his education “ really began aboard the Beagle .” A fresh university graduate at age 22, Darwin paused his planned career as a clergyman and joined the Beagle as its naturalist. Setting sail in 1831, the ship’s mission was to journey around the world, surveying the South American coast and conducting chronometric studies. Time spent in the Galápagos truly informed Darwin’s theories on evolution, providing an opportunity to observe species development in an isolated environment. Darwin also considered coral, recording geological observations about islands and coastlines . And the Beagle , commanded by Lieutenant Robert FitzRoy, achieved its goal of accurately charting the coast of South America, including the Strait of Magellan's dangerous shoals.

10. Ernest Shackleton’s Miraculous Endurance // 1914-1916

Anglo-Irish mariner Ernest Shackleton first sailed to Antarctica in 1901 on a mission to reach the South Pole, which ended with a bad case of scurvy. He would come within 97 nautical miles of the pole on his second expedition. But it was his third venture aboard the Endurance for which he is most famous. In 1914, he led a crew of 28 men intending to be the first to cross Antarctica by land, but the ship became trapped in pack ice for 10 months and sank on November 21, 1915. The crew set up camp on ice floes, drifted on treacherous seas, and washed up on an uninhabited polar island. Shackleton and five men then sailed 800 miles across the planet’s most rambunctious seas for rescue. All hands succeeded in their revised mission: survival . Shackleton’s story serves as a lesson in leadership against all odds and overcoming outrageous obstacles.

11. Thor Heyerdahl’s Maritime Experiment in the Kon-Tiki and More // 1947-1978

Thor Heyerdahl, a Norwegian ethnologist, mounted several transoceanic scientific expeditions . His expeditions on the Kon-Tiki, a balsa-wood raft launched in 1947, and Ra , a copy of an Egyptian reed boat crewed in 1969, proved the possibility of ancient contact between distant civilizations. Leaving from Peru, Kon-Tiki reached the South Pacific three and a half months later, lending evidence to the theory that pre-Columbian sailors could have navigated across the Pacific. Ra sailed from Morocco to within 600 miles of Central America and hinted at the possibility that Egyptian mariners could have influenced pre-contact cultures. And in 1977-1978, sailing a reed boat named the Tigris , Heyerdahl suggested that ancient Sumerians could well have reached southwest Asia. His thought-provoking theories are still being debated.

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Cargo ship cruise to every destination

Cargoholidays the best freight cruise arround.

Cargo ship cruise to every destination. A freighter is probably exactly what you think it is: a cargo ship that travels the world delivering goods and products. Most of the major global freighter lines, CMA-CGM, Canada Maritime on Cargo ship cruise, and Freighter World Cruise offer any person seeking adventure the chance to come aboard for a fare on Cargo ship. As a paying passenger, you are accommodated in guest cabins and have access to most areas of the ship. While freighter travel is not as unaccommodating as one may think, it is generally for people who would prefer a laid-back setting on ship cruise, with a more rugged edge to it than your standard Carnival cruise. Some amenities you’ll see on a large cruise ship won’t be available on a smaller freighter ship for Cargo ship cruise.

Where can you go? Anywhere goods are delivered! The global shipping industry is huge; think of how many ports welcome cargo ships every day. For example, Freighter World Travel offers a 55-day trip from Long Beach, California via two ports in New Zealand, three ports in Australia and other stops in Tahiti, Mexico, Washington, and British Columbia in cargo cruise to travel by Cargo ship cruise to every destination for Cargo ship cruise. This, however on Cargo ship, is just one of Freighter World Travel’s routes. All shipping companies have certain freighters covering routes specific to their company. So shop around for a freighter that goes to the right places for you. The length of the trip will depend on you. Many tickets can be bought round trip or from your starting port to only one other port; it all depends on where you want to go, which is the beauty of freighter travel! Some trips can be as short as 15 days or as long as 120 days for Cargo ship cruise. The shortest passages are transatlantic and these vary between 8 and 12 days each way, while a freighter voyage can make it around the world in between 80 and 120 days on ship cruise. Many people do not like to go all the way around the world due to time and money. Segmented trips are possible with a stopover in port for as long as you want. You can resume your voyage or fly home by plane if you have had enough. Segmented trips are perfect for people who do not have a lot of time to spend.

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• 13-Night Ushuaia Roundtrip 11.22.24
• 5-Night King George Island Roundtrip 11.27.24
• 11-Night Ushuaia Roundtrip 11.28.24
• 5-Night King George Island Roundtrip 12.2.24
• 11-Night Roundtrip Ushuaia 12.9.24
• 11-Night Ushuaia Roundtrip 12.9.24
• 11-Night Ushuaia Roundtrip 1.5.25
• 9-Night Ushuaia Roundtrip 1.6.25
• 11-Night Ushuaia Roundtrip 1.9.25
• 9-Night Ushuaia Roundtrip 1.15.25
• 18-Night Ushuaia Roundtrip 1.16.25
• 11-Night Ushuaia Roundtrip 1.24.25
• 11-Night Ushuaia Roundtrip 2.3.25
• 9-Night Ushuaia Roundtrip 2.4.25
• 11-Night Ushuaia Roundtrip 2.11.25
• 9-Night Ushuaia Roundtrip 2.13.25
• 10-Night Ushuaia Roundtrip 1.5.26
• 10-Night Ushuaia Roundtrip 1.6.26
• 18-Night Ushuaia Roundtrip 1.8.26
• 9-Night Ushuaia Roundtrip 1.15.26
• 9-Night Ushuaia Roundtrip 1.16.26
• 9-Night Ushuaia Roundtrip 1.24.26
• 11-Night Ushuaia Roundtrip 1.25.26
• 11-Night Ushuaia Roundtrip 1.26.26
• 11-Night Ushuaia Roundtrip 2.2.26
• 9-Night Ushuaia Roundtrip 2.5.26
• View Antarctica
• 7-Night Tromso to Longyearbyen 6.21.24
• 9-Night Longyearbyen Roundtrip 6.28.24
• 9-Night Longyearbyen Roundtrip 7.7.24
• 11-Night Longyearbyen Roundtrip 7.16.24
• 10-Night Reykjavik to Kangerlussuaq 8.5.24
• 10-Night Kangerlussuaq to Reykjavik 8.15.24
• 11-Night Reykjavik to Kangerlussuaq 8.21.24
• 12-Night Reykjavik to Longyearbyen 8.25.24
• 11-Night Kangerlussuaq to Reykjavik 9.1.24
• 9-Night Longyearbyen to Reykjavik 9.6.24
• 24-Night Edinburgh To Longyearbyen 6.17.25
• 12-Night Trondheim to Longyearbyen 06.29.25
• 9-Night Longyearbyen Roundtrip 7.11.25
• 11-Night Longyearbyen Roundtrip 7.20.25
• 18-Night Copenhagen To Longyearbyen 8.8.25
• 10-Night Reykjavík To Kangerlussuaq 8.09.25
• 9-Night Tromso to Longyearbyen 8.17.25
• 10-Night Kangerlussuaq To Reykjavík 8.19.25
• 9-Night Longyearbyen Roundtrip 8.26.25
• 10-Night Longyearbyen to Reykjavik 9.4.25
• View The Arctic
• 17-Night Lisbon to Dublin 5.7.24
• 8-Night London to Dublin 5.16.24
• 8-Night Dublin to Reykjavik 5.24.24
• 11-Night London to Tromso 6.10.24
• 11-Night Oslo to Reykjavik 8.10.24
• 8-Night Reykjavik to Amsterdam 9.12.24
• 9-Night Dublin to London 9.23.24
• 10-Night London to Glasgow 5.26.25
• 12-Night Edinburgh to Trondheim 6.17.25
• 11-Night Reykjavik to Oslo 7.10.25
• 9-Night Stockholm To Copenhagen 7.30.25
• 9-Night Copenhagen to Tromso 8.8.25
• 14-Night Reykjavík to Dublin 8.29.25
• 7-Night Reykjavík to Dublin 8.29.25
• View Northern Europe
• 8-Night Reykjavik Roundtrip 6.1.24
• 9-Night Reykjavik to Bergen 6.9.24
• 9-Night Reykjavik Roundtrip 7.3.24
• 11-Night Reykjavik to Oslo 7.12.24
• 7-Night Reykjavik Roundtrip 6.19.25
• 8-Night Reykjavík To Dublin 09.14.25
• View Iceland & Greenland
• 9-Night Nice to Lisbon 4.28.24
• 7-Night Casablanca to Barcelona 4.29.24
• 7-Night Barcelona Roundtrip 5.6.24
• 9-Night Lisbon to London 5.7.24
• 7-Night Barcelona to Nice 5.13.24
• 9-Night Nice to Venice 5.27.24
• 21-Night Lisbon to Tromso 5.31.24
• 10-Night Lisbon to London 5.31.24
• 9-Night Venice to Athens 6.5.24
• 10-Night Athens to Valletta 6.14.24
• 12-Night Las Palmas to Casablanca 4.15.25
• 15-Night Barcelona to Rome 05.05.25
• 17-Night Lisbon to Zeebrugge 5.20.25
• 7-Night Rome to Barcelona 05.20.25
• 7-Night Lisbon To Bordeaux 5.20.25
• 14-Night Barcelona To Venice 5.27.25
• 10-Night Bordeaux to Zeebrugge 5.27.25
• 11-Night Venice To Rome 6.10.25
• 8-Night Naples To Nice 7.12.25
• 16-Night Naples To Barcelona 7.12.25
• 10-Night Santa Cruz (Tenerife) To Lisbon 4.9.26
• View Mediterranean
• 10-Night Montevideo to Ushuaia 11.3.24
• 13-Night Ushuaia to Buenos Aires 4.2.25
• 10- Night Buenos Aires to Rio de Janeiro 3.16.26
• 14-Night Rio de Janeiro to Tenerife 3.26.26
• View South America
• 13-Night Bridgetown to Lisbon 5.16.24
• 16-Night Palma de Mallorca to Las Palmas 9.23.24
• 13-Night Las Palmas to Rio de Janeiro 10.14.24
• View Transoceanic
• 7-Night Bridgetown to Philipsburg 5.2.24
• 7-Night Philipsburg to Bridgetown 5.9.24
• 20-Night Philipsburg to Lisbon 5.9.24
• View The Caribbean
• 13-Night Ushuaia to Buenos Aires 3.3.26
• View Patagonia & The Falklands
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World voyager ™.

Experience extraordinary Antarctica to the fullest and in the shortest amount of time aboard our newest yacht, World Voyager ™ . Spend more time exploring the Antarctic Peninsula by flying over the Drake Passage one way and still lay claim to the iconic experience of sailing the other direction with our NEW Drake Express options. Or, if you’re an intrepid explorer, you can still conquer the famed Drake Passage both ways with all Ushuaia Roundtrip expeditions.

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Virgin Voyages

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Brilliant lady, resilient lady, valiant lady, scarlet lady, review of virgin voyages.

Virgin Voyages (formerly "Virgin Cruises", VirginVoyages.com) is a new cruise line company headquartered in Plantation (Florida USA). Virgin Voyages was created as a joint venture between Virgin Group Ltd (British multinational holding company) and Bain Capital LP (multi-asset investment company), with the latter having a majority (51%) shareholding. The establishment of Virgin Cruises was announced by Virgin Group on December 4, 2014. The new cruise line is scheduled to start operations in 2020.

Company History

Bain Capital (1984-founded) is based in Boston (Massachusetts USA) and specializes in private equity, venture capital, credit, public equity, life sciences and real estate, with assets (under management in FY2018) ~USD 105 billion. Virgin Group Ltd (1970-founded by Richard Branson and Nik Powell) is based in London (England UK) and specializes in global investments and branding through numerous fully- or partially-owned subsidiary companies in businesses like travel (cruises, hotels, tours, airlines, trains), hospitality, health, banking, retail, communications, entertainment, publishing, charity.

Virgin Group's best-known brands are Virgin Holidays, Virgin Voyages, Virgin Megastores, Virgin Hotels, Virgin Care, Virgin Trains USA (Brightline), and Virgin Airlines (Australia, Atlantic, Connect, and Galactic/spaceflights).

Virgin Voyages operates a fleet of four fully-owned cruise vessels constructed by the Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri SpA (at Sestri Ponente shipyard/ Genoa ).

In FY2018, Fincantieri reported revenue of EUR 5,4 billion. Currently ranked Europe's largest shipbuilding company, Fincantieri has 8 shipyards (all in Italy), in 2013 acquired VARD (Norway-based company with 9 shipyards) and in 2018 purchased 50% of STX France (Chantiers de l'Atlantique Shipyard in St Nazaire ). Fincantieri builds both commercial and naval ships.

In 2020, Virgin Cruises officially started operations (from Miami Florida USA ) with the 2800-passenger Scarlet Lady . Three more sisterships were inaugurated in the following years - Valiant Lady (2021), Resilient Lady (2022) and Brilliant Lady (2024).

The announcement (initially for 3 ships) was made on June 23, 2015, in Miami, during a press conference (media event "making waves") for Virgin Group's new cruise travel brand. For the event, Richard Branson arrived on a helicopter, landing near Miami's Museum Park. He announced that the total building cost for the 3 ships is USD 2,13 billion (US$710M per unit). The announcement for the 4th ship was made on October 31, 2018, with order value ~EUR 700 million.

The company's current President and CEO is Nirmal Saverimuttu (1979-born in Zambian, raised in Australia), who in September 2023 succeeded Thomas Michael McAlpin (1959-born American). McAlpin joined DCL-Disney Cruise Line in 1995 (as VP of Finance, Business Development & Shore Travel Operations) overseeing the construction of the first Disney ships ( Magic /1998 and Wonder /1999) and the development of Walt Disney's private Bahamian island Castaway Cay . In 2004, he became DCL's President. Prior to heading Virgin Cruises, McAlpin served as CEO of The World Residences at Sea (in the period 2009-2014). Following his retirement from CEO and President, Tom McAlpin continued to serve Virgin Voyages as Chairman of the Board of Directors.

Earlier in 2016, Virgin settled US$300M lawsuits filed by Colin Veitch (former NCL-Norwegian CEO), who claimed Virgin had stolen his ideas and moved on with the cruise line concept without him.

Tom McAlpin commented that the company is not to be considered a big player in the cruising industry, but rather "a small boutique line that will offer different experiences". McAlpin and Branson hinted that those experiences might take some cues from other successful Virgin ventures, like Virgin Hotels. The hotel chain is popular for offering free WiFi, minibar drinks at street prices, privacy doors allowing guests to go on about their business while room service brings requests, pet-friendly amenities with no weight or size restrictions.

In October 2016, "Virgin Cruises" was rebranded as "Virgin Voyages". At the time it was first announced, the company's founder Branson said his goal was to create a brand cruising experience that is more likely to appeal to millennials and other people who don't normally take cruise ship vacations.

In regard to onboard gratuities, the company has "No Tipping" policy, which means all gratuities are included in the base cruise fares. Also included in basic fares are beverages, all eateries, group fitness classes. The company also doesn't charge penalties or change fees. Customers are able to hold staterooms for 24 hours with no money down once they've placed a 20% non-refundable deposit. They also have a 7-day grace period allowing them to change bookings for any reason. Cruise departure date and names on bookings can be changed without fees or penalties. Shortly before opening the bookings on Scarlet Lady (Feb 14, 2019), Virgin announced all-inclusive deal policy by which cruises are sold "by cabin price". Fares are also inclusive of dining (shipwide / 20 options, some 24-hour), unlimited WiFi, all fitness classes. Cabin pricing only varies by the number of occupants. For 5-day itineraries, fares start from ~USD 250 pp per day (excluding taxes-fees).

Virgin Cruises' "non-commissionable policy" allows travel agents to earn across customer's entire transaction, including on add-ons (hotels, flights, travel insurance, spa treatments, tours/excursions, premium packages, onboard credits, taxes, fees). Travel agents receive 16% base commission on the transaction (increased from 10% by the expanded "Brilliant To Do Business With" program). "Red Hot Bonus" program additionally offers annually paid revenue up to 6% (in case certain production thresholds are met) in addition to 10% commission on everything sold prior the cruise (excepting taxes and fees).

Company changes 2019 (pre-inauguration)

In early-April 2019, Virgin Voyages signed an exclusive 7-year partnership deal with OSW (OneSpaWorld Holdings Ltd) - a provider of health-and-wellness services and products on cruise vessels and in destination resorts worldwide. OSW provides all the wellness staff, services and products onboard Virgin ships, including yoga and gym trainers, massages, medispa treatments, salon (manicure-pedicure-hairdresser) services. Each ship has a 29-person OSW-employed professional staff. The served facilities include Crow's Nest (outdoor yoga studio), Redemption Spa, Dry-Dock (blowout bar), B-Complex (Fitness Center).

In April 2019, Virgin and Intelligentsia Coffee signed a deal to provide Intelligentsia coffee (Virgin Voyages Blend) and made-to-order beverages at all venues, including the specialty coffee bars ("Ministry of Ground" and "Ministry of Ground Too") served by expert baristas.

In June 2019, Virgin expanded the list of RockStar Suite-only perks with RockStar Agents (dedicated butlers per stateroom), specially dedicated hair and makeup crew (upon request), complimentary laundry service, complimentary Thermal Suite access (Redemption Spa), all-inclusive premium drinks (in all shipboard eateries and bars), personalized bottomless in-room bar (free of charge), option to curate in-port activities.

In late-October 2019 was approved the agreement for Brightline Miami to be rebranded "Virgin Trains" and Virgin Group to build a train station (Virgin Trains PortMiami) at the cruise port. The new station serves high-speed trains and connects PortMiami directly with the USA's intercity railway system and Orlando International Airport.

On November 12, 2019, Richard Branson announced that the second Virgin ship ( Valiant Lady ) will be seasonally homeported in Sydney (NSW Australia) . Branson was in Sydney to launch a partnership between Virgin Australia Airlines and Virgin Voyages and promote affordable Australian and Caribbean fly-cruise deals on Scarlet Lady.

On December 13, 2019, was officially released the "Ship No. 1" perfume (aka "the fragrance of Scarlet Lady"). The sea lavender-based perfume was created by Air Aroma - a company specializing in scent marketing and fragrance systems (diffusers, Aropromo sale scenting devices). Virgin's Ship No. 1 is infused throughout Scarlet Lady. The perfume can be also purchased (only online - via ItSmellsLikeShip.com) for USD 50 per bottle. All net proceeds from these sales go to Ocean Unite (non-profit foundation of 30+ political leaders and business tycoons).

On December 19, 2019, was announced the "Sailor Loot" (OBC/onboard credit) program. These promotions offer OBC (per cabin) for shipboard spending during the current voyage. The OBC is based on the stateroom category and ranges from US$ 100 (interior and oceanview) to US$200 (balcony) and up to US$ 400 (suites).

Now each Virgin cruise ship offers 50+ activities and events. The onboard programming features live performances (by the company's Hapenings Cast) and is managed by Richard Kilman (Virgin's VP of Entertainment).

Company changes 2024

In February Steven Worling (Senior Director of Infrastructure & Security) announced that Virgin Voyages would roll out fleetwide an improved connectivity (Internet/Wi-Fi package) with SES Cruise mPOWERED + Starlink PRO (satellite service), with onboard connectivity 1,5 Gbps (max per ship). The Internet is provided via MEO and LEO satellites (Medium Earth Orbit and Low Earth Orbit). Shipboard Wi-Fi access is unlimited and for multiple devices per guest.

Company changes 2023

In February, Virgin replaced Harding UK (Bristol-based global travel retail business) with Starboard Cruise Services (Doral Florida-based company). As of 2023, Starboard was contracted by 11 cruise lines and operated on 90+ ships worldwide.

In March was announced an expansion of onboard entertainment fleetwide. The announcement mentioned new cabaret and game shows, new parties (80s Party, We Fancy), and more live music (by the hosted in The Red Room and The Manor program Festival Stage Acts/comedy shows rotating every 2 to 4 weeks). The list of new productions includes three fleetwide game shows (Duel Reality, Untitled DanceShowPartyThing, Miss Behave), the cabaret show Lola’s Library (fleetwide), as well as 3 new productions debuting on Resilient Lady (Persephone, Mind Mangler, Another Rose/Supper Club Series).

In April Virgin signed a partnership deal with WPT/World Poker Tour (2002-founded, internationally televised gaming and entertainment brand). The premium poker experience is offered on Scarlet Lady during all 4-5-night Caribbean itineraries. The ship's new WPT at Sea Poker Room is fitted with 8 poker tables and served by professional dealers. The new gaming venue hosts beginner training sessions, as well as cash games and WPT Prize Package poker tournaments with buy-ins between US$80-320. The US$320 buy-in WPT Prize tournament is held once per cruise. The prize (US$5000) can be used on any future voyage or WPT tournament.

In September, Nirmal Saverimuttu succeeded Michael McAlpin as the company's President and CEO. Along with the new appointment was announced a capital raise of USD 550 million (~EUR 512M/~GBP 440M) with funds managed by Ares Management's Private Equity Group. As of 2023, Ares had ~US$49,2 billion of AUM/assets under management.

In October 2023, Michelle Bentubo was appointed COO/Chief Operating Officer. In 2016-2023 she served the company as VP of Technology & Operations. Previously, she has held executive positions at Walt Disney World (Director of Experience Development), DCL-Disney Cruise Line (Director of Disney's Magical Express) and Bank of America (SVP Technology/2013-16).

In November 2023, Peter Hunt was appointed CFO/Chief Financial Officer. He previously served as CFO for Service King Collision Repair (1976-founded automotive company) and before that was in the leadership team of Virgin America Inc (2004-founded/2018-merged with Alaska Airlines).

Company changes 2022

In March 2022 was announced a partnership with Jennifer Lynn Lopez (1969-born American actress and singer) via her brand company "JLo Beauty and Lifestyle LLC". Jennifer Lopez joined Virgin Voyages as an investor and chief of entertainment/advisor/lifestyle officer. As part of the partnership, fleetwide was introduced "JLo Beauty" (onboard shop) selling the superstar's products at sea for the first time. In June 2023, she was appointed as Virgin's Chief Celebrations Officer.

In September 2022 debuted Virgin's loyalty program "The Sailing Club" by which repeat customers are provided with two main complimentary perks - "Deep Blue Extras" (premium WiFi, invitations to onboard cocktail parties, laundry services) and "Red Hot Booking Bonus Months" (discounted booking with additional OBC/onboard credit).

In September 2022 Virgin partnered with RSB/Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials (an independent global membership organization). Virgin also signed long-term agreements with three providers of waste-based sustainable fuels (Argent Energy, GoodFuels, Twelve) to supply the fleet's bunker fuels.

Company changes 2021

In mid-November 2021 was announced an investment in Virgin Voyages by Patricof & Co (1969-founded by Alan Patricof, specializing in venture capital investments). The company is part of Apax Partners LLP (London UK-based equity firm) that also includes Multinational Management Group (1972-founded) and Saunders Karp & Megrue (1988-founded).

In December 2021 was announced the partnership with the House Spirits Distillery () for the fleetwide presence of the brand "Aviation American Gin" (aka Aviation Gin/alcohol volume 42%, produced in Portland Oregon since 2006). Signature cocktails (based on the Aviation Gin) available for ordering at each Virgin ship include "The Double Agent at SIP", "Razzle Dazzle's Electric Fizz", "Stella's Groove at The Manor", "Gunbae's French 75".

Company changes 2020

On April 1, 2020, the company launched its "Jet Transfers Direct to Ship" service. The exclusive "fly-cruise" deal is for RockStar Suite passengers only, allowing them to arrive and depart the boat via chartered or private aircraft. The planes land at The Runway - a top-deck open space (Deck 17 aft) surrounded by a raised Jogging Track.

Virgin cruise ships

On June 23, 2015, Virgin announced it had signed a Letter of Intent with Fincantieri (shipbuilder based in Trieste Italy ) for the construction of 3 ships scheduled for deliveries in 2020-2021-2022 (entering service in 15-month increments).

The shipbuilding order was officially finalized on December 21, 2016. The boats are of the so-called "Lady-class", mid-sized (volume 110000 GT-tons), max passenger capacity 2860 (1410 cabins/90% with balconies), 1150 crew-staff.

The shipbuilding contract was valued at ~EUR 2 billion. The first unit's construction (Scarlet Lady) started with the steel-cutting on March 22, 2017. For the vessel design and construction, Virgin contracted the marine architecture and naval design companies "Roman and Williams" (NYC), Concrete Amsterdam, Tom Dixon's Design Research Studio (London UK), Gem Srl (Italy), Softroom (London UK), WORKac (NYC), Knibb Design, HL Studio (UK), HKS Architects (Dallas USA), PearsonLloyd (London UK).

The first ship's ( Scarlet Lady ) keel-laying ceremony was held on October 31, 2017, and attended by Sir Richard Branson, Tom McAlpin, and Boy George (UK singer, songwriter, fashion designer) who performed as superstar DJ. During the ceremony were also revealed the ship design and hull art of the future Virgin "Lady Ships".

The next image shows the ship's stern (aft) and the signature funnel shape - designed to be a major part of its exterior design. The aft of the superstructure also shows the Promenade Deck and 7 decks of cabin balconies towering above.

Each boat has 86% balcony staterooms and 93% oceanview (outside) cabins. These newbuilds greatly differ from other passenger liners (as design) and target younger and more adventurous travellers (called "sailors").

Virgin's ships are adults-only (passengers under 18 yo/teenagers and kids are not allowed) and Bahamas- flagged (registered in Nassau ).

Dining on Virgin Voyages ships is ticket price-inclusive - no extra charges are applied to any of the 20-plus onboard dining options. The cruise company doesn't believe in "paying more for great food", so it ditched traditional surcharges levied in specialty restaurants. All eateries offer "exceptional made-to-order eats" - complimentary.

As part of the company's sustainable travel policy, Virgin banned single-use plastics and there is no buffet food on the ships. All shipboard food is made-to-order - to reduce waste and lower energy consumption and emissions. Savings are reinvested into fresh (locally sourced) top-quality products, exotic ingredients, highly trained staff, and clean technologies. In April 2019 was signed a partnership with Emerald Brand to supply the fleet with "Tree-Free" (disposable) paper products, including facial-bath tissues, paper towels, napkins, hot cups. Those are made from 60-100% Tree-Free materials via technologies that use by-products of agricultural crops usually wasted or burned.

The company doesn't follow any traditional cruise dining concepts. Virgin ships don't have a main dining room, buffet restaurant, dress code (formal wear policy), assigned dining times or seating. All these concepts were replaced with intimate (boutique hotel-type) eateries offering 20+ dining options - all of which are included in cruise fares.

Virgin ships' signature facilities and venues include:

• Athletic Club (training center) is an outdoor gym area with a boxing ring and gym club equipment) located top-deck aft. Part of the Sports Deck is also the raised jogging track (Runway track, red-white colored), sundeck with open-air lounge (furnished with double daybeds and semi-circular loungers), triple netting area (overlooking below decks), 10 private cabanas (cushioned bed, low table, 2 lounge chairs), beverage service (from the outdoor Sports Bar), foosball tables, swimming pool, showers.
• MyBeast is an outdoor playground / poolside gym area.
• The Crow's Nest (aft sundeck) offers 360-degree views and is furnished with loungers and mats colored in Virgin's signature red. Here are also hosted sunrise and sunset outdoor yoga classes.
• The B Complex in an indoor fitness center with Technogym ARTIS equipment, floor-ceiling windows and separate rooms (studios) for cycling, yoga, cardio and spinning classes.
• Gym and Tonic Bar serves cold-pressed fresh juices.
• Pink Agave is a Mexican restaurant with porthole windows, metallic lighting fixtures, large tables, an elongated curved area (intimate seating with 2-seat tables), separate bar (in the Lobby), private dining room (can be booked for parties and other private events).
• The Manor is ship's 2-deck high Disco Nightclub with a large dance floor.
• The Dock is an outdoor lounge (aft on Deck 7) with cushioned wooden furniture (loungers, deckchairs, daybeds).
• Test Kitchen restaurant features lab-like design (metallic furniture, beakers, test tubes),
• Richard's Rooftop is a top-deck VIP area (Suite passengers-only sundeck) furnished with daybeds, deckchairs, circular loungers, large umbrellas, colored crystals.
• Redemption is the ship's Spa complex (on Deck 5) consisting of a Reception, Mud Room, Salt Room, Hydrotherapy Pool, cold plunge pool, Jacuzzi, Thermal Suite (indoor spa with porthole windows, plunge pool and Jacuzzi), treatment rooms (for massages and treatments) with quartz-mattress beds, Dry Dock Salon (hairdressing services), Stubble and Groom (barbershop), Blow Dry Bar, Male pedicure Spa, Mani-pedi Spa. At night, the wellness complex transforms into a dancing lounge with live DJ music.
• Razzle Dazzle is the vegan-vegetarian restaurant. Part of Razzle Dazzle is Red Bar - juice bar for fresh-squeezed juices and tonics, as well as crafted cocktails from a menu that varies every night. In two days per voyage, at Razzle Dazzle are hosted Drag Brunches featuring live entertainment by "sassy drag queens".

Via the Sailor App (when your phone is shaken), a secret Champagne button allows you to order Moet-Chandon Champagne (Brut Imperial, 750 ml bottle) delivered in an ice bucket and with two glasses. The service is called "Shake for Champagne" and provided anywhere on the ship. The premium wine can be also enjoyed at The Sip - the ship's wine lounge (Virgin's champagne house).- where also is available traditional British Afternoon Tea service.

Virgin cruise passengers are offered complimentary water (filtered and sparkling) at all onboard bars and restaurants. Throughout the ship, there are also complimentary water stations.

Virgin ships' hull art designs are Mermaid-themed (by different artists) and Inspired by traditional figureheads mounted on the bows of historic wooden ships. The designs symbolize the vessels' feminine spirit.

Ship technology

One of the cruise ships' features is the advanced clean energy system provided by the Swedish company Climeon Ocean. The new technology allows reducing CO2 emissions by converting the generated by diesel engines' heat into electricity for shipboard use. Each of the newbuilds has 6 such Climeon units, saving ~5400 tons of carbon dioxide annually. The ship's waste processing system is provided by Scanship.

On April 30, 2018, Virgin Voyages signed with Wartsila (marine technologies Finnish corporation / former shipbuilder) a 10-year "Optimised Maintenance Agreement" giving the corporation extensive and exclusive responsibility of the fleet's technical maintenance. Wartsila's "Dynamic Maintenance Planning" system allows maintenance works to be scheduled based on remotely (real-time) monitored and analyzed vessel performance data. This allows extending service intervals (when onboard equipment doesn't require maintenance).

The Virgin-Wartsila deal includes Remote Operational Support Services, Specific Fuel Oil Consumption, spare parts, engines technical advisory services, comprehensive technical support, personnel training. Wartsila-made ship equipment includes 46F diesel engines, Hybrid Scrubber System, SCR (Selective Catalytic Reduction/exhaust gas cleaning) and NACOS Platinum series (navigation and automation control systems).

• Each Virgin ship is powered by two 8-cylinder plus two 12-cylinder "Wartsila 46F" marine diesel engines. Wartsila's Hybrid Scrubber System operates in both open and closed-loop and uses seawater to remove SOx from the ship's exhaust. It also significantly reduces NOx emissions.
• Propulsion is based on ABB Azipod XO system (electric drive motors with off-hull submerged azimuth thrusters / 360--degree rotating propellers). These units provide best maneuverability (allowing in-port navigation without tug assistance) and minimal vibrations/noise. By placing the propulsion units outside the hull, the Azipod system frees up space for more lower-deck staterooms.
• ABB Ability technology is based on a network using real-time data transferred to remote centres monitoring and analyzing the propulsion system data and also offering remote technical support.
• In July 2017, was announced that Wartsila (marine technologies Finnish corporation / former shipbuilder) is the provider of vessels' power plants. Among Wartsila's core products are large diesel engines for cruise ships and ferries .

In April 2019 was contracted V-Ships Leisure USA (ship management company) which is part of V-Group Ltd (vessel management and support services provider, industry's first with a dedicated cruise ship division). V-Ships Leisure is responsible for Virgin ships' technical support/management and crew sourcing.

Virgin cruise line's staff and crew uniforms were designed by Gareth Pugh and manufactured by Cintas Corporation (via the "Design Collective by Cintas" division).

• Cintas Corporation (1929-founded, based in Cincinnati, Ohio USA) specializes in businesses products (both for rental and direct purchase) and services, including uniforms, mats, water coolers, cleaning/restroom supplies (chemicals, mops, microfiber towels, disinfectant sprays, hand sanitizers), first aid/safety products, fire extinguishers (also testing and repairs), employee courses (safety, training, compliance). In 2020, Cintas had 40,000+ employees and total revenue USD 7,09 billion (~EUR 6,12B / ~GBP 5,21B).
• Virgin Voyages Crew apparel collection is based on sustainable fabrics and garments specifically designed according to job functions, body types and climates. Unlike the traditional cruise ship uniforms, Virgin's lack the officers' epaulettes (ornamental shoulder pieces that designate his/her rank), as well as ties and waistcoats.

The project was led by Gareth Pugh (British fashion designer) and supervised by Dee Cooper (Virgin Voyages' SVP Design and Customer Experience).

Next image shows one of the initial (train-like) Virgin ship designs.

Virgin cruise bookings on Scarlet Lady were opened on February 5, 2019 (for customers with pre-sale deposits) and on February 14 (for the general public). Beginning February 5, 2019, at FirstMates.com (dedicated website), the cruise company offers all booking tools and information for travel agents (called "First Mates"), including downloadable and digital materials, interactive learning and more. For February 6th was planned the learning campaign "Cabin Fever" on Scarlet Lady staterooms as they went on sale. The website allows travel agents to make bookings on inaugural cruise season 2020 deals (from February 14) and to contact company's Sailor Services (from February 5) in case they have customers with pre-sale deposits.

Bookings for Valiant Lady cruises (Mediterranean 2021) opened on December 19, 2019.

In February 2020 was announced "The Band" - smart wearable technology to be introduced on Scarlet Lady (April 1). The device is made from recycled marine plastic (sustainability initiative) and developed via partnership with The Bionic Company. The lightweight device (RFID wristband) is mailed to all passengers and is complimentary (keepsake). The Band is activated upon boarding the ship and used for onboard purchases and payments (beverages, Casino gaming), booking tours, cabin access (room key), room service ordering (points guest's current location), VIP pass (for Richard's Rooftop).

Virgin's private island resort "Bimini Beach Club" (Bahamas)

The liner Scarlet Lady is the first cruise ship to stop at "Bimini Beach Club" (Virgin Group's private island resort in Bimini Bahamas ). The exclusive destination allows Virgin's Sailors to enjoy world-class entertainment from a rotating cast of DJs led by Mark Ronson. Virgin's Bimini Beach Club offers premium food with locally sourced ingredients and traditional Bahamian favourites like banana leaf-wrapped queen snapper, conch and mango salad, Bahamian rum cake. The complex has 6 bars, outdoor lounge areas with hammock groves, beach loungers, watersport activities, (optional/at extra cost) private poolside and beach-side cabanas for rent.

RockStar Suite passengers benefit from complimentary food service, exclusive bar and outdoor terrace lounge, VIP beach cabanas. The 7-mile (11-km) long island offers extraordinary activities like boating, snorkeling, wreck diving. The partially sunk wreck of SS Sapona (concrete-hulled steamship that ran aground in 1926) is located just a few miles off the island's southern coast.

Virgin's private resort is located on North Bimini Island and at a short bus transfer from the docking pier. It was built via partnership with Resorts World Bimini. This is a 750-acres (3 km2 / 1,2 mi2) beachfront resort-casino-marina-hotel complex operated by Genting Group (Malaysia-based multinational corporation). North Bimini is approx 68 km (42 mi) east of Miami .

Resort's building cost is USD 220 million. Virgin's Bimini Beach Club overlooks the sea and features a large lagoon-style swimming pool. The "resort experience" also features morning open-air exercises (yoga and meditation), afternoon DJ poolside parties, night beach bonfires and live musical performances.

(Coronavirus crisis) passenger shipping pause 2020-2021

Due to the COVID pandemic, Virgin Voyages postponed the cruise brand's in March 2020 inauguration (Scarlet Lady ship's Showcase Tour / media event in PortMiami) for July 15th (4-day "Richard's Birthday Bash"), with the maiden voyage departing on August 7th from Miami. The ship's originally planned inauguration was for March 29th, 2020 (3-day "Sneak-A-Peek Cruise").

All the scheduled between March 26-August 7th (a total of 29) departures were canceled. In mid-May 2020 were canceled 15 additional departures (through October 15). The 4-night "Richard Branson's 70th Birthday Cruise" (originally planned for July 15, 2020) was rescheduled for July 14, 2021. In late-September 2020 were canceled all Scarlet Lady's November itineraries, and in late-October - the remaining (December 2020) departures. The brand's inauguration was rescheduled for 2021 (January 3, then for May 9). In mid-December were cancelled more itineraries.

The brand's inauguration was rescheduled for August 6, 2021 (Scarlet Lady's Maiden Voyage from Portsmouth England). Valiant Lady's inaugural cruise program was also postponed (Maiden Voyage rescheduled from Nov 14, 2021, to March 18, 2022) and revised.

All affected bookings were provided with the option to cancel with a 125% refund (100% monetary refund) plus 25% in FCC (future cruise credit) or rebook with 200% refund in FCC. As a promo offer, all bookings made by June 30, 2020, received up to USD 500 per person in OBC (onboard credit). A full (100%) monetary refund was optional for cancellations made between May 21-December 31, 2020.

All rebookings made with the 200% FCC were fully refunded (200%) and additionally received 25% in FCC (to be used on another booking). Virgin Voyages also introduced the "Smooth Sailing Program" which allows for itineraries in 2020 (through December 16) the final payment dates to be moved to 60 days (previously 120 days) prior departure. Smooth Sailing also allows cancellations up to 48 hours (prior departure) with receiving a full (100%) refund in FCC.

Itinerary of Virgin Voyages

In 2016, Virgin cruise line's itinerary program was not detailed yet, but Branson mentioned one destination that was on the list - the Caribbean. When asked about Cuba being a potential port destination, he immediately replied "Yes!". This also meant roundtrip departures from a Florida port.

In 2017 was announced that the first Virgin cruise ship ( Scarlet Lady ) will be initially homeported in PortMiami for 7-day Caribbean itineraries departing on Sundays. During the inaugural season 2020-2021, the liner was scheduled to visit Cuba. The company's decision was influenced by conducted customer and travel agency research in the UK and North America. All Virgin cruises to Cuba had to offer an overnight stay in Havana , allowing passengers ("sailors") to explore the country's capital and its unique nightlife.

• 5-day "Mayan Sol" itinerary visits Havana (overnight) and Costa Maya (Mexico) . In Mexico, shore excursions include scuba diving (coral reefs) and Mayan ruins.
• 5-day "Dominican Daze" itinerary visits Havana (overnight) and Puerto Plata (Dominicana) where shore tours include trekking, surfing, shopping.

The second Virgin ship ( Valiant Lady ) is homeported in Miami during 2022-2023 winter season.

On November 28, 2018, Richard Branson and Tom McAlpin announced in Miami the company's plans to build a new (Virgin-exclusive) cruise terminal in PortMiami. "Virgin Voyages Terminal" is sized 100,000 ft2 (9300 m2) and is on the seaport's northwest side.

Virgin Voyages passengers benefit from an impressive variety of cruises to choose from in the inaugural 2020 season of the line's new build . The 4- or 5-night "Havana After Dark" itineraries allow Sailors to explore the Cuban culture and include an overnight stay in Cuba's capital city.

• The 5-night "Mayan Sol" itinerary visits Costa Maya Mexico . The Mayan ruins are just a short distance from the port and colorful coral reefs lie just off-shore. Virgin Voyages partnered with ITM Group for the land tours.
• The 5-night "Dominican Daze" itinerary visits Puerto Plata . On the island are offered trekking, surfing and handicraft shopping tours.

All Virgin Caribbean cruises depart from homeport Miami Florida . Virgin ships are also seasonally deployed in Europe (via Transatlantic crossings), with planned visits to several major Mediterranean and UK ports (including Dover and Liverpool ).

However, following the 2019s (June 5 issued) US Government restrictions on USA to Cuba travel, Virgin Voyages revised all scheduled itineraries to exclude Havana . The new itineraries offer late-night call port departures (including a midnight departure) on all revised Caribbean voyages.

• 5-night "Riviera Maya" itinerary visits Playa Del Carmen (across Cozumel Island), with opportunities to explore archaeological and ecological sites or touring the neighbouring Tulum (walled Mayan city).
• 4-night "Fire and Sunset Soirees" (short-breaks) visit Key West Florida (sunset departure) and Bimini Bahamas (with a late-night beach bonfire party and midnight departure). The line's sailors can experience the cultural paradise of Key West, paired with an exclusive late-night beach bonfire soiree. The artistic fire installation draws inspiration from the fireball sculptures on Branson's Necker Island.
• 7-night itineraries (for 2020 Xmas holidays) include the themed cruises "Holidaze and Nights" and "New Year's Ahoy" visiting Puerto Plata Dominicana with Bimini Bahamas and San Juan Puerto Rico.

All Virgin Caribbean cruises visit Bimini Bahamas as a private island destination.

In April 2022 was announced that in winter 2023-2024, Resilient Lady will be deployed in Australia and New Zealand (Virgin brand's debut in the region). With homeporting in Melbourne , the roundtrip itineraries ranged between 2-14 nights. Some voyages also visited ports in Tasmania (Hobart, Burnie).

Valiant Lady's inaugural cruises 2022

Virgin's second ship ( Valiant Lady ) starts its inaugural season (2022/Maiden Voyage departs March 18th) with roundtrips leaving from Portsmouth England .

• 3-night "Long Weekender" to Zeebrugge Belgium
• 11-night "Coast the Canary Islands, Spain and Portugal"/UK to Iberia
• 12-night "Late Nights in Portugal and Spain"/UK to Iberia

Follows a Western Mediterranean deployment (May thru October 2022) based on homeporting in Barcelona and 7-day roundtrips (Sunday departures) visiting large port cities in France, Italy and Spain. Valiant Lady's Caribbean program is based on homeporting in Miami Florida USA and includes 2-week Transatlantic crossings on repositioning between Europe and USA (RepositionCruises.com).

• 8-night Eastern Caribbean itineraries (Miami roundtrips) are priced from USD 188 per night and visit Puerto Plata (Dominicana) , San Juan (Puerto Rico) , St Croix Island (USVI) and Bimini (Bahamas) .
• 6-night Western Caribbean itineraries (roundtrips from Miami) visit Roatan Island (Honduras) , Costa Maya (Mexico) and Bimini. Fares start at USD 192 per night.
• Special ( Christmas and New Year's ) itineraries and Atlantic Ocean crossings/relocation voyages are priced from USD 102 per night.

In the Caribbean, Virgin boats are homeported in Miami and all itineraries visit Bimini Bahamas as a private island destination.

Resilient Lady's inaugural cruises 2022

Virgin's third ship ( Resilient Lady ) starts its inaugural season (2022/Maiden Voyage departs August 14th) with roundtrips leaving from Piraeus-Athens (Greece) .

• The 7-day roundtrip "Greek Island Glow" itinerary visits the Greek islands Santorini, Rhodes, Crete (Chania) and Mykonos.
• The 7-day roundtrip "Adriatic Sea and Greek Gems" itinerary visits Croatia (Dubrovnik), Montenegro (Kotor), and Greece (Kerkyra/Corfu Island, and Argostoli/Kefalonia Island).
• The "Greek Isles" program (scheduled between August 14 - October 23) ends with the 11-day Transatlantic crossing from Europe to the Caribbean (from Lisbon to San Juan/departure November 1st).

The inaugural Caribbean season 2022-2023 (Nov 12 - April 15) is based on homeporting in San Juan Puerto Rico and 7-day roundtrips.

• The "Southeastern Caribbean Isles" itinerary visits Tortola Island BVI (Road Town), Guadeloupe (Pointe-a-Pitre), Barbados (Bridgetown), St Lucia (Castries) and Antigua (St Johns).
• The "Sunsets In The Lesser Antilles" itinerary visits St Kitts (Basseterre), Martinique (Fort-de-France), Curacao (Willemstad) and Aruba (Oranjestad).

In 2023-2024 (December-March), Resilient Lady was deployed in Australia. The program included three relocation itineraries from Europe to Asia and Australia (RepositionCruises.com) - 14-day from Athens to Dubai (Oct 22), 15-day from Dubai to Singapore (Nov 5) and 15-day from Singapore to Sydney NSW (Nov 20).

Itineraries 2024-2025

Virgin's 2024-2025 (April) schedule lists 19 maiden/new ports and 27 different itineraries in the UK, Australia/NZ, and the Caribbean. Among these are the "Seachange Series" (ship relocation voyages) providing extended sea travel opportunities.

Resilient Lady is homeported in Piraeus-Athens Greece (May through July 2024) for Aegean and Adriatic itineraries. In the summer (August through September 2024) Resilient Lady visits Bordeaux ,  La Coruna , and  Bilbao on the relocation voyage to England.

On February 26, 2024, Virgin Voyages canceled Resilient Lady's 2024-2025 Australian program, citing security concerns (due to the Red Sea war crisis) impacting the ship's scheduled repositioning voyages through the Suez Canal (between Europe and Australia/RepositionCruises.com). Virgin also announced that Resilient Lady (after completing the Mediterranean season on October 20th/2024) will be deployed in the Caribbean and homeported in San Juan (Puerto Rico) offering 7-8-10-11-night roundtrips to St Maarten, St Vincent, Colombia, and Dominica.

Valiant Lady (from  PortMiami  and  San Juan Puerto Rico ) offers Caribbean roundtrips (winter 2023-2024) and in April 2024.

Scarlet Lady in summer 2024 is deployed in the Mediterranean and has scheduled two repositioning voyages - from Barcelona to Civitavecchia-Rome, and a Transatlantic crossing to Miami for a new Caribbean deployement.

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This Is Amped Up Adventure

Voyager of the seas.

The amped up Voyager of the Seas® is packed with more ways to play.

Take on three stories of twisting, turning adventure on two high-speed waterslides in The Perfect Storm℠ or go head to head in a glow-in-the-dark laser tag clash in Battle for Planet Z℠. Hang ten on the FlowRider℠* surf simulator or recharge and reinvigorate at the spa and adults-only solarium. Plus enjoy Voyager Dunes, ice-skating, rock-climbing wall, and totally reimagined spaces for every kid and teen. 

Next-Level Adventure

Voyages that go all out.

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GET READY TO TRAVEL ON A WHOLE NEW LEVEL

This isn’t your same-old, never bold vacation. This is a boredom busting adventure for the whole crew. 

NEW THRILLS

Race to the finish line on two high-speed waterslides on The Perfect Storm℠. Or go head to head in a glow-in-the-dark laser tag clash in Laser Tag: Battle for Planet Z℠.

EXPLORE ONBOARD ACTIVITIES

PALATE-PLEASERS

Take a flavor-filled journey to the exotic Far East at Izumi. Find your element with rustic Italian dishes served with a contemporary flair at Giovanni’s Table. Indulge in the cut above the rest hand-cut steaks at Chops Grille. Or embark on a globetrotting gourmet adventure at Windjammer Café.

EXPLORE ONBOARD DINING

ICE SKATING SHOWS

Come for the g-force spins. Stay for the spectacular ice dancing. The Studio B ice rink presents dramatic ice shows starring a cast of professional skaters from around the world. Enjoy dazzling costumes and choreography filled with amazing spins, leaps and lifts.

EXPLORE SHOWS & ENTERTAINMENT

explore caribbean, med and beyond

Set out on a thrilling adventure on Voyager of the Seas®. Scope out Western Caribbean gems like Cozumel , or head to a legendary Euro summer vacation through the Mediterranean or Greece . No matter which destination you choose, you’ll embark on daily discoveries across breathtaking, bucket list coastlines.

MED SIGHTS & GREEK DELIGHTS

Kickstart your weeklong bucket list adventure from Barcelona , Rome or Athens  onboard Voyager of the Seas®. Soak up the sun in Valencia . Savor authentic Neapolitan pizza in a cozy trattoria in Naples . Or wander through iconic blue domed churches in Santorini .

EXPLORE MEDITERRANEAN CRUISES

GETAWAYS FROM GALVESTON

Galveston is your gateway to a thrill-topping, island-hopping vacay in the Western Caribbean. Wander through ancient Maya ruins in the Yucatán Peninsula. Snorkel in the turquoise waters of Cozumel . Or go ziplining in the jungles of Roatán . The tropics are calling.

EXPLORE WESTERN CARIBBEAN CRUISES

WHAT TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO Sailing on Voyager of the Seas ®? Here's everything you need to know before you go.

Voyager of the Seas ® is your ticket to a thrilling adventure. Packed with more ways to play, you’ll never be bored onboard. Adrenaline seekers take on shriek-inducing twists and turns on The Perfect Storm℠ waterslide duo. Or tame waves on the 40-foot-long FlowRider®* surf simulator. When it comes to dining, you’ll find mouthwatering options from all corners of the globe. Indulge in everything from juicy steaks to fresh-baked pizza. And you’ll be dazzled night after night with an array of entertainment including showstopping ice skating performances with jaw-dropping stunts and spellbinding choreography.  

Free Cruise Activities | Voyager of the Seas

April 11, 2024

As one of the best cruise ships sailing, the Voyager of the Seas offers an abundance of free onboard cruise activities & vacation experiences.

Things to Do on Voyager of the Seas

March 8, 2024

Plan the best vacation with all included onboard cruise activities and experiences! Discover the top 10 things to do onboard Voyager of the Seas.

Family Cruises | Voyager of the Seas

Envision your next travel vacation, as you plan the best family cruise getaway while sailing onboard the Voyager of the Seas. Unexpected cruise activities.

Best Cruise Restaurants | Voyager of the Seas

With an abundance of onboard cruise restaurants and fine dining experiences discover the top cruise foods aboard Voyager of the Seas.

OUR BOLD ROYAL AMPLIFIED SHIPS

Royal Caribbean® is amping up your favorite cruise ships with never-before-seen thrills, the cuisines you crave, and more unforgettable experiences day and night. This is Royal Amplified℠ — the future of adventure.

EXPLORE OUR AMPLIFIED CRUISE SHIPS

CRUISE SHIP VOYAGER OF THE SEAS REVIEWS

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Hurtigruten Expeditions is now HX!

• Inspiration

The Coastal Express

We’ve sailed the norwegian coast since 1893, faithfully serving communities and showing international guests our home for over 130 years. come with us to experience the authentic, everyday life of the coast..

Our signature voyage along the Norwegian coast travels from the southern city of Bergen, across the Arctic Circle, up to Kirkenes, and back. These 12 days and 2,500 nautical miles feature some of the most stunning scenery on the planet. 

Norway’s world-famous fjords will be on full display, dotted with farms and charming fishing villages. Admire the mountains and discover the myths of the Helgeland Coast and brace yourself for the sheer beauty of the idyllic Lofoten and Vesterålen islands .  

Along the way, in each direction, your ship stops at 34 coastal communities, big and small, day and night. We dock in villages and towns for 10 to 45 minutes and in cities for a few hours. The ports we visit at night on the northbound voyage can be seen during the day when travelling southbound. 

You can even split the two cruises into two trips, doing the northbound voyage from Bergen to Kirkenes over seven days at one time and then the six-day southward voyage another. We also offer short cruises ranging from two to five days and specific port-to-port bookings.

Choose how you want to discover our home, the Norwegian coast

Roundtrip Voyage from Bergen | Explore Norway’s Coastline

Bergen - Kirkenes - Bergen (Roundtrip)

Departure Dates

Regular departures - 12 days

11-Day Norwegian Voyage | Bergen - Kirkenes - Trondheim

Bergen - Kirkenes - Trondheim (Roundtrip)

Regular departures - 11 days

7-Day Norwegian Voyage: Northbound | Bergen to Kirkenes

Bergen - Kirkenes (Northbound)

Regular departures - 7 days

The Experience

You’ll sail together with local Norwegians who have relied on our ships for transport, post, and cargo for generations. Coastal Experts on board will also share their insights of the coast with you, whether about history, culture, science, or photography.

Meet the team on our Coastal Express ships

Your coastal experience

Norway’s Coastal Kitchen

The Seasons

Will you come in spring when there’s both sun and snow to enjoy? Or will you arrive in autumn when forests along the coast turn crimson and gold? During this season, our ships also detour to Hjørundfjord, hidden amid the Sunnmøre Alps.

Between late May and early August, north of the Arctic Circle is the realm of the Midnight Sun , 24 hours of glorious summer sunshine. These are also the months when we sail into Geirangerfjord, one of Norway’s eight UNESCO sites.

The dark skies of winter in Norway form the backdrop for the legendary Northern Lights . Your ship will be your floating observatory; away from light pollution on land and travelling into the Arctic, directly under the consistently active Auroral Oval.

Why visit Norway with us?

Here are five ways our timeless voyages along the stunning Norwegian coast are unique and special.

Virgin Set For Second ‘Virgin Celebration Voyage’

• April 26, 2024

After its successful debut last year, Virgin Voyages announced its second annual “Virgin Celebration Voyage.”

In honor of the company’s 50+ year history, guests will have the opportunity to sail on three voyages featuring special guests, including Richard Branson and Boy George from Culture Club, according to a press release.

Present onboard will be Virgin Voyages executives joined by astronauts from Virgin Galactic who have voyaged to the edge of space. Guests can look forward to shore experiences, fitness classes, interactive workshops, exclusive fireside chats and daily happy hours.

  “Not only are we excited to bring back this special series, but we’re making a splash, doing it bigger and better than in 2023 with not one, but three incredible voyages,” said Nirmal Saverimuttu, CEO of Virgin Voyages. “Once a year, our Sailors have unprecedented access to immerse themselves in the magic of both Virgin Voyages and the Virgin brand. They’ll be rubbing elbows with visionary leaders from across the Virgin family and this year’s very special guests.”

Dates for this year’s “Virgin Celebration Voyage”  include:

• The Valiant Lady – August 30 – September 4: Dominican Daze (Miami – Puerto Plata – Beach Club at Bimini – Miami) 
• The Scarlet Lady – September 1-8: French Daze and Ibiza Nights (Barcelona – Marseille – Cannes – Palma de Mallorca – Ibiza – Barcelona)
• The Resilient Lady – September 3-8: UK to Zeebrugge and Amsterdam (Portsmouth – Amsterdam – Zeebrugge (Bruges) – Portsmouth) 

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Ship that tore down baltimore’s francis scott key bridge was ‘unseaworthy,’ city claims.

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The massive container ship that tore down Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge last month was “unseaworthy” when it left port — and its owners should be held fully liable for the deadly collapse, city officials claimed in court papers.

The city of Baltimore has accused the owner and manager of the container ship Dali of negligence over the March 26 bridge collapse that left six dead , arguing the companies should have realized the 980-foot-long vessel was unfit for voyage because it had experienced a power supply problem just hours earlier.

The claims were laid bare in court documents filed Monday as city officials responded to an earlier petition submitted by the Dali’s owners and manager that asked a court to cap their liability for the collapse under a pre-Civil War provision of an 1851 maritime law.

A federal court in Maryland will ultimately decide who is responsible for the tragedy and how much they are liable for in what could become one of the most expensive maritime disasters in history.

In their filing, attorneys for the mayor and city council clapped back at claims the Singapore-based Grace Ocean Private Ltd., which owns the ship, and Synergy Marine Pte Ltd., the vessel’s manager, weren’t responsible.

They argued, in part, that the two companies should have realized the Dali was not seaworthy and manned the ship with a competent crew.

“For more than four decades, cargo ships made thousands of trips every year under the Key Bridge without incident,” the city’s complaint reads. “There was nothing about March 26, 2024 that should have changed that.”

The crash was a direct result of the owner and operators’ “carelessness, negligence, gross negligence, and recklessness, and as a result of the unseaworthiness of the vessel,” the city argued.

The ship, capable of carrying nearly 130,000 tons of cargo, had just set off en route to Sri Lanka when it lost power shortly after leaving the Baltimore port and struck one of the bridge’s support columns, collapsing the span and sending six members of a road crew plunging to their deaths.

Baltimore officials argue the ship’s owner and manager should be held responsible for the disaster, which has halted most maritime traffic through the busy harbor and disrupted an important East Coast trucking route.

The economic impacts could be devastating for the Baltimore region, the filing argues.

“Petitioners’ negligence caused them to destroy the Key Bridge, and singlehandedly shut down the Port of Baltimore, a source of jobs, municipal revenue, and no small amount of pride for the City of Baltimore and its residents,” the attorneys wrote.

Grace Ocean and Synergy have sought to cap their liability at roughly $43.6 million, according to court filings.

Their petition estimates that the vessel itself is valued at up to $90 million and was owed over $1.1 million in income from freight. The estimate also deducts two major expenses: at least $28 million in repair costs and at least $19.5 million in salvage costs.

The court filings come after the FBI opened a criminal investigation to determine if the ship’s crew left port knowing the vessel was troubled.

Meanwhile, a separate federal probe by the National Transportation Safety Board will focus on the Dali’s electrical system to determine if the ship experienced power issues before starting its voyage, officials have said.

With Post wires

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