TRAVEL
Virgin Voyages Cancels Latest Ship Launch
Source: Virgin Voyages
Citing “supply chain issues, crewing challenges and regional uncertainty,” Virgin Voyages has postponed the launch of its new cruise ship, Resilient Lady.
Resilient Lady was due to debut in August, where it would operate out of Piraeus, Greece, for the summer and San Juan, Puerto Rico, for the winter cruising season.
Instead, Virgin Voyages has been forced to delay its debut sailing until May 2023.
“There are a number of global challenges that affect travel and particularly the cruise industry, including supply chain issues, crewing challenges and regional uncertainty,” Virgin Voyages revealed in the Q&A section of its website. Every decision we make is driven by our commitment to creating a safe and inspiring environment for both Crew and Sailors, and we never want to put ourselves in a position where we could negatively impact our Sailor experience or Crew’s well-being.”
“The challenges we are facing are not exclusive to Virgin Voyages; they’re affecting our industry and travel as a whole,” the company added.
According to CNN, passengers booked on Resilient Lady have several options: they can get a full refund within seven days or receive a 200 percent credit towards a future cruise with Virgin Voyages within the next 12 months. If they accept the credit and rebook for 2022, they will also receive an additional free voyage on another Virgin ship. In addition, CNN reports Virgin Voyages is also offering refunds of up to $500 per passenger to cover canceled flights or cancelation penalties.
