Major Cruise line scraps entire season
Virgin Voyages has cancelled all of its sailings in Australia and New Zealand for the next year after they were left with "no choice" in the wake of escalating tensions in the Red Sea.
The Resilient Lady ship will not return Down Under for its promised second sailing season next summer due to safety concerns following a series of strikes on container ships in the Red Sea.
The cruise line revealed on Tuesday that a lengthier alternative return route around Africa was not viable for the company.
"On the heels of these recent changes and based on the regional and government advice we have received, we remain very concerned about potential escalations in the Red Sea over the next 12 months," a spokesperson from Virgin Voyages said.
“This significant and ongoing conflict puts unacceptable risks for safe passage through the region for our Sailors, crew and vessel."
“To say that we are disappointed to have come to this tough conclusion is an understatement.
“These adjustments are happening now to minimise potential future disruption to our passengers’ holiday plans, knowing there is a high likelihood that changes would need to happen in the future.”
The cancellations will impact customers with trips planned in late 2024 and early 2025 on repositioning voyages between Europe and Australia.
Virgin Voyages have indicated that a return to Australian waters will remain a possibility, as they continue to look for available options.
They also said that if the 2024/25 can go ahead, customers who had previously booked their holiday will be prioritised if they would like to re-book.
Currently, impacted customers have the option to re-book a different trip or request a full refund.
A few other cruise companies who operate seasonal sailings or world cruises through the Red Sea and Suez Canal have also had to cancel, reposition, or re-route their sailings.
MSC have cancelled three repositioning sailings in April, while Cunard, Princess and Seabourn have re-routed their world cruises to avoid the Suez Canal.
Image: Virgin Voyages