Talk about unfortunate timing. Virgin Voyages–consummate showman Richard Branson’s most audacious production yet–was originally due to launch just when cruising was being shut down worldwide this spring.
After just one chilly inaugural sailing from Britain in February, the oh-so over the top Scarlet Lady has had to cool her heels off the coast of Florida amid a sad crowd of other furloughed ships. The cruise lockdown forced putting off the first voyages from Miami from April to July. A planned gala naming ceremony in Miami was rescheduled for August.
Now Virgin Voyages has pushed those plans back again, moving the earliest date for a first cruise to Oct. 16, and putting off the naming ceremony until sometime in early 2021. Ouch.
For those who haven’t been following the saga, Virgin Voyages was designed to be a fleet of non-stop action ships that feature razzle dazzle décor, tattoo parlors and drag brunches for ever-partying guests, who are encouraged to call themselves sailors.
“There’s a Virgin twist on everything you’ll see aboard the Scarlet Lady, which means there won’t be stuffy formalities, boring buffets and no main dining rooms,” Branson said as he revealed the s lineup of on-board restaurants on the ship in a preview in Toronto in the heady days before the global emergency.
The shutdown may be giving the line a chance to refine some of the kinks that showed up on the winter preview sailing. Sailors on that trip to nowhere were disappointed in the tiny pool on deck and narrow cabins where sofas by day convert into beds in the evening.
A swell party it may still become. And Scarlet Lady has a sister ship coming as well, to double the fun.
Virgin is offering affected cruisers options to make rebooking easier. Travelers who don’t cancel their Virgin Voyages bookings will receive a 200 percent future cruise credit, and those who use the credit to book a new voyage by June 30 will receive up to $500 onboard credit.
Passengers who booked travel on impacted Scarlet Lady sailings are also eligible for a 100 percent refund. To make up for the inconvenience, customers who take the money will also receive a 25 per cent future cruise credit.
The cancellation policy has also been updated: travelers who cancel up to 48 hours before departure will receive a 100 per cent FCC. Virgin also changed its final payment policy, with final payments now due 60 days before sailing instead of 120 days for all sailings scheduled to depart through Dec. 16.
