Virgin Voyages has cancelled all cruises between Australia and Europe for the 2024 and 2025 seasons due to concerns over safe passage through the Red Sea.
The company posted a message on its website this week stating that the cancellations are based on “regional and government advice” about ongoing attacks by Yemen’s Houthi militant group on cargo ships in retaliation against the conflict in Gaza.
As such, Virgin Voyages said it remains “very concerned about potential escalations in the Red Sea over the next 12 months”, adding, “This significant and ongoing conflict puts unacceptable risks for safe passage through the region for our sailors, crew and vessel.”
The cancellation impacts two sailing seasons for Virgin’s adults-only Resilient Lady, which will instead divert course to new voyages in the Caribbean.
“Virgin Voyages was embraced by the Australia and New Zealand markets with a warm welcome and celebrated an extremely successful inaugural season – the love was mutual,” the company said.
“To say that we are disappointed to have come to this tough conclusion is an understatement. These adjustments are happening now in order to minimize potential future disruption to our passengers’ holiday plans knowing there is a high likelihood that changes would need to happen in the future.
“We are currently working through options to return to Australia and the Asia Pacific region once regional repositioning opportunities become more tenable.”
RelatedPosts
