Virgin Voyages coming to Oz

[antycbr]

Slightly academic with no return season down under for now but who managed to get a VV status match from VA? Did VA WP match to Blue Extras or Deep Blue Extras?

I was successful with VA SG -> “Blue Extras” a few months ago and received the benefits on two Euro cruises over the Northern hemisphere summer.
View attachment 413544
SYD+1 (no SM) also on same cruises has progressed to “Blue Extras” now and those benefits will be applicable to future cruises - consistent with the chart, but I was kind of expecting that the two cruises would then bump me to “Deep Blue Extras” (being effectively the 3rd and 4th cruise) but I’ve been told by VV I need another to progress? Does that sound right?

As it stands, I have nothing more planned for now, but the $100 bar tab, premium wifi and additional laundry, coffees are a decent uplift.

I think the issue is you only matched recently and it doesn’t seem to be coughulative, to earn DBE you need to actually start from scratch. I matched last year before BE existed and my DBE sailing in Feb carried over to my cruise in 2025. A bag of laundry is USD50 so it sucks for you that it’s not working.

VV status is confusing and unstable so your nautical mileage may vary.

 

[odysseus]

Slightly academic with no return season down under for now but who managed to get a VV status match from VA? Did VA WP match to Blue Extras or Deep Blue Extras?

I was successful with VA SG -> “Blue Extras” a few months ago and received the benefits on two Euro cruises over the Northern hemisphere summer.
View attachment 413544
SYD+1 (no SM) also on same cruises has progressed to “Blue Extras” now and those benefits will be applicable to future cruises - consistent with the chart, but I was kind of expecting that the two cruises would then bump me to “Deep Blue Extras” (being effectively the 3rd and 4th cruise) but I’ve been told by VV I need another to progress? Does that sound right?

Not sure whether it sounds 'right' but it is the way they structured it. They give you benefits from your first matched cruise, but no credit for cruises is given, so you start from 0. This is stated on their match page: "until you unlock Deep Blue Extras on your fifth voyage"

Eligibility Form | Virgin Voyages

Featuring stunning perks and access (among other things), Sea-Rover status is exclusive to Sailors who meet specific criteria within our Sailing Club.

www.virginvoyages.com

 

[SYD]

I think the issue is you only matched recently and it doesn’t seem to be coughulative, to earn DBE you need to actually start from scratch. I matched last year before BE existed and my DBE sailing in Feb carried over to my cruise in 2025.

Not sure whether it sounds 'right' but it is the way they structured it. They give you benefits from your first matched cruise, but no credit for cruises is given, so you start from 0. This is stated on their match page: "until you unlock Deep Blue Extras on your fifth voyage"

Eligibility Form | Virgin Voyages

Featuring stunning perks and access (among other things), Sea-Rover status is exclusive to Sailors who meet specific criteria within our Sailing Club.

www.virginvoyages.com

This is what they said in a reply:…

“We have confirmed that your Sailing Club account is in Ship Shape, up to date! Your perks tier will level up to Deep Blue Perks after your next full fare voyage.”

Which implies after one more voyage (which will be the 3rd for me.

A bag of laundry is USD50 so it sucks for you that it’s not working.

I received the 1x bag free. So that’s actually really good (and their laundry bags are huge!).

 

[Notyourbag]

What do we think the odds are of Virgin Voyages returning and home porting in Australia? Slim?

 

[odysseus]

lol.

No chance in the foreseeable future. They cut and ran.

 

[antycbr]

lol.

No chance in the foreseeable future. They cut and ran.

The original reason was the Houthis blocking the Red Sea - entirely legitimate.

However they now have Brilliant Lady which can transit the Panama Canal so it’s a commercial decision.

 

[SYD]

What do we think the odds are of Virgin Voyages returning and home porting in Australia? Slim?

It can take a year or two (or more) to secure berths, so if they cancelled all future bookings - it could take a while to reenter for a full season.

That aside, their model to mainly operate out of MEL (cheaper) and therefore doing a LOT of very short cruises probably didn’t stack up either. BNE might have been a better option.

My Euro cruise operated from Portsmouth (not South Hampton) and it’s a second tier facility… I reckon they’d operate out of Botany Bay if they could find a berth and save a lot of money…