Fresh off consecutive No. 1 cruise line designations from Condé Nast Traveler and Travel + Leisure, Virgin Voyages is laying the foundation for another epic year. The world’s best cruise line from global entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson is setting its sights on 2025 with an irresistible WAVE offer, collection of specialty voyages, incredible new ports of call, and the long-awaited debut of the fourth and final ship in its award-winning fleet, Brilliant Lady.
Already sailing to more than 100 destinations – with more to be unveiled soon – Virgin Voyages is enticing Sailors to come aboard its boutique-sized ships with its best-of-the-year WAVE offer: buy one Sailor and get the second 80% off + up to $300 in free drinks.
“A new ship, new experiences and new iconic destinations are just the start of what 2025 has in store for us,” said Nirmal Saverimuttu, CEO of Virgin Voyages. “It’s going to be an incredible year, starting with one of the most valuable WAVE offers out there. We’ve never believed in nickel and diming our Sailors – we’re staying committed to delivering epic, kid-free vacations on our fleet of not too big, and not too small, boutique-sized ships that keep Sailors coming back time and time again. Market experts are saying that adult-only travel is expected to double in size over the next decade because of the elevated experiences they deliver, so we’re excited about the growth potential that lies ahead in 2025 and beyond.”
No itinerary is off limits for Virgin Voyages’ WAVE offer, meaning Sailors can opt for Brilliant Lady’s voyages to the Alaskan wilderness or her five-night MerMaiden voyage in September from the home of Lady Liberty to the pink sand beaches of Bermuda. Also available to book with this deal are the brand’s most popular 2024 itineraries including Virgin’s four-night “Fire and Sunset Soirées” to Key West along with the seven-night “French Daze and Ibiza Nights” route from Barcelona to the charming towns of Marseilles, Cannes and Mallorca.
Saverimuttu says, “While our new, longer voyages offer a truly epic getaway for those who love to sail, our shorter voyages continue to be the best introductory option for travelers who haven’t tried cruising in the past but want to hop on-board to see what all the excitement is about. We welcome everyone to try sailing the Virgin way this year to hopefully change how they vacation for good.”
Looking ahead to 2025, new data shows that Virgin Voyages’ guests are also loving the brand’s longer itineraries with repeat rates often reaching 40-50%. This is a trend seen across the travel industry with consumers opting for longer, more immersive vacations. One of Virgin Voyages’ fastest-growing routes, for example, is its six-night “Western Caribbean Charm” to the gorgeous and rugged locales of Costa Maya and Roatán. Another top performing itinerary for 2025 is the extended, 10-night “Starry Nights in Greece and Croatia” with calls in Santorini, Dubrovnik, Mykonos and more. Other destinations that Virgin sails to – like Crete, Rome, Barbados, Iceland, Nova Scotia and Turks & Caicos – made Travel + Leisure’s list of where to go in 20251.
Those who prefer an envy-inducing summer abroad can take advantage of the Summer Season Pass, with a limited quantity still available. Starting at $14,999 per cabin, this month-long adventure at sea offers a work-life balance with opportunities to “get ship done” – thanks to the fastest wifi at sea – and simultaneously explore the world.
Back by popular demand in 2025 are the brand’s specialty sailings such as Eat & Drink Festival, holiday voyages celebrating everything from Valentine’s Day to Halloween, and A Virgin Celebration Voyage – last year headlined by Boy George. As Condé Nast Traveler noted, wellness travel will reign supreme for 2025 as people crave community and connection2. This month marks the return of Virgin Voyages’ wellness sailings, enhanced with healthy happy hours, high-energy group fitness classes, and zen-inducing spa days.
Women’s health and wellbeing will also take center stage, something Virgin celebrates through its annual Elevate Voyage hosted in April. Designed around the seven Cs – care, character, confidence, courage, community, connection and clarity – the Elevate Voyage features expert-led workshops, inspiring talks and immersive experiences that inspire a self-care glow-up. Paired with new sailings like the first-ever US Comedy Festival at sea and a special Mother’s Day celebration, Virgin Voyages is doing things bigger and better in 2025 when it comes to immersive experiences.
Most notably, Virgin Voyages will welcome the final addition to its fleet, Brilliant Lady. Hitting the high seas in September of 2025, this ship will embark on the ultimate cross-country sea trip with a series of longer itineraries of up to 14 nights. During her inaugural season, Brilliant Lady’s North American Tour will feature highly requested homeports and iconic ports of calls like New York City to Bermuda and Canada; Los Angeles to Mexico; Miami to the ABC Islands; and Seattle to Alaska, making Brilliant Lady the newest ship in the Pacific Northwest. She’ll also complete one epic voyage through the Panama Canal to Costa Rica and Guatemala. This ship also promises a host of new shows, dining enhancements and other fun surprises, giving Sailors endless reasons to sail with Virgin again.
To find out more about Virgin Voyages’ plans for 2025, visit www.virginvoyages.com or call your First Mate. Additional details on the brand’s WAVE offer can be found here.
