Jamesv281117

As mentioned elsewhere I'm pretty sure they would let you move to any other cruise if this does get cancelled. The recent repositioning cruises have technically been rerouted which is why I think they just offered the choice of 3 or a refund.

The cruise went off sale on the day they made the announcement regarding the cancelled repositioning voyages and said they were reviewing future voyages.

I checked earlier on the day and before and there was still availability in multiple cabin categories so would be very strange if it had sold out that quickly.

9 hours ago, Shrewsbury on Tour said:

Hello,

After last few days of uncertainty surrounding Resilient Lady for future cruise on 29/09/24. I decided to call Virgin Voyages, because if it is cancelled I need to change leave, pay for another etc. Time is money as the saying goes. Have incurred costs already on flights and hotels all non refundable.

 

So just a few mins ago the following happened..

 

Call 1 - I was told the cruise was cancelled, I said what happens next. I will receive email detailing terms etc. I was then told the cancellation was not official. Clearly should not have told me that. Then back peddled. I asked to speak to a manager, place on hold. Line went dead.. Rage!!!
 

Call 2 - After explaining all again, was told that it had been removed because it has sold out. I said I did not believe this was case. Time for another different answer it’s now under review. Possibly going ahead. But not cancelled today….so many contradictions. 

 

First time with Virgin, I fully appreciate that the world is mad at the moment and things change. But do not lie!!! Don’t say it’s cancelled then change your mind…but if you read between the lines!!!
 

We both work, need to plan leave, etc, Making these calls has only added to the confusion.

 

If anyone has not booked flights, hotels etc relating to above cruise…I would wait!!!

 

Cheers 

Defo not sold out but off sale, I'm also waiting on the outcome of this but they have provided an end of February guideline at least 

Have done this itinerary and there are a few tours to Florence including a classic car tour one. Went to Pisa as wanted to see that but the tours to Florence looked quite good.

Just now, helkatred said:

Have you booked direct with VV or through a travel agency?

Booked direct, got the change confirmation through a couple of hours ago so also took four hours for mine like others had said. 

Would be hard to have any idea at the moment, I think the debate is whether it repositions west or east. I think there'd be a decent chance of Portsmouth to Barcelona still happening in my opinion.

Just now, Shrewsbury on Tour said:

Hi,

yes Portsmouth to Barcelona on the 29/09

 

Cheers

I believe it's off sale currently because they're reviewing Resilient Lady's repositioning due to the problems they've just had having to change course returning from Australia. Think a decision is being made by the end of February on it all.

3 minutes ago, Shrewsbury on Tour said:

Good evening,

 

Also on this cruise. Just checking on VV website cruise no longer showing?? Sold out 9 months in advance?? Any thoughts?? Thanks

Which one? Portsmouth to Barcelona?

4 minutes ago, trippingpara said:

We changed to the same itinerary and received confirmation back about 4 hours later.  I thought that was pretty good compared to the week for our Brilliant Lady cancellation.

2 minutes ago, DAP2 said:

Called last night about 5PM. It was updated in the app by 2AM. They did change our cabin and floor, so we needed to call this morning to get back on a floor we wanted.

Thanks that's encouraging, been affected by a couple of cancellations in the past with virgin and whilst sorted in the end was a bit of a nightmare getting through to them or with stuff being wrong so fingers crossed all moves over ok. 

1 hour ago, DAP2 said:

I'm in! We've been rebooked and our details are in the app. All Add Ons transferred over.

Just requested the same, how long did it take to get confirmation out of interest?

1 minute ago, Splatt2010 said:

Wow that was easy. Perhaps shore side Sailor Services are improving. A quick online chat to swap voyage (I’m one of those twice cancelled sailors) and within hour have email confirmation,  voyage showing in my account and all previous loot/tab transferred over. Not bad going VV. 

They're not bad on chat, out of interest what voyage have you moved to?

Just now, wintrev said:

Whilst it is important for all those people travelling in the next few months to know what is happening it is also just as important for us Australians who were what now looks as stupid enough to purchase a cruise for our summer later this year and start of 2025. To take down all the cruises doesn’t give me much confidence that they will now go ahead especially as Resilient Lady is marked down to be in St Maarten for December 2024. 
I will not be accepting any cruise credit if they cancel and expect a full refund along with other travel expenses I have outlaid already. Most Australians will not travel halfway around the world to use a credit and perhaps Virgin is hoping for just that!

They suggested they would make an announcement soon on those itineraries but think they would be very reluctant to go ahead with a planned crossing of the Suez after this episode 

1 minute ago, jon81uk said:

Resilient Lady is already in the UK until late September 2024. There is no point them keeping the ship there and then cancelling the repositioning to Barcelona and onward to Athens (which is a sold out cruise). The UK weather isn’t great in November and the VV ships aren’t designed for cooler temperatures.

I don't think it's clear where it's going after Athens though now they've stated already they're reviewing where they will position it which is why I think anywhere west is better. 

5 minutes ago, Tralfaz1138 said:

It would seem extreme to have 3 ships in the Caribbean/Bahamas.  I don't know how practical it would be, but I would almost hope they move one ship to South America for the winter season they would have had in Australia.

Personally I think you could have 1 ship doing itineraries for as long as possible from the UK before going over to South America or somewhere west for winter.

There's lots of demand for virgin in the UK and have good relationships with Portsmouth who would welcome them with open arms. 

It seems surprising because if they've decided to run these voyages with guests they want a decent amount of people still sailing so you would think it would be accompanied by an extra incentive..

2 minutes ago, Splatt2010 said:

Bit annoyed I can only rebook on the 3 new legs not any future sailing. I was originally on a cancelled BL where I could choose any voyage & get $600,  feels like I'm being short changed for being cancelled again! There are a tonne of sea days on the new trips and not sure I'm feeling it.

You're definitely right I was cancelled off of brilliant lady and was very generous. Would be good to have seen a detailed breakdown of the itinerary with timings etc as well but goes live for booking on the 10th.

1 minute ago, Mark_UK said:

Are they offering any form of incentive to rebook versus a refund?

I don't think so just a rebooking or refund 

1 minute ago, DAP2 said:

I was originally only booked on the Dubai to Athens leg. So, having read the email, I'm curious whether I can choose the last two legs or have to choose only one of the legs. I still need to get to Athens, but the second leg won't do that. I definitely don't want only a 5-night sailing. 

It's a really good question tbf! 

2 minutes ago, DAP2 said:

 

I hope it is even split into legs! Some of the info makes it sound like a 'once in a lifetime' voyage from Sydney to Greece via Africa. No extra charge for those who can make the journey. I really hope I can get on in South Africa.

It's confirmed now on the same link..

Doesn't say yet how the nee voyages will be split but I imagine it would have to be Sydney to Cape Town, Cape Town to Casablanca and Casablanca to Athens.

Just now, TYCruise said:

https://vvinsider.com/virgin-voyages-reroutes-resilient-lady-due-to-red-sea-tensions/

 

Rerouted to go around Africa

Unsurprising really, obvious it would be stopping at Port Louis, cape town etc but at least is potentially something for people to move to..

9 minutes ago, onechaiguy said:

Wow. I wonder if they would send Resilient to the Caribbean next fall...

Does anyone know what the relative success of Aus/NZ has been? Wonder if this mess could tempt them to keep a ship in the US or Europe where there'll always be demand.

12 minutes ago, Splatt2010 said:

Looks like they are in process of cancellation. All 3 legs now showing as ‘cruise not available’ if you try to book. Not a surprise really. Wonder what they will offer us. 

Well spotted, just not showing at all my end

42 minutes ago, aqlollipop said:

Right there with you @giraffic  Fingers crossed 🤞🤞 they find a way to do it impacting the fewest number of sailings. I'll be optimistic and hope that at worst, they arrive a few days later in Athens and our itinerary is shortened/adjusted accordingly. Not an outcome I would love, but better than an outright cancellation, maybe...

If they get to Athens late which is likely and do a shorter cruise I imagine you'd get some decent incentives to sweeten things!

4 minutes ago, onechaiguy said:

If I were VV, I would cancel Singapore to Dubai and Dubai to Athens. That would give them 28 days to sail around Africa without guests to make it from Singapore to Athens, which I believe would be enough time.

I think that would take approx a month without stopping but they will have to stop regardless of who's on it