PhilK2000

we are finally also rebooked from the April 20, 2024 TA to Nov 3, 2024 Dubai to Singapore . My case was a complete mess, as the April TA was also re-booked from a previously canceled Resilient lady itinerary. 
so double  cancellations ,surprisingly two holds on the Dubai cruise , one in balcony and one in a suite (where we should be as this was our category on the TA), missing funds on a fully paid TA now in October which had nothing to do with canceled brilliant lady TA but it was paid with the FVC I received initially due to the cancelled resilient lady TA and so on etc etc .
There were two VV people sitting on my case a whole day to dig into this , they called me every 30 min to answer questions . 
At the end : we got rebooked to a suite on the Dubai cruise but also received a complimentary upgrade to a suite on our upcoming October TA because of the mess and emails back and forth the last 2 weeks . I had almost a tear in my eye because that was a quite stressful time in the last two weeks as friends were already booked or rebooked on the Dubai cruise and there were no more suites available on that one beside the one we had on hold where anything can happen accidentally. I have to say that the VV customer service is outstanding and I am looking forward for my first cruise with them and remain a loyal customer. 

21 minutes ago, CineGraphic said:

 

If they insist that your hold is going to expire, put a deposit down to. It can always be refunded.

I have only the option to do a full payment online . That would be over 5k . And then ? I would need to ask VV to return it to me once the rebooking is succeesfull. But you know how it is once money has been sent …. 

Still struggling. Today I received an email from VV that they can't rebook me because there are no more RS on my requested Dubai to Singapore itinerary . However I have since Monday on hold such a suite in the same category I had on the cancelled April 20, 2024 TA. The person who is processing my cancellation obviously haven't seen the note that there is a cabin on hold. VV Sailor Services can't do anything beside to provide the info to the special department. My TA is taking care now the problem, my fear is just that the hold will be somehow released and then nothing can be done. I am so exhausted. 

19 minutes ago, fsdorado said:

We just received an e-mail from Virgin Voyages that they have issued a refund for our cancelled sailing even though we submitted a request to rebook.  Did this happen to anyone else?

 

 

Frederick

Yes same happened to a friend of us today. I don’t know how such a mistake can happen . Or this was maybe a default email . Strange . He responded to the email what should be rebooked and is waiting for a response . 

2 hours ago, librarylady19 said:

Anyone who submitted a form online for a BL cancellation get a confirmation yet from VV?

No . I spoke today with VV . It obviously takes up to 7 days . She expects earlier as I submitted mine directly on Thursday. She was very clear that she can’t do anything as this is a special team taking care of this. 

3 minutes ago, Russiamomm said:

Congratulations.  You’re the first one I’ve seen that has gotten a confirmed re-booking.  When did you get this?  What was your cancelled cruise and which one did you switch to?  Maybe there is hope that they will start processing some of these before Monday.

It looks like they do this but not for cruises which will be released on Monday . It is the second I read about . The other one was also an already released one . 

6 minutes ago, CruisingWalter said:

 

You only need to submit the form. The forms will be processed on Monday in the order in which they were received. Once you're on the ship, your TA can look at the cabin situation and reposition you on the ship if desired. 

That’s good . I was afraid that people call in and try to do it before Monday. 

7 hours ago, librarylady19 said:

I submitted mine today too and got a case # and an email that said I’d hear back within 72 hours. I was actually surprised when I called w/a question that a got a rep on the phone in 5 minutes! Since it’s a new sailing (the Barcelona to Rome SL) I wanted to get my request in before it was open to the public. 

What did the say ? You need to wait until Monday and call them again or only via this form ? 

9 minutes ago, jamesv92 said:

What worries me is what does the below mean? "When new dates announced" surely they would just offer the rebooking options from today?

 

Guests with bookings that have been cancelled will receive generous offers along with exclusive rebooking perks and on-board credit once the new date is announced.

So does it mean I can only rebook to the same category only on BL, or on any other ship? 

2 hours ago, FFMilesJunkie said:

Here's one from about a month ago (posted to IG on Aug 2).  Can clearly see the aft is not curved out like the other Lady Ships.  Hopefully the interior is further along. I think the key is hearing when staff will make it on board. Hopefully we start to hear some reports of managers flying over to Italy to get the ship up and running. I imagine they need at least 6-8 weeks to get the staff on board and trained.  Then sea trials and it will take 7-10 days to sail her to Miami.  Cutting it close! 

 

 

This loooks far from being ready for December 🙁 

5 minutes ago, DrSch said:

the last pictures Ive seen are from Feb

 

 https://www.shipspotting.com/photos/gallery?shipName=BRILLIANT LADY&shipNameSearchMode=begins

If you go on google maps and Fincanteri in Genoa you can see some newer photos . Not very recent but newer than in the link 

https://maps.app.goo.gl/QtopynxrXP1y52xx6?g_st=ic

2 minutes ago, tbmrt said:

So is the rumor that the VL will start sailing from San Juan for the end of 2023 through first quarter 2024 cruises?  If that's the case, I do feel sorry for the people who booked VL from Miami, especially over the holidays.

I hope these are only rumors and everything goes as planned with no cancellations . 

It is official . VV UK confirms Portsmouth 

https://travelweekly.co.uk/news/tourism/virgin-voyages-confirms-return-to-portsmouth

It is official. Virgin spokesperson confirms return to Portsmouth 

https://travelweekly.co.uk/news/tourism/virgin-voyages-confirms-return-to-portsmouth

10 minutes ago, jon81uk said:

VL can’t take over the BL transatlantic as Scarlet is also doing a transatlantic and therefore if Valiant did too then all four ships would be in Europe!

 

Valiant taking over the San Juan seems plausible and then moving back to Miami when Scarlet comes to Europe. But what happens to the BL transatlantic is the question. The Scarlet one seems to be fairly well booked so I doubt they could move everyone over.

No . There will be no BL transatlantic . BL Start date will be rescheduled to May 2024 with a direct start in Portsmouth as she is built in Europe anyway. 

SL remains as it is . VL will be repositioned to San Juan and take over the BL cruises 

but as said these are rumors . I hope that this won’t happen as I am booked on the April BL TA. 

2 minutes ago, librarylady19 said:

What are the “latest rumors”?

BL won’t be ready , and will start in Portsmouth . VL will take over the San Juan itineraries as these are well booked . Original VL cruises from Miami will be cancelled and so the BL transatlantic from San Juan to Europe . 

According persons being currently on Richard‘s birthday cruise a press announcement was planned for today . Newest rumors about the Brilliant sound not so good. I think it is now a matter of days …. ( I hope so ) 

I think now that VV just read my comment from July and thought …. Not a bad idea lol 

1 minute ago, librarylady19 said:

What uk travel site has it listed. Hint please. I know we can’t name names here. 

What I understand it was on the official VV page for people approaching it from UK , but it looks like they took it down because they plan this big press release on Wednesday. And now the big surprise  is not a surprise anymore 

1 minute ago, librarylady19 said:

Seems likely since BL is on OFFICIAL port schedule for Zeebrugge for 5/7 amd Amsterdam for 5/8. Fingers crossed TA goes as planned first! 

Ok so either the change the final destination from Lisbon to Portsmouth. Or they do a Lisbon to Portsmouth cruise from 1st of May until the 6th of May. 5 nights from Lisbon to Portsmouth sounds manageable. 

3 minutes ago, jamesv92 said:

Portsmouth to Amsterdam and Zeebrugge maybe..

A „weekend escape“ from Friday till Monday  …. We could start working for VV as itinerary scheduler LOL 

Looks like there will be short 3 night cruises . Something which is currently not available (even not in the Carribean). 

Things are getting clearer and clearer . The transatlantic must take place . They don’t transfer an empty ship from sanjuan to Europe. And they don’t cancel the San Juan routes because they wouldn’t put them in the newest promo released today. According Someone on the Branson birthday cruise this week there is a big press release planned for Wednesday this week. Fingers crossed … as I Heard that „will be released in the next days“ since weeks and months, lol 

5 minutes ago, jon81uk said:

But the current offer only applies to Brilliant Lady sailings through to 13 April, so doesn’t apply to any new itineraries for that ship at present. Whereas for Scarlet Lady the terms show December 2024 dates the offer does apply to, but aren’t on sale yet.

I assume that the Brillant lady final destination will be then Portsmouth instead of Lisbon . Or there will be a special cruise Lisbon to Portsmouth with some nice stops in the north of Spain and west coast of France . 

4 hours ago, Lustate said:

 

Are there any dates for the above locations? Curious to see what the plan might be and if its over winter in Europe or just the summer season and off to the USA etc in October/ November 2024

Heading back October to the carribean . She is scheduled in Porto / Leixoes for October (coming from La Coruna in Spain / heading to Lisbon ) . See photo below I took from the official port page .