The much anticipated Scarlett Lady cruise ship from Virgin Voyages Cruises will debut on May 9, 2021. The first sailing will be a five-day Dominican Daze cruise visiting Puerto Plata and Beach Club at Bimini (the line’s private Bahamian destination). A highlight of this port is a bonfire party under the stars in Bimini, where she will stay from 9 am to 10 pm. Besides having access to the island’s incredible biodiversity in marine life, boating, snorkeling, and even historic shipwreck diving, sailors get exclusive access to The Beach Club — Virgin’s private beach club experience. Peaceful mornings and restorative days or amplified afternoons at the DJ-led pool party —the beach club is designed to answer whatever your specific mood is calling for. The Valiant Lady cruise ship will set sail on November 14th, 2021.
Virgin Cruises COVID Health & Safety Protocols
The ships of Virgin Voyages will be outfitted with an air purification system that kills 99.9% of viruses, the latest technology from AtmosAir Solutions, as part of a health and safety program called Voyage Well. “Shield” kiosks will be used at ship entry and exit points with thermal cameras to screen for elevated body temperature, integrate health questionnaires, as well as other screening actions like mask detection. “DeCurtis Shield has been selected as a primary edge mitigation layer. Integrating the edge checkpoints into a holistic and robust infrastructure enables evolution as new threats surface. This approach is not only the correct thing to do tactically, but also sets a strategic direction for Virgin Voyages as a leader in the health and safety space for their crew and guests.” Owner Richard Branson has mentioned that dependent on medical advancements & availability, he is open to having COVID-19 testing for all passengers at the port.
Social Distancing on Virgin Cruises
- Managing personal space by significantly reducing overall ship capacity. Additional measures include limiting large groups at events through virtual ticketing and keeping empty seats between one another, and leaving tables empty between groups at each eatery.
- Virgin Voyages ships do not have buffets or large dining rooms; purposely creating smaller eateries to limit large crowds. And there’s no communal food sharing — food is only prepared when it’s ordered and delivered directly to you.
- When using our delivery food service onboard, ShipEats, we have contactless drop-off and pick up.
- Technology to limit contact: The Band (for contactless payment), Service Chat (for assistance digitally), and Virtual Queues (for getting in lines for onboard experiences without actually getting in physical lines).
- For masks, we follow the same guidelines as is recommended on land — so if people are advised to wear masks there, we will do so at sea, as well. Read more about Wearing Face Masks on a cruise.
Virgin Voyages Cancellation Policy
Offering fair and flexible booking policies during this time — from moving the final payment dates to 60 days (from 120 days) before you sail, to allowing you to cancel up to 48 hours before and receive a 100% Future Voyage Credit for sailings through December 16th, 2021.
Virgin Voyages is a premium adults-only (18+) cruise line that includes more in the cruise fare than the average cruise line. There are 20+ eateries onboard, all of which are included in the price of the cruise. Also included in the price are nonalcoholic beverages, Wi-Fi, gratuities, and group fitness classes. Scarlet Lady also has unique venues including an onboard tattoo parlor, vinyl record store & a two-story nightclub. Bars onboard include Draught Haus Tap Room, Sip Lounge champagne bar & On the Rocks martini bar.
The Valiant Lady cruise ship is scheduled to debut in May 2021 to operate week-long Mediterranean itineraries from Barcelona, Spain. In winter (November 2021 through April 2022,) the ship will head across the Atlantic to join Scarlet Lady in the Caribbean.
Virgin Voyages is joining the growing number of cruise lines who have unveiled their new health & safety plans that will be in place when cruises resume. We share links to several other related blogs below.
