Virgin Voyages will make its long-awaited debut with a limited series of sailings from England this August, available only to UK residents.
Billed as a “Summer Soirée Series”, the new cruise line will position Scarlet Lady in Portsmouth, from which it will offer three- and four-night itineraries along the southern coast of England, providing guests a sneak-peak of the Virgin Voyages’ onboard experience.
“Virgin Voyages has been looking forward to sailing, and we’re so excited to announce our plans to sail from the UK,” said Richard Branson. “Our team has curated such a fantastic experience for our Sailors and know this is a holiday they will love.”
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The ‘Summer Soiree Series’ includes the Long Weekender (3-Night, Friday – Monday), available on 6, 13 and 20 August, and the Summer WeekDaze (4-Night, Monday – Friday) on 9, 16 and 23 August.
“After more than a year of waiting and a major emphasis on a safe return, we’re ecstatic to announce these new sailings and bring Sailors onboard to experience what it’s like to set sail the Virgin Way,” said Tom McAlpin, CEO and President of Virgin Voyages. “We look at our UK summer voyages as a homecoming to pay homage to our British roots, and what an excellent way to kick-off our sailing season before heading back to PortMiami.”
As part of the Summer Soiree Series, this select group of Sailors will be offered a first taste of Scarlet Lady‘s Michelin-inspired dining experiences, luxurious spa treatments, unlimited fitness classes, entertainment featuring local British talent, and adult-only sailing experience.
As cruise operations in the US remain uncertain, before heading home to PortMiami, Virgin Voyages’ Scarlet Lady is taking this opportunity to do a homecoming tour, heading back to where the Virgin brand began.
Only residents of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will be able to sail on the Summer Soirée Series – with Sailors aged 18+ vaccinated against COVID-19. Additional testing and protocols will be confirmed closer to sailing, all in line with the most up-to-date recommendations from the UK government.
The Summer Soirée Series will go on sale on 13 April.
All images courtesy of Virgin Voyages.