helkatred

So as speculated, Virgin aren’t coming back to Australia next season! Sailing out of San Juan. So now we have individual flights to Athens booked we will have to find a different way to spend our holiday!’

Which port? New York?

She was chockers, with possibly half the ship virgin staff travelling on virtually free trips as their Christmas bonus! We figured out anyone over 50 was full fare paying 😂 a full ship - but that was a 4 nighter; chance of that happening on longer NZ cruise non existent.

We were on it last week and I think it would be fine, the cabin decks were always quiet when we were looking around. Our cabin was on 5 which was quite handy for sailor services and bars on 6. Only negative was the moving around of furniture in the Red Room after their performances late at night, but obviously the cabin was underneath so not a sensible pick!

Dodgy?😂😂

That's an interesting thought. So we wouldn't be able to get on in Athens anyway!

I have read on other sites that VV will announce at the end of February, all the new sailings for resilient lady, we are also booked on those same 3 sailings as you. However we aren’t keen on all the sea days (7x2 I think) on the African route.,by the way there is also muttering that they won’t even be bringing RL back to Australia as this inaugural season didn’t reach expectations. So up in the air and definitely hoping end of Feb will give us answers!

Unfortunately we have booked our October Athens-Perth sailing through an agency. Wish we hadn't but of course it was a terrific deal 🤑

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

So are we. Not too sure how we feel about the African itinerary as we booked because we've never been to India, Sri Lanka etc etc ... there's a few alternatives around that date in October so considering that. Because - of course - we have flights booked!!

I believe their schedule will be as before with the first cruise from Athens on 9th May (?) - they're doing a very quick leg from Barcelona via Malta to Athens.

Cape Town to Barcelona I believe; then a very short cruise to Athens via Malta. My cruises are offering a reduced fare for that leg.

I saw that Cunard have re-routed their sailing around Africa with a fairly interesting collection of ports, but Island Princess are leaving Australia and straight across the Indian Ocean to Mauritius, then Cape Town. Anyone wanting Dubai will have to fly from there.

The only thing so that the Houthi rebels appear to be targeting container ships, not cruise ships.

Good advice, thank you. We have our flights booked but accommodation is flexible thank goodness.