Virgin Cruise "repositioned" due to tensions in the red sea!

[ticketshop]

My wife and I are from San Francisco. We went on a Virgin Caribbean cruise in Feb 2023 and had a great time. While on the ship, we booked another Virgin cruise embarking March 27- April 11th 2024 from Sydney to Singapore. Unfortunately, we just got an email that the cruise has been "repositioned" due to tensions in the red sea. Fortunately we don't have any hotels or flights that we can't at least get credit for. The new cruise is now 21 days embarking March 27-April 17th from Sydney to Cape Town. We have a flexible schedule and can make this new cruise work but we don't really want to be on an empty ship! 16 days at sea with 7 straight across the Indian ocean is pretty intimidating for our 3rd cruise. It would be amazing to go to Africa (probably never get there another time) but flying home to SF would be a long 30 hour journey! I'm also concerned about crossing the Indian ocean. Has anyone done this? Is it somewhat warm in April? Are the waters usually rough in April? I have a tendency to get sea sick when on small boats. What is the internet like? I like to be able check my email for emergencies with our small business.

 

Should we take on this new adventure or just book another cruise for this summer?

 

here is the new itinerary:

• Date: 3/27/2024 – 4/17/2024
• Itinerary Name: From Australia to South Africa
• Length: 21 Nights
• Ports: Sydney, Australia – Eden, Australia – Fremantle (Perth), Australia – Port Louis, Mauritius – Durban, South Africa – Cape Town, South Africa 

 

Thanks

Brian

[leaveitallbehind]

Well you seem to primarily list a number of reasons against doing the cruise, so not knowing you or anything else but what you've said, I would probably suggest booking another cruise.

 

I, on the other hand, would probably stay with the cruise for most of the reasons you expressed concern (return flight not withstanding) - LOL. We enjoy repositioning cruises.  But that's just me

 

BTW, a number of cruise lines are rerouting their upcoming cruises in that region for the same reasons.  No cruise line is about to place a ship, its crew, or any passenger potentially in harms way.

Edited February 10 by leaveitallbehind

[CruiserBruce]

The last thing I would be worried about is being on a half empty ship.

 

Seas can be rough any time, any where. The seas aren't predictable more than a few days in advance. You can get an idea of the weather by Google searching weather for a couple of your ports..."Weather April Cape Town" for example.

 

The flights are what they are. United flies non-stop Cape Town to EWR (or IAD, can't remember which), then non-stop to SFO. So not bad for the length of flight. You could see about a layover stay in those areas.

 

The number of sea days is the only hint of anything concerning, and I think we could figure it out.

 

Take the cruise. You only live once.

[clo]

52 minutes ago, CruiserBruce said:

The number of sea days is the only hint of anything concerning, and I think we could figure it out.

 

Could you 'talk' a little about please? The "figure it out" part?

[SelectSys]

I would take the alternate cruise - especially if you haven’t been in Cape Town and Durban previously.  The opportunities for extending your cruise with a great visit to South Africa would be something I wouldn’t pass up on.   You will be visiting in early fall so I think the weather should be pretty nice.  It could be you will be in time for the wine harvest as well as visiting one of the game reserves and seeing the other local sites.

 

Good luck with your decision! 

 

BTW - Are you planning on flying business class?  I wouldn’t be worried with the long flight times in business class as you will be well taken care of.  In economy, I would at least try and buy preferred seats with extra space.

Edited February 10 by SelectSys

[MCC retired]

I would not be overly concerned about 7 sea days in a row . The QM2 does regular 7 night Transatlantic and guests enjoy 7 days at sea in a row.😉

[CruiserBruce]

1 hour ago, clo said:

Could you 'talk' a little about please? The "figure it out" part?

In other words, we will survive...would be happy to be there.

[crystalspin]

3 hours ago, ticketshop said:

We have a flexible schedule and can make this new cruise work but we don't really want to be on an empty ship!

I'm sure it won't be empty -- maybe not full. Many people are wistful about the days of half-full ships after the startup! It's all in how much Singapore was your attraction. Also you had some pretty long flights across the Pacific in your original plans. (Miami to Cape Town was unpleasant, to be sure, but that was before Kindles and wifi for us.)

[clo]

2 hours ago, CruiserBruce said:

In other words, we will survive...would be happy to be there.

You're probably the majority. Some years ago we did a TA and I was ready to jump after about a week 🙂

[navybankerteacher]

2 hours ago, clo said:

You're probably the majority. Some years ago we did a TA and I was ready to jump after about a week 🙂

Had you trouble dealing with fellow passengers - or just with yourself?

[clo]

1 hour ago, navybankerteacher said:

Had you trouble dealing with fellow passengers - or just with yourself?

I faked it with both 🙂 Oh, wait, my husband was "in bed" with me 🙂

[Honolulu Blue]

14 hours ago, crystalspin said:

Many people are wistful about the days of half-full ships after the startup!

Count me among them.  My two cruises in 2021 were at 15% and 30% of capacity.  They're among my favorites. I miss those days, even with the danger and extra protocols involved. 

[clo]

5 hours ago, Honolulu Blue said:

Count me among them.  My two cruises in 2021 were at 15% and 30% of capacity.  They're among my favorites. I miss those days, even with the danger and extra protocols involved. 

Pre-covid and everything else we've cruised on ships with 100, 400 and 1200. Loved it. Even with 1200 I didn't get totally lost 🙂 (I have a terrible sense of direction, unless I've been somewhere before.)

[ticketshop]

Thanks for the response. We booked in for 21 days to Africa!