Tag Archives: Brilliant Lady

Virgin Voyages Launches $120,000 Annual Pass

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This past Travel Tuesday, Virgin Voyages launched the Annual Pass, offering unlimited access to its fleet of ships for an entire year, starting in 2025.

The industry-first program allows guests to choose any voyage, departing from any location, with access to various destinations and itineraries.

The company also said that it now accepts cryptocurrency, providing the option to purchase the pass with Bitcoin.

Richard Branson, Virgin Group founder, said: “I’ve always been a big believer in the power of travel and adventure to spark creativity and bring clarity. What started as a sought-after ‘work from sea’ concept with our Season Pass has evolved into something even more special. Now, Sailors can jump aboard any of our ships, across an endless variety of exciting destinations for an entire year. We’re offering unlimited opportunities for adventure in a way that has never been done in cruising before.”

With the Annual Pass, travellers can sail on any ship in the fleet, including the upcoming Brilliant Lady, set to launch in September 2025. Starting from January 2025, the pass provides a year of unlimited sailings from any departure port. Pass holders will enjoy Sea Terrace cabins with balcony views, in addition to exclusive perks like priority boarding, complimentary laundry, unlimited premium WiFi and a $100 Bar Tab credit per voyage. Additionally, guests have the option to add a plus one to their cabin.

The Annual Pass costs $120,000, excluding taxes and fees, and is available for booking through March 31, 2025. Travel advisors who sell the pass will earn a commission of $10,000.

Record Inaugural Cruise Calls for Gibraltar in 2022

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The Minister for Business and Tourism, Hon Vijay Daryanani, announced that Gibraltar has seen a record number of 20 inaugural cruise calls in 2022, beating the previous best of 19 in 2016.

“The cruising industry has suffered immensely but the Government has worked at full throttle to make sure that Gibraltar has not been forgotten and the statistics are proof of this,” said Daryanani.

“I have represented Gibraltar at the most important cruise conferences in the world. I have spoken about what we have to offer and people have approached me to talk about us. We have recovered quickly in 2022 after the pandemic and now we have a record amount of inaugural calls. This new year will be better as we already have more calls booked than last year. 

“Whatever my detractors may say, I will continue marketing Gibraltar because that’s what our retail and hospitality industries want and expect from me. It is not easy in this very competitive industry but we will work hard to deliver on all fronts.”

Following a difficult time for the cruise industry during the pandemic, Gibraltar is now making a steady recovery. 

Virgin Voyages Donates 2,023 Vacations to Healthcare Workers

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Virgins Merlady the Valient Lady flying her Banner in Liverpool UK, Photo Credit Spacejunkie2 (Flickr)

Virgin Voyages is celebrating Giving Tuesday by paying it forward and honouring local healthcare heroes with the vacation of a lifetime, the company said, in a press release.

For the second consecutive year, the South Florida-based travel and lifestyle brand is partnering with Baptist Health South Florida and donating 2,023 complimentary voyages – totalling an estimated $5.9 million – for deserving employees to ring in the new year with their friends and loved ones.

“For the past three years, our local healthcare workers put everything on the line to care for the community, and now it’s our turn to pay it forward,” said Jill Stoneberg, Virgin Voyages’ Senior Director of Sustainability and Social Impact. “We’ve turned a corner, and we’d love to offer our frontline workers a much-deserved break. The Virgin Voyages team is honoured to give our friends at Baptist an incredible vacation on the high seas where they can unplug and escape for a few days.”

In celebration of the new year ahead, the 2,023 gifted sailings will recognize employees in the Baptist Health network who have made a positive impact in the local healthcare community, from patient-facing employees to those in behind-the-scenes roles that keep the hospitals, clinics and offices running smoothly, the company said.

Winners will receive a voyage for two in a Sea Terrace, a trendy balcony cabin with fun mood lighting, rainfall showers and a signature red hammock.

The 2,023 winners will select from one of six incredible Caribbean itineraries departing from Miami between Jan. 2 and April 28, 2023.

“At Baptist Health, we want our employees to thrive in their careers and all areas of their lives,” said Adriene McCoy, senior vice president and chief people officer at Baptist Health. “That includes prioritizing their well-being and time off since our people are the key to the essential and high-quality care we provide to our community. We are excited to partner with Virgin Voyages and grateful for their generosity in offering our dedicated employees an opportunity to vacation, rest and recharge.”