On the heels of a sold-out summer season in the Med, Richard Branson’s award-winning cruise line celebrates global success!
Virgin Voyages announced yesterday that the second phase of its European expansion is complete with the opening of sales in both France and Italy. This news follows an additional six European source markets opening for business in the last three weeks, including The Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Denmark, Norway and Sweden. Earlier this year, Virgin Voyages kickstarted its European expansion by opening sales in three new markets, including Spain, Portugal and Ireland, delivering unprecedented results with sales performance up nearly 50% within the first year. With the addition of these eleven new markets in 2024, Virgin Voyages now has a global distribution footprint with plans to continue to build throughout 2025 and beyond, with six additional new markets in scope.
Virgin Voyages’ European expansion is being led by Matt Lebbern, Head of European Sales, who has extensive experience building international distribution within the cruise industry. “Within the last nine months, this multi-award winning brand has more than doubled its number of active source markets, showcasing our commitment to an international audience. We are very excited to open our doors locally in all of these markets, bringing our reimagined cruise experience to both the millions of existing cruisers and to those that may not have considered a cruise previously,” said Lebbern. “As part of an extensive family of Virgin companies, we already enjoy great brand recognition in these markets and look forward to welcoming these Sailors on-board our fleet of Lady Ships.”
President and CEO of Virgin Voyages, Nirmal Saverimuttu said, “Matt has done an amazing job identifying new potential with the opening of eleven new markets this year, and this expansion sets us up for success as we launch Brilliant Lady next year. There is a genuine excitement and energy that comes from Sailors who love nothing more than enjoying the best in food, entertainment, wellness and culture at sea.“
The news follows as Virgin Voyages announces its biggest ever European deployment in 2025. Scarlet Lady and Resilient Lady will be returning to European shores, offering a selection of voyages from six to 13 nights from April 2025 through October 2025. The line’s first ship, Scarlet Lady, will explore the western Mediterranean and northern Europe, stopping in popular destinations such as the Balearic Islands, British Isles, Ligurian coast and Iceland while offering departures from Barcelona, Portsmouth, Reykjavik and Rome. Meanwhile, Resilient Lady will homeport in Athens and set sail to the Greek Isles and Adriatic Coast, featuring stops in Bodrum, Dubrovnik and Santorini, as well as overnight stays in Istanbul and Mykonos.
