5 September 2023
Virgin Voyages is making a return to the UK with a series of sailings from Portsmouth International Port in 2024.
They made their debut from the port with first ship Scarlet Lady in summer 2021, spending a memorable summer season in the city. This was followed by the maiden voyage of Valiant Lady in 2022.
A number of new sailings have now been confirmed, including debut calls to Bilbao and Bordeaux, with dates to be released later this month.
The itineraries feature short breaks to Amsterdam and Zeebrugge for Bruges and a longer cruise between Portsmouth and Barcelona via La Coruna, Lisbon, Casablanca, Malaga and Ibiza.
Andrew Williamson, head of cruise and ferry at Portsmouth International Port said:
“The arrival of Scarlet Lady in Portsmouth back in 2021 heralded not only a new era for cruise at the port, but also for the cruise industry as a whole as Virgin Voyages made their mer-maiden sailing from our historic city.
“We’re absolutely delighted to reveal the epic news that we will be welcoming them back to the city for a hotly anticipated return. They fit perfectly with our ambition to be the first choice port for luxury, boutique and expedition cruise lines in the UK, and we are looking forward to showing their sailors our brand new carbon-neutral terminal extension. I cannot wait to see the full itineraries when they are released later this month.”
Virgin Voyages vice president of UK/international sales, Shane Riley, said:
“The rumours are true, we’re returning to our British roots, and we couldn’t be more excited. Portsmouth was where we set sail on our maiden voyage and introduced what it means to set sail the Virgin way, so it has a very special place in our hearts. The best part is these series of ‘Portsmouth Shorts’ itineraries are just a fraction of the news we have to share.
“All I can say is stay tuned for epic news – we’ve got more sailing your way next week, and the new itineraries will be available to book starting Sept. 7.”