Virgin Voyages cancels Australian sailings for next season
Cruise line Virgin Voyages has cancelled its sailings in Australia and New Zealand next year.
The company, helmed by billionaire Richard Branson, only started sailing Down Under in December 2023.
It said safety concerns around travelling through the Red Sea was behind the announcement, saying the "ongoing conflict puts unacceptable risks for safe passage through the region."
READ MORE: Ex-cop believes police are close to finding bodies of Sydney couple
Cruise line Virgin Voyages has cancelled its sailings in Australia and New Zealand next year. Supplied
READ MORE: How police allege the murders of Jesse Baird and Luke Davies unfolded
The ship, Resilient Lady, would have to sail through the region to get to Australia, where it was planned to stay for the 2024-25 cruising season.
Such a trip is called a repositioning cruise.
Bosses say the first season in Australia, which is ongoing, has been "extremely successful".
The adult-only ship is base in Port Melbourne and sails on voyages around Australia as well as to New Zealand.
"To say that we are disappointed to have come to this tough conclusion is an understatement," a statement from the company said.
Billionaire tycoon Sir Richard Branson took to a speedboat as he welcomed one of his cruise ships into Sydney Harbour for the first time. Supplied
READ MORE: Missing yacht couple likely thrown overboard
"These adjustments are happening now in order to minimize potential future disruption to our passengers' holiday plans knowing there is a high likelihood that changes would need to happen in the future."
View gallery
'Cruisezilla' passenger ships have doubled in size since 2000, environmental group warns
The company said it is "working through options to return to Australia and the Asia Pacific region once regional repositioning opportunities become more tenable.
Anybody who has booked can get a refund or choose another cruise.
Virgin Voyages other two ships, Scarlett Lady and Valiant lady sail in the Caribbean and Mediterranean.
READ MORE: From pencils to pumpkins, Aussie companies cash in on cruising boom
Cruising is worth billions of dollars to the economy.
Share a tip-off, video or photo with us
