Key Aspects:
- Scarlet Lady’s 7-night Caribbean sailing that would have embarked from Miami on April 19, 2026, has been cancelled in favor of a more lucrative charter.
- The ship has been chartered by Summit at Sea, which brings leaders from different industries together.
- Guests who were booked on the cancelled sailing can either switch to another voyage (with some added perks) or they may cancel their reservation entirely for a full refund or a 100% Future Voyage Credit.
Few among us would be happy to learn that their cruise booking had been cancelled to make way for a charter sailing.
But when the cruise lines get an offer they simply can’t refuse, such as a charter opportunity where the organizers buy out every single cabin onboard, it’s just bad business to turn it down to operate a cruise that may not fully sell out.
This is likely the reasoning behind why Virgin Voyages has opted to cancel one 7-night sailing for Scarlet Lady, that would have embarked from Miami, Florida, on April 19, 2026.
The now scrapped itinerary featured calls on Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic; San Juan, Puerto Rico; and Tortola, British Virgin Islands.
So, who is responsible for the change? Summit at Sea, which hosts themed cruises that are meant to bring like-minded leaders together, is to blame.
The organization fosters connections, networking, and inspiration among the best and the brightest across six different pillars: Talks, Culinary, Art, Performance, Wellness, and Impact.
This also isn’t the first time a Lady ship has hosted Summit at Sea. The adults-only cruise line has hosted the group since at least 2023, and Virgin Voyages founder Sir Richard Branson was even a featured speaker in 2023.
Even though the week-long cruise had to be cancelled, the charter event will only last for four days and will set sail from Miami on April 23, 2026.
The first half of that window will be turned into a 3-night mini cruise that leaves Miami on April 19 and sails to The Beach Club at Bimini, which is an exclusive destination just for Virgin Voyages.
What Options Do Booked Guests Have?
Receiving this news is likely disappointing for the up to 2,770 guests who may have been booked on the original sailing.
However, Virgin Voyages is doing its best to offer fair compensation packages and make things right.
“It looks like your Scarlet Lady sailing on April 19, 2026, has been privately chartered. We’re truly sorry for the impact this has on your plans, and we’re here to make it right,” Virgin Voyages wrote to impacted Sailors.
The first option that cruisers have is to switch to a comparable 7-night sailing onboard Resilient Lady, which sets sail from Miami one day sooner on April 18, 2026.
Just like the original itinerary, guests will still get to explore San Juan and Puerto Plata. However, Virgin Voyage’s third Lady-ship will visit Bimini in the Bahamas instead of Tortola.
Guests will be re-booked into the same cruise cabin category, and the cruise fare, promotions, and applicable bonuses from the original reservation will carry over.
Additionally, guests may be given an onboard credit as an extra expression of gratitude – or Sailor Loot as the adults-only cruise line calls it – depending on their stateroom category.
For example, guests in Rockstar Suites and Mega Rockstar Suites will receive $300 to spend onboard.
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Alternatively, cruise guests who need a bit more flexibility can switch to any other 7-night Caribbean cruise while remaining eligible for the onboard credits and keeping their original booking price locked in.
In fact, if the replacement cruise ends up costing less than the originally booked sailing, Virgin Voyages has pledged to refund the difference.
If none of those options sound quite right, that’s okay, too. Passengers can opt to cancel their reservation in exchange for a full refund or a 100% Future Voyage Credit.
