Cruise lines are continually trying to outdo each other. So, you have the cruise line with the biggest ship (Royal Caribbean). The cruise line with the longest itinerary (Oceania Cruises). The only cruise line allowed to offer fireworks at sea (Disney Cruise Line [although Norwegian did have it on a couple of ships, but they stopped in 2015]).
What sets Virgin Voyages apart
Virgin Voyages doesn’t try to outdo other cruise lines per se as much as it tries to differentiate itself. Stand out from the pack. So they don’t allow anyone under age 18 (a few other cruise lines have adults only cruises, but not across their respective fleets). They have no buffets onboard and no main dining room. They don’t offer a drink package in favor of an onboard spending system called a Bar Tab. They have a tattoo parlor on each of its ships. They have no cruise director and make few onboard announcements. The merchandise they sell includes sex kits. Their hull art has always featured mermaids. After the first one, Scarlet Lady, who is White, they introduced Valiant Lady, who is Black; Resilient Lady, a Latina; and Brilliant Lady, who is Asian.
The innovative subscription model
In the summer of 2024, Virgin Voyages introduced another “first,” in the form of a monthly subscription for their cruises. It was so popular that they extended the program and have already announced a summer pass for 2025.
Introducing the annual pass
Now they’re pushing the bar again – Virgin Voyages has announced another industry first, in the form of a year-long cruise annual pass.
Yep, it’s an all-you-can-sail pass, which is good for one year, starting any time in the first third of 2025. With it, you and your plus one can stay in a Sea Terrace level cabin and sail anywhere Virgin Voyages’ three (soon to be four) ships operate, typically in Europe, the Mediterranean, and the Caribbean.
All for a cool $120,000.
With a Virgin Voyages Annual Pass, you’ll be automatically welcomed to their Sailing Club to enjoy the perks of having Deep Blue Extra status. Those include:
- Premium Wi-Fi
- Laundry service
- Priority boarding
- Pre-voyage and onboard support
- $100 Bar Tab credit (onboard spending for alcoholic drinks, specialty coffees, and fresh-squeezed juices)
- Two specialty coffees per cabin per day
- Exclusive cocktail event
All of those would be included per sailing. Heads up that you’d still be responsible for taxes and fees for each sailing.
And not only will Virgin Voyages be the first to offer an annual pass, they’ll also be the first cruise line to accept Bitcoin as a cryptocurrency payment option.
$120k? That’s steep. Is it worth it?
“Worth it” is, of course a value judgement. It could be a fortune to some, but for the wealthy, it might feel like the financial equivalent of a drop in the ocean..
That being said, $120,000 for a year equals $10,000 per month (plus taxes and fees). Of course, you wouldn’t have to worry about several typical living expenses, though some, like phone and medical bills, would still be ongoing. I think, overall, it would take a special sort of person who would want to take VV up on this deal.
If you think you’re such a special sort of person, more info can be found on Virgin Voyages’ website.
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