What happened to Brilliant Lady

[ghostshark]

1 minute ago, Tolkmit said:

 

Those are rare occurrences. Virgin having a ship ready on time is a coin flip.

and they cancelled trips for people who weren't even booked on the ship that isn't ready, which is just ... really something

[3eaglesfam]

2 hours ago, DrSch said:

From the email I just received from
 

 

the valiant was to be my first sailing with Virgin.  2/10-2/18.  Everything is paid in full - including my non refundable airfare with allegiant and my hotel with Expedia.  I cant cancel my flight online - I have been on hold for 2 hours trying to get on someone on allegiant to answer to see if I can at least get a travel voucher.   Why didnt they cancel the folks on the non completed ship and screw those of us that booked on a ship in service?? 

 

[WatermelonSugarHigh]

2 minutes ago, Tolkmit said:

 

Those are rare occurrences. Virgin having a ship ready on time is a coin flip.

Some are happy with which side the coin landed on; others not so much. No guarantees. 

[jcarter4551]

3 hours ago, Lustate said:

 

So it might be all 16 voyages on BL that have been announced that going to be cancelled maybe? 

Don't take this as conclusive evidence for your theory, but a few weeks ago I called the Virgin Casino to book a comp cruise on BL for March and the guy laughed and said he won't be able to book any comp cruises on the BL until at least next April or after. He offered every other sailing to include Australia within the next 6 months. I didn't think anything of the laugh or fact he couldn't put me on BL, but now appears there was a reason. Not a good look for Virgin.

[WatermelonSugarHigh]

8 minutes ago, 3eaglesfam said:

the valiant was to be my first sailing with Virgin.  2/10-2/18.  Everything is paid in full - including my non refundable airfare with allegiant and my hotel with Expedia.  I cant cancel my flight online - I have been on hold for 2 hours trying to get on someone on allegiant to answer to see if I can at least get a travel voucher.   Why didnt they cancel the folks on the non completed ship and screw those of us that booked on a ship in service?? 

 

I never book non-refundable airfare, because it is non-refundable, especially 6 months ahead. Learned this the hard way, as you may be too.  Good luck. 

Edited September 7, 2023 by WatermelonSugarHigh

[ghostshark]

5 minutes ago, 3eaglesfam said:

Why didnt they cancel the folks on the non completed ship and screw those of us that booked on a ship in service?? 

 

some folks in this thread will just throw up their hands and tell you there aren't any guarantees in life, as if that explains this clusterfudge

[librarylady19]

A new question (I think) - I booked the TA as a solo and only paid for one person. So....I'm thinking I now have 2 options: a) book another solo cruise (longer the better!) or 2) book w/ hubby and pay the going rate for him. I am one of the lucky ones who got a great deal so I'm not too put out as I'm ending up with current perks plus more. Others, not so much 🤔

[FlyingAnchor]

52 minutes ago, CanadianCruiser21 said:

The options are already listed on the form when you click on the link in the email to rebook.

Does this mean we don't need to wait until tomorrow to see what new itineraries they finalize/announce to see if anything fits our schedule/vacation desires? 

[CineGraphic]

57 minutes ago, Tolkmit said:

 

If that were true, then cruises going those places on other lines would similarly have higher booking rates. They don't. However, pretty much every cruise line does see better booking rates on their newest ship.

 

Believe what you want, but they clearly opted to accommodate the sailings with higher booking rates, and the re-booking offer is generous. We'll end up with $2200 in loot and bar tabs for a cruise that only cost us $2400.

[CruisingWalter]

40 minutes ago, CanadianCruiser21 said:

I still hope VV offers a FVC option in the coming weeks to add some flexibility with newer promotions and changing cabin categories. 

 

From what we were just told by our TA, don't expect FVC.  In lieu of that they're allowing you take any Virgin Voyage in its place. You can trade the 7 day Southern Caribbean for any other voyage out there plus $1000 - $600 Sailor Loot. I have no problem with that at all because it's essentially the same as FVC.  The money you paid is protected and how much more of a cruise you take is completely up to you. 

[3eaglesfam]

14 minutes ago, WatermelonSugarHigh said:

I never book non-refundable airfare, because it is non-refundable, especially 6 months ahead. Learned this the hard way, as you may be too.  Good luck. 

My cruise fare has trip flex.  But I can't change anything online.  

[ghostshark]

2 minutes ago, FlyingAnchor said:

Does this mean we don't need to wait until tomorrow to see what new itineraries they finalize/announce to see if anything fits our schedule/vacation desires? 

There's nothing on the rebook form beyond April 2025. I thought I might rebook for Med in 2025, since my cabin is unavailable for so many 2024 Med sailings, but no dice.

[CruisingWalter]

11 minutes ago, FlyingAnchor said:

Does this mean we don't need to wait until tomorrow to see what new itineraries they finalize/announce to see if anything fits our schedule/vacation desires? 

 

If you click the "Offer Form" you should be able to see all the new itineraries today. The general public will see them tomorrow .

[CanadianCruiser21]

9 minutes ago, FlyingAnchor said:

Does this mean we don't need to wait until tomorrow to see what new itineraries they finalize/announce to see if anything fits our schedule/vacation desires? 

Go to this link and look near the bottom where it says “select your desired voyage”

you can see the start date and estimate the end date by looking at the next sailing for that ship

The stops are not really available though. 
https://virginvoyages.my.salesforce-sites.com/rebookNreimbursement

[CanadianCruiser21]

3 minutes ago, CruisingWalter said:

 

From what we were just told by our TA, don't expect FVC.  In lieu of that they're allowing you take any Virgin Voyage in its place. You can trade the 7 day Southern Caribbean for any other voyage out there plus $1000 - $600 Sailor Loot. I have no problem with that at all because it's essentially the same as FVC.  The money you paid is protected and how much more of a cruise you take is completely up to you. 

 

thanks for the info.

I had some other cruises booked but didn’t use MNVV so I regret missing out on the 300 discount and 600 loot, which would have been in addition to the rebooking loot. 
I was going to cancel and rebook with a TA who had MNVV, but I guess I missed my chance. I’m sure I’m in the minority for this situation though. I think for the most part, it works out for most people. 

[bloodyen]

15 minutes ago, CruisingWalter said:

 

From what we were just told by our TA, don't expect FVC.  In lieu of that they're allowing you take any Virgin Voyage in its place. You can trade the 7 day Southern Caribbean for any other voyage out there plus $1000 - $600 Sailor Loot. I have no problem with that at all because it's essentially the same as FVC.  The money you paid is protected and how much more of a cruise you take is completely up to you. 

This is USELESS as someone who already booked the 8 night Miami cruise (most expensive option). Virgin is leaving a horrible impression and ruined a birthday trip.

[aviators99]

18 minutes ago, CruisingWalter said:

 

From what we were just told by our TA, don't expect FVC.  In lieu of that they're allowing you take any Virgin Voyage in its place. You can trade the 7 day Southern Caribbean for any other voyage out there plus $1000 - $600 Sailor Loot. I have no problem with that at all because it's essentially the same as FVC.  The money you paid is protected and how much more of a cruise you take is completely up to you. 

Based on my reading, you should have your existing $600 sailor loot PLUS another 600/1000, no?

[WanderingBrit]

16 minutes ago, CanadianCruiser21 said:

Go to this link and look near the bottom where it says “select your desired voyage”

you can see the start date and estimate the end date by looking at the next sailing for that ship

The stops are not really available though. 
https://virginvoyages.my.salesforce-sites.com/rebookNreimbursement

Disappointing to see so little in 2025 for the Eastern Med at this time.

[soccersharon]

2 hours ago, BeasleysMom66 said:

 

Don't feel bad they cancelled my Eastern Caribbean for 1/13/2024 to 1/21/2024.  This is the 2nd time and LAST they have done this to me.

We were on this sailing too.  Going to wait until Sept 11th to view all our options.  Those in the email don’t cut it.

[BeasleysMom66]

2 minutes ago, soccersharon said:

We were on this sailing too.  Going to wait until Sept 11th to view all our options.  Those in the email don’t cut it.

 

Since I am on the west coast anything less than 8 days isn't worth the travel across country at least to me.  I am speaking with a TA now about booking something in Bali or the Maldives instead.  

[ghostshark]

3 minutes ago, bloodyen said:

This is USELESS as someone who already booked the 8 night Miami cruise (most expensive option). Virgin is leaving a horrible impression and ruined a birthday trip.

Same here. My options appear to be to pick a shorter Carib cruise and get the difference refunded (no real benefit), pick a Med 2024 cruise and hope I can find one where my cabin isn't already sold out (good luck), pay out the nose to go to Australia, or get a refund and wash my hands of this nonsense. If Med 2025 cruises were available, I'd just pick that option, but they aren't.

[BeasleysMom66]

10 minutes ago, bloodyen said:

This is USELESS as someone who already booked the 8 night Miami cruise (most expensive option). Virgin is leaving a horrible impression and ruined a birthday trip.

 

I am right there with you.  I booked this cruise TWO years ago when they cancelled me in 2021 for a January cruise.  I rebooked because they included a 25% FVC and the cost of a Rock Star Suite was the same as what a XL Terrace is now but did not have $300/600 sailor loot included.  The price of this 8 day itinerary has almost doubled since I booked so much so that even the $600 loot doesn't make it a good financial deal.  There are no Rock Star Suites available on itineraries I can manage and like @ghostshark there is no real benefit to taking a much lesser cabin and getting a refund of the difference and I cannot afford to Australia.  I chose refund and wash my hands of Virgin.

[AlaskaNewbie68]

34 minutes ago, soccersharon said:

We were on this sailing too.  Going to wait until Sept 11th to view all our options.  Those in the email don’t cut it.

good luck! We rebooked on a Celebrity cruise same week. It's our 25th Anniv. so really want that week and we booked air already. Virgin has failed to make a good first impression on me. 

[CanadianCruiser21]

Someone on FB posted that they cancelled and got a full refund, and VV offered additional loot and bar tab for an existing sailing. She sailed 6 times before so maybe that’s why. 

[AlaskaNewbie68]

I didn't see anything saying how long it takes to get refund? ANy experience with this? We paid in full and need that to now pay for my newly booked Celebrity cruise. Thanks!