By
Laura Hyde |
Virgin Voyages’ newest ship, Resilient Lady, has made a maiden call in Colombia, visiting Cartagena Port on Colombia’s Caribbean coast.
Resilient Lady is the first ship in the Virgin Voyages’ fleet to visit the South American country. The ship arrived in the port city after departing from San Juan in Puerto Rico on an 11-night itinerary, which will visit Aruba, Curaçao, St. Maarten and more destinations.
“This is a key moment for Colombia,” said Carmen Caballero, president of ProColombia, the promotion agency for the country. “It is the result of years of collaboration with Virgin Voyages and other industry stakeholders. At ProColombia, we have tirelessly promoted the country’s maritime connectivity with the goal of solidifying Colombia as an attractive destination for cruise tourism. This achievement reinforces our position as a regional leader and is a victory for all Colombians.”
Resilient Lady’s 2,469 guests had the opportunity to discover Cartagena’s walled city, experience cultural activities and partake in excursions that showcased Colombian cuisine.
“We are thrilled to bring Virgin Voyages to Colombia for the first time,” said Lee Kayley, shore excursions manager for Virgin Voyages. “Cartagena’s unique blend of history, culture, and vibrant atmosphere offers an incredible experience for our sailors. We look forward to fostering a lasting relationship with this beautiful destination.”
Cartagena Port also hosted three other ships, Cunard’s Queen Anne and Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Pearl and Norwegian Joy, on the same day as Resilient Lady, bringing the total number of cruise visitors to almost 23,000.
Virgin Voyages’ Resilient Lady visited Cartagena Port on the same day Cunard’s Queen Anne and Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Pearl and Norwegian Joy
“Today, with four ships from three major cruise lines docked in our port and hosting nearly 23,000 tourists, Cartagena reaffirms its capacity, administrative commitment, and the synergy that defines our tourism ecosystem,” said Liliana Rodríguez, executive president of Corpoturismo, the tourism board of Cartagena. “The arrival of Virgin Voyages further solidifies our position as Colombia’s leading cruise destination [In 2024, Colombia welcomed over 6.6 million international travellers].”
Virgin Voyages has itineraries featuring stops at Cartagena Port planned in 2026, with ambitions to expand its presence in the region in future.