73 Virgin Voyages has invested to enhance entertainment and introduce unique shows across its ships in 2023 reassess excursions that aren’t performing as well and continuously hunt for other authentic experiences our sailors will love,” he says. “Similarly, we’d heard from our sailors and first mates (travel advisors) that they wanted shorter roundtrip itineraries while Resilient Lady is in Australia, so we swapped out a few of our longer voyages to accommodate more two- to five-night sailings.” Virgin is also focused on growing its fleet, with one additional ship slated for the brand. “We launched Resilient Lady in May, and the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive,” says McAlpin. “Our sailors are loving the seven-night routes through the Greek Isles and the Adriatic ports. Brilliant Lady will be the fourth and final ship in our current fleet. It is a special vessel, and we’ve been able to make small changes to this ship that will allow it to sail to new ports and regions we’ve never visited before.” According to McAlpin, sailors – of which 40 per cent are now repeat guests – are also onboard with the value for money brand proposition which includes open access to all speciality eateries at no extra cost, gratuities, free wifi, complimentary group fitness classes and entertainment, all incorporated into the fare. “One of the things we keep hearing is how our sailors appreciate that we don’t nickel and dime them. Instead of worrying about their wallet, they can fully embrace the experience and focus on the amazing destinations they’re visiting.” That experience is kept fresh and interesting with continual evaluation on what’s working and what could be improved. “To keep people coming back, we’ve introduced new entertainment across the fleet,” says McAlpin. “This includes several new shows debuting exclusively on Resilient Lady such as ‘Another Rose’, ‘Lola’s Library’ and ‘Persephone’. “The production value for ‘Persephone’ is astounding and our sailors are loving it, saying it captures the fun and free energy of ‘UntitledDanceShowPartyThing’ with the acrobatics and flare of our other show ‘Duel Reality’.” However, for McAlpin, a cruise is nothing without the people, and Virgin’s diverse crew are some of the most hardworking on the ocean. “I’m proud of our crew and the brand we’ve built, which is being recognised by sailors, travel editors and travel advisors alike,” he says. “We recently swept the Cruise Critic’s Cruisers’ Choice Awards and were named the number one mega-ship ocean cruise line in Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards. It’s a true testament to all the work, planning and incredible execution that our team continues to deliver.” Photo: Virgin Voyages INTERVIEW
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