Virgin Voyages has announced a change to the upcoming itinerary of its cruise ship Valiant Lady, due to regional conditions and coordination with government authorities.
The adjustment affects the current 7-night sailing departing San Juan, Puerto Rico, on January 3, 2026, with the vessel scheduled to depart at 8:00 p.m. local time. The adult-only ship, will no longer call at Oranjestad, Aruba, on January 5 or Willemstad, Curaçao, on January 6.
Instead, the itinerary has been revised to include calls at Bridgetown, Barbados, on January 5, followed by Castries, St. Lucia, on January 6. According to the cruise line, the remaining ports of call—St. John’s, Antigua, and Philipsburg, St. Maarten—will proceed as originally scheduled on January 8 and 9, with the voyage returning to San Juan on January 10.
In a statement to guests issued on January 3, Virgin Voyages said the decision was made “in the best interest of our sailors and crew” following ongoing assessments and discussions with relevant authorities. The company emphasized that guest and crew safety remains its top priority and noted that the changes were intended to ensure a smooth and secure sailing experience.
The cruise line also confirmed that guests who pre-booked shore excursions in Aruba or Curaçao do not need to take any action, as those bookings are being automatically canceled and refunded to the original form of payment. New shore excursion options for Barbados and St. Lucia are expected to be added to the Virgin Voyages mobile app, allowing guests to plan updated activities once available.
The itinerary change comes amid broader travel disruptions in parts of the Caribbean region following recent military developments in Venezuela. In the immediate aftermath, U.S. aviation authorities temporarily restricted some airline operations, resulting in flight cancellations at several airports, including San Juan’s Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport.
Virgin Voyages acknowledged that some guests were affected by the flight disruptions and confirmed that passengers unable to embark due to the temporary airport closures will not face penalties. Affected travelers are being offered a full voyage credit, valid toward a future sailing with the cruise line.
