Virgin Voyages, which has made its mark on the travel industry as one of the most sought-after holidays for adult singles and couples, and with the launch of two ships in nine months, is saying “Ahoy!” to The Sailing Club, a dual-pronged perks program with benefits and exclusive offers for the remainder of 2022 and unlocking a limited window of opportunity for its Sailors to elevate themselves to the brand’s highest status tier in 2023. The Sailing Club is being positioned as a precursor to a new loyalty program at sea set to make its formal debut in 2023.
“This brand was built on innovation, so we’re taking a truly unique approach and developing a program that will give Sailors a taste of what’s to come while rewarding those who’ve supported the brand all along,” said Nirmal Saverimuttu, president and CEO of Virgin Voyages. “I’ve met so many incredible Sailors—many who’ve voyaged with us more than 10 times since we’ve launched—and this new program is a thank you for their commitment. We’d also love their help in shaping the future and are seeking their ideas to create a game-changing loyalty program they’ll fall in love with.”
As part of the brand’s perks program, Virgin Voyages’ Sailing Club is introducing two perks, exclusively available to loyal qualifying Sailors in 2022. The introduction of these new perks will reward and benefit those who book or sail in the near future, promoting end-of-year travel set to coincide with increases in booking trends and the cruise industry’s comeback.
Perk 1: Sail in 2022 with Deep Blue Extras, a collection of amenities that elevate qualifying Sailors to VIP treatment. From one free Shake for Champagne, anytime boarding and premium Wi-Fi (when available) to exclusive cocktail parties and laundry services, these rewards are meant to encourage Sailors to unleash their inner RockStar. With rebooking rates as high as 50 past from past Sailors with Virgin Voyages, the line continues to impress travelers. Now, the cruise line is rewarding these travelers, as well as giving avid sea-goers, by giving them an opportunity to step aboard while maintaining their benefits from other lines. Deep Blue Extras are available for all qualifying Sailors who sail from September through December 2022.
Perk 2: Book in 2022 with Red Hot Booking Bonus Months, spanning Aug. 30 through Nov. 15, 2022, any new qualifying booking made during these select months (excludes bookings made with existing voyage credits) will allow all qualifying Sailors to be treated to special on-board spending perks and chances to win extraordinary experiences across the Virgin family. More exciting prizes will be announced next week. For a sneak peak, these will include a luxurious trip to Ulusaba, Sir Richard Branson’s private game reserve in South Africa, and Virgin Points through Virgin Red, the rewards club from Virgin designed to give you exclusive access to the Virgin family and beyond. In addition, Sailors who take advantage of this perk by making a qualifying booking between now and Nov. 15, 2022 will earn an extra $200 in Sailor Loot (aka on-board spending credit), which is combinable with all other promotions.
As a further enhancement to the Red Hot Booking Bonus Months and with an eye towards 2023, Virgin Voyages is introducing “Tokens” to track all qualifying spend to ensure Sailors are positioned for benefits in 2023. All of the money spent with Virgin Voyages since inception will be counted and tallied as Tokens. As an exclusive perk for all loyal Sailors, every dollar spent during these Red Hot Booking Bonus Months—up to four Tokens per dollar for Sea-Blazers and three Tokens per dollar for Sea-Rovers—will contribute to a Sailor’s future status. As the program is unveiled in 2023, these Tokens will fast-track Sailors to the highest tiers possible, unlocking even more perks in the next year.
The 2022 Perks will be available to all loyal qualifying Sailors defined as:
Sea-Blazers: Pioneers who took to the high seas in 2021 were dubbed Sea-Blazers to match the trail-blazing brand. These Sailors were the first to come aboard and will be rewarded for their support. Additional perks include a $125 Bar Tab Bonus for life.
Sea-Rovers: Anyone who has sailed with Virgin Voyages twice in 2022 qualifies as a Sea-Rover and will earn a $100 Bar Tab Bonus for two years (valid through 2024).
Match & Sea More Sailors: World travelers enrolled in other cruise loyalty programs and select airline travel rewards programs will now have the opportunity to come aboard and Virgin Voyages will match their status. They will also be granted Sea-Rover status, which includes the $100 Bar Tab Bonus for two years (valid through 2024) .
“We are thrilled to introduce The Sailing Club and offer our loyal Sea-Blazers and Sea-Rovers our 2022 Perks Program as a thank you for being our biggest fans,” Saverimuttu said. “We look forward to welcoming our future Match & Sea More Sailors to experience setting sail the Virgin Way. And to those who aren’t Sea-Rovers yet, there is plenty of time to treat yourself to an award-winning, exclusively adult, kid-free vacation twice in 2022 and unlock a world of benefits with Virgin Voyages.”
As the final component of the 2022 program, Virgin Voyages is inviting Sailors to channel their inner Richard Branson and awaken their entrepreneurial spirit. The brand is eager for Sailors to share what perks they’d like offered, how Virgin Voyages can elevate its loyalty program, and what the company can do to make its Sailing Club one of the most irresistible in the travel industry.
Members of the Virgin Atlantic Flying Club and Virgin Red in the U.S. can redeem their Virgin Points on Virgin Voyages sailings from Miami and Barcelona on both Scarlet Lady and Valiant Lady. Through the existing Capital One and Virgin Red partnership announced in March 2022, Capital One cardholders also can access these offers.