For those who are into cruising, the Virgin Red loyalty program has rolled out a promotion to redeem points for a Virgin Voyages cruise, and it could represent a respectable value.
In this post:
Book Virgin Voyages cruises with Virgin Red points
AwardWallet flags how at the moment there’s an opportunity to redeem Virgin Red points for select Virgin Voyages cruises. If you’re redeeming points, you pay a fixed amount per cruise that’s per cabin, based on double occupancy (then you’re just on the hook for port taxes, which should be low). Here’s what the pricing is like:
- You can book a five-night Caribbean cruise from Miami for 115,000 Virgin points (between June and September of 2024)
- You can book a seven-night Mediterranean cruise from Athens or Barcelona for 160,000 Virgin points (between May and October 2024)
- You can book a 14-night transatlantic cruise from Barcelona to Miami for 280,000 Virgin points (October 27, 2024)
- You can book a 16-night transatlantic cruise from Rome to Miami for 320,000 Virgin points (November 28, 2024)
In each case, those redeeming points will be confirmed into a Sea Terrace or Central Sea Terrace accommodation, so it’s nice that you’re getting something better than the entry level room.
There’s no deadline for this offer, but it is subject to availability, so I’d recommend booking sooner rather than later if interested. Keep in mind that Virgin Voyages cruises are adults only, and include food, soft drinks, tips, group fitness classes, entertainment, and Wi-Fi, so the most common expense not included is alcoholic drinks.
Note that Virgin Red is the overall loyalty program for the Virgin group, though you can transfer rewards at a 1:1 ratio between Virgin Red and Virgin Atlantic Flying Club. This means you could use transferable points currencies to book these cruises, and could even take advantage of transfer bonuses (at the moment both Amex and Chase are offering transfer bonuses to Virgin Atlantic).
Is redeeming points for Virgin Voyages a good deal?
While this is no doubt a fun and creative way to redeem Virgin Atlantic points, does it represent a good value? To figure that out, I pulled up two sample itineraries, to compare the cash cost to the points cost. The results were mixed.
For example, the five-night Caribbean cruise costs 115,000 Virgin points or $2,220 for a Sea Terrace Suite, before taxes and fees. That means you’re getting around 1.93 cents of value per Virgin Red point, which is excellent.
Meanwhile the 16-night transatlantic cruise costs 320,000 Virgin points or $3,428 for a Sea Terrace Suite, before taxes and fees. That means you’re getting around 1.07 cents of value per Virgin Red point, which is less exciting.
As you can tell, the former redemption is a much better value than the latter. Furthermore, the economics can be improved significantly if you’re using points you moved over with some sort of a transfer bonus.
So yeah, some of these redemptions could be a good deal, especially if you’re looking for an easy vacation with limited cash outlay. However, I wouldn’t say there’s necessarily an astonishingly good value here across the board, or that this is some unheard of value that everyone should necessarily jump on.
Bottom line
At the moment it’s possible to redeem Virgin Red points for Virgin Voyages cruises. You can redeem on select voyages, and the cost is fixed per cabin. Best of all, you even get a room with a terrace, so you’re not getting an interior accommodation. If you’re intro cruising and have points, this is an offer worth considering.
Anyone plan on redeeming Virgin points for a Virgin Voyages cruise?
Just an update on the deal--it looks like the 160,000 point option for the Mediterranean cruise has been modified. Originally this was good for Barcelona sailings leaving through October, but apparently those access code redemptions are gone. They opened up new spots, but now only for sailings leaving through August.
I really wish that I noticed that before I transferred Amex points.
Just redeemed 5 nights.
Currently AMEX transfer bonus 30% which is 89000 points instead of 115000
@Ben also if you have Virgin Atlantic Gold you can do a status match and will get “Blue Extras” perks in Virgin Voyages Sailing Club loyalty program. Quite a few extras included;
https://www.virginvoyages.com/sailing-club?item=2e9d1fe5-d395-4db9-8bb7-318f3531e4f6
You're looking at Deep Blue Extras. Status match is for Blue Extras which only gets the following over base tier:
- 1 coffee per day
- Cocktail event
- 1 laundry bag
- "Dedicated" phone line
FYI, last year the 7-day Mediterranean cruise was just 80,000 points (compared to 160,000 this time) before a 30% bonus from Amex MR so all in in was just 62,000 MR points. I know this was last year but I'd wait for a transfer bonus to make the booking more palatable.
Turns out there IS a 30% transfer bonus from Amex MR right now so divide all points bookings by 1.3 to get MR points required. Wonder why Ben didn't include this very important tidbit in the post.
Thank for the divisor of 1.3. simple, but I could not remember the proper divisor.
I did this offer last year, absolutely flaming hot deal! With how they've doubled all the numbers now, it's now just a good deal, but nothing outrageously good IMO. Expected though, last year was too good to be true.
Would I ever go on a cruise? Probably not. But judging from what I've seen online if I were to go on one I'd go on these Virgin cruises. They look like fun
Just a heads up, these are all adult only. wanted to book the fam but in bold it says Adults only :(
@ yus -- That's a good point, thanks. I'll add that to the post to call it out specifically.