Virgin Voyages is launching a fare model for bookings on Oct. 7 with three pricing tiers and intended to increase price transparency and choice.
The three tiers will be labeled as base fare, essential fare and premium fare and will be available for Sea Terrace cabins and all categories below. The cruise line is calling the pricing model VoyageFair Choices.
Breaking down the three tiers
Base fare includes basic WiFi for one device per guest and dining reservations beginning 15 days before the sailing. Basic WiFi includes access to social media, messaging and light browsing.
Base fare bookings are nonrefundable and do not allow changes to the cabin, date or names listed under the booking.
The next tier, essential fare, comes with classic WiFi for one device per guest and dining reservations beginning 45 days before the sailing. Classic WiFi includes audio calling in addition to the features included with basic WiFi.
Bookings in this tier give guests the option to change the dates of the cruise using a future voyage credit, and they can also change the names on the booking for the second through fourth guest.
Premium fare is the highest tier, offering dining reservations 60 days out, a first for guests in Sea Terrace or lower category staterooms. Each guest gets premium WiFi for two devices, a bar tab and access to a priority support line.
Service gratuities will newly be shown as a separate line item when booking.
Guests booking RockStar and Mega RockStar suites will newly have access to dining reservations 120 days in advance of the sailing.
Virgin Voyages CEO Nirmal Saverimuttu compared VoyageFair Choices to models used by airlines and hotels, saying "this isn't about gimmicks or fine print. We're making it easier to book a voyage with confidence."