Virgin Voyages Sets First Scandinavia Season From Amsterdam in 2028
The July 9 opener sails from Barcelona to Amsterdam via Casablanca, Lisbon, La Coruna and Cherbourg, before Amsterdam departures begin July 19.
Virgin Voyages will base Valiant Lady in Amsterdam in summer 2028 for the line’s first Scandinavia and Baltic season, a six-sailing program combining four Northern Europe itineraries with two Barcelona-Amsterdam open-jaw cruises. Every voyage will include at least one first-time port call for the company, and the deployment features an Arctic Circle crossing.
The new program takes the adults-only operator into Northern Europe after Virgin said its 2026 Mediterranean season and Alaska debut have sold out.
“Northern Europe felt like the right next step,” said Nirmal Saverimuttu, CEO of Virgin Voyages. “We’ve built these voyages around the kinds of experiences that make people fall in love with a destination.”
Amsterdam program starts in July 2028
The schedule opens July 9, 2028, with a 10-night Barcelona-to-Amsterdam open-jaw sailing calling at Casablanca, Lisbon, La Coruna and Cherbourg. The first Amsterdam departure follows July 19 with a 12-night Scandinavia and Stockholm itinerary scheduled to visit Oslo, Copenhagen, Gdansk, Stockholm, Berlin and Aarhus before returning July 31.
Three additional Amsterdam-based Northern Europe sailings follow. A seven-night Norwegian Fjords cruise runs July 31-Aug. 7 to Molde, Nordfjordeid, Flam and Bergen, followed by a seven-night Scandinavia and Hamburg itinerary Aug. 7-14 visiting Oslo, Copenhagen and Hamburg.
The final northern sailing is an 11-night Arctic Circle and Norwegian Fjords itinerary departing Amsterdam Aug. 14. That voyage lists Tromso, Honningsvag, Trondheim, Andalsnes and Olden, with a midnight-sun deck party planned around the Arctic Circle crossing.
The return open-jaw cruise departs Amsterdam on Aug. 25 for Barcelona, calling at Cherbourg, La Coruna, Lisbon and Tangier. Virgin named Oslo, Copenhagen, Gdansk, Stockholm, Berlin, Aarhus, Molde, Nordfjordeid, Flam, Tromso, Honningsvag, Trondheim, Andalsnes, Olden and Cherbourg as new ports for the line.
“The fjords called for something calmer. The Baltic cities called for something later,” said Nathan Rosenberg, chief brand experience, marketing and momentum officer of Virgin Voyages. “The Arctic Circle called for something we’d never staged before.”
Virgin did not identify which Amsterdam berth it will use. The city’s main ocean-cruise facility is Passenger Terminal Amsterdam on the IJ waterfront near Central Station, while Felison Cruise Terminal in IJmuiden, roughly 30 to 40 kilometers west of Amsterdam, is also used for some ocean cruise and overflow calls.
Summer Season Pass extends to the north
Virgin is renewing its Summer Season Pass for 2028 and extending the product to the new Scandinavia itineraries. The pass allows guests to book the four Amsterdam-based northern sailings back-to-back for one price.
The product was introduced in 2024 and has sold out in previous Mediterranean seasons. Listed benefits for Northern Europe pass holders include a Central Sea Terrace cabin, priority boarding, upgraded Wi-Fi, complimentary excursions and a welcome package. The pass has also included laundry service, specialty coffee credits, welcome bubbles and early access to dining and Shore Things.
For the 2026 season, Summer Season Pass pricing ranged from $26,000 to $38,000 depending on the travel window. Virgin expects suites and balcony cabins on the new Northern Europe sailings to sell quickly when bookings open Aug. 14, 2026. The company plans to disclose 2028 Summer Season Pass pricing the same day.
See current Valiant Lady fares and itineraries on Cruise Lookup.
