Virgin Voyages Sets Record January 2026 Bookings as Ships Sell Out

Virgin Voyages said January 2026 became the highest booking month in the company’s history as its ships sailed at full commercial load factors.

The booking milestone followed what the Miami-area-based cruise line described as its strongest year since launching, with nearly a 20% year-over-year rise in bookings in 2025 and a nearly 30% increase in gross ticket revenue, according to CEO Nirmal Saverimuttu.

Booking and revenue gains heading into 2026

Virgin Voyages characterized 2025 as a standout year that included a double-digit increase in revenue, alongside record momentum during the current Wave season, which it called its strongest mid-season result to date.

• Bookings and ticket revenue: Virgin Voyages reported bookings rose by almost 20% year-over-year in 2025, while gross ticket revenue increased by nearly 30% over the same period.
• January booking record: The company said January 2026 was its highest booking month in its five-year history, a performance it tied to continued demand for adult-only vacations.
• Load factors: Virgin Voyages said its ships are operating at full commercial loads as it heads further into 2026.

Adult-only positioning, and why the segment is expanding

Saverimuttu framed the adults-only strategy as foundational to the brand, rather than a temporary shift. “We didn’t approach kid-free travel as a short-term trend,” he said. “We built Virgin Voyages around it from day one.”

He said the company is seeing travelers prioritize downtime and connection. “Kid-free travel is not a niche category,” Saverimuttu said. “It’s a movement.” In a separate comment, he added: “As more adults look for space to truly switch off and reconnect, what we’ve created genuinely resonates.”

Virgin Voyages prohibits passengers under 18 on its ships. The company linked its recent performance to broader expectations for the adult-only travel segment, which it said analysts project will grow from $9.2 billion in 2024 to $18.1 billion by 2033, a projected compound annual growth rate of 7.8%.

Where demand is showing up in itineraries

Virgin Voyages said the United States remains its strongest market, and it pointed to Alaska as a breakout area with triple-digit growth in bookings.

Longer cruises are also outperforming internal expectations, the company said, particularly in the Caribbean, the Mediterranean, and Northern Europe. Virgin Voyages did not provide specific itinerary lengths or capacity figures tied to those longer sailings in its performance update, but said the longer voyages are exceeding forecasts in those regions.

Brilliant Lady completes the four-ship fleet

Virgin Voyages said 2025 also marked a fleet milestone with the debut of Brilliant Lady, its fourth ship. The company said Brilliant Lady began its maiden season in New York City on Sept. 5, 2025, and launched with inaugural sailings from New York and Miami.

The brand launched in 2021 with Scarlet Lady, followed by Valiant Lady in 2022 and Resilient Lady in 2023. With Brilliant Lady entering service in 2025, Virgin Voyages said its fleet capacity reached roughly 11,000 berths.

Brilliant Lady is in the same approximately 2,700-passenger class as its sister ships. Virgin Voyages highlighted onboard features it says differentiate its product from more traditional cruise formats, including more than 20 dining venues included in the base fare and a setup without a traditional main dining room or buffet. The company also cited mood-lit cabins, terrace hammocks, and RockStar suites with expanded outdoor space.

Competitive response across the cruise sector

Virgin Voyages’ performance update arrives as other operators add adult-only sailings or expand adult-only zones, even while continuing to market broadly to families.

Carnival Cruise Line announced in December 2025 that it will add two kid-free transatlantic voyages and a Mediterranean itinerary to its 2026 schedule. Oceania Cruises, operated by Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, said in January 2026 that it is repositioning its entire fleet as adults-only, with bookings made after Jan. 7 for passengers 18 and older.

Other operators already known for adults-only policies include Viking Cruises. In contrast, P&O Cruises has offered adults-only sailings on Aurora and Arcadia, but decided the ships will open to families beginning in December 2026.

Virgin Voyages also pointed to adult-focused onboard areas as a common approach among major brands, citing Norwegian Cruise Line’s Spice H2O and Royal Caribbean’s Solarium as examples of quieter spaces designed for guests seeking time away from family-centered activity.

Online interest spikes alongside bookings

Virgin Voyages’ booking momentum also coincided with a sharp rise in online interest. Similarweb said website traffic to Virgin Voyages increased 98% year-over-year in January, compared with average competitive growth of about 10% over the same period.

With its ships sailing at full commercial load factors and longer itineraries outperforming expectations in multiple regions, Virgin Voyages is entering 2026 leaning on its adults-only model as a central driver of demand.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is Virgin Voyages strictly adults-only?

Yes. Virgin Voyages does not allow passengers under 18 to sail, making it adults-only across its full fleet.

How much did Virgin Voyages say bookings and ticket revenue increased in 2025?

The company reported bookings rose by almost 20% year-over-year in 2025, while gross ticket revenue increased by nearly 30%.

When did Brilliant Lady begin its maiden season, and how large is the fleet?

Virgin Voyages said Brilliant Lady began its maiden season in New York City on Sept. 5, 2025. The ship is the fourth in the fleet, alongside Scarlet Lady, Valiant Lady, and Resilient Lady, bringing total capacity to roughly 11,000 berths.

What growth is projected for the adult-only travel market?

Figures cited alongside Virgin Voyages’ update project the adult-only travel market will grow from $9.2 billion in 2024 to $18.1 billion by 2033, with a projected 7.8% compound annual growth rate.

Which other cruise lines are expanding adult-only options?

Virgin Voyages pointed to several examples, including Carnival Cruise Line’s planned kid-free itineraries in 2026 and Oceania Cruises’ move to make its fleet adults-only for bookings made after Jan. 7, 2026. It also cited Viking Cruises as an adults-only operator, while noting P&O Cruises plans to open Aurora and Arcadia to families beginning in December 2026.