Virgin Voyages Launches Unified Groups Program for Travel Advisors

Virgin Voyages has introduced a new, unified groups program for travel advisors – who the company calls “First Mates” – booking groups anywhere from eight to 75 cabins large. 

The cruise line’s new program combines the past group booking benefits into one structure. Both small groups (8-16 cabins and 120-day recall) and large groups (17-75 cabins and 150-day recall) abide by the following terms: 

• Hold up to 75 cabins with no deposit required  
• Fares and promotions locked from the moment the group is created, protecting pricing regardless of future increases  
• Group Bar Tab per cabin scaled to voyage length: $50 on 5 night sailings or less, $100 on 6- to  
•  9-night sailings and $200 on voyages of 10 nights or more  
• Choice of earning: one free cabin for every 16 sold or 2% bonus commission  
• Group dining concierge: up to three group dinner reservations across all signature restaurants, based on voyage length and availability   

“This program is all about giving First Mates more flexibility and more ways to win,” said Koreen McNutt, VP of agency development at Virgin Voyages. “Whether it’s holding inventory without a deposit, protecting pricing or allowing Sailors to stack group perks with My Next Virgin Voyage, we’ve focused on creating value at every step of the booking journey.”   

“This new program offers a simpler structure, meaningful earning opportunities and the flexibility to use it as a genuine business-building tool,” added John Lovell, board member and senior advisor at Virgin Voyages. “That’s what First Mates have been asking for.”     

Advisors who already have groups booked amid this change are protected; all existing group bookings can keep their original benefits and 120-day recall, unchanged. 

To celebrate the program’s debut, new groups created through June 30 can earn either one complimentary cabin for every 12 cabins booked (reduced from the standard 16-cabin threshold) or an additional 2% commission across all voyages on a first-come, first-served basis.