Key Aspects:
- Virgin Voyages rerouted Valiant Lady’s 7-night Caribbean sailing, replacing planned stops in Aruba and Curaçao.
- The January 3, 2026, voyage will now visit Barbados and St. Lucia instead.
- The change comes amidst travel disruptions across the Caribbean following an attack on Venezuela by the US government.
After a surprise US military attack in Venezuela disrupted travel across parts of the Caribbean, Virgin Voyages has announced its Valiant Lady will be skipping scheduled visits to nearby Aruba and Curaçao.
The cruise line shared the update with guests on January 3, 2026, citing the evolving situation in the region and coordination with government officials as the reasons for the change.
The decision affects the 7-night sailing of the 2,770-guest Valiant Lady, which departs from San Juan, Puerto Rico, at 8 p.m. local time on January 3.
Originally scheduled to make its first call in Oranjestad, Aruba, on January 5, followed by Willemstad, Curaçao, on January 6, the ship will now call on Bridgetown, Barbados, and Castries, St. Lucia, respectively.
“Due to the evolving situation in Venezuela, we have made some careful adjustments to our route in the best interest of our sailors and crew,” said Virgin Voyages in a statement.
“Safety is always our top priority, and after close coordination with government officials, we are confident that this is the right decision to make your time at sea peaceful, safe, and filled with amazing moments.”
Read Also: Who Owns Virgin Voyages and How It All Started?
Oranjestad lies about 220 nautical miles from Caracas, Venezuela, with Willemstad even closer at about 150 nautical miles, prompting the cruise line to reassess the calls.
The remaining ports on the itinerary will proceed as planned, with stops in St. John’s, Antigua, and Philipsburg, St. Maarten, unchanged on January 8 and 9, respectively, before the voyage returns to San Juan on January 10.
Guests who had prebooked shore excursions in Aruba or Curaçao will not need to take any action as the cruise line is automatically cancelling and refunding those bookings to the original form of payment.
New shore excursions for Barbados and St. Lucia are expected to be added to the Virgin Voyages app, allowing guests to plan ahead once those options become available.
Both island destinations are popular among cruisers for offering a mix of beaches, cultural sites, and outdoor activities.
Bridgetown, for example, is renowned for its historic waterfront and rum distilleries while St. Lucia is best known for its mountainous landscape, including the Pitons, along with waterfalls, rainforests, and volcanic hot springs.
Attack Ripples into Cruises
The rerouting comes amid broader travel disruptions following the US military attack, which prompted heightened security concerns across the Caribbean.
In the hours following the early-morning attack, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) limited US airline operations in the region, leading to widespread flight cancellations, especially at Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport, which has suspended flights until at least 1 a.m. on January 4, 2026.
The cancellations left some cruise passengers unable to arrive in San Juan ahead of Valiant Lady’s departure.
Virgin Voyages acknowledged the disruption and said guests unable to embark because of the flight shutdowns will not be penalized. The cruise line is offering affected passengers a full voyage credit that can be used toward a future Virgin Voyages sailing.
Officials at Richard Branson’s adult-only cruise line are continuing to monitor the evolving situation and will be sharing any updates directly with guests if conditions change.
