The launch of Resilient Lady, Virgin Voyages third ship, may have been postponed, but her Australian debut is secure and Melbourne cabins are going fast, company representatives have confirmed to Cruise Passenger.

The cruises are “really getting a great following” as Virgin Voyages plans its first sailings out of Australia with Resilient Lady late in 2023.

With a range of itineraries out of Auckland and Melbourne, stretching from five night Melbourne to Tasmania sailings through to a 14-night New Year’s Melbourne to New Zealand cruise, there’s plenty on offer.

Virgin Voyages announces that the ship’s launch will be delayed to the second quarter of 2023.

The vessel was initially meant to sail out of Athens starting from this August, but instead will stay in Genoa where construction and on-board work will continue.

The cruise line cited staff challenges, supply chain issues and COVID requirements as reasons for the delay.

However, it was confirmed to Cruise Passenger by representatives of the line that the Australian sailings, which begin in December 2023, will be unaffected. This means that Aussies will get to be some of the first cruisers to step foot on Resilient Lady.