October 8, 2026 — Virgin Voyages has revised two 11-night Scarlet Lady cruises from Athens, adding an overnight in Mykonos to a July 2027 sailing and replacing an Istanbul overnight with one in Alexandria, Egypt, on a September 2028 sailing.
The changes were reported on October 7 by VV Insider, an independent site covering the line that is affiliated with a travel agency. Virgin Voyages has not published a release of its own, so treat the port times below as reported and confirm them in your booking.
What changed
| Sailing | Change | Unchanged calls |
|---|---|---|
| July 21, 2027, “Greek Isles & Istanbul Overnight” | Adds a Mykonos overnight, arriving 2 p.m. July 30 and leaving 5 p.m. July 31. July 30 had been a sea day. Istanbul departure on July 29 moves from 6 p.m. to 5 p.m. | Istanbul overnight, Chania, Rhodes, Santorini, Kusadasi |
| September 6, 2028, “Greek Isles, Turkey & Istanbul Overnight” | Drops the Istanbul overnight. Adds an overnight in Alexandria, for Cairo, arriving 7 a.m. September 13 and leaving 8 p.m. September 14. | Chania, Rhodes, Santorini, Kusadasi, Mykonos |
According to the report, Virgin attributes the 2028 change to strong demand for Cairo. Booked guests do not need to do anything, since the new itineraries apply automatically. No compensation, refund or rebooking terms were mentioned.
Both cruises begin and end in Athens. VV Insider adds that Virgin has 39 Mediterranean sailings scheduled for summer 2028, with Scarlet Lady based in Athens and Valiant Lady in Barcelona.
What it means for airline travelers
- Your flights do not change. Both cruises still start and end in Athens (ATH) on the same dates, so any listings or positive-space tickets you hold remain valid.
- Check the 2028 itinerary if Istanbul was the reason you booked. The sailing still calls at Kusadasi in Turkey but no longer visits Istanbul. Ask Virgin or your agent what options exist if that matters to you, since none were announced.
- Egypt has its own entry rules. Check visa requirements for your passport, and ask Virgin how it handles visas for the Alexandria call before you sail.
- Cairo is a long day from Alexandria. It is a long drive each way, which is why the overnight matters. Book ship-sponsored or reputable tours so that you are not stranded.
- Arrive in Athens a day early. Summer transatlantic loads to ATH are heavy, and July and early September are peak weeks for standby.
Sources
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