SEATTLE — Virgin Voyages is cruising Alaska for the first time ever, with sailings out of Seattle onboard Brilliant Lady.

More than 30% of Virgin Voyages’ past passengers are returning passengers, and they asked for greater itinerary depth and a West Coast presence, says the cruise line. “This season is that answer and a new chapter in what First Mates can offer their clients.”

Virgin Voyages’ value offer for travel advisors includes 16% commissions and no NCFs.

The cruise line notes that Alaska represents a significant expansion of its selling proposition. The brand new Alaska sailings introduce two new Happenings Cast members, a Cultural Heritage Guide from Alaska Native Voices, destination-inspired dining built around Alaska’s freshest seasonal seafood and a full roster of new Alaska-exclusive onboard experiences.

ALASKA WITH VIRGIN VOYAGES 

More than half of Virgin Voyages’ Alaska Shore Things are operated by sustainable tour operators, including those certified through Adventure Green Alaska and Travelife. The onboard marine team partnered with ORCA for detailed training on whale sighting and collision-avoidance best practices and has a wildlife expert onboard full-time. Virgin Voyages is also abiding by voluntary speed reductions throughout the region to protect large cetaceans and marine life. Plus, Brilliant Lady is equipped with advanced wastewater treatment systems and Shore Power capability.

In true Virgin Voyages style, the roster of new Alaska-inspired Happenings includes…

• Primetime Ports: “This visually driven alternative to traditional port lectures prepares Sailors emotionally and intelligently for what they’re about to see.”
• Drawn to the Wild: “Hosted in The Manor, Sailors are invited to pick up colored pencils and sketch on canvases made of birch, allowing the sights and sounds of Alaska to inspire their own interpretation of the wild.”
• Northern Nightcaps: “This hands-on mixology workshop lets Sailors learn to create Alaska-inspired cocktails, from Glacial Toddies to Forest Negronis, balancing heat, smoke, citrus and spice.”
• Baking Alaska: “Sweet with a splash of wilderness, this new class offers an interactive taste of Alaska-inspired desserts paired alongside a wine flight.”
• Crack the Crab: “This high-energy trivia showdown has Sailors battling with oversized foam crab claws to snap up the correct answers. Fast, loud, slightly unhinged, it’s Alaska trivia, the Virgin way.”

The two new Happenings Cast members created specifically for the Alaska season include The Lumberjack, “part athlete, part storyteller and all flannel.” The Lumberjack will be onboard for select voyages. There’s also The Naturalist, a seasoned wildlife and ecology expert. Virgin Voyages will also welcome a Cultural Heritage Guide from Alaska Native Voices on select voyages. Rooted in Indigenous and local Alaskan perspectives, the guide hosts conversations and workshops centred on art, storytelling, contemporary culture and the lived experiences of Alaska Native communities.

Alaska sailings aboard Brilliant Lady are bookable now. First Mates can access resources, training and booking tools through Seacademy and LetsGoBook at virginvoyages.com.

Lead image caption: Virgin Voyages’ Brilliant Lady in Ketchikan, AK