Virgin Voyages has launched a new unified Groups program that gives First Mates more flexibility, control, and opportunities to grow their business by bringing together past groups programs into one structure with consistent benefits designed to help agents sell with confidence.
“This program is all about giving First Mates more flexibility and more ways to win,” Virgin Voyages VP of agency development Koreen McNutt said. “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.”
The new structure includes two distinctions:
- Small Groups: 8–16 Cabins | 120-day recall
- Large Groups: 17–75 Cabins | 150-day recall
Virgin Voyages’ new Groups program includes:
- 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: US$50 (around AU$71.17) on 5-night sailings or less, US$100 (around AU$142.34) on 6- to 9-night sailings and US$200 (around AU$284.68) on voyages of 10 nights or more
- Choice of earning: one free cabin for every 16 sold or 2 per cent bonus commission
- Group dining concierge: up to three group dinner reservations across all signature restaurants, based on voyage length and availability
“‘Brilliant For You’ has to mean something in every part of how we work with First Mates, not just the commission rate,” Virgin Voyages board member and senior advisor John Lovell said. “This new program offers a simpler structure, meaningful earning opportunities and the flexibility to use it as a genuine business-building tool. That’s what First Mates have been asking for.”
To celebrate the launch, new groups created through 30 June 2026, can earn either one complimentary cabin for every 12 cabins booked – reduced from the standard 16-cabin threshold – or the additional 2 per cent commission. The offer is available on all voyages with available group inventory.
For agents with groups already on the books, they’re protected. All existing groups keep their original benefits and 120-day recall, unchanged.
Named Best Mid-Size Ship Cruise Line in Recommend Magazine’s 2025 Readers’ Choice Awards, it’s a product the travel agent community has already voted on. Now there’s a program that matches the conviction.
