Key Aspects:
- Valiant Lady‘s April 6, 2026 5-night sailing will now be going to Canada rather than Bermuda.
- The itinerary change is due to poor weather that makes docking unsafe in Bermuda.
- The weather difference between the ports is upsetting some guests, but others are making the best of it.
Many cruise guests look forward to sunny skies, beautiful beaches, and tropical temperatures for their cruise vacations. That may be what guests boarding Valiant Lady in New York on Monday, April 6, 2026 had hoped for, but it is not what they will be getting.
Just three days before embarkation, Virgin Voyages reached out to guests to alert them to a drastic itinerary change.
“Due to forecasted weather, it’s become necessary to adjust our itinerary to keep things smooth, safe, and comfortable,” the email read. “Instead of Bermuda, we’ll now be heading to Saint John, New Brunswick.”
That’s right, instead of a visit to Bermuda, Valiant Lady will be visiting Canada, roughly 900 miles north of her planned port visit.
The ship will still enjoy an overnight port visit. Instead of Kings Wharf, however, Valiant Lady will be in Saint John from 6:30 a.m. on Wednesday, April 8, through 4 a.m. on Thursday, April 9.
This gives guests a full day and into the night to enjoy the charm of the maritime port, even though it may not be the port they had originally planned to visit.
Cruise Hive has frequently reported on port of call changes due to weather. Cruise lines always prioritize safety, and the weather conditions in Bermuda during Valiant Lady’s planned visit are not acceptable.
According to the Bermuda Weather Service, the forecast for the island on Wednesday is deteriorating and not necessarily conducive to a cruise ship visit.
“Occasionally overcast with rain and blustery showers. Winds north-northeasterly moderate, soon increasing northeasterly moderate to strong, possibly strong for a time,” the public forecast reads.
Because docking can be tricky in Bermuda, strong winds can make it challenging to safely navigate a 110,000-gross-ton ship like Valiant Lady to dock securely.
While Saint John will not have the strong winds that could be unsafe for the ship, the temperature difference may be a shock to cruise guests. In Bermuda, the expected high temperature is near 70 degrees Fahrenheit.
In Saint John, however, the expected high is just 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Furthermore, Tuesday evening (just before the ship arrives) may see snowfall in Saint John.
Guest Reactions Vary
Many cruise guests are understanding about the switch and the need to prioritize safety, even though it may not be the vacation they had anticipated.
“Wife and I are going to make the most of it. Love my neighbors to the north and I’ve never been there before so I’ll be going in with a positive attitude,” one commenter posted on Reddit.
“I’m not super upset about it. I wasn’t planning on getting off the ship anyway because this is more of a spring break getaway from our kids which we never get to do around this time of year,” another guest explained. “But I do get it sucks for a lot of people. We will make the best out of it and have some more drinks while doing so. Good luck everyone!”
Read Also: Virgin Voyages Cancels All Tracy Arm Visits for Its Inaugural Alaska Season
Other travelers are frustrated, however, that Virgin Voyages is only offering $100 in onboard credit for the very dramatic itinerary change.
Guests can opt to cancel their sailing for a future cruise credit instead, but not for a full refund. Many travelers are taking that option in the hopes of rebooking on a more appealing sailing at a later date.
The April 6 departure is Valiant Lady‘s first sailing from New York for the season. She will remain in the Big Apple for just four departures, the last of which is her April 25 sailing, a 14-night transatlantic cruise to Barcelona.
The ship will remain in Europe through the end of August, offering departures not only from Barcelona but also from Rome and Portsmouth on select dates. She will return to New York briefly in the fall, with four different Bermuda itineraries available before she heads to San Juan for winter in the Caribbean.
