Virgin Voyages Surprises Delta Flight Passengers with Free Cruise Vacation

In a remarkable event, Virgin Voyages, the multi-award-winning travel brand that was voted No. 1 in Condé Nast Traveler’s 2023 Readers’ Choice Awards, delighted customers with a surprise on a recent Delta flight.

Sir Richard Branson, founder of the Virgin Group, personally gifted all SkyMiles Members (18 and older) on the flight a free voyage aboard his newest ship, Resilient Lady, during the ship’s inaugural season in San Juan later this year.

The surprise took place on a direct flight from Atlanta to San Juan, chosen in partnership with Delta Air Lines to celebrate the unveiling of Resilient Lady’s new homeport in San Juan. The ship, named the “Best New Cruise Ship” in Cruise Critic’s 2023 Editors’ Picks Awards, is set to embark on several beautiful Caribbean itineraries this December.

Branson expressed his excitement about the surprise: “The Caribbean has been my home for many years. I’m excited to welcome Resilient Lady as she sails from San Juan to visit the most beautiful destinations. My excitement clearly couldn’t be contained, so we came up with a way to celebrate with a personal invitation and surprise for some unsuspecting guests on a Delta flight to San Juan. We’re grateful for our partners at Delta, who joined in on the fun and have been long-time venture partners of our airline, Virgin Atlantic.

“We look forward to showing everyone what it’s like to Set Sail the Virgin Way!”.

Before the flight, Virgin Voyages hosted a full departure gate takeover at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, treating passengers to a taste of the ship’s onboard experience. This included original choreography from Virgin Voyages’ award-winning entertainment team, Instagrammable photo moments, specialty drinks, and music. Sir Richard was also joined by Delta’s SVP and Chief Communications Officer, Tim Mapes, for a roulette game, inviting customers and passersby to spin the wheel of prizes.

Mapes expressed his delight at the partnership: “When two award-winning brands come together, they create magic for their customers. Delta is thrilled to have partnered with Sir Richard Branson and Virgin Voyages for this special surprise and delight for our SkyMiles Members on the flight. This is one more way in which we’re adding value to the program and unlocking exclusive experiences for our members. Stay tuned for more with Virgin Voyages.”

After completing her inaugural season abroad, Resilient Lady will embark on a trans-continental journey to her new homeport in San Juan this fall. Virgin Voyages has also unveiled stunning new ports of call across the Caribbean and Latin America, with seven, eight, ten and 11-night voyages visiting St. Maarten, St. Vincent, Colombia, and Dominica.

Delta has been serving Puerto Rico for more than 70 years and has grown its total seats on the island by 11% in the past year. It currently offers service between Puerto Rico and five Delta hubs, making accessing Virgin Voyages’ new Puerto Rico itineraries easy and convenient.