Virgin Voyages is to base yet-to-launch Resilient Lady in Melbourne from late 2023.
The line’s third ship will reposition to Australia via a 44-night voyage to Sydney departing from Athens in October that year.
The voyage is being aimed at Britons who may want to visit Australia while stopping off at ports of call including Dubai, Santorini, Rhodes, Mumbai, Goa and Singapore.
Resilient Lady will operate sailings ranging from two to 14 nights from December 11, 2023, to March 27, 2024.
Ports of call include Auckland, Dunedin, Christchurch, all New Zealand; Hobart and Sydney, both Australia.
Virgin Voyages president and chief experience officer Nirmal Saverimuttu said: “New Zealand and Australia are two spectacular countries, and we knew that these destinations, paired with the Virgin Voyages experience, will make for the most incredible holiday.
“With Scarlet Lady sailing the gorgeous Caribbean seas and Valiant Lady soaking up the Mediterranean sun, we can’t wait to mark Resilient Lady’s arrival.”
Virgin Group founder Sir Richard Branson said: “Virgin Voyages is very much charting its own path, offering a fresh perspective on cruise travel with all the elements of the Virgin experience that people love.”
Starting in August 2022, Resilient Lady will be offering sailings from Piraeus (Athens), calling into Santorini, Rhodes, Mykonos, Corfu, all Greece; and Dubrovnik, Croatia.
More: Virgin Voyages’ third ship to be called Resilient Lady