OVERVIEW

SOLO CRUISE GROUP VIRGIN VOYAGES 

Cruise Solo, Not Alone ®

Ring in the new year on an adventure through the Tasman Sea — featuring overnight stays in both Hobart and Sydney. During this once-in-a-lifetime voyage, you’ll visit the best of New Zealand’s South and North Islands, and get a full day to explore Tauranga, a city that offers endless water activities and magnificent views from every angle.

Cruising from Melbourne with Virgin Voyages
A
14 night summer cruise to Tasmania, Sydney and New Zealand

Join an exclusive solo traveller group on board the stunning Resilient Lady, Virgin Voyages for her first season in Australia. Combining the enjoyment of group dining with the freedom of solo travel. While there’s days at sea to enjoy the multitude of activities and entertainment offered on board, you can also take advantage of the many shore excursions from ports of New Zealand


MORE INFORMATION CRUISE CIRCLE FOR SOLOS
Find out all you need to know about Cruise Circle for Solos

PACKAGE DETAILS
  • Ages:
    best suited 45 years+
  • Duration:
    15 Days
  • Status:
    Bookings open
  • Region:
    Oceania
  • Destinations:
    Australia, New Zealand
  • Travel Style:
    On The Water
  • Accommodation:
    Ship cabins
  • Prices from:
    Price of the day
  • Transport:
    Cruise
  • Pace:
    1
  • Max Group Size:
    10-16 estimate
REVIEWS

'I would highly recommend a holiday with Encounter Travel. My trip was well organised and the co-ordinator was fun and helpful and full of energy. I met some great people of all walks of life. There is a good mix of organised activities and free time. I had a blast.'

Linda, Victoria

'Thank you for your organisation of a great holiday. As a first time traveller with Encounter, I didn't know what to expect. The Red Centre is indescribably beautiful and should be on every Australians' bucket list. We saw every sensational attraction in just the right order - each new experience was more incredible than the last. Thank you for recruiting such a great group of people for my travelling companions. The hotels were clean and very comfortable and it was a pleasure to be transported across such an amazing landscape so comfortably. I learnt so much about our wonderful country and wished I had done such a trip years earlier.'

Sarah, 52 years, Sydney, Australia
REQUEST A QUOTE > NEED MORE HELP?
EMAIL US >
DOWNLOAD BROCHURE

HOLIDAY VIDEO

 A longer video of sister ship, Scarlett Lady. There's not many differences between the ships so this video gives an indepth virtual visit of the ship.

 

INCLUSIONS

Included:

  • Cabin accommodation on board Virgin Voyages Resilient Lady ex Melbourne (14 nights)
  • Ocean cruise transportation 
  • All meals onboard including dining each evening
  • Some non-alcoholic beverages
  • Onboard entertainment
  • Taxes and port charges
  • Tips for crew

Not included:

  • Airfares (unless requested)
  • Travel insurance*
  • Transfers to/from Port
  • Visa fees (if applicable)
  • Shore Excursions
  • Meals and beverages not specified on itinerary
  • Incidental expenses such as taxis  
  • Items of a personal nature such as laundry & medical expenses

    * travel insurance is a mandatory pre-requisite for joining this cruise

Itinerary

DEPART FROM: Melbourne
ARRIVES TO: Auckland

Melbourne • Burnie • Hobart • Sydney • Picton • Napier • Tauranga • Auckland
 

Day 1 Melbourne - Departs at 07:00 PM, local time

Day 2 Burnie - 09:00 AM - 05:00 PM, local time

Day 3 Sailing 

Day 4 Hobart - Arrives at 10:00 AM, local time

Day 5 Hobart - Departs at 05:00 PM, local time 

Day 6 Sailing 

Day 7 Sydney - Arrives at 09:30 AM, local time

Day 8 Sydney - Departs at 02:00 PM, local time 

Day 9 Sailing 

Day 10 Sailing 

Day 11 Picton - 10:00 AM - 07:00 PM, local time 

Day 12 Napier - 09:00 AM - 06:00 PM, local time

Day 13 Sailing 

Day 14 Tauranga - 09:00 AM - 07:00 PM, local time

Day 15 Auckland - Arrives at 06:30 AM, local time

WHY BOOK WITH CRUISE CIRCLE FOR SOLOS?

Cruise Circle for Solos ® was designed with the independent solo traveller like you in mind. So when you book, you’ll get stuff that actually matters to you, like being able to:

  • Dine the way you want, every night. Every single night, there’s a table set just for your group, ready for you to join. Feeling social? Enjoy a meal with the group. Want some time to yourself? Dine solo tonight. You have complete freedom to choose how you want to dine — whether secluded or social.

  • Travel with friends, not strangers. Before every cruise, we’ll give you the chance to get in touch with the other solo travellers who are going to be cruising with you — so you can make friends before you even set foot on the ship or ‘set foot onboard’ together. So if you’re nervous about travelling with a stranger, don’t be — because you’ll be friends before you even get on the ship!

  • Enjoy pre-arranged drink meeting times. Before you travel, we’ll give the whole group some pre-arranged meeting times and venues — so you’ll know where to go if you want to catch a drink with some friends. No more drinking alone on solo cruises!

  • Save money by sharing a room. One of the worst things about solo cruising is that you’re forced to pay the single supplement fee — just because you have no travel partner. Of course, if you want to book out your own room, that’s fine — but if you don't mind sharing, we’ll match you with a same-gender buddy, and you’ll both save. It’s completely up to you.

  • We take the risk, so you don’t have to. If you tried to find a cruise partner on your own, and they cancelled on you, you’d be on the hook for all those hefty cancellation fees — and maybe even losing your booking! But with Cruise Circle for Solos, we offer financial protection on your booking — so you don't lose out if your cabin mate cancels.

DURING THE CRUISE 

On cruising days (when the ship is not in port) we designate group ‘meet up’ location/s for pre dinner drinks.

ABOUT THE LAST DAY 

Early morning arrival is the norm.


View Full Itinerary

ACCOMMODATION

 

Rest your head

Coffee (or cocktails) in your terrace hammock overlooking the waves, or waking up late in your own cocoon, here are the cabins you can choose from...

 

Resilient Lady

Sea Terrace cabin, Virgin Voyages

Sea Terrace cabin (as day bed), Virgin Voyages

Cabin bathroom, Virgin Voyages



More About Accommodation

PRICES

** CURRENT SAVINGS VALID FOR BOOKINGS BY 19 JANUARY 2023
EXTRA PROMOTION VALUE - USD 600 IN BAR LOOT (CREDIT) FOR BAR/DRINKS ON BOARD

Cabin

OWN CABIN

SOLO INSIDER

AUD $8770
SAVE $2446 | NOW $6324

PLUS GET USD 600 BAR CREDIT

THE INSIDER

AUD $10820
SAVE $3060 | NOW $7760

PLUS GET USD 600 BAR CREDIT

SOLO SEA VIEW

AUD $9850
SAVE $2770 | NOW $7080

PLUS GET USD 600 BAR CREDIT

THE SEA VIEW

AUD $12085
SAVE $3440 | NOW $8645

PLUS GET USD 600 BAR CREDIT

THE SEA TERRACE

AUD $14540
SAVE $4177 | NOW $10363

PLUS GET USD 600 BAR CREDIT

CENTRAL SEA TERRACE

AUD $14765
SAVE $4244 | NOW $10521

PLUS GET USD 600 BAR CREDIT


BAR CREDIT = BAR LOOT

  • Virgin Voyages call a bar credit 'bar loot'. Value is in USD for spend on board while cruising. Unredeemed value cannot be 'cashed in'.

Price Notes

  • 20% deposit due to confirm a booking/cabin
  • Final monies due by 120 days before cruise departure
  • Prices may change without notice prior to holding a confirmed reservation
  • Prices confirmed/locked in with deposit payment
  • $200 Circle (Group) Service Fee - applies to group of 10+
    note: but in return for Circle Service Fee, 'Sailor Loot' (on board credit) added when group of 10 or more is reached - varies by cabin category starting at USD50

OTHER NOTES ABOUT CABINS

  • Cabin number and deck cannot be guaranteed.
  • Cabins are subject to change due to unforeseen circumstances (but it’s unlikely this will occur once your cabin has been allocated)
  • For twin share cabins; only available if joining with a friend - roommate bookings can't be facilitated with Virgin Voyages.
  • Wheelchair accessible cabins are subject to availability.

GETTING THERE

Starts In:
Ends In:

Starts: Melbourne
Ends: Auckland

Check in: 
As a guide usually staggered embarkation as defined by the ship. Closer to sailing you book your embarkation time on the Virgin Voyages APP.

Check out:
As a guide usually between 7 - 9am as per ship allocation determined while on cruise and advised by information issued to your cabin by cabin attendant 

AIRPORT TRANSFERS
By your own arrangement. 

PASSPORTS AND VISA
For all international sailings you must hold a valid passport with a minimum of six 6 months validity from your return date to your home country. 
Ensure you have at least two blank pages in your passport. See 'VISA' information in our MORE INFORMATION section below.

Foreign Visitors
For visitors to arriving to Australia to join a cruise please check your visa requirements prior to leaving your home country.

Please visit the Australian government website for details and processing your Entry Authority.
CLICK HERE 


Some information from this page has been sourced from other websites. Content is provided as a guide only.

DETAILS

CRUISE CABIN AVAILABILITY
If this cruise seems right for you then we encourage you to book early and secure your place with a deposit.  

FELLOW TRAVELLERS ‘SOLOS ONLY’
Adults Only Cruising


Our cruise groups for solos vary a lot in size.  Some groups may be a handful of solo travellers where as others can be large groups, most common with our Christmas and New Year’s Eve sailings. Our group is exclusively for the single travellers, or solo travellers - it is a 'Couple Free' group. However we share this ship with passengers from all walks of life.

THE PACE  [1 out of 5]
Cruising offers a relaxed pace. Of course, you can also be very active if you choose, with the choice of using the ship’s gym facilities and classes, the running track on top deck, and also simply by the sheer size of the ship means that you can walk plenty of steps each day, should you chose, or take the stairs between decks (otherwise take the lifts). If you have limited mobility or require mobility assistance while cruising please enquire with us and we can advise you of your options for joining the cruise. In regards to wheelchair cabins, as part of our group arrangement with the ship we do not get these cabins allocated to us upfront, as it’s ship policy not to allocate these in advance to groups but on a needs basis. Therefore we have to check the availability of wheelchair access cabins when you enquire.

Fit to Travel Holiday Requirements
It’s essential you advise us at the time of booking of all medical conditions in order that we can properly advise you of anything you need to know for your medical condition/s. 

WI-FI
Wi-Fi is included with Virgin Voyages

LUGGAGE
The big plus about cruising, luggage restrictions do not compare to that of touring or air travel and are far more relaxed. At port, hand over luggage to the ship personnel and they arrange for it to be delivered to your cabin. Unpack just once! 

Tip: on embarkation day your luggage usually arrives to your cabin prior to dinner but it’s not guaranteed.  Pack some hand luggage for what you need that afternoon and evening in case your luggage is delayed being delivered to your cabin.

Please keep in mind that your luggage still needs to be a weight that you can manage when travelling to/from the ship and also that the ship personnel can manage.

MORE INFORMATION

TRAVELLER REVIEWS

'I would highly recommend a holiday with Encounter Travel. My trip was well organised and the co-ordinator was fun and helpful and full of energy. I met some great people of all walks of life. There is a good mix of organised activities and free time. I had a blast.'

Linda, Victoria

'Thank you for your organisation of a great holiday. As a first time traveller with Encounter, I didn't know what to expect. The Red Centre is indescribably beautiful and should be on every Australians' bucket list. We saw every sensational attraction in just the right order - each new experience was more incredible than the last. Thank you for recruiting such a great group of people for my travelling companions. The hotels were clean and very comfortable and it was a pleasure to be transported across such an amazing landscape so comfortably. I learnt so much about our wonderful country and wished I had done such a trip years earlier.'

Sarah, 52 years, Sydney, Australia

'Did a Red Centre solo 7 day tour absolutely fantastic, Uluru and Kata Tjuta (the Olgas), Kings Canyon, Palm Valley you have to see it and experience it. The coach drivers were professional, excellent knowledge and with a great sense of humor.'

David, Eschol Park, Sydne, New South Wales
Since 2006
Since 2006 leading the way for solo travellers. As a boutique tour operator, we delight in detail, delivering personal service and finding your next best memory.©
Australian Owned
100% Australian, created by Australians for Australians; we 'get' the Australian travel style. And, better still, our arms are open to welcome our friends from other countries around the world, who'd like to travel with friendly Aussies.©
Small Group Tours
Travel solo, not alone when you join one of our small group tours. Share your journey, without the drawbacks of big coach tours or the solitude of being alone.©
Age-Matched Tours
From our traveller feedback we know that our age-matched holidays are one of the main reasons that solo travellers choose to join us. All our 'Solos Only ' tours are age-matched, making for a better chance that you'll be travelling other like minded single travellers. ©