Virgin Voyages has announced a new themed sailing that merges pop culture and podcast fandom with the cruise world: the True Crime Voyage.
The five-night Caribbean sailing onboard Valiant Lady, curated in partnership with iHeart Media, will include immersive programming inspired by hit true crime podcasts such as “Betrayal,” “Stuff They Don’t Want You to Know” and “Buried Bones.” Podcast fans on the voyage will surely want to join live podcast tapings, meet-and-greets, gatherings with themed food and drinks and behind-the-scenes workshops.
In addition to the usual immersive entertainment on a Virgin Voyage, this cruise will also include podcast-related events, such as live recording sessions.
Credit: 2025 Virgin Voyages
Virgin says that the cruise was designed as a niche product with built-in demand — according to recent data from Edison Research, 84% of Americans consume true crime media. So, the True Crime Voyage offers travel advisors (or First Mates, in the world of Virgin Voyages) a timely, adults-only sailing that’s group-friendly, commissionable and on trend.
“We’ve tapped into a massive fandom and paired it with our uniquely elevated product,” said Nathan Rosenberg, chief marketing officer and head of sales at Virgin Voyages. “This gives First Mates something different to sell, with an experience built on passion, pop culture and premium value."
The sailing will depart from Miami on Oct. 10 and make stops in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, and Virgin’s Beach Club at Bimini, in the Bahamas. Clients can expect typical Virgin inclusions to be part of the sailing, from immersive entertainment and more than 20 onboard dining options to Wi-Fi, gratuities and fitness classes.
The True Crime Voyage is part of Virgin Voyages’ larger goal of expanding its portfolio of culturally relevant and genre-driven experiences. Advisors should stay tuned for future sailings themed around comedy, food, wellness, music and more.
