Weekend cruises have become big business.
Royal Caribbean has ships sailing the traditional Friday through Monday weekend out of Miami, Port Canaveral, and Fort Lauderdale.
It has even dubbed its newest ship, the Oasis-Class Utopia of the Seas, as the "World's Biggest Weekend." Utopia's deployment marks the first time Royal Caribbean has used one of its new megaships to sail short itineraries.
Related: Virgin Voyages makes a big change for a special reason
That's a big bet that some new-to-cruise people want to try only short cruises. By putting its best hardware out there for those sailings, Royal Caribbean gives itself the best chance to win over those customers by enabling them to experience its best product.
Short cruises are also ideal for people who want a getaway but don't have much vacation time.
Virgin Voyages is building on that idea with a special sailing.
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Image source: Virgin Voyages.
Virgin Voyages plans a special weekend sailing
While most cruise ship weekends mean leaving on a Friday and getting back on a Monday, Virgin Voyages has planned an actual two-day weekend trip. The trip on the cruise line's newest ship, Resilient Lady, leaves Miami on Saturday, Nov. 23, and returns on Monday, Nov. 25.
Virgin Voyages bills it as a vacation that doesn't require any PTO (although you should probably plan to be late work on Monday, given the traffic in Miami).
Like Royal Caribbean's efforts to impress new-to-cruise passengers with Utopia of the Seas, Virgin Voyages is putting its best foot forward as well.
"This isn’t just any cruise; it’s a musically charged weekend designed for Sailors to experience the best of our award-winning entertainment and nightlife, which includes a festival-style lineup of immersive activities, special programming, plus one extra special guest," the cruise line says on its website.
"With a full day at sea to soak up the sun and explore the ship, they can spend a night dancing under the stars when internationally renowned DJ Sam Feldt spins an epic set by the pool."
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Sailors — that's what Virgin Voyages calls its passengers — who stay in "RockStar" and "Mega RockStar" suites will get some added music.
"Feldt will play a private sunset on Richard’s Rooftop, followed by an exclusive meet-and-greet on the first night," the cruise line added.
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