Virgin Voyages has chosen Amsterdam as a main departure point for a new series of Scandinavian and Baltic cruises planned for summer 2028. The adults-only cruise line will base its 110,000 gross-ton ship, Valiant Lady, in the city for six distinct itineraries.
This marks the first time the company has used the city as a permanent base for a sailing season. The 2,770-passenger vessel will head north following a repositioning voyage from Barcelona, which arrives in the Netherlands in early July 2028.
Sailing routes and Baltic itineraries
The local season starts on July 19, 2028, with a twelve-night voyage traveling from Amsterdam to Stockholm, making stops in Oslo, Copenhagen, Gdańsk, and Berlin. Smaller seven-night round trips will follow, visiting destinations along the Norwegian fjords as well as Hamburg.
The season concludes with an eleven-night trip reaching into the Arctic Circle, stopping in northern Norwegian towns such as Tromsø and Honningsvåg. Once the northern routes finish in late August, the ship will return south to Barcelona on a ten-night repositioning journey.
Impact on local maritime traffic
The announcement comes as city officials in Amsterdam continue to monitor the overall volume of ocean cruise ships visiting the city center. While municipal policies aim to reduce tourist congestion and ship emissions near the central station, homeporting brings different logistics than simple port calls, as passengers typically spend more time in local hotels before boarding.
Bookings for the new Amsterdam-based sailings are scheduled to open on August 14, 2026. Travelers looking to arrange ground transport or check local cruise schedules can find operational details directly on the official Amsterdam municipal portal or through maritime service providers.