Virgin Voyages’ Best Price Guarantee — often called the Virgin Voyages price match — gives Sailors a way to claim a lower fare after booking. But the program has specific rules, tight deadlines, and a few edge cases that trip people up. This guide breaks down exactly how the Best Price Guarantee works, what has to match for your claim to qualify, what you actually get back, and how to avoid the most common rejection reasons.
For a broader look at all your repricing options — including calling to reshop and cancel-and-rebook strategies — see our complete Virgin Voyages repricing guide.
The Best Price Guarantee is Virgin Voyages’ official price match program. If you book a voyage and find a lower fare — on the Virgin Voyages website or elsewhere — within 48 hours of booking, you can submit a claim to have your fare adjusted down to the lower price.
The program launched for bookings made on or after August 6, 2024, and runs indefinitely. Virgin Voyages has stated it will provide 30 days’ notice before terminating the program. The terms and conditions were most recently updated on October 15, 2025.
One critical distinction: the BPG covers Voyage Fare only. Add-ons, Sailor Loot, bundled rates (like Air + Voyage packages), and Bar Tab purchases are all excluded.
The process is straightforward, but every step matters. Miss one detail and your claim can be denied.
Pro Tip: Screenshot everything before you submit — the lower price listing, your current booking confirmation, and the form submission itself. If your claim gets lost or delayed, having documentation lets you follow up with specifics rather than starting over.
The clock starts the moment your booking confirmation number is generated — not when you finish paying, not when you receive a confirmation email, and not when you first start browsing fares. You have exactly 48 hours from that point to submit your claim.
There’s also a hard cutoff at the other end: form submissions are only accepted up to seven days before embarkation. So if you book a last-minute sailing within that 7-day window, the BPG effectively doesn’t apply — even if you’re technically within 48 hours of booking.
Your submission must also be in the same currency your voyage was originally purchased in. Booking in USD and submitting a price in GBP will get your claim rejected.
This is where most claims get denied. The lower fare you find must be an exact match on every one of these criteria:
| Criteria | What Must Match |
|---|---|
| Ship | Same Lady Ship (e.g., Scarlet Lady) |
| Sail date | Same departure date |
| Stateroom category | Same cabin type (e.g., Sea Terrace) |
| Fare class | Same tier — Base, Essential, or Premium |
| Number of Sailors | Same guest count as original booking |
The fare class requirement is explicitly stated in the October 2025 T&C update. This means finding a lower Base fare won’t help if your booking is on the Essential or Premium tier — they’re treated as different products.
Pro Tip: Before submitting, double-check the fare class on the lower price you found. Virgin’s website doesn’t always make the tier obvious at first glance — especially when promotions are running. A mismatch between Base and Essential is one of the easiest ways to get a valid-looking claim denied.
Virgin Voyages will match “a better available rate on our website or elsewhere” — but that “elsewhere” comes with significant restrictions.
There’s also a combinability rule: if the lower fare you found is running under a promotion that can’t be combined with the promotion already on your booking, the claim won’t qualify. Similarly, if the promotional window for that lower rate has closed, the claim is ineligible — even if you found the price during the window.
This depends on your payment status at the time the claim is approved.
The FVC issued through BPG can be applied to purchase add-ons and Bar Tab on a future voyage. This is an important distinction from other repricing methods, where calling to reshop on a partially paid booking may yield a direct fare reduction instead of credit.
Pro Tip: If your booking isn’t fully paid yet and you spot a lower fare, consider calling Sailor Services (or having your First Mate call) to reshop the booking directly — before submitting the BPG form. A direct reprice on a partially paid booking can adjust your balance immediately, no FVC involved. The BPG form is your fallback, not necessarily your first move.
The Best Price Guarantee and calling Sailor Services to reshop are not the same thing. BPG is a formal, form-based process with a strict 48-hour window and specific matching requirements. Calling to reshop is an informal conversation with Sailor Services (or your First Mate) about adjusting your fare — and it can sometimes happen outside the 48-hour window, especially on partially paid bookings.
Our repricing hub covers when each method works best. The short version: BPG is your documented, guaranteed path within 48 hours. Calling to reshop is more flexible but less predictable — and the outcome depends on your payment status and fare type.
This is where things get genuinely confusing — because Virgin Voyages’ own BPG page contains contradictory guidance.
In the FAQ section, Virgin states: if you booked using a My Next Virgin Voyage (MNVV) certificate and the price changes afterward, Virgin will honor the BPG adjustment and carry over the MNVV on your booking. The condition is that the MNVV must have been included in the original booking at the time of reservation.
However, in a different section of the same page, the T&Cs list “My Next Virgin Voyage” among ineligible promotions and credits.
The safest interpretation: if your MNVV was applied at the time of booking and the price drops within 48 hours, submit the BPG form. The FAQ language suggests it should be honored. But be aware the T&Cs create ambiguity, and outcomes may vary. If your BPG claim on an MNVV booking gets denied, your First Mate may be able to help you navigate alternatives.
For a full breakdown of how MNVVs interact with booking changes and cancellations, see our guide on what happens to your MNVV if you cancel.
Most BPG claims that get denied fail on one of these mismatches:
Pro Tip: Before booking, check if the fare you’re looking at is offered through a Tour Operator or a registered First Mate — they sound similar but have different BPG eligibility. Booking through Serious Sailors means you’re working with registered First Mates, so BPG remains available on your reservation.
Virgin Voyages officially states a 72-hour response window after form submission. In practice, some Sailors have reported responses taking closer to 4 days. Others report hearing nothing until they follow up with Sailor Services by phone.
If you haven’t received a response within 72 hours, call Sailor Services or ask your First Mate to follow up on your behalf. Having your form submission confirmation and screenshots ready will speed things along.
Not every booking qualifies for a price match claim. BPG is only available for voyages booked through:
Bookings made through Tour Operators are excluded entirely. This is a hard rule.
Your voyage fare is adjusted downward, reducing the remaining balance you owe. No FVC is involved — the discount is applied directly to your booking.
No. BPG applies to the Voyage Fare only. Sailor Loot, add-ons, and bundled rates (including Air + Voyage packages) are all excluded from price match claims.
No. Virgin Voyages explicitly states that BPG is not applicable with all offers and pricing. Bundled rates, group rates, membership pricing, charter rates, and travel agent promotions not offered to the general public are all ineligible.
Yes — several. Tour Operator bookings are excluded entirely. Claims submitted after the 48-hour window, in a different currency, or for a different fare class, stateroom category, or guest count are all ineligible. The lower rate must also be one the Sailor personally qualifies for and must be combinable with any existing promotion on the booking.
Virgin Voyages’ Best Price Guarantee is a genuine safety net — but only if you understand the rules before you need it. Submit within 48 hours, make sure every detail matches, screenshot everything, and know that fully paid bookings receive Future Voyage Credit rather than a cash refund. If you’re booking through Serious Sailors™, your First Mate can monitor fares and help you decide whether BPG or a direct reshop call is the smarter move for your specific situation. It’s all part of booking made easy with Serious Sailors.
