Virgin Voyages to feature Key West instead of Havana

With Cuba cruises from the U.S. no longer permitted, Virgin Voyages' four-day "Havana After Dark" cruises will be replaced with a four-day cruise featuring Key West.

The new itinerary will be called "Fire and Sunset Soirees" and will include a sunset departure from Key West and a midnight departure from Bimini. 

All Virgin cruises will visit the line's Bimini Beach Club but only the Key West itinerary will offer a "late-night beach bonfire soiree" in Bimini.

Virgin said the evening will feature artistic fire installations that draw their inspiration from the fireball sculptures on Necker Island, home to Virgin founder Richard Branson.

Virgin also detailed two seven-day holiday sailings. "Holidaze and Nights" and "New Year's Ahoy" will call in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, and feature late-night sailaways in Bimini and San Juan.

Wendy Williams was named the captain of the Scarlet Lady, Virgin Voyages' first ship.

Virgin also said it has appointed a captain for its first ship, the Scarlet Lady. It said that Wendy Williams will become the first Canadian woman to be captain of a ship for a major cruise brand. Virgin said the appointment is in keeping with its Scarlet Squad program, an initiative dedicated to bridging the gender gap in leadership roles across the maritime industry.