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Virgin Voyages replaces cruise calls on Key West following community outcry
Ashley Kosciolek
Senior cruise writer
In addition to cruising, Ashley is obsessed with reading, lawn gnomes, pizza, cats, CrossFit, SEO and proper grammar.
Aug. 24, 2021
•
3 min read
Virgin Voyages replaces cruise calls on Key West following community outcry
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New cruise line Virgin Voyages has removed Key West port calls from its itineraries, citing its desire to respect locals' decision to ban ships carrying more than 1,300 passengers.
In late 2020, island residents voted to prevent large vessels from docking and to prioritize docking privileges for cruise lines with the best environmental and health records.
In summer 2021, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill that overturned Key West's right to limit the size of ships that are allowed to call. Despite the bill, Virgin swapped Key West calls with visits to Nassau in the Bahamas, at least temporarily. The changes will be in effect on Scarlet Lady's four-night "Fire and Sunset Soiree" sailings in October.
"Part of our brand ethos is ... respecting the communities we visit and making a positive impact," the line said last week in a statement to travel agents. "We are actively working on a plan that suits the local Key West community, as well as our [passengers], and are hopeful that we'll [return to] Key West soon."
In Nassau, Virgin plans to offer activities such as snorkeling and diving, forest treks, fish fries and distillery tours, but it's not the only Bahamian port the line plans to explore. It recently developed a private beach club area for its passengers on the island of Bimini, offering water sports, Bahamian-inspired cuisine and nighttime bonfires.
The line, which makes no apologies for trying to separate itself from other players in the cruise industry, refers to its passengers as "sailors," eschews buffets, won't allow children on board and features several at-sea firsts, including an onboard tattoo parlor and a "shake for Champagne" feature that allows you to order bubbly from anywhere on the ship by simply shaking your phone.
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On Aug. 18, the Key West Committee for Safer, Cleaner Ships tweeted a thank-you note to Virgin:
"Huge respect to [Virgin Voyages] today for doing the right thing and pulling out of Key West," the committee said on Twitter. "A lot of cruise lines say they respect the communities they visit. Virgin is the first to back it up with concrete action."
At least two other cruise lines -- Carnival Cruise Line and Holland America Line, both owned by Carnival Corp. -- are scheduled to call on Key West later this year. Carnival declined to comment for this article, but Holland America said it plans to keep Key West on its ships' schedules for now.
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
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Best for dining at restaurants
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Go to reviewCard Rating is based on the opinion of TPG‘s editors and is not influenced by the card issuer.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
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Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits.Pros
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- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.