Virgin Voyages has always believed that great hospitality is deeply human — intuitive, personal, built on genuine connection. But delivering that kind of experience, consistently and at scale, has always required something more.
Today, we’re introducing what makes it possible.
Project Ruby is our enterprise AI platform, built in partnership with Google Cloud — a new intelligence layer designed to connect every part of the Virgin Voyages experience, from the moment a Sailor starts dreaming about a trip to the moment they’re already planning their next one.
It’s not a feature. It’s not a chatbot. It’s a complete rethinking of how intelligence flows through every part of the journey.
The problem we set out to solve
Planning a cruise is exciting. It’s also complicated.
Itineraries, cabins, Shore Things, dining, entertainment, timing — decisions stack on top of each other over days and weeks. And somewhere along the way, excitement can turn into friction.
We’ve seen it happen. And when someone drops off because the process feels overwhelming, that’s not a product problem.
It’s a system problem.
We already had the Crew. We already had an experience that turns Sailors into advocates. What we needed was something that could carry the complexity — so our Sailors didn’t have to.
So we built it.
Built in partnership with Google Cloud
Project Ruby didn’t start as a product. It started as an idea: what if planning a voyage felt as seamless as taking one?
To make that real, we partnered with Google Cloud.
This wasn’t a vendor relationship. It was co-creation. We brought a deep understanding of our Sailors — their behaviors, decision points, and where friction turns into drop-off. Google Cloud brought the infrastructure and AI capabilities — including BigQuery, Vertex AI, and Gemini — to power it. What we built together isn’t off-the-shelf. It’s purpose-built for the nuances of cruise planning, shaped by both teams and stronger because of it.
Want to learn more about the exciting partnership? We sat down with our friends at Google Cloud to talk all things Project Ruby, from conception to execution. Check out the video below to hear about the future of our partnership directly from Virgin Voyages CEO Nirmal Saverimuttu and VP of Marketing & Digital Innovation Billy Bohan Chinique.
Seven modalities, one seamless experience
Project Ruby isn’t one tool. It’s a system made up of seven connected modalities, each designed to solve a different layer of the Sailor experience.
Together, they create something simple: a voyage that feels more intuitive, more personal, and more connected at every step.
- Connection brings everything together into a single, living Sailor profile.
- Constellation understands behavior and anticipates what comes next.
- Context powers natural, conversational interaction.
- Curation delivers the right recommendations at the right time.
- Choreography ensures every interaction happens when it should.
- Confidence equips our Crew with real-time insights.
- Concert continuously improves the system through feedback.
Seven modalities. One seamless experience.
And at the center of it all is how Sailors experience it.
Meet Rovey
All of this intelligence needed a way to come to life.
Meet Rovey — our AI Crew member and the consumer-facing expression of Project Ruby, launching Summer 2026.
Created in partnership with Google Cloud, Rovey brings together data, context, and real-time intelligence to make planning your voyage simpler, faster, and more personal.
Sailors can interact with Rovey conversationally — asking questions, exploring options, and getting guidance without navigating multiple systems.
Ask about itineraries, and Rovey narrows options based on travel style — not just dates. Curious about Shore Things? Rovey surfaces experiences aligned to individual preferences. Comparing cabins? Rovey provides clear, contextual guidance.
Rovey understands natural language, has access to real-time availability, and can guide Sailors from inspiration to booking with minimal friction.
Each interaction builds on the last. A first-time visitor receives a different experience than a returning Sailor, with context improving over time to make every interaction more relevant and more efficient.
Rovey draws on a complete understanding of the Virgin Voyages experience — ships, cabins, dining, entertainment, policies, and destinations — simplifying complexity into something intuitive and easy to navigate.
A living system
Project Ruby isn’t static. It’s designed to evolve.
Every interaction contributes to a system that becomes more effective over time. Every voyage helps improve the next.
The Rovey experience will continue to evolve. Recommendations will become more precise. Interactions will feel more natural. The ability to anticipate Sailor needs will continue to improve.
This is what we set out to build: not just something new, but something designed to keep getting better.
This is just the beginning
Project Ruby is a new foundation for how we connect with our Sailors. Not just a new feature — a new posture. One where planning a voyage feels as good as the voyage itself.
Our guiding principle remains the same. Technology isn’t here to replace human connection. It’s here to protect it.
Project Ruby carries the complexity so our Crew can focus on what they do best: creating moments of joy, surprise, and genuine connection.
Project Ruby is already underway, with Rovey launching summer 2026. Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to sail forward and make waves.
