Miami, FL – Virgin Voyages, the award-winning adults-only cruise line, has introduced Rovey, its first AI-powered travel assistant, at Google Cloud Next in Las Vegas. Rovey is designed to help Sailors navigate cruise planning with personalized recommendations based on their travel style, pace, and interests. The assistant will soon be available on VirginVoyages.com.
What Is Rovey?
Rovey is the first expression of Project Ruby, Virgin Voyages' AI platform co-developed with Google Cloud. It serves as a named crew member with a specific role: to guide Sailors through the pre-voyage journey from inspiration to booking. Unlike standard chatbots, Rovey remembers previous interactions and provides tailored suggestions for itineraries, shore excursions, cabin categories, dining options, and even packing tips.
Personalized Planning Experience
Rovey leverages Gemini Enterprise Agent Platform, Gemini models, and BigQuery to offer recommendations shaped by individual preferences. For example, it can suggest cooking classes for foodies, adventurous hikes for thrill-seekers, or catamaran sails for relaxation. It also helps with practical questions like what to pack for an Alaska voyage in May.
Why Rovey Matters
Nathan Rosenberg, Chief Brand Experience, Marketing, and Momentum Officer at Virgin Voyages, said: “Richard always said, ‘be the reason someone smiles today,’ and that comes to life in the quiet moments onboard. Rovey brings that same energy to the part of the trip that happens before Sailors cross the gangway.”
Billy Bohan Chinique, VP Global Brand Marketing and AI Transformation, added: “Planning a sailing with Rovey should feel the same way our Crew makes Sailors feel onboard. Not like research. Like being looked after by someone who genuinely gets it.”
Google Cloud Collaboration
Sam Sebastian, VP of North America Regions at Google Cloud, stated: “We are excited to collaborate with Virgin Voyages and leverage Google Cloud’s leading AI technology to enhance the cruise booking process. By powering Rovey with our AI tools, Virgin Voyages is able to mitigate booking friction, deliver personalized travel recommendations at scale, and build deeper, more valuable connections with Sailors.”
Future Plans
As part of Project Ruby, seven AI expressions are planned across the full Sailor journey, from first discovery through the voyage itself. Rovey is the first of these expressions, with more to come.
About Virgin Voyages
Virgin Voyages is the award-winning adults-only cruise line founded by Sir Richard Branson. Inspired by superyacht design, its fleet of Lady Ships offers elevated, boutique hotel experiences at sea. The line sails to over 150 ports from Miami, Barcelona, Athens, and San Juan, with more than 60 itineraries. Onboard, passengers enjoy 20+ eateries, stylish fitness spaces, and festival-like entertainment. Virgin Voyages has won Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best Awards for mega-ship ocean cruise line three consecutive years (2023-2025) and Condé Nast Traveler’s Readers’ Choice Awards for best large ocean cruise line (2023, 2024).
