MIAMI, FL – March 26, 2026 – Every podcast fan knows the moment. The host says something so resonant, it stops them in their tracks mid-commute. The episode gets rewound. Sent to a friend. And suddenly, the only thing missing is being in the room when it happened.
Virgin Voyages, the three-time Travel + Leisure World's Best Mega-Ship Cruise Line, and iHeartMedia, the No. 1 audio company in the United States, are building that room. Today, the two brands announced the launch of On Air at Sea, a new specialty sailing collection where the world's most beloved podcasts come to life on the open ocean.
The most engaged podcast audiences want to be immersed. On Air at Sea gives them exactly that. Each voyage is purpose-built around a podcast universe, turning five days on the open ocean into a shared, immersive experience that no streaming platform, live event or social feed can replicate.
Inaugural Voyage: Stuff at Sea
The first On Air at Sea sailing, Stuff at Sea, departs Oct. 2, 2026, aboard Valiant Lady and is a five-night voyage from New York City to Bermuda built around three of iHeart's celebrated podcast franchises:
- Stuff You Should Know, hosted by Josh Clark and Chuck Bryant. The flagship series that launched an entire podcast universe. If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, chaos theory, the Stonewall Uprising, LSD or Rosa Parks, Josh and Chuck have you covered, turning the endlessly complex and surprising into essential listening for the perpetually curious.
- Stuff They Don't Want You to Know, hosted by Ben Bowlin, Matt Frederick and Noel Brown. From UFOs and government conspiracies to psychic powers and unexplained phenomena, Stuff They Don't Want You to Know has built a fiercely loyal community on the questions history has never quite answered.
- Stuff Mom Never Told You, hosted by Anney Reese and Samantha McVey. This podcast takes a culturally sharp, intersectional feminist approach to science, history and culture. Spanning reproductive rights, the gender pay gap and unsung women who shaped history, the podcast unpacks the stories that don't always make the headlines.
Special programming aboard the “Stuff at Sea Voyage” will include live on-ship recordings, behind-the-scenes sessions, host meet-and-greets, hosted Shore Things in Bermuda, and themed activations woven — all complemented by Virgin Voyages' signature dining, elevated design and adults-only atmosphere. Cabins are limited. Book at www.virginvoyages.com.
Built on a Proven Foundation
The two brands are no strangers. Last fall, Virgin Voyages and iHeartMedia sailed together on the True Crime Voyage, a sold-out, five-night Halloween-season escape aboard Valiant Lady that brought iHeartPodcasts' cult-favorite shows Stuff They Don't Want You to Know, Betrayal and Buried Bones to the high seas. Gripping, chilling and utterly unlike anything else a streaming platform could replicate, the voyage was a hit. The response made the next step obvious.
Today's partnership is the architecture that scales that moment. iHeartMedia's unrivalled reach — across broadcast radio, podcasts, digital and live events — combined with Virgin Voyages' elevated, kid-free cruise experience, creates a distribution and experience flywheel that's redefining how fans engage with the content they love. iHeartMedia will amplify each On Air at Sea voyage across its full media platform, reaching millions of listeners nationally before, during and after every sailing.
The partnership also extends beyond the ship. iHeart listeners have already received exclusive VIP access to Brilliant Lady's landmark debut events in New York and Miami, with Los Angeles to follow.
What They’re Saying
"On Air at Sea is a new format for fan culture. The fan community becomes the crew, and the ocean becomes the venue. On Air at Sea gives the most engaged audiences in audio something no algorithm can deliver: presence,” says Stephen Hopkins, Senior Vice President of Growth, Virgin Voyages.
"The Stuff universe has built one of the most engaged listener communities in podcasting. Partnering with Virgin Voyages lets us take that community somewhere entirely new — turning these popular podcasts into a shared, lived experience that fans simply cannot get anywhere else,” says Debbie Cerrito, Senior Vice President of Business Development, iHeartMedia.
What’s Next
Stuff at Sea is the first in what both brands envision as a growing, genre-led slate. On Air at Sea is designed to scale with future itineraries spanning comedy, music, wellness, true crime and beyond. Together, the brands will create a platform to invest in culturally relevant voyages, bringing together passionate communities in ways far beyond travel.
Virgin Voyages' broader ambition extends further still. In addition to On Air at Sea, Virgin Voyages is expanding its roster of immersive sailings across entirely new worlds, including collegiate experiences. This summer, Penn State alumni and Nittany Lions fans are sailing on Resilient Lady's five-night Dominican Daze, departing Aug. 3, 2026. Similar activations are in the works.
Watch this space.
About Virgin Voyages
Promising to Create an Epic Sea Change for All, Virgin Voyages is the award-winning, exclusively adult cruise line founded by Sir Richard Branson. Delivering unforgettable, relaxing vacations at sea, Virgin Voyages launched at the end of 2021. Inspired by superyacht design, its fleet of Lady Ships exemplify an elevated, boutique hotel at sea with contemporary spaces that strike the perfect balance of nautical chic and glamour. Currently departing from the sun-soaked cities of Miami, Barcelona, Athens and San Juan, the fleet offers more than 60 unique itineraries, sailing to 150+ incredible ports of call. On-board, 20+ eateries feature culinary experiences from Michelin-star chefs, stylish workout spaces and group fitness classes are offered daily, and a festival-like line-up of intimate and larger-than-life shows are on the agenda. Paired with modern, tech-savvy cabins, designer suites fit for a rockstar and a mermaid-inspired spa and thermal suite, the brand is taking the industry by storm. For three consecutive years – 2023, 2024 and 2025 – Virgin Voyages won best cruise line in Travel + Leisure’s highly coveted World’s Best Awards for mega-ship ocean cruise line, along with the 2023 and 2024 Condé Nast Traveler’s Readers’ Choice Awards for best large ocean cruise line.
