Seems everything Sir Richard Branson touches turns to gold and with his foray into cruising, (ahem ‘voyaging’), expect the business maestro to turn the cruise world on its head.
“Sailing should feel transformative. Yet after listening to some avid sailors, we wondered if things could be different. At Virgin Voyages we think the time to epically change sea travel is upon us,” said Virgin in a statement.
“Welcome to our own fresh take on cruising. Here, curiosity is more important than an itinerary. Interactions matter more than transactions. With us, you don’t ‘tourist’– you voyage.”
The first ‘Ladyship’ will feature a premium, luxurious, adults-only experience. In other words, you have to be 18 years old to board. Virgin Voyages is hoping to capture a similar feeling to sailing on a private yacht, only it’s a boat that will carry 2700 passengers and 1150 staff.
First glimpses at the exterior design show a modern livery and the look of a floating promenade with a futuristic hotel set in the middle. The creative collective brought together to design the vessel have worked on some of the world’s most impressive travel and hospitality spaces. While Virgin is keeping mum about details of the ship’s interior, it is believed that 86 per cent of the cabins will have a sea view with balcony, and the overall look and feel promise to deliver a meaningful experience that will redefine cruising.
“We basically decided – Let’s have a blank sheet of paper, let’s create the kind of voyage company that we would like to go on – and that’s what we’ve done,” said Sir Richard.
The ship will be ported in Miami for year-round sailing in the Caribbean from 2020. Anyone interested in sailing during the inaugural season, or on the virgin Virgin Voyage can place a $500 deposit per couple. The only catch is, you won’t know where you’re going, but all deposits are fully refundable if you change your mind.
Are you excited about Virgin’s foray into cruising? Would you be interested in sailing during the inaugural season?
