Three ships planned for 2020, 2021 and 2022, weighing 110,000 tons and with a very striking exterior design.
Article from CruisesNews magazine
When Virgin Voyages was announced in late 2014, Richard Branson made it clear that the company was there to disrupt the industry. Although details are being released gradually, they already demonstrate a distinctly different way of thinking.
On October 31, 2017, the keel-laying ceremony for Virgin Voyages' first ship took place at the Fincantieri shipyards in Genoa. Cruisesnews Media Group had the privilege of attending as the only Spanish media outlet invited. More than a formal keel-laying ceremony, it was a full-blown celebration, featuring a star appearance by Sir Richard Branson and the company's CEO, Tom McAlpin, descending together in a crane basket to the strains of the Rolling Stones' "Start Me Up." Their friend Boy George DJed and performed some of his greatest hits live as the keel, after being welded with the traditional coins, moved through the shipyard to its final position amidst colorful lights.
There we saw the design of their first “Lady Ship,” as they will call their vessels, with a striking golden-gray hull, tinted windows, and a straight bow. Fincantieri will build three units, approximately 110,000 gross tons, 278 meters long and 38 meters wide, with deliveries planned for 2020, 2021, and 2022. They will have capacity for 2,700 passengers and 1,150 crew members, with a meticulously crafted interior design by prestigious studios such as Roman & Williams, who also participated in the innovative design of the Celebrity Edge, as well as London-based Softroom, who redesigned the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse VIP lounge at Heathrow, and Pearson Lloyd, responsible for Lufthansa's new economy class, among other projects.
Adult by Design is one of the slogans that defines the company, which will not accept passengers under 18 years of age.
Virgin Voyages' ships will have a truly striking exterior design, with a fully enclosed and habitable bow and a sun deck aft, at the same level as the lifeboat deck. On either side, they will feature a red-tailed mermaid carrying a Virgin flag, a work by Magpie Studio, while the funnel, created by the superyacht studio RWD, will extend the use of "Virgin red" throughout the upper deck.
An Adults-Only Experience:
The key difference between Virgin Voyages and other cruise lines is that they will only accept bookings from those over 18, eager to experience “not just the best week of the year, but the best week of their lives,” in Branson's words. This decision was based on rigorous market research conducted among prospective customers and travel agents, and following the announcement, the enthusiasm on social media seems to confirm that there was a market eagerly awaiting this product. While some luxury cruise lines might be considered adults-only, these cruises are typically geared towards a senior clientele, and, in any case, adults-only cruises on ships of this size had never been considered before.
McAlpin said the ships will be “inspired by superyachts” and will have balconies, or “sea terraces” in his terminology, in 86% of the cabins. “They will be the most recognizable ships sailing the seven seas, offering an irresistible sailing experience,” he declared. “We also want our crew to be the happiest at sea and proud to sail with us.”.
Miami will be the home port for 2020, but sailing in the Mediterranean from 2021 onwards is not ruled out.
Onboard, music will take center stage, and both the cabins and restaurants promise to be unlike anything seen before. The aim is to create a premium adult atmosphere, focused on music and fun, geared towards millennials, but far removed from the wild teenage parties of spring breakers, for example.
Virgin Voyages has no plans to have casinos on board, and no excursions will use animals, so no swimming with dolphins, touching manta rays, or horseback riding. These are just some of the details we've learned from its top executives.
a team of experts
with extensive experience in the industry for its project, including CEO Tom McAlpin, who boasts eight years of experience at Royal Caribbean, 15 years at Disney Cruise Line (where he rose to the position of President), and five and a half years at The World. The list goes on: Vice President Craig Milan spent 12 years leading land operations at Royal Caribbean; Director of Entertainment Richard Kilman came from Norwegian Cruise Line after six years; and Senior Director of Guest Experience and Onboard Revenue Sabine Muhlberger worked for Celebrity Cruises, Costa Cruises, Seabourn, and Cunard before joining Branson's project. Kenneth Charles, Head of Purchasing and Logistics, spent eight years at Royal Caribbean, seven years at Norwegian Cruise Line, and two years at Universal Studios. Even Chief Engineer Nikola Petrovic, a recent addition to the company, had nearly 17 years of experience at Royal Caribbean.
The aim is to create a premium adult environment focused on music and fun.
Virgin Voyages is currently a 3-ship project, backed by Bain Capital, but it has the team and resources to become a major player in the cruise industry in the long term.
Ships with the latest environmental technology.
In addition to declaring respect for animals by prohibiting excursions that use them, respect for the environment will be in Virgin Voyages' DNA from the very beginning. The latest engine technology will be used: Wärtsilä 46F engines with a hybrid exhaust gas purification system and selective catalytic reduction (SCR), resulting in very low emissions.
The engine's waste heat will be used to produce approximately 1 MW of energy, with a pioneering system in the industry, and an agreement has been signed with Scanship for waste management systems.
Miami as the initial homeport.
In its inaugural year, 2020, the first ship will be based in Miami, offering 7-night Caribbean cruises. Starting in 2021, with the arrival of the second ship, the company acknowledges that it is seriously considering sailing in the Mediterranean, but has not yet officially confirmed this. While the initial Caribbean itineraries are still unknown, the company is already accepting pre-bookings with a refundable $500 deposit.
Mediterranean. Miami will be the home port for 2020, but sailing in the Mediterranean from 2021 onwards is not ruled out.
