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Virgin sets launch date for cruise venture
Virgin Cruises has selected PortMiami as the home port for its first cruise ship that will set sail in 2020.
Speaking in Miami on Tuesday, Virgin Group founder Richard Branson said Virgin Cruises has signed a binding letter of intent with Italian shipbuilding company Fincantieri for three new mid-size ships.
Emerging through a cloud of iconic Virgin red smoke, Branson flew across Miami’s Biscayne Bay via helicopter landing at Museum Park.
Joined by Virgin Cruises’ president and CEO Tom McAlpin, the two raised a Virgin Cruises flag to mark the cruise line’s official arrival in Miami.
Branson said: "This is a very exciting day for Virgin and travellers around the globe.
"We now have the right partners in place to build a world-class cruise line that will redefine the cruising experience for good. The Virgin Cruises approach will appeal to cruisers and non-cruisers alike, and we look forward to being in Miami and delivering an experience for people who want a new way to cruise."
Virgin Cruises’ three new mid-size ships, of about 110,000 gross tons each, are slated for delivery in 2020, 2021 and 2022. Each ship will feature 1,430 cabins to host more than 2,800 guests.
There will be 1,150 crew.
Embarking from PortMiami, Virgin Cruises plans to offer a range of seven-day Caribbean itineraries, with a Sunday sail date.
Tom McAlpin said: "Virgin is a customer built brand that listens carefully to what customers want and then works hard to deliver for them.
"We are committed to making waves in the cruise industry, and partnering with Fincantieri and PortMiami sets Virgin Cruises up to do just that.
"Today’s announcement brings together important ingredients in our future success – Miami’s vibrant culture paired with the excellent port infrastructure and port team and Fincantieri’s expertise in prototyping, their creativity and understanding of our vision."
Customers are invited to join the journey by visiting www.virgincruises.com to share their ideas on what the new cruise line can do to deliver an ‘incredible experience’ at sea.
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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