Hey sailor. Yes, you. Virgin Voyages thinks you’re a perfect recruit to ship out on their new cruise ship, the Scarlet Lady.
All you need to be is an adult who’s looking to enjoy a few high-energy days of music, food and relaxed inhibitions. Tattoos and dancing on the tables are optional.
Virgin’s founder Sir Richard Branson and CEO Tom McAlpin made an enlistment call during an event in Toronto in which they announced that they’ve appointed a Canadian, Captain Wendy Williams, as Master of Scarlet Lady, Virgin’s first ship that begins sailing from Miami in April, 2020.
The Virgin cruise is a concept unlike others that have come before, McAlpin said, and it’s a sea change from his previous role as head of Disney Cruise Line.
“It’s adults-only by design. We took a bold step in order to really create at romantic, high-level experience. We all love kids, but we know that sometimes they can be unpredictable. And speaking to our sailors who are parents, they told us they sometimes they need a break too. So sometimes you have to give something up to get an elevated experience.”
The Virgin team is nothing if not confident. Virgin already has four identical ships each carrying close to 2,800 in the works, to be delivered one a year through 2023. That means a total of over 10,000 passengers—oh, excuse me, sailors—need to be recruited every week. Where will they all come from?
“There are a combination of folks who do not want the traditional canned cruise experience, but they love cruising,” McAlpin said. “They want experiences that are different and we’re a brand that’s built around lifestyles and offers more flexibility.”
Virgin’s also expecting to attract shiploads of landlubbers who have never considered a cruise before. Asked what other kind of vacations sailors would have gone on if not for a Virgin cruise, McAlpin replied: “They would be going to the Med or lifestyle resorts. It would be all-inclusives; places like Ibiza and San Tropez and Miami Beach experiences.
“This is not a Carnival experience, where people are getting on a ship because they’ve never had free food before. It’s also different from premium cruises where the experience is more about the itineraries. This is more about the experience on board. It’s not only a different type of cruise experience; it’s a different type of travel experience.”
It also helps to think of yourself as a star. Suite categories let you feel like a guitar hero, with names like Fab Suites, Posh Suites and Gorgeous Suites.
For entertainment, Virgin talks a lot about “participatory experiences.” Sir Richard is proud of the fact that there are 78 RockStar Suites equipped with tables designed to be danced on.
And to really get the VIP experience, he suggests checking into one of the pair of 2,147-square-foot Massive Suites, above the ship’s bridge that feature their own hot tubs and music room that can double as a spare bedroom that’s filled with guitars.
Previous details revealed about the ship include two Drag Brunches per sailing and even a tattoo parlor.
Also unlike standard cruises, there won’t be a traditional buffet or main dining room or assigned dining times. The ship will feature more than 20 eateries where the dishes will be cooked to order. Buffets are a no-no on these ships.
Décor will also be over the top. For instance the Razzle Dazzle restaurant, will be decked out in the zigzag pattern used as camouflage for ships in the First World War ships.
There have already been setbacks in the original battle plan, or as the Virgin team jokes: “Sometimes ship happens.” With the United States suddenly putting Havana off the travel map for Americans, the itineraries on sale for 2020 have to be rerouted.
“We’re disappointed about the Cuba situation, but in our industry we can look at itineraries all around the world,” McAlpin said. “Our first ship is based in Miami so we want to stay in the Caribbean.” Virgin is puffing up what it calls the Virgin Beach Experience on Bimini in the Bahamas as every bit as exciting as Havana.
It will transform a resort beach on the island seldom visited by cruises into a party zone. “The beach club will be transformed into something absolutely amazing after dark,” McAlpin promises. “There will surprises like a bonfire and fireballs to make it an incredible night to remember, “
An itinerary that remains unchanged is a five-night cruise to Costa Maya and Bimini. Another previously planned itinerary will switch out Havana for Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic and a day in Bimini.
A new itinerary will be called Riviera Maya, a five-night cruise stopping at Cozumel and offering free transfers to Playa del Carmen. The ship stays until midnight, so passengers can do water sports by day or do a land excursion to Tulum and still enjoy the nightlife and take a transfer back to the ship before midnight. This itinerary will also do the beach club day in Bimini.
For a shorter itinerary, Virgin will also be adding cruises with a stop in Key West and also a nighttime beach club party in Bimini. For the holiday season in 2020, there are two seven-night cruises to the Dominican Republic and San Juan and then to the beach club on Bimini.
So, Sir Richard, who should look at enlisting in the Virgin navy?
“When I was in my 20s, I thought wouldn’t it be fun to have a cruise ship for under-30 year olds. I tried to raise money for that, but I gave up then. Later, I thought it would be under-40 year olds and then under-50 year olds and then under 70-year olds. Ultimately, I decided it would be fun to create a Virgin cruise line for everyone who is young at heart and wants to have a good time.”
