Virgin Voyages takes delivery of its first cruise ship
by Stu Robarts | 20 Feb 2020
– Tom McAlpin
Virgin Voyages has taken delivery of its first cruise ship, which has reached completion after three years of construction.
Scarlet Lady will set sail in March 2020 with more than 2,770 guests and 1,150 crew on board. It weighs in at 60,000 tonnes (66,000 tons), boasts 17 decks and uses 4,800kW of power.
The ship is one of four that Virgin Voyages has ordered, with the others due for delivery in 2021, 2022 and 2023.
The new operator has emphasised a focus on design for the ships, having engaged interior designers, artists and architects including Design Research Studio (Tom Dixon), Roman & Williams and Concrete Amsterdam.
Virgin Voyages is aimed at an adult-only market that is younger than the traditional cruise market and its ships reflect this with a mix of food and drink, entertainment and wellness offers.
Restaurants, bars and lounges will be accompanied by gyms, pools and fitness studios, as well as grooming and pampering spaces.
Guests will be able to stay in RockStar Suites, Sea Terrace, Sea View or Insider cabins, with 86 per cent of cabins featuring a balcony and 93 per cent an ocean view.
They will feature WiFi as standard, in-room tech for adjusting the lights and choosing what to watch and beds that can be configured for different uses.
Cabins have been designed with "planet friendly products" and natural materials, as well as to automatically conserve energy – a broader theme for Virgin Voyages.
It has committed to having one of the cleanest fleets at sea and has partnerships for reducing carbon dioxide emissions by converting engine waste heat into clean electricity and exploring potential waste-to-energy solutions, which could also reduce ocean discharge.
"The ocean is our home, and we are on a mission to protect it. The single-biggest threat facing our ocean is climate change, and we want to be part of the solution," said Tom McAplin, CEO and president of Virgin Voyages. "We are committed to pioneering new technologies onboard, and working with our industry peers to advance research and development for zero-carbon fuels."
Virgin Voyages cruise ship
The ship weighs in at 60,000 tonnes (66,000 tons) Credit: Virgin Voyages
Cabins and amenities are spread across 17 decks Credit: Virgin Voyages
Scarlet Lady uses 4,800kW of power Credit: Virgin Voyages
Rock Star Cabins feature personal style riders, upgraded marble clad bathrooms and spaces conceptualised by renowned designer Credit: Virgin Voyages
86 per cent of Virgin Voyages cabins will feature a balcony Credit: Virgin Voyages
93 per cent of Virgin Voyages cabins will feature an ocean view Credit: Virgin Voyages
Sea Terrace cabins feature glam areas, rainshowers and hand-woven terrace hammocks Credit: Virgin Voyages
Sea View cabins are designed for solo travellers with super large single beds Credit: Virgin Voyages
Insider cabins are for travellers who want to play all night and sleep all day Credit: Virgin Voyages
27 Nov 2019
Virgin Voyages reveals second ship, Valiant Lady
25 Jul 2018
Virgin Voyages cruise ships to ride the wellness design wave
Virgin Voyages has taken delivery of its first cruise ship, which has reached completion after three years of construction. Scarlet Lady will set sail in March 2020 with more than 2,770 guests and 1,150 crew on board. It weighs in at 60,000 tonnes (66,000 tons), boasts 17 decks and uses 4,800kW of power. The ship is one of four that Virgin Voyages has ordered, with the others due for delivery
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