Virgin Voyages has started taking reservations to sail on its premier ship, the Scarlet Lady, scheduled to launch in April 2020.
Virgin’s cheeky, “rebellious luxe” ethos seems tailor-made for contemporary cruising, and the Voyages division will play up a hip fun-in-the-sun spirit to entice image-obsessed Millennials to board in Miami for four and five-night voyages to Havana, Cuba; Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic and Costa Maya, Mexico. You can even book a trip to celebrate Richard Branson’s 70th birthday with him and some of his celeb pals during a special four-night Havana After Dark voyage departing July 15, 2020.
One thing is clear: Scarlet Lady is not your father’s cruise ship. Designed to evoke a sleek luxurious yacht, the mid-size ship can accommodate 2,770 18+ guests served by more than 1,100 crew from around the world. The Virgin Voyages design team worked with leading contemporary design firms including Tom Dixon’s Design Research Studio in London, Roman and Williams in New York, Concrete Amsterdam, Softroom in London, and WorkAC in New York.
“Ranging from gritty to glamorous, we’ve collaborated with a collection of brilliant interior designers and architects to create a variety of spaces that our sailors will love,” said Dee Cooper, senior vice president of product design for Virgin Voyages, per a press release. “With careful thought, humor and attention to detail, the Creative Collective has designed a ship that’s styled for those thirsty for a wonderfully modern holiday at sea.”
Scarlet Lady’s 78 RockStar Suites, include 15 Mega RockStar Suites in four categories dubbed Massive, Fab, Posh, and Gorgeous. All are located on Deck 15, just below Richard’s Rooftop, a Branson-inspired top-deck cocktail lounge, exclusively accessible to RockStar Suite guests. The Massive Suite also has a second bedroom that doubles as a music room stocked with guitars and an amp.
“We wanted to use all aspects of the Virgin brand including our musical legacy, elements of Virgin Galactic and inspiration from Richard Branson’sNecker Island,” said Jamie Douglas, senior product design manager for Virgin Voyages, according to the brand’s website. “The idea was to consider Sailor needs and comforts and create suites that were social, inspirational and relaxing so that they wanted to spend time in them.”
Entertainment was another area where Virgin plans to disrupt the conventional cruise model with the goal of getting guests out of their seats and taking part in the shows. The Events & Gigs team creates ever-changing original productions in The Manor and The Red Room, a multi-form theater that transforms into different configurations to create new entertainment experiences each day.
Every Scarlet Lady sailing will include a stop at The Beach Club at Bimini, an exclusive day resort not far from the pier that channels Ibiza and St. Tropez, blending decadence with health and wellness on a white sand beach with crystalline turquoise waters. A variety of watersports and beach activities are available or you can just swing in a hammock sipping a rum drink. Guests can start the day with yoga and meditation then progress to DJ-led pool parties and chill out at the end of the night by a beach bonfire.
Beach Club dining is included, as is food in any of the ship’s more than 20 eateries, such as Test Kitchen. Designed by Concrete Amsterdam, the restaurant’s lab-like environment encourages guests to contemplate the form, function, and elements of food.
As top luxury cruise lines have moved to all-inclusive models, Virgin is taking a more-inclusive approach that includes dining, group fitness classes, Wi-Fi, basic non-alcoholic beverages, and gratuities. But you can expect a bill for cocktails and fancy drinks.
“At Virgin Voyages we are going beyond just great design, to defy and redefine luxury to be rebellious luxe,” said Tom McAlpin, president and CEO for Virgin Voyages, in a press release announcing the opening of sales. “This new luxury is about knowing you are taken care of, that you’re never being nickel and dimed, and what you want, even some of the things you didn’t know you wanted, are already taken care of for you.”
