Richard Branson, founder of the Virgin Group, has just revealed that Virgin Cruises will launch in 2020 with its first cruise ship based in Miami, Florida. The brand new line has ordered three mid-size vessels to be constructed by Fincantieri, setting sail in 2020, 2021 and 2022 respectively and delivering Virgin’s famous customer service onboard.
“This is a very exciting day for Virgin and travelers around the globe,” said Richard. “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.”
Richard Branson (center right) and Tom McAlpin (center left) (Copyright © Virgin Cruises)
Virgin Cruises’ three entirely new cruise ships will each be about 110,000-gross-tons in size and carry 2,800 guests and 1,150 crew members. Even though potential ship renderings have been floating around the internet recently, no official design has yet been revealed. The first vessel will embark on a variety of seven-day Caribbean cruises departing roundtrip from PortMiami on Sundays.
“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,” said Virgin Cruises’ President and CEO Tom McAlpin. “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.”
Virgin Cruises Logo (Copyright © Virgin Cruises)
In an unprecedented change of pace, Virgin Cruises has launched its website with a form asking travelers for their opinion of what the cruise line should offer. For more information and to submit your ideas, visit Virgin Cruises‘ website here.
HEADER IMAGE SOURCE: VIRGIN CRUISES
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