Virgin Ladies Seen Floating Around Genoa

Over the weekend, Fincantieri floated out the 110,000-ton Valiant Lady from their dry dock near Genoa at their Sestri Ponente yard. The ship was towed to a finishing dock where interior work will be completed. Delivery is currently scheduled for May 2021.

No sooner did Valiant Lady leave the building dock, than a portion of the hull of Virgin's third ship was towed in. It is scheduled for delivery in 2022 and has yet to be given a name.

Valiant Lady is towed out of the dry dock for the first time.

The first section of the Virgin's as-yet-unnamed third ship is towed toward the dry dock at Fincantieri's Sestri Ponente yard.

Photos courtesy of

Smooth Sailing for Scarlet Lady

Virgin Voyages' first ship, Scarlet Lady, has successfully completed two rounds of sea trials, and the interior finishing process is now proceeding.

Virgin founder Richard Branson went aboard the ship to look around in Marseille. You can go with him in the video below

Details appeared in the December 5 edition of Cruise News Daily.

They Will Have No Stripes but They Will Have Red Sneakers

Virgin Voyages is out to change as much as they can about cruises to appeal to non-cruisers. Since they call their passengers “sailors,” they wouldn’t want their crew members to look like sailors or even just crew members, so stuffy old uniforms that other cruise lines give their shipboard employees just wouldn’t do.

Instead Virgin has hired maverick British fashion designer Gareth Pugh to design their uniforms. There will be no epaulets or stripes. Instead, look for touches such as custom red unisex sneakers by PLAE.

The complete story appeared in the September 13 edition of Cruise News Daily. 

Photos courtesy of Virgin Voyages. All rights reserved. May not be copied or used without express permission. 

Spice-y Video

Former Spice Girl Geri Horner has made a video with Richard Branson to promote Virgin Voyages' Rock Star Suites.

In the video, Horner is giving the Mega Rock Star Suite the mega rock star test.

Details appeared in the June 21 edition of Cruise News Daily. 

What's Wrong with South Dakotans?

It's less than a year until Virgin Voyages sails their first cruise, and they've been taking reservations for several months. But they noticed something odd. They have reservations from across the USA - from every state in the union. It seems everyone is just waiting for the day Scarlet Lady will set sail - except people from South Dakota. They have no reservations from anyone in South Dakota. No one.

Details appeared in the May 30 edition of Cruise News Daily. 

Other Things You'll Want to Know - May 9, 2019

CND subscribers also read about:

• MSC bringing a new tapas restaurant to North America
• Eight out of ten parents say they feel guilty taking a vacation without their kids. But when their kids were surveyed, it turns out the kids don't mind at all. In fact, they kind of look forward to a little time away from Mom, as can be seen in the video below from Virgin Voyages which will be launching in 2020.

Details appeared in the May 8 edition of Cruise News Daily

Other Things You'll Want to Know - April 5, 2019

CND subscribers also read about:

• Virgin Voyages selecting a spa operator
• O3b launching four more satellites
• A faster and less expensive way for crew members to send money home

Details appeared in the April 5 edition of Cruise News Daily. 

Virgin Will Be the Cruise Line You Hear

Virgin Voyages revealed more of their coming onboard experience this week when they talked about a series of musical connections onboard with Virgin's musical roots.

Virgin Voyages will feature DJ residencies, an onboard record shop and karaoke lounge. They will also have access to top-name live music on select voyages.

The complete story appeared in the March 28 edition of Cruise News Daily. 

Voyage Vinyl aboard Scarlet Lady

Rendering courtesy of Virgin Voyages. All rights reserved. May not be copied or used without express permission.

Virgin's “Private Island”

Holland America has Half Moon Cay. Princess has Princess Cays. And Virgin Voyages will have the Beach Club at Bimini. But unlike other lines, ALL of Virgin's passengers will visit the Beach Club at Bimini.

The new line revealed today each of their cruises will include a call at their private resort on the Bahamian island of Bimini. The line says the Beach Club will rival the best beach clubs in Ibiza and Saint-Tropez.

The complete story appeared in the February 14 edition of Cruise News Daily. 

Renderings courtesy of Virgin Voyages. All rights reserved. May not be copied or used with express permission. 

The Lady Floats

Virgin Voyages' Scarlet Lady touched water for the first time today when Fincantieri started the float out process at the Sestri Ponente yard near Genoa.

Interior work will now begin, and the ship is still on track to be delivered at the beginning of 2020.

Details appeared in the February 8 edition of Cruise News Daily. 

Virgin Says Where They're Going

In the first of a pair of announcements today in anticipation of the opening of sales next week for their 2020 inventory, Virgin Voyages partially detailed Scarlet Lady's itineraries by revealing their ports of call.

The line said the ship would initially operate four- and five-night cruises from Miami.

Details appeared in the January 31 issue of Cruise News Daily. 

No More Sitting on the Bed

In the second of a pair of announcements today, Virgin Voyages revealed what their cabins will be like, and yes, they use the word “cabin.” The centerpiece will be their exclusive Seabed.

The complete story appeared in the January 31 issue of Cruise News Daily.

Renderings courtesy of Virgin Voyages. All rights reserved. May not be copied or used without permission.

Sail Like a Rock Star

Rock Stars are known for living large. Since Virgin Voyages wanted to convey the message that you are living large in their top-of-the-line suites, they will be called RockStar Suites, and you will indeed be living large aboard Scarlet Lady in these huge, well-appointed suites.

The complete story appeared in the January 16 edition of Cruise News Daily. 

One of the Massive RockStar Suites aboard Scarlet Lady 

Rendering courtesy of Virgin Voyages. All rights reserved. May not be copied or used without express permission. 

Virgin Expands in Miami

Virgin Voyages had two big announcements for South Florida this week.

In deployment news, the line said their first ship, Scarlet Lady, will continue to sail from Miami to the Caribbean throughout 2021. They went on to say that the company's second unnamed ship will also sail from Miami during the 2021/2022 fall and winter season.

Virgin also announced plans to build a new terminal at Port Miami on its northwest side.

Details appeared in the November 29 issue of Cruise News Daily.

Virgin's new terminal at Port Miami

Rendering courtesy of Virgin Voyages. All rights reserved. May not be copied or used without express permission.

Virgin Expands Fleet and Begins to Say Where They Will Go

Fincantieri said today Virgin Voyages had contracted for a fourth vessel for their fleet to be delivered at the end of 2023.

This ship will be a 110,000-ton sister to the first three, carrying 2,800 passengers (double occupancy), which will be delivered beginning in 2020.

If that wasn't enough news, this afternoon, Virgin said that during their first season, in 2020, Scarlet Lady will feature Havana on its Caribbean itinerary.

Details appeared in the October 31 edition of Cruise News Daily. 

It's Time to Put Some Skin in the Game

Virgin Voyages promised to be different. So far, things haven't seemed that different. True, they don't call their passengers, passengers. They're sailors. But now this.

You will be able to come home from your Virgin Voyage with a permanent reminder of the trip. You can come home from Scarlet Lady with not only the souvenir drink glass, but also a tattoo from Squid Ink, the partnership of Virgin and one of New York's iconic tattoo brands, World Famous Tattoo Ink.

Details appeared in the October 18 edition of Cruise News Daily.

Squid Ink aboard Scarlet Lady

Rendering courtesy of Virgin Voyages. All rights reserved. May not be copied or used without express permission. 

The Lady in Red

The cutting of the first steel for a new ship is always a big deal because it is the very first concrete step in actually building the ship, but visually, there really isn't much to see. Cruise lines, therefore, usually couple it with something else they can announce or show at the same time to garner more attention.

So it came as no surprise when Fincantieri cut the first steel at their Sestri Ponente yard (near Genoa) for Virgin Voyages' second ship, Virgin had some other things they wanted to say and do.

The complete story appeared in the July 20 edition of Cruise News Daily. 

Photos courtesy of Fincantieri. All rights reserved. May not be copied or used without express permission. 

Other Things You'll Want to Know - February 14, 2018

CND subscribers also read about:

• Virgin Voyages settles on a new home
• Seven passengers were removed from a ship after a move you usually only see in old movies

Details appeared in the February 14 edition of Cruise News Daily. 

Fincantieri Lays Virgin Keel and Line Reveals Details

Virgin Voyages made a splash today when Fincantieri laid the keel for the first of their three 110,000-ton ships at their Sestri Ponente yard near Genoa.

The line used the opportunity to reveal some interesting details about the ships and to reveal the first exterior renderings.

Details appeared in the October 31 edition of Cruise News Daily. 

Rendering of Virgin Voyage's stern and livery

Virgin Voyages new livery

Virgin Voyages' logo

Despite everything else, there was a keel laying at the Fincantieri yard. 

Photo courtesy of Fincantieri. Renderings courtesy of Virgin Voyages. All rights reserved. May not be copied or used without express permission. 

 

Virgin Takes First Tangible Step toward Reality

Fincantieri cut the first steel this evening for the first of Virgin Voyage's three 110,000-ton ships on order. The ceremony was held at the company's Sestri Ponente yard near Genoa.

The complete story appeared in the March 22 edition of Cruise News Daily. 

The first steel is cut for the first of three 110,000-ton vessels odered by Virgin.

This is not your typical corporate event. Virgin president and CEO Tom McAlpin (center) holds the ceremonial first cut.

Photos courtesy of Fincantieri. All rights reserved. May not be copied o used without express permission.