In an event more resembling a nightclub or rock concert, Virgin Voyages, a new cruise line started by Sir Richard Branson, officially laid the keel of their first cruise ship.
The first of three 110,000 gross ton ships, will have a striking hull design and an insignia of a mermaid holding a Virgin banner.
Sir Richard Branson, Founder of Virgin said:
“We basically decided, ‘Let’s have a blank sheet of paper, let’s create the kind of voyage company that we would like to go on,’ and that’s what we’ve done.”
Virgin Voyages is looking to do things differently. Their ships will have a high guest (or sailors as Virgin is calling them) to crew ratio of 2,800 to 1,150 and their cruises are restricted to guests 18 years of age and older.
The first cruise is planned for sometime in 2020 and Virgin Voyages has started taking open deposits to save your spot on one of the first voyages. It has already been announced that Miami will be the home-port of the first Virgin Voyages ship.
More details are available at virginvoyages.com