Virgin Voyages has officially taken up permanent residency at PortMiami with the opening of their stylish, state-of-the-art new Terminal V. To celebrate this milestone for the new cruise line, Sir Richard Branson, joined by Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava and Virgin Voyages’ CEO Tom McAlpin, made a splash with a memorable ribbon cutting ceremony marked by mermaid aerialists and a grand entrance via Virgin branded electric Moke vehicles.
Sir Richard Branson, founder of the Virgin Group said:
“Coming to this beautiful new terminal and seeing Scarlet Lady in her home port here in Miami has been such an incredible experience. The team at Virgin Voyages has created a stunning building that delivers on our commitment to being better stewards of the earth with its LEED Gold Certification,”
Terminal V, an impressive three-story building on the northwestern corner of PortMiami, offers a unique perspective for cruise passengers with unobstructed skyline views of Biscayne Bay, downtown and Edgewater. Even the terminal’s street address of 718 N Cruise Blvd. is unique as it celebrates Sir Richard Branson’s birthday on July 18.
Virgin Voyages’ CEO, Tom McAlpin said:
“We’ve always strived to turn the ordinary into the extraordinary, and Terminal V gives us greater opportunity to elevate the Sailor experience from the moment you see the AHOY sign to the time you disembark. Scarlet Lady deserves a home as beautiful as she is, and we cannot wait for our Sailors to begin their voyage at Terminal V,”
The geometric design, a palm grove where land meets sea, was inspired by Miami’s iconic palm trees and the area’s historical origins (formerly used for harvesting coconuts). The concept was developed by the award-winning, global architecture and landscape firm Arquitectonica and built from the ground up by Suffolk Construction. Terminal V’s rooftop resembles the edges of a palm canopy with angular cutouts that allow natural light to stream through. Enveloped by more than 1,000 palm trees, Terminal V features soaring floor-to-ceiling windows, natural skylights, and lush indoor landscaping that offers Sailors both a grand and warm welcome on their voyage.
Further inspired by the brand’s design ethos of the “Modern Romance of Sailing,” Terminal V’s interiors give a nod to mid-century design and are punctuated with emerald and ruby jewel tones. The space also incorporates changing LED screens, local artwork by the nonprofit organization Art in Public Places, and an al fresco terrace for Sailors to take in the sea breeze before embarkation. Outside, an expansive “Sail the Virgin Way” sign and dramatic red lighting mirror the city’s lights.
Every Sailor is treated like a RockStar at Virgin Voyages, but for Sailors who’ve booked suite accommodations, they’ll gain access to Terminal V’s VIP entrance, expedited security screening and an exclusive pre-boarding lounge. The new cruise terminal also features a special Crew-only lounge where Virgin Voyages’ team can unwind, further demonstrating the brand’s commitment to creating the best gig ever for its employees. Rounding out the design are designated areas for drop offs, ride sharing and provisioning, all working together to provide a seamless shore-to-ship experience.
Virgin Voyages is committed to preserving the environment, protecting the oceans and fulfilling its mission of creating an “Epic Sea Change for All” and Terminal V is one of the only LEED Gold certified buildings in PortMiami. Materials were meticulously selected with sustainability in mind, from the color of the pavers in the entrance way to the glass. Even the air conditioning and electrical systems were planned to reduce Terminal V’s impact on the planet.
Prior to the opening of Terminal V, Virgin Voyages Miami based ship, Scarlet Lady was using a temporary shared terminal since she started sailing from the port in October 2021. Virgin Voyages Terminal V is completely new construction, and is just one of many new terminals opened in the past couple of years following Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line. Carnival Cruise Line and MSC Cruises are also in the process of constructing new terminals that when completed, will change the look of PortMiami significantly. PortMiami is the busiest cruise port in the world and these new terminals will assist in making the embarkation process more efficiant for cruise passengers.
More details on Virgin Voyages are available at www.virginvoyages.com