(CNN) — Whenever you step into the Scarlet Woman cruise ship, instantly you’re on Richard Branson’s ship.
There’s a document retailer on the left promoting restricted version Intercourse Pistols and Woman Gaga on vinyl. The crew has cooler outfits than you. And there may be pink, pink, pink all over the place — lest you overlook this can be a Virgin-branded endeavor.
Then there may be Branson himself, again from house and becoming a member of his government group in New York Metropolis to point out off Virgin Voyages first ship earlier than it begins crusing from Miami on October 6.
With out children splashing about, the ship’s pool space goals for well-being and tranquility.
Channon Hodge/CNN
The 1,408-cabin ship is hip, alternating luxurious with an informal vibe that beckons visitors to come back as they’re in the event that they occur to be very cool varieties of individuals. The adults-only ship has luxurious gold fixtures and bannisters, ultrachic, boutique-sized eating places and double chaise loungers completely all over the place that appear destined for visitors who need to canoodle the day away.
Richard Branson, Paris Hilton and Tom McAlpin on the Virgin Voyages Scarlet Woman Showcase in New York Metropolis.
Courtesy Virgin Voyages
Every little thing on the cruise ship screams, “This isn’t a cruise ship!” And that’s as a result of Branson stated he hated the concept of ever being on one.
“Earlier than I began Virgin Atlantic, I didn’t fancy flying on different individuals’s airways as a result of they had been stuffy, not enjoyable,” Branson instructed CNN Journey from one of many ship’s Rockstar suites. “That’s the right time to enter enterprise and [ask] may we create the sort of cruise firm that myself, my household and buddies would like to go on?”
Floating nightclub
The ship’s “Purple Room” is an immersive theater.
Channon Hodge/CNN
That apparently means having guitars and turntables at hand within the two premium “Huge” suites, peekaboo showers in lots of the cabins so that you by no means must lose sight of your family members and Richard’s Rooftop — a personal bar and cocktail space for visitors (or “sailors” as they’re referred to as) who’ve sprung additional for suites.
Amongst different issues, they designed the Manor, a nightclub you enter it by the use of an enormous tunnel drenched in stars. The Purple Room house, an immersive theater, has a stage that strikes round so audiences can work together and a vivid neon signal on the wall that claims, “If you wish to dance, dance! In the event you can’t see one thing, transfer! If you’d like a drink, seize a drink!”
The Scarlet Woman’s “well-being pool.”
Courtesy Virgin Voyages
There’s no huge eating corridor or buffet, no neon amusement rides and no cruise director right here. As a substitute, ship actions and “happenings” are run by employees who’re specialists at what they do; exercise with actual health gurus, play video games with actual avid gamers and dine with avowed foodies.
The Virgin group did, nevertheless, embody some main cruise trade veterans comparable to Frank Weber, senior vp of lodge operations. Weber couldn’t assist however dance via the hallways whereas touring the ship for press. He’d had new concepts pent up for almost three a long time whereas working at firms comparable to Norwegian and Royal Caribbean.
“Each time I needed to alter one thing, you needed to bounce via hoops as a result of your loyalty clients say, ‘Oh, I can’t imagine you modified this!’ ” Weber tells CNN Journey. “That is my child, and I’ve put plenty of effort and work and fervour in.”
‘Not your grandma’s cruise’
The Additional Virgin restaurant depends on a snug, trattoria-style Italian ambiance.
Courtesy Virgin Voyages
You don’t get set occasions for dinner, and also you received’t be caught at massive tables with visitors you don’t know (except you ask to be.)
The ship has greater than 20 eateries, together with a vivid, open meals corridor. You can even dine at one of many six specialty eating places any time you need; simply add your self to the wait listing, and an app tells you when your desk is prepared.
Have an Unattainable burger whereas sipping an quaint topped with salty-sweet popcorn at Razzle Dazzle, dwelling of the drag brunch. Play Korean consuming video games at Gunbae whereas grilling your meals proper in entrance of you. Or go high-end and order a seafood tower at The Wake.
It’s all a part of your bundle, and there aren’t any upcharges to your eating selections. Ideas are included. Weber factors out that on a standard cruise ship, all of the meals typically comes from one central galley, however that’s certainly one of many ways in which cruising has misplaced its approach. However Scarlet Woman goes for authenticity.
“Every restaurant has their very own kitchen,” says Weber. “Every restaurant has their very own government chef, which is costlier than doing it in different methods, however you enhance the standard.”
The ship’s Pink Agave Mexican restaurant and serves all kinds of mezcals.
Courtesy Virgin Voyages
Virgin executives admit this type of made-to-order particular person consideration goes opposite to regular cruise trade considering the place meals are mass produced so a ship’s 1000’s of visitors can all eat on time.
“It’s harder on the employees …” Branson begins to say.
“However that’s what makes us so completely different,” finishes Tom McAlpin, CEO of Virgin Voyages who sits beside Branson. “These are the kinds of issues that say — this isn’t your grandma’s cruise.”
Tattoos at sea
Fits function personal solar loungers and an out of doors terrace sofa.
Courtesy Virgin Voyages
Virgin Voyages appears to be doing all it could to enchantment to that youthful, discerning crowd.
Like many new cruise ships, they’ve made Scarlet Woman environmentally pleasant. The engine converts warmth waste into electrical energy, and so they shun single-use plastics. Many components come from sustainable or native Florida sources. The espresso is from Intelligentsia, an organization that depends on “direct commerce” over “truthful commerce,” that means it ensures farmers a minimal value for crops.
Leisure is “select your individual journey” and paying homage to some sizzling new factor you couldn’t snag tickets to in New York or London. There’s a participatory evening present referred to as “By no means Sleep Alone” run by a intercourse therapist, a collection of performs that pop up all through the ship referred to as Phantom Folktales and in 2022 a brand new manufacturing, “One other Rose” by Randy Weiner, who created “The Donkey Present” and “Sleep No Extra.”
There’s the standard on line casino and purchasing, however Weber stated the tattoo parlor was booked up through the ship’s UK run (should have been easy crusing.)
McAlpin says he would adore it if Scarlet Woman confirmed a bigger market that there’s a “new strategy to cruise” however says Virgin Voyages shouldn’t be essentially centered on wooing youthful crowds. They’re going after people who find themselves rather a lot like Richard Branson.
The Web on the Athletic Membership is a suspended, comfy netting with a view of the ocean under.
Courtesy Virgin Voyages
“We’re actually specializing in the young-at-heart, individuals who need to come have time,” says McAlpin. “They don’t need all that formality however nonetheless need luxurious … and luxurious your approach.”
Scarlet Woman begins formally crusing on October 6 with journeys via the Caribbean, stopping at Virgin’s personal seaside membership in Bimini (within the Bahamas).
Cabins vary from $725 to $5,875 and had been nonetheless promoting as of September 18. Virgin Voyages plans on launching the second of its 4 deliberate ships, Valiant Woman, in 2022, which is able to sail all through the Mediterranean.
High picture credit score: Virgin Voyages
