Businessman Richard Branson is sailing into new waters as he launches his first cruise liner. Called the Scarlet Lady, this luxury adults-only cruise liner is docked at the Port of Dover in England, and will enter operations in April.
Its main trips will go to the Caribbean, via a base in Miami.
‘The Scarlet Lady is truly special and we’ve worked with some of the world’s most sought-after designers, artists and architects to craft an extraordinary experience,’ Branson said at the ship’s media launch last week. ‘I have dreamed of starting my own cruise line since I was in my 20s and I’m thrilled that moment has arrived.’
The cruise ship will feature a striped drinking spot called Razzle Dazzle, as well as a Korean eatery called Geonbae and a tattoo and piercing parlour called Squid Ink.
The ship also features 78 luxury RockStar Suites. These include 15 Mega RockStar Suites, which are further divided into Massive, Fab, Posh and Gorgeous Suites. Prices for those come in at around $19 000 per cabin, while the cheapest cabins start from around $1 600 for three- and four-day stays.
The Scarlet Lady is the first of three planned ships from Virgin Voyages, the cruising arm of Branson’s empire. Two more are due for launch in 2021 and 2022.
The vessel weighs 60 000 tons, according to the Virgin Voyages website. It stretches 278 meters long and is 38 meters wide. As there are 1 430 cabins, it will carry more than 2 770 passengers and 1 160 crew members.
