Virgin Voyages launches new adults-only cruise ship

(CNN) — Virgin Voyages aimed to disrupt the cruise trade when it launched Scarlet Woman, its first adults-only cruise ship, final yr.

Now Richard Branson’s cruise line is premiering its subsequent providing: Valiant Woman.

This 278-meter lengthy vessel can accommodate 2,770 passengers, and holds the same old cruise facilities — like a pool deck — over its 17 decks, together with barely much less standard choices — like a tattoo parlor.

“There’s a number of pent-up demand for journey,” he says, including that the constructive response to Scarlet Woman has Virgin assured its sister ship will likely be successful.

On the morning of March 11, Valiant Woman set sail from Essex within the southeast of England to London, the place she’s docked on the London Worldwide Cruise Terminal for launch celebrations. Later, she’ll embark on a UK crusing earlier than heading off to Barcelona. A stint in Australia can be on the playing cards.

Swanky design

Scarlet Woman and Valiant Woman are just about an identical, with their glitzy inside, boutique-hotel vibe and a number of eating places. The one actual distinction is their respective itineraries.

Virgin Voyages’ need their ships to really feel noticeably totally different from conventional vessels. For Captain Marco Carsjens, that was a part of the enchantment of becoming a member of the cruise line.

Helming Valiant Woman is a “pleasure,” says the captain, who has been within the trade for over 25 years.

“I got here from extra historically designed ships, however Virgin Voyages may be very totally different and really fairly on the market from the outside to the inside as compared,” Carsjens tells CNN Journey. “I am enthusiastic about design, so the model utilizing individuals who have by no means labored in ship design earlier than was fascinating and it has labored out nice.”

In addition to his headquarters on the ship’s bridge, which Carsjens calls the “greatest view in the home,” the captain says his favourite on board spot is The Dock, an indoor/out of doors restaurant with solar loungers and sea views.

“The way in which the realm merges from inside to exterior and has a superyacht really feel, I find it irresistible,” he says.

A lot was made in regards to the cruise line interesting to individuals who’ve by no means cruised earlier than when Virgin Voyages first launched.

There is no requirement to decorate up for dinner. There’s the aforementioned tattoo parlor. There are pop-up leisure occasions. There are a number of eating places reasonably than one massive eating corridor with a buffet.

Nonetheless, Saverimuttu is eager to emphasize that Virgin Voyages goals to enchantment to the veteran cruiser as a lot because the beginner. He provides that the cruise line is trying to cater to individuals of all ages.

British cruise blogger Emma Le Teace, who runs the weblog Emma Cruises, voyaged on Scarlet Woman final summer time.

“Previous to my Virgin Voyages cruise, I had heard so much about how totally different the cruise line was. Virgin had been concentrating on a brand new cruise market and this left me questioning if present cruisers would really like the product,” she tells CNN Journey.

“Virgin undoubtedly do have some issues that set them aside from different cruise strains such because the included WiFi and mushy drinks however I discovered the leisure and ship to be pretty just like that which I might discover on different cruise strains.”

Total Le Teace tells CNN Journey she was impressed by how Virgin appeared to take heed to buyer suggestions.

She’d been uncertain in regards to the changing mattress which doubles up as a sofa, however upon boarding was happy to study the mattress solely transformed to sofa on request. It was additionally “very comfy.”

“I really feel as if Virgin listened properly to the suggestions that their clients have given them and I count on them to do properly sooner or later,” she says.

Trying to the longer term

Launching a cruise line in the midst of a pandemic is not any imply feat.

“It is no secret that Omicron had a big effect on the journey trade in December and for January, individuals had been pulling again on near-term journey plans — and we did see that in our bookings as properly,” says Saverimuttu.

However as Omicron wanes in Europe and the US, Saverimuttu is assured a nook has been turned. There’s been an uptick in bookings, he says, suggesting vacationers are assured to cruise once more.

Virgin Voyages says it should proceed to implement Covid security protocol — everybody on board Scarlet Woman and Valiant Woman is required to be vaccinated, and the cruise line says it additionally checks friends earlier than boarding.

Saverimuttu stresses that the cruise line hasn’t hasn’t had any main points by way of Covid-19 associated sicknesses on board. He stated Virgin’s vaccination necessities will decrease the influence of any outbreak on board.

As for the longer term, Saverimuttu says Virgin Voyages is worked up about opening up its journey schedule as Covid restrictions ease — Valiant Woman is ready to sail from Australia later this yr.

The cruise line’s third as-yet-to-be-launched ship, Resilient Woman, will launch later this yr, whereas Virgin has a fourth vessel scheduled for 2023.