Virgin Cruises is now Virgin Voyages

Virgin Cruises Sets Sail Under New Name: Virgin Voyages

Cruise News – October 18, 2016

At a press conference today in Miami Beach, Virgin Group founder, Sir Richard Branson, revealed a change in name from Virgin Cruises to Virgin Voyages as the new identity for the company’s new cruise line.

The event, which was held at the Faena Hotel Miami Beach, kicked off with a theatrical performance as Sir Richard appeared with two performers who danced on deck chairs in front of an audience of international news media, Miami politicians, and business leaders.

Joined by Virgin Voyages president and CEO, Tom McAlpin, the duo also announced that they have officially signed the shipbuilding contract for three vessels with Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri and that the company expects the multibillion-dollar financing package for the purchase of its three ships to be finalized shortly.

Sir Richard expressed Virgin Voyages’ commitment to “change cruising for good,” adding that he never really wants to go on a cruise — he wants to go on a voyage. After taking into account the feedback from thousands of potential guests who shared their thoughts via the company’s website and social media, the Virgin Voyages’ brand will be: “a departure from the ordinary, bold, romantic, glamorous, all about you, and not just about getting from point A to point B.”

Virgin Voyages also announced it’ll be the first major cruise line to partner with Climeon, a world-renowned clean energy innovator. Virgin will install Climeon Ocean, a system that will transform low-grade energy into clean electricity, on all three of its ships. The resulting environmental impact will be an estimated 5,400 tons of carbon dioxide savings annually per ship — an amount that would take 180,000 trees 30 years to absorb.

As previously announced last year, Virgin Voyages’ first ship will arrive at PortMiami in 2020 to offer a range of Caribbean itineraries “to ports that deliver unique and very social experiences.” Two subsequent ships will follow in 2021 and 2022. All three midsized ships will carry 2,700 guests and 1,150 crewmembers. For the first ship, Virgin Voyages will offer a range of Caribbean itineraries to ports that deliver unique and very social experiences.

No other details about the onboard experience or specific itinerary information have been announced at this point.

^{Photos: Jodi Ornstein, Virgin Voyages (2)}