Anticipation has been building for years and now Virgin Voyages has officially joined the cruise sector with its first ship, Scarlet Lady.
As Richard Branson himself says: “I pinch myself every day I am on this ship.”
That statement can be applied to all who travel to Dover on what is a very wet and windy day – albeit one with an unquestionable sense of anticipation in the air – as Virgin Voyages unveils its first ship – Scarlet Lady – to UK media and partners.
As I soon discover, Dover is red for the day. Today, it is Virgin Voyages’ kingdom.
This kingdom’s heart is Scarlet Lady, which has generated countless headlines since the company first announced its decision to enter the cruise market.
Part of the excitement has come from the fact that Virgin Voyages has not been shy in its attempts to differentiate itself from other lines and ships on offer.
From changing the cruise vocabulary – travel agent partners are First Mates and guests are Sailors, for example – to creating the first tattoo parlour at sea, this is a line is taking preconceived ideas and trying to shake them up – the Virgin way, as associate vice-president of international sales, Shane Riley, tells me.
The line is all about redefining, changing and generally going its own way. There’s a rock ‘n’ roll and punk essence to all of this. An apt description is that this ship is an Instagrammer’s dream.
Living like a rock icon
This leads me to the Rockstar suites. Accommodation that promises guests the chance to live like rock royalty has plenty to live up to. As a rocker and occasional headbanger, I certainly appreciate the very simple touches such as guitars on the wall. And the vibrant colours – very jazzy indeed.
The true rock lifestyle comes to the fore in the Mega Rockstar Suites. There’s access to a hair and makeup squad, faster wifi, a peek-a-view outdoor shower and the use of what’s called a Rockstar Agent, tending to every whim, no matter how big or small. Perfect for every diva – including me.
Unfortunately, my Central Sea Terrace cabin does not hit the same heights in terms of space and added extras, as I fully expected before embarking, and is a bit hit and miss – hit on the stylish vibe and hammock on the balcony, but a miss on storage space and size of the bathroom.
The likes of The Manor nightclub and Red Room are great spaces to really party the night away – as a few hardy souls do following dinner – but the thought and imagination that has gone into these areas can be counterbalanced by the pool, which is too small for a ship of this size.
Then there’s the already-famous tattoo parlour – Squid Ink – which is the first of its kind on the sea. Despite repeated attempts from colleagues to take the plunge and book myself in for some artwork, I’m just not brave enough.
Will it work? Well, areas such as the tattoo parlour won’t appeal to everyone, but then again Virgin Voyages has been unashamedly honest in who it is targeting – an adult-only, party-loving clientele.
I, for one, can see quite a number opting to get inked (as Branson himself will do when onboard for his 70th birthday) while cruising the Mediterranean or Caribbean; if for the novelty factor, alone.
Shake that thing
Speaking of itineraries, Scarlet Lady sets sail on its inaugural season on 1 April and, as ever, Virgin is enticing guests with a number of initiatives.
There’s the Shake for Champagne app, whereby guests can enjoy a glass of bubbly anywhere on board simply by downloading the Virgin Voyages Sailor App and, when the app is open and ready to go, giving their phones a shake.
As for eating and drinking, Scarlet Lady features more than 20 restaurants and bars. To name just a few, there’s Wake – steak and seafood; Razzle Dazzle – vegetarian fare and a juice bar; The Test Kitchen – part cooking school and part restaurant; Dock – a beach club-inspired area offering Mediterranean dishes; and Gunbae, a do-it-yourself Korean BBQ with communal tables to encourage interaction.
It’s all far too much for me alone to sample on one night on board but those sailing on a longer voyage are in luck, as Virgin does not charge extra to eat at any of the restaurants – a decision taken “to capture the spirit of dining in the best cities of the world and bring it to sea”, according to the company’s president and CEO, Tom McAlpin.
The experience is over in a flash. A fun and slightly surreal 24-hour whirlwind.
Selling tips
- This is the ultimate party at sea and an adults-only ship – great to recommend to clients who really want to get away from the run-of-the-mill routine of everyday life
- New ships are always a good sell, but talk up the fact that every space onboard has been designed to show cruise in a different light and appeal to a slightly younger demographic
- Music fans will love the exclusive DJ sets the line has planned
Details
A five-night Dominican Daze itinerary on Scarlet Lady, calling at the line’s Beach Club at Bimini, departing 28 May 2021, prices from £840pp, virginvoyages.com