Sir Richard Branson and Virgin Cruises president and CEO Tom McAlpin raise the flag in Miami (PRNewsFoto/Virgin Cruises)
He’s set up an airline, run a train company and planned trips to space – now adventurer and entrepreneur Richard Branson has launched his own cruise line.
The Virgin boss says he has signed up Fincantieri of Italy to build three mid-size ships, of about 110,000 tons each, to be delivered in 2020, 2021 and 2022. They will have 1,430 cabins for more than 2,800 passengers and carry 1,150 crew. Based at Port Miami, Virgin Cruises plans to offer a range of seven-day Caribbean itineraries, with a Sunday sail date.
Branson, 63, arrived in Miami by helicopter wearing a Virgin red captain’s cap and shorts with a white shirt and announced he had dreamed of building a cruise line for a ‘very, very long time’.
Full steam ahead: Richard Branson yesterday
On the Virgin Cruises website, Branson said: ‘This is a very exciting day for Virgin and travellers around the globe. We now have the right partners in place to build a world-class cruise line that will redefine the cruising experience for good. The Virgin Cruises approach will appeal to cruisers and non-cruisers alike, and we look forward to being in Miami and delivering an experience for people who want a new way to cruise.’
Customers are invited to visit the Virgin Cruises website to share their ideas on what the new cruise line should do.
The company said it would not be issuing any images of the proposed ships yet – what would you like to see on board?