(CNN) – Virgin Voyages’ first cruise ship with paying passengers on board will depart on Friday, May 6th.
The sophisticated ship Scarlet Lady leaves Portsmouth, England at 7 p.m. local time for a three-day first sailing through Great Britain.
It is the first of Scarlet Lady’s six planned summer trips to the UK, available only to fully vaccinated UK residents over the age of 18. The majority of the crew on board will also be fully vaccinated – 100% of the Virgin crew received at least one dose of vaccination.
The ship is sailing with reduced capacity. Virgin hasn’t confirmed exact numbers but said none of its UK summer trips will exceed 65% capacity.
It seems like a difficult time starting a cruise line on paper – much of the world’s cruise fleet has been suspended for most of last year in the wake of Covid-19, with most ships only recently returning to the US and back Europe.
“Covid came at a bad time when we were in the middle of the start, but we made it through, we have great investors behind us – and now we believe it is an opportune time because now we are when things get going there is a travel boom, “says Tom McAlpin, CEO of Virgin Voyages CNN travel.
‘Superyacht Inspired’
The chic interior of Scarlet Lady from Virgin Voyages.
Courtesy Virgin Voyages
McAplin, who attended the space launch, says Branson’s flight and Scarlet Lady’s launch are both linked by their focus on innovation.
“Every Virgin business is about innovating and finding new ways to do things,” he says.
The 277-meter-long Scarlet Lady ship is said to be “inspired by superyachts” and, as Virgin says, offers a new interpretation of cruise ship design.
There are 1,408 passenger cabins – 93% of which have a sea view – and 813 crew cabins.
For example, the beds of the passengers can be turned into a couch during the day, and each guest room is equipped with the mood lighting typical of Virgin.
“We wanted to create a sophisticated, yet relaxed, adult-only experience on these beautifully designed ships that were inspired by yachts,” said Nirmal Saverimuttu, Chief Commercial Officer of Virgin Voyages, to CNN Travel, adding that the cruise line is designer conscious busy people who have never worked on cruise lines.
British cruise blogger Emma Le Teace who runs the blog Emma cruisesShe toured with Scarlet Lady in early 2020 and says she has mixed feelings about the ship’s design.
“I was excited about the new cruise line and loved some of the concepts like the all-inclusive restaurant and the included WiFi, but felt that Virgin missed the mark on a number of basic cruise design elements,” Le Teace told CNN Travel . Le Teace wasn’t sure about the small pool. She also wasn’t convinced about the convertible beds, which she thought would not work well if shared with a stranger.
However, it was Virgin’s commitment to swim against the current that led Le Teace to book a spot on one of the UK’s summer cruises.
“I look forward to trying a new cruise line, and I look forward to the entertainment and dining of Virgin Voyages on board. I don’t suspect this cruise will be like any other cruise I’ve been on before, and while I think the cruise line will split opinions, that’s what Virgin Voyages has always wanted, “she says.
“Virgin made a conscious effort to differentiate itself from other cruise lines and I am interested to see what cruise traditions they have changed.”
Le Teace, too, initially had concerns about a high price, which has since been reduced. UK cruise prices start at £ 499 ($ 691) for three nights and £ 599 ($ 830) for four nights.
Covid policy
Virgin says the Scarlet Lady’s interior is more inspired by superyachts than other cruise lines.
Courtesy Virgin Voyages
Virgin hopes British travelers will be comfortable aboard the stays, not just because of the design elements but also because of the vaccination policy and other Covid-19 safety measures.
“We require vaccinations for all of our sailors – and our goal is that our entire crew is vaccinated too,” says McAlpin.
Virgin Voyages offers free antigen testing at the terminal. Travelers are also required to complete a health check-up form prior to sailing.
McAlpin says the ship will effectively be its own “bubble” and the “controlled environment” will make it “the safest way to travel”.
Travelers are required to wear masks at the pre-boarding test site, at the port terminal and in shuttle services. On board UK cruises, Virgin Voyages recommends travelers wear a mask when walking around the ship or when unable to maintain social distance.
The crew will be wearing face covers “for the foreseeable future,” McAlpin confirms.
The well-being of the crew is a priority for Virgin, says Saverimuttu, citing free access to WiFi on board and hot drinks as essential.
“We really want to take care of them because they are the basis of our experience.”
In the early days of the pandemic, many ships hit by Covid were turned away from ports and struggled to disembark passengers and crew.
In June 2021, Royal Caribbean and Carnival said CNN Travel that they have made arrangements with ports to act as disembarkation centers when necessary.
McAlpin repeats this.
“The world has accepted the fact that Covid is a reality” to be tackled, he says, but he is also confident that vaccination policies will keep outbreaks at bay.
“The good news is that with the vaccines, even in the unlikely event we have a case or two, it won’t be severe cases that require hospitalization,” says McAlpin. “Still, we have ways to isolate and manage them.”
Contactless payment, virtual lines, and a redesigned buffet were already in preparation for Virgin Voyages’ prepandemic, but the cruise line has doubled those items since Covid.
Carnival responded by introducing a mask requirement for all passengers.
British market
UK cruises do not stop at any port, so guests can instead enjoy the experience on board.
Courtesy Virgin Voyages
Virgin Voyages did not intend to conduct its inaugural voyage from the UK, but McAlpin says the company is pleased to do so.
“The UK is the birthplace of this brand, it’s our spiritual home if you will,” he says.
Great Britain is also a big market for Virgin, says McAlpin.
“We do this to show travel agents and consumers what we have to offer.”
Virgin Voyages is one of several cruise lines offering Staycation cruises this summer including P&O, Disney, MSC Cruises and Royal Caribbean.
Some of the cruise lines dock across the UK, while Virgin’s cruise is a non-stop round trip to Portsmouth.
McAlpin says he’s not worried about the crowded market and says bookings have been popular so far.
Cruise fan Le Teace has already made two cruises in the UK this summer, one through MSC and one with Celebrity Cruises.
“Both were fantastic,” she says.
It was Virgin operating on their doorstep – with prices they thought fair – that ultimately led Le Teace to book a sailing tour.
“I didn’t originally plan to book a cruise on the Scarlet Lady, but when I looked at summer stays, I found that Virgin Voyages cruise prices were similar to other mainstream cruise lines,” she says.
International cruises can now resume in the UK, but Le Teace says she enjoyed experiencing local waters.
“It often happens that we don’t take the time to explore the nearby places and the season of stay has brought me to amazing places on my doorstep. I felt incredibly safe on both cruises as there were plenty of Covid safety measures in place such as vaccine requirements, testing, social distancing and extra cleaning. I felt a lot safer on board the ships than in my daily life on land. “
Photo above: Scarlet Lady arrived in Portsmouth, England prior to her departure on August 6, 2021. (Photo by Strong Island Media)
