Virgin ‘in final throes’ of cruise ship order
Virgin is set to order its first two giant cruise ships within the next few weeks, Sir Richard Branson has told the Telegraph.
Branson told the newspaper Virgin was ‘in the final throes’ of negotiations for the ships, which will be the first for the group.
At the end of last year, Virgin confirmed plans to launch two cruise ships and promised to ‘shake-up’ the cruise market.
The operation will be based in the Miami and Fort Lauderdale area, with the initial focus on the Caribbean.
Tom McAlpin, a former president of Disney Cruise Line, has been appointed chief executive. Most recently he worked for The World, Residences at Sea in the same position.
Virgin said the ships would offer ‘exciting new activities, more choice, great service, and the sense of fun and adventure associated with Virgin’.
Financial backing will come from private equity firm Bain Capital.
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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