Virgin to ‘shake-up’ the cruise market
Sir Richard Branson has confirmed plans to launch two cruise ships, promising to ‘shake-up’ the cruise market.
No time frame has been disclosed for the Virgin Cruises venture, but a spokesman said it was a ‘few years away’.
It will be based in the Miami and Fort Lauderdale area, with the initial focus on the Caribbean.
Tom McAlpin Virgin, a former president of Disney Cruise Line, has been appointed chief executive. Most recently he worked The World, Residences at Sea in the same position.
"Cruise guests deserve something better and different to what is being offered today, and Virgin Cruises is committed to creating breathtaking experiences for them and a new generation of guests," said McAlpin.
"Opportunities like this do not come often, so I am very excited to lead this business and introduce the Virgin brand to the cruise industry, as it has always put customers at the heart of what it does."
Virgin said the ships would be ‘brand new, offer exciting new activities, more choice, great service, and the sense of fun and adventure associated with Virgin’.
It added that it would work closely with its airline and tour operator business.
Bain Capital Partners, a New York-based private investment firm, is investing an undisclosed sum in the business.
The Virgin ships have yet to be designed, but no doubt there will be some splashes of red…
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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