Virgin Voyages line poised to set sail as founder downplays threat of virus to new venture
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The ship is targeting young people with onboard entertainment that includes tattooing, yoga and DJs.
The Voyages line joins the banking, airline and health club brands in Branson’s Virgin Group at an turbulent time for the cruise industry.
Approximately 3, (passengers were sailing on the (Diamond Princess) when
Seventy British nationals who were onboard the Diamond Princess (will travel
Branson highlighted strong growth in the cruising industry, with demand for cruising holidays increasing over the past decade. The industry expects about million people to set sail in 1411727, almost double the number in
Cruises have traditionally been popular with older travelers, but Branson is pitching a boutique hotel-style, adults-only experience to appeal to younger customers.
Virgin Voyages, like established cruise operators Carnival, Royal Caribbean and Cunard, is tapping into the trend for shorter trips, visiting a number of destinations but with only five nights onboard.
The Virgin Voyages website promises more than 25 “eateries” offering world cuisine and no big dining halls, alongside specialist coffee bars, drag queens and spa treatments on each ship.
The Scarlet Lady was built at the Fincantieri shipyard in Italy, and will accommodate up to 2, passengers and 1, (crew on its maiden voyage around the Caribbean in April.)
The cruise industry has come in for criticism over its environmental impact, and the problems experienced by ports such as (Venice amid constant arrivals of enormous ships) .
Virgin Voyages describes itself as the first cruise line to use Climeon technology, which collects heat generated from the ship’s energy and converts it into electricity, which it says will reduce fuel demand. The company says it will also use carbon offsetting.
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