Virgin Voyages has revealed a first look at some exterior public spaces and interior designs for its first ship. Inspired by the brand’s design concept – the Modern Romance of Sailing – Virgin Voyages has curated a ‘Creative Collective’ featuring some of the world’s leading interior design firms, none of whom have ever designed for the cruise industry before.
Virgin Voyages is on a mission to redefine a sea vacation and create an “Epic Sea Change For All”. Inspired by the company’s design concept – the Modern Romance of Sailing– Virgin and its design partners have dreamed up eye-catching, intimate and alluring spaces that are well-styled, distinct and reflective of the dynamic experience the company wants to bring to their future sailors.
Beginning with Scarlet Lady‘s top deck, Richard’s Rooftop designed by Tom Dixon’s Design Research Studio will be an exclusive chic outdoor lounge reserved for the ship’s suite guests.
Richard’s Rooftop is a private club that features a futuristic aesthetic with circular loungers, giant umbrellas and accents of dichroic glass that will cast shadows of rainbow reflections across the outdoor lounge.
Heading inside the ship, Tom Dixon’s famed void lighting will adorn the entryway to Pink Agave, the ship’s upscale modern Mexican restaurant designed by Design Research Studio.
Electric blue metallic lighting fixtures will cascade from the ceilings above oversized banquets that line the dining room’s portholes. An elongated curved lounger centers the room with round tables for two offering an intimate dining experience. The upscale restaurant will feature a bar area in the foyer and a private dining room for larger groups.
Known for their eye-catching designs for hotels like The Standard Highline in New York City, the Roman and Williams design firm were chosen to design The Manor, the signature nightclub for Virgin Voyages.
Inspired by Richard Branson’s history in the music industry and his first ever Virgin music studio of the same name, the dance music fueled space has been expertly outfitted with details, platforms and corners that make it both somewhere to see and to be seen. With emerald, aubergine undertones and gold accents The Manor will bring glitz and glamour to sea.
Roman and Williams are also the masterminds behind The Dock, an outdoor lifestyle space with a focus on relaxation, socializing and an appreciation of the gorgeous views the ship provides.
Located on the very aft of the ship on deck 7, The Dock is reminiscent of the chicest seaside lounges in the Hamptons, Ibiza, Bali and beyond. The inspiration behind The Dock was to create a space where by day, the sun, sea and sailing are the stars of the show and a cold beverage, a book and the view are the perfect companions, a place where sailors can lose themselves in serenity and the day can seamlessly turn into night.
Back atop of the ship, relaxation and adult-play will meet yachting glamour at the Athletic Club, an outdoor lounge that celebrates traditional nautical elements designed by Concrete Amsterdam.
Known for incorporating emotion and a bit of eccentricity in their designs – the team at Concrete Amsterdam are behind hotels like citizenM and hotel Zoku – Concrete Amsterdam has designed the largest daybed at sea. Their white and red striped semi-circular lounger will be the perfect spot on board for sunbathing or star gazing.
Adjacent to the daybed is a 220 square foot area of triple netting where sailors can layout and overlook the open space and decks below, as if they were sailing on a catamaran. The Athletic Club expands across both sides of the aft of the ship with 10 cabanas overlooking the ocean with beverage service from the adjacent bar.
Concrete Amsterdam’s human-centric approach will nudge sailors to focus on the form, function and elements of food at the Test Kitchen restaurant. Concrete Amsterdam designed the restaurant with an inviting entryway with lighting fixture images that mimic the periodic table. The Test Kitchen’s laboratory-like environment is accented by metallic furniture, sleek clean lines and of course the finishing touches of beakers, test tubes and volumetric flasks.
The remaining onboard public spaces and cabins designed by the Virgin Voyages’ interior design Creative Collective will be revealed throughout the year as a part of the brand’s continuation of its #shiptease series.
Virgin Voyages currently has three ships under order with master shipbuilder Fincantieri. The first ship will arrive at PortMiami in 2020 for her inaugural sailing season, where she will sail to the Caribbean hosting more than 2,700 sailors and 1,150 amazing crew from around the world.