Virgin Voyages’ first ship, the Scarlet Lady has successfully completed her sea trials. The ship embarked on its first round of sea trials, sailing from Genoa to Marseille from November 15 to 18, and then back from Marseille to Genoa from November 27 to November 30.
Virgin Founder Sir Richard Branson boarded the Scarlet Lady in Marseille, touring the ship with his wife Joan and children Sam and Holly, as well as Virgin Voyages’ CEO Tom McAlpin, Chief Commercial Officer Nirmal Saverimuttu, SVP of Design Dee Cooper and CEO of Virgin Atlantic, Shai Weiss. Branson ceremoniously painted the outline of the Virgin flag on the hull of the ship where the Virgin Voyages logo will appear.
Following sea trials, Virgin Voyages confirms the Scarlet Lady is smooth, stable and quiet, gliding through the water in various weather conditions for a thoroughly enjoyable sailing experience.
In addition to her superior performance, the ship’s interior design and experiential backdrop truly breaks the mold in the cruise industry. Designed to reflect a yacht’s sleek luxury, her interior spaces are curated by a creative collective that includes some of the top names in contemporary aesthetic, offering a chic atmosphere paired with stunning sea views throughout.
“We’re thrilled to have completed such a significant milestone with our sea trials and have our amazing crew to thank for their passion and tenacity in this achievement. We’re one step closer to getting our Sailors on the Scarlet Lady and are grateful for all that have chosen to join us on this adventure,” said Tom McAlpin, Virgin Voyages CEO.
On April 1, 2020 the Scarlet Lady will set sail on her inaugural maiden voyage. This first celebratory sailing will be packed full of celebrity-guest appearances, special events, exclusive surprises and an overall enhanced Virgin Voyages experience for sailors to revel in. Sailors who are unable to join the maiden voyage can book the Sneak-a-Peek sailings now on VirginVoyages.com. The first Sneak-a-Peek sailing will run from Thursday, March 26 – Sunday, March 29. The second sailing will run Sunday, March 29 – Wednesday, April 1. The three-night Sneak-a-Peek Scarlet Lady sailings will feature the ship’s marquee experiences including a stunning day at the Beach Club at Bimini, a Scarlet Night Party, access to all restaurants and complete versions of entertainment offered onboard.
As Virgin Voyages’ first ship prepares for her Maiden Voyage, the brand has also announced their second ship, Valiant Lady. Debuting in May 2021, Valiant Lady will have a home port of Barcelona (Spain) and will sail 7-night Mediterranean itineraries. Bookings for the three feature itineraries, that all offer overnight and late-night stops across some of the hottest destinations in France, Italy and Spain, will open December 19, 2019.