Virgin Voyages Debuts Cruise Ship Designed by Tom Dixon and Roman and Williams
Last Friday, British billionaire Richard Branson unveiled his adults-only Virgin Voyages cruise ship in Dover, England, with interiors designed by Tom Dixon and AD100 studio Roman and Williams. The Scarlet Lady heads a quartet of vessels that Branson hopes will herald “the luxe experience of a boutique hotel to the sea,” according to a statement. Built in Genoa, Italy, the cruise liner will be based in Miami and is destined for ports of call around the Caribbean, including Virgin’s private beach club on the Bahamian island of Bimini. Virgin Voyages will follow up with a Barcelona-based vessel scheduled to cruise the Mediterranean Sea next year.
The introduction of Virgin’s fleet arrives as turbulent fears swirl that the new coronavirus is evolving into a global pandemic. The cruise industry in particular has taken a hit, with Carnival and Royal Caribbean Cruises hinting at disastrous effects to profits due to unfavorable headlines. More recently, an attempt to quarantine over 3,700 passengers on a vessel docked in Japan went awry, leading to the virus being spread to noninfected persons onboard.
Still, Branson has his eye on younger holidaymakers, whose interest in going on cruises has spiked in recent years. Virgin’s efforts to appeal to this demographic have manifested in onboard perks like spas and fitness centers (including a running track), a collection of global eateries, and even drag queen performances. Virgin’s Scarlet Lady will host up to 2,770 passengers and 1,160 crew members.
The Scarlet Lady boasts 1,330 cabins and 78 rock-and-roll-themed suites (a nod to Virgin’s heritage in music), the latter designed by Tom Dixon. The RockStar Suites are broken down into eight categories: Massive Suite, Fab Suite, Posh Suite, Gorgeous Suite, Brilliant Suite, Cheeky Corner Suite, Sweet Aft Suite, and the Seriously Suite.
In each, Dixon interprets “life at sea” through a rock-star lens, with nautical hues that reflect the sea and sky; vinyl record players; and, in the two Massive Suites, separate music rooms filled with guitars. Dixon’s signature characteristics, like iridescent mirrors, appear throughout, as well as in Pink Agave, an upscale Mexican cantina he also designed on-ship.
Among the 20-plus dining options on the Scarlet Lady is an alfresco fine-dining spot designed by Roman and Williams, who looked to New York’s The Grill for inspiration. There is also a pizza parlor, a vegan diner, a Korean BBQ, and an Italian trattoria.
Virgin Voyages will also be an industry leader in sustainability. Its vessels will be among the first to adopt Climeon, a technology that generates electricity from residual heat produced from the ship’s engines, thereby decreasing the need for fuel. The Scarlet Lady will tour the Caribbean on its maiden voyage with passengers in April 2020.
Originally Appeared on Architectural Digest
