Virgin Voyages: cruise ship Scarlet Lady sets sail from Portsmouth for UK sailings – how to get 2022 tickets

Sir Richard Branson has launched his new luxury cruise line with the maiden voyage of Scarlet Lady – the first of four “Lady ships” in a new fleet.

Originally planned to whisk travellers away to exotic destinations including Costa Maya in Mexico, Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic, Key West and The Bahamas in early 2020, the Genoa-built Scarlet Lady was instead berthed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

For its first trips, the new ship will instead be moored in Portsmouth, and embark on six slightly less glamorous sailings around the English Channel.

Here is everything you need to know about it.

What is Virgin Voyages?

Sir Richard’s new high-end endeavour aims to bring the experience of an 18-plus boutique hotel to the sea, on what the company says is the first ship that from “day one” is carbon neutral.

Unlike other cruises children are not allowed on board – it is strictly adults-only – and the Scarlet Lady even features a tattoo parlour for passengers keen for a lifelong reminder of their journey on the high seas.

The new cruise line touts its use of Climeon, a technology that utilises heat generated from the ship’s engines to create electricity, thereby decreasing the demand for fuel.

“The Scarlet Lady is truly special and we’ve worked with some of the world’s most sought-after designers, artists and architects to craft an extraordinary experience,” Sir Richard said in February 2020.

“The benefit of our five decades in business in so many industries is that we can offer a voyage like no other.”

Virgin Voyages says the ship features “dazzling contemporary design” and will “reinvigorate the cruise industry in the same way Virgin Atlantic did for aviation”.

What is the Scarlet Lady like?

The ship features 1,330 cabins, almost all of which come with an ocean view.

On top of the standard accommodation, there are also 78 “RockStar Suites” aboard the Scarlet Lady, which come with marble-clad bathrooms, racks of electric guitars and exclusive stargazing terraces.

In total, the new vessel is designed to carry a total of 2,770 passengers, with 1,150 crew.

Eschewing the set mealtimes of a more ‘traditional’ cruise, food offerings on board include everything from Mexican to ice cream (with basic drinks and all tips included), with celebrity chefs jumping aboard to provide their services.

You can also have champagne delivered anywhere on board at the shake of an app.

Then there are the onboard spas, featuring a room where “sailors can slather themselves in mud” and a custom-built salt therapy chamber, while complimentary group workout classes like sunrise sunset yoga gel with the ship’s “high-energy” nightlife and entertainment.

Tom McAlpin, president and chief executive of Virgin Voyages, said: “With our expansive food and beverage options, beautiful spa, amazing crew and festival-style lineup of on-board entertainment, Scarlet Lady challenges the status quo in every way.

"Not only are we committed to helping our sailors create the most memorable vacation, but we want to provide the safest travel experience possible without compromising on the fun we all deserve.”

How was it affected by Covid-19?

Despite originally planning her maiden voyage in early 2020, Virgin Voyages postponed the ship’s inaugural sailing season due to the emerging Covid-19 pandemic, which forced cruise companies to cancel trips as coronavirus continued to spread.

The company said at the time that there had been “no health concerns” aboard the new vessel, and the decision to postpone was made proactively.

A new date for a maiden voyage was pencilled in for 7 August 2020, but the revised plans were also unable to take place safely.

The pandemic also necessitated Virgin Voyage’s ‘Voyage Well’ health plan,

On top of a uniquely designed HVAC system that pumps fresh air through the new ship's public spaces and cabins to effectively remove recirculated air, Virgin Voyages also invested in the installation of a 100 per cent fresh air ‘bow to stern’ purification system that disinfects air on board.

The health plan also includes rapid Covid-19 testing for all sailors and crew prior to embarking, pre-boarding health checks and screenings, the management of overall ship occupancy so appropriate physical distancing is possible across all public spaces, and the leveraging of digital onboard technology to limit physical contact.

How do I get tickets for 2022?

To find tickets for upcoming voyages on board Scarlet Lady, head to Virgin Voyages’ website.

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