Billionaire shipping newcomer Richard Branson’s headline-grabbing entry into the cruise market continued yesterday with Boy George providing the music for a keel laying ceremony marketed under the hashtag ShipTease.
The ceremony at Fincantieri in Italy, which will build Virgin Voyages’ first three vessels, saw Branson in typically flamboyant form.
He dropped from a crane before welding a ceremonial coin onto the hull of the first ship, hull 6287 at the yard.
“We are building the cleanest and best cruise ship to ever set sail,” Branson wrote on Twitter, accompanies by a picture of himself at the shipyard.
Virgin has been drip-feeding information on the vessels and its plans for the cruise sector.
Yesterday, it revealed its first cruises, or voyages to borrow the company’s branding, will be for adults only.
“You must be at least 18 to sail with us. No kidding. See what we did there?” a statement on its website read.
This does not seem set in stone. Tom McAlpin is quoted by the Telegraph to have said: “Anyone who wants to have a fun time is welcome on board.
“At some stage Virgin will also have ships for kids. We’ll have to – I have grandchildren.”
The company also released some fresh images of the ships, the internal details of which have yet to be fully released.
The ships will carry 2,800 guests while “reflecting the craftsmanship and materiality inspired by super yachts,” Conde Nast Traveler quotes McAlpin to have said.
