Sir Richard Branson has given sailors a behind-the-scenes glimpse at Virgin's first cruise ship Scarlet Lady.
The business mogul took a tour of the ship, one of the most highly-anticipated new cruise ships for 2020 , as she successfully completed her first sea trials, sailing from Genoa to Marseille in November and then vice versa at the end of the month.
During the visit, where he was joined by wife Joan and their children Sam and Holly, Richard painted the first red outline of the Virgin flag on the hull of the ship, where the Virgin Voyages logo will appear.
Tom McAlpin, Virgin Voyages CEO, said: "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."
Want to get a first look for yourself? Virgin Voyages will be offering a series of 'Sneak a Peek' sailings in the days leading up to Scarlet Lady's maiden voyage - you can find out more and book on the Virgin Voyages website .
There's no denying that passengers (or as Branson calls them, sailors) won't have quite the traditional cruise experience on board.
Instead, they can expect the likes of vegan menus, drag-inspired brunches , rockstar-themed suites , and even an onboard tattoo parlour .
One particular highlight includes a 220 square foot area of triple netting where guests can lay out and soak up the rays, right above the ocean and the decks below.
In total she will boast a length of just over 277m and a gross tonnage of 110,000. As for the itineraries, the ship will sail from Miami to the Caribbean all year round.
Scarlet Lady isn't the only ship in the Virgin Voyages fleet. In fact, the cruise line recently revealed its second ship will be called Valiant Lady , and is set to make her debut in May 2021.
Homeporting in Barcelona, the new ship will sail on a host of seven-night itineraries across the Mediterranean.
