Hate Cruises? Richard Branson Wants You to Try Virgin Voyages
Virgin Voyages, the cruise line brain child of Richard Branson, recently unveiled some new, much anticipated details of its first ship's design, in what the company is calling a "ship tease."
Virgin brand of cruise-liners aims "to get people who'd never dream of going on a cruise ship," Branson says. That mission starts with the fact that the Virgin Voyages cruises will be for adult "sailors" only — passengers must be 18 years or older — and is carried through the ship's modern design.
New renderings of the cruise line's first ship, which is expected to be delivered to Port Miami in 2020, show trendy decor from a litany of popular architects and interior designs behind travel hotspots like New York's Standard Highline hotel, citizenM hotels and Amsterdam's hotel Zoku.
The ship's Athletic Club lounge will sport the world's largest day bed at sea and a a 220-square-foot tripled net where passengers can look out into the sea — similar to a catamaran.
The "outdoor lifestyle space," called The Dock, is ambitiously supposed to simultaneously evoke the "chicest seaside lounges in the Hamptons, Ibiza, Bali and beyond."
The ship's exclusive outdoor lounge for suite guests — Richard's Rooftop — has a futuristic vibe.
Renderings also show a glimpse into one of the ship's cabins.
Details on the new ship's dining options have also been released. Pink Agave will be the upscale Mexican option on board with an emphasis on modern decor elements from Design Research Studio.
The other restaurant revealed, dubbed The Test Kitchen, is designed to have a laboratory aesthetic -- complete with beakers and test tubes.
This ship will be Virgin Voyages' first of three it has ordered so far. It's set to take its inaugural sail to the Caribbean sometime in 2020 and is expected to carry 2,700 passengers and 1,150 crew.
No details on the cruise's prices have been released yet.
You can watch Virgin's entire presentation unveiling all of the ship's renderings in the Facebook video below.
All images by Virgin Voyages.
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Delta SkyClub access when flying Delta
- Annual companion ticket for travel on Delta (upon renewal)
- Ability to earn MQDs through spending
- Various statement credits for eligible purchases
Cons
- Steep annual fee of $650
- Other Delta cobranded cards offer superior earning categories
- Earn 100,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $6,000 or more in purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership and an additional 25,000 bonus miles after you make an additional $3,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months, starting from the date that your account is opened. Offer Ends 04/01/2026.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members receive 15 Visits per Medallion® Year to the Delta Sky Club® when flying Delta and can unlock an unlimited number of Visits after spending $75,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Plus, you’ll receive four One-Time Guest Passes each Medallion Year so you can share the experience with family and friends when traveling Delta together.
- Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. and select international locations (as set forth on the Centurion Lounge Website), Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. (see the Centurion Lounge Website for more information on Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge availability), and Escape Lounges when flying on a Delta flight booked with the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card. § To access Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 90 minutes of their departing flight (including layovers). To access The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 3 hours of their departing flight. Effective July 8, 2026, during a layover, Card Members must arrive within 5 hours of the connecting flight.
- Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars with MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $10 in purchases on your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card with MQD Boost to get closer to Status next Medallion Year.
- Enjoy a Companion Certificate on a Delta First, Delta Comfort, or Delta Main round-trip flight to select destinations each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. Delta Basic experiences are not eligible for this benefit.
- $240 Resy Credit: When you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card for eligible purchases with U.S. Resy restaurants, you can earn up to $20 each month in statement credits. Enrollment required.
- $120 Rideshare Credit: Earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month after you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card to pay for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- With your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, receive upgrade priority over others with the same Medallion tier, product and fare experience purchased, and Million Miler milestone when you fly with Delta.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
- $650 Annual Fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees