Virgin Voyages finally is starting up cruises out of Miami after more than a year of delays
The much-awaited start to Virgin Voyages sailings out of Florida finally is at hand.
After a series of delays that pushed back its worldwide debut by more than a year, the much-ballyhooed new cruise brand backed by Richard Branson today will kick off its first sailing with paying passengers from Miami -- its initial base for North American operations.
The four-night voyage will take place on the line's first ship, the 2,770-passenger Scarlet Lady, and feature calls at Nassau in the Bahamas and at the Bahamian island of Bimini.
It'll be the first Virgin Voyages sailing anywhere in the world other than a brief series of short trips out of Portsmouth, England, in August that were available to U.K. residents only.
Originally scheduled for early 2020, the debut of Virgin Voyages has been one of the most anticipated cruise industry events of the past few years.
Since plans for Virgin Voyages (initially called Virgin Cruises) were first announced in 2014, the brand has been promising to shake things up in the cruise world with a lively, adult-focused onboard experience that it has said would be unlike anything else in cruising.
Specifically, the line's ships -- in addition to Scarlet Lady, three more are on order -- have been designed to be fun and hip in a sophisticated, adult-oriented sort of way.
Notably, Scarlet Lady offers lots of stylish, adult-oriented nightspots and bars promising a hopping scene late into the night as well as a tattoo parlor, drag queen brunches and a colorful karaoke lounge. Passengers will be able to shake their phones to have bottles of Champagne delivered to wherever they happen to be standing on board.
Unlike some other cruise lines, Virgin Voyages also is eschewing buffets, dress codes and big Broadway-style theater shows. In place of the latter, the line is promising such entertainment as interactive dance parties, DJ sets, “microplays” and late-night games of dodgeball.
Still, perhaps the biggest differentiation between Scarlet Lady and the cruise vessels operated by the biggest cruise lines is that it doesn't have a single venue designed for children. That's because the ship has been purposely built as a kids-free zone, with no passengers under the age of 18 allowed on board.
While often dubbed the "cruise line for millennials" in media coverage, Virgin Voyages was designed to appeal to not just young adults but older adults who are "young at heart," executives have said recently.
In an interview with TPG last week, Virgin Voyages president and CEO Tom McAlpin said the average age of passengers on Scarlet Lady's first sailings in the U.K. was "in the 50s." Some passengers were in their 60s and 70s, he said.
McAlpin suggested Virgin Voyages was a line for adults of all ages who want to have a good time in an adult-focused atmosphere that isn't full of kids and isn't stuffy or formal.
Related: Why you've got it all wrong if you think Virgin Voyages is just for millennials
“I can have a more cool, hip pool party without screaming kids,” McAlpin said, explaining the no-kids policy. “I can get in the elevator without kids getting in there and pushing all the buttons, and [the age limit means no] screaming teenagers running down the halls at two o’clock in the morning.”
Virgin Voyages isn't the first cruise line to tout adult-focused ships where no kids are allowed. A handful of other lines such as Viking and the U.K.'s Saga Cruises have similar policies. But those lines offer a more traditional cruise experience aimed at older travelers.
The world's biggest cruise lines including Royal Caribbean, Carnival Cruise Line and Norwegian Cruise Line, meanwhile, draw large numbers of families with children and cater heavily to families with such onboard attractions as go-kart race tracks, surfing pools and laser tag courses.
Scarlet Lady initially was scheduled to sail its first “sneak-a-peek” voyages with paying passengers out of Miami in March of 2020. But Virgin Voyages delayed the ship's big reveal party in the city that month after the COVID-19 outbreak was declared a pandemic. It subsequently delayed the vessel's debut five more times.
All of the delays were blamed on COVID-19, which shut down most cruising around the world for more than a year.
Like the debut of Scarlet Lady, the debut of the line's second vessel, Valiant Lady, also was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Originally scheduled to begin sailing this year, it's now on track to begin operating in May of 2022.
Valiant Lady initially will sail seven-night voyages in the Mediterranean out of Barcelona.
Scarlet Lady is scheduled to sail year-round from Miami, offering a mix of four- and five-night voyages to the Bahamas and the Caribbean.
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- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
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| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
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Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.