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Virgin Voyages' First Ship Will Feature the Sea's Swankiest Suites

Jan. 16, 2019
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3 min read
Massive Suite terrace (day)
Virgin Voyages' First Ship Will Feature the Sea's Swankiest Suites
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Ahoy, matey! Richard Branson's iconic Virgin brand is taking to the high seas.

Virgin Voyages is wrapping up the final touches on its first cruise ship, the Scarlet Lady, scheduled to set sail sometime in Q1 2020. As you might imagine from Virgin's previous endeavors, this won't be your average cruise ship. The Scarlet Lady's design theme is "Rebellious Luxe," designed by acclaimed interior designer Tom Dixon for cruisegoers 18 years of age or older. The common areas of the ship bear a "retro-futurism" theme, according to the Virgin Voyages website, and will include a variety of dining and beverage options from cuisines around the world.

In order to create a more intimate cruise experience, the Scarlet Lady features just 78 "RockStar Suites" in eight different design variations, with fun names such as the self-explanatory Massive Suite, as well as the Fab, Posh, Gorgeous, Brilliant, Cheeky, Sweet Aft and Seriously Suites. Some have hammocks, others have living rooms and a catamaran net for stargazing, while others yet have outdoor Jacuzzis. Regardless of details, each suite comes replete with a sea terrace. And in keeping with the "rockstar" theme, each suite also boasts a gold-plated vinyl record player and a number of classic records.

All suite occupants will also have access to a variety of VIP services, which include access to a personal assistant, private transportation to and from the cruise ship, a personal wardrobe team to help guests pack and unpack, complimentary pressing service, nightly express swimsuit drying service and exclusive early access to on board entertainment and restaurants.

Virgin's attention to detail carries over on land as well. Virgin Voyages is also building a brand new cruise terminal to house the Scarlet Lady, which will be completed sometime in late 2019. The brand hired the same design firm that brought to life the American Airlines center in Downtown Dallas as well as the Miami City Ballet in South Beach.

As of now, Virgin Voyages has released very little additional information regarding future Scarlet Lady cruises, including costs and exact launch date. However, the brand website features a cheeky FAQ as well as a small pop-up banner encouraging interested travelers to submit their email addresses for details as soon as they're revealed — as well as the chance to win a cruise for two.

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All photos courtesy of Virgin Voyages.

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Apply for American Express® Gold Card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees
Best for dining at restaurants

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TPG Editor‘s Rating
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  • Intro Offer

    As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.

  • Annual Fee

    $325

  • Recommended Credit

    Excellent to Good

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.