Virgin Cruises could be sailing from a cruise port near you according to this Sky News article. According to the article, “Virgin Group has appointed the US-based corporate advisory firm Allen & Co to oversee the development of a cruise operation that would eventually aim to compete with industry giants including Carnival Corporation.” The article went on to say that the company has entered discussions to raise $1 billion to finance its first ships.
I have to admit that I like the trendiness of Virgin America, the fancy lighting, and the boarding music. Heck, I think I’d even like boarding a ship decked out in a similar decor. I’m sure a Virgin branded cruise company would bring some innovation to the space, certainly a little buzz. However, with a lot of new builds in the pipeline by the major cruise companies with their own trendy themes, I have to wonder if this kind of venture has legs? It will be interesting to watch.
How about you? Interested in setting sail on a Virgin Cruises ship?
-MJ, March 3, 2014
No Fly Zone does raise one point that could be interesting – a cruise line that is less about the floating resort and more about transportation service “if/when I patronize Sir Richard, it will be to reach point B…” I know there’s a cruise line in Europe that allows you to pick up the ship in one location and disembark in another, but I don’t think anything like that operates in the Caribbean. That would be different niche, and if there’s one thing Sir Richard likes – it’s a different niche. It would be cool to get off the ship in Santorini, stay for a few days, and then pick up another ship for Mykonos. Something nicer than ferry travel, but more along the lines of that concept.
He is spearheading commercial travel to space, so I’m guessing his take on cruise ships might include a feature that allows you to see under the water.
If there is one commodity that the world does not need more of, I think it is cruise ships. I know that you and Mrs. MJoT apparently enjoy riding boats in circles, nasty GI diseases, tight quarters and the concentrated odors of 2-3-5 thousand other souls, let alone McSail quality food for the masses, but no. Hell No! If/when I patronize Sir Richard, it will be to reach point B., escape from those four thousand hourly ‘wind breaks’ and walk/climb/camp in a place where we are responsible for our own food, probably sleep in a sack of some kind and do not have to reserve ‘wind loss’ for the passageway. in short, NO!
Still working on contracting/experiencing all those things you describe….. 🙂