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Richard Branson's Adults-Only Virgin Voyages Announces Third Cruise Ship to Set Sail July 2022

Resilient Lady will host two, 7-night itineraries across the Mediterranean

A third ship will be joining adults-only cruise line Virgin Voyages' fleet next summer, and its name feels like a nod to the cruise industry: "Resilient Lady."

The luxury travel company, headed by billionaire businessman Sir Richard Branson , made the announcement Monday morning, sharing that the ship will have a home port of Piraeus (Athens), Greece, and will host two, 7-night itineraries across the Mediterranean scheduled to begin July 1, 2022.

"Sailing in the Med is such an extraordinary experience, and we're so excited to bring the adventure of a Virgin Voyage to this beautiful place," Branson said in a press release. "I'm so proud of the incredible work the team has accomplished to introduce Resilient Lady."

The first of the two itineraries, the Greek Isles Itinerary, will bring guests on a historical tour through Athens before going island hopping in Santorini, Rhodes, Crete and Mykonos. The second, the Adriatic (with Greek Isles) Itinerary, will sail out of Athens and bring guests to Dubrovnik, Croatia (famous for being a filming location for Game of Thrones ) for a day before sailing to Kotor, Montenegro; Corfu, Greece and Argostoli, Greece.

The company noted that they intentionally chose Monday, which is International Women's Day, to share the big news.

"While the year has been filled with adversity and adaptation for all of us, it's no secret that women have been challenged to rise up more than ever during the pandemic," read the press release. "The introduction of Resilient Lady arrives on the heels of International Women's Day, which is symbolic of the spirit of our Lady Ships and is in celebration of women and their achievements, strength, leadership and resilience."

Virgin Voyages' first ship, Scarlet Lady , was announced in January 2019. It was originally supposed to sail from Miami for the Caribbean starting on April 1, 2020, but is now aiming for a "soft opening" in July 2021, the company tells PEOPLE.

In November 2019, the company announced that their second ship will be named "Valiant Lady," and will sail three itineraries out of Barcelona, Spain, when cruising returns.

RELATED VIDEO: Richard Branson Tours Virgin Voyages Cruise Ship

All three ships will embody Virgin Voyages' unique approach to cruising: Not only will they be adults-only, but they will also be all-inclusive, have unlimited fitness classes, have 20 dining options for guests (and no buffets), will not force guests to wear formal wear and won't have assigned seating or dining times.

They also will boast a "Shake for Champagne" delivery service that will allow travelers on board to summon a glass by simply opening the Virgin Voyages Sailor App and giving their phone a little shake.

The cruise line will also have a "no-tipping" policy , including gratuity in the overall price, to avoid unexpected expenses for guests.

In July 2019, Branson told PEOPLE that he wanted to start his own cruise company because he had never found a cruise ship he actually wanted to set sail on.

"I've never been on a cruise , I've wanted to go on a cruise," the 70-year-old business magnate explained. "That's why we started a cruise line, just to try to create a cruise ship that was fun, and that was for adults."

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Why Richard Branson Launched an Adults-Only Cruise Line, Virgin Voyages

The Virgin Group founder talks to Town & Country about his latest travel venture.

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“I’ve never been interested in going on cruises,” Sir Richard Branson tells me on the first day of a cruise of the Greek Islands on the Virgin Voyages ship Resilient Lady in early September.

“I asked myself many years ago, why? And I just thought, there are a lot of people like me,” he says. “Ninety - five percent of the population hasn’t been on cruises, and what I love and what the team at Virgin love to do is try to challenge ourselves to create something that caters to people who don’t like what currently exists.”

richard branson with virgin voyages ship

No Kids and No Buffets

The 20 restaurants onboard, which include a stylish steakhouse and a Korean barbecue spot where diners are encouraged to take part in drinking games (to facilitate participation, complimentary soju is provided along with non-alcoholic beverages), are designed to resemble hotspots in New York and London.

pink agave fine mexican restaurant

“My image of cruises was buffets and people queuing up, and it didn’t appeal to me,” Branson, who is distinctly soft-spoken, says. “I didn’t enjoy flying on other people’s airlines before we started Virgin Atlantic, and it was the same thing. I think we’ve managed to create the kind of airline I would like to fly on and my friends would like to fly on, and we try to do that in any sector we move into.”

A Younger Crowd Embraces Cruising

Virgin is entering the cruise industry at an opportune moment. According to a survey by the industry trade group Cruise Lines International Association that was first cited by the New York Times , there is more interest than ever in cruising among millennials and Gen-X travelers.

Seventy-seven percent of millennials and 73 percent of Gen-X travelers reported being interested in taking their first cruise. Of the 4,500 respondents who took their first cruise, 88 percent of millennials and 86 percent of Gen-X respondents said they plan to go on another one.

It's easy to see why. Aside from the ease of simply unpacking once and visiting multiple destinations throughout the trip, cruising is fun, especially with elements that distinguish Virgin’s ships from other cruise lines’.

richard branson with virgin voyages ship

The brand’s ships are inspired by yachts, Virgin Voyages CEO Nirmal Saverimuttu tells me. “Our ships are like a big yacht, with a lot of small, intimate spaces,” Saverimuttu says. “On traditional cruise ships, you’re looking at dining spaces that seat 1,000 to 2,000 people. Our biggest eatery seats 200, and each restaurant has a dedicated kitchen and executive chef.”

And unlike other cruise ships–both large and small–all the food is made to order, so sailors (as Virgin Voyages passengers are called) never have to queue up for a buffet.

virgin voyages champagne

The audience, Branson says, is the young at heart. As an adults-only cruise line, the minimum age is 18, but passengers in their 70s and 80s were also onboard the Greek Islands cruise. The core age groups are travelers in their 40s, 50s, and 60s. Branson himself celebrated his 72 nd birthday onboard a Virgin cruise in July 2022.

A Delayed Launch for Virgin Voyages

Branson admits the cruise line’s launch did not go as planned. In February 2020, the first ship was set to make its debut in the U.K. port city of Dover.

“The Spice Girls, who were once on Virgin [Records], were meant to come launch it and never turned up,” Branson says. “I talked to Posh Spice and she said, ‘We’re being told, best not to go onto cruise ships.’”

After Dover, the ship sailed to New York, where Jennifer Lopez was set to turn up for the American launch. J. Lo also didn’t show.

virgin voyages performers get ready for a show

“It made me wonder what it was that was worrying them so much,” Branson says, “and then we realized this thing called Covid seemed to be worrying enough people for us to then send both ships back to Italy and mothball them for 18 months back in the shipyard.”

The Virgin founder says that despite the inauspicious start, he and his team would not give up. “We had two beautiful ships and a wonderful team of people,” he says. “We just had to sweat it out. We got through it and here we’ve come out stronger for it.”

The Cruise Line's Accolades—One Especially Loyal Customer

Virgin Voyages has been racking up awards, including sweeping all five awards in Cruise Critic's large-ship category in 2023: Best Overall Cruise Line, Best Cabins, Best Dining, Best Service, and Best Value-for-Money. It was also named the Best Large Cruise Ship cruise line in the Condé Nast Readers' Choice Awards earlier this year.

virgin galactic team on virgin voyages cruise

And it has fervent fans, like Chris DeSalvo , who was on his 41st voyage in less than a year. In July, the mobile app developer celebrated his 40th birthday on another Virgin ship, Valiant Lady. He signed up for his first Virgin Voyage while living in Miami and saw Virgin ships in port there.

Having only been on a handful of cruises before, DeSalvo says that the red woven hammocks on the ship's balconies (86 percent of cabins come with balconies, and their hammocks are created by Yellow Leaf , an organization that promotes women's empowerment and community transformation in rural Thailand) first attracted him to Virgin Voyages. The free WiFi was another plus, since it would allow him to work from the ship. DeSalvo had such a great time that he booked another cruise, and another one, and so on—adding up to around 220 nights onboard. He's also booked a spot on a six-week crossing from Dubai to Sydney later this year.

As for Branson, he's planning to join another Virgin cruise in the Caribbean next summer, if not before.

"I like to learn and I love starting things," Branson tells me. "I love learning about industries I know little about, and I love trying to change things for the better."

With Virgin Voyages, that's what he's done.

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Sam Dangremond is a Contributing Digital Editor at Town & Country, where he covers men's style, cocktails, travel, and the social scene.

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Richard Branson’s Virgin Voyages starts U.S. cruises as the industry bounces back.

Mr. Branson wants to bring to cruises the same sensibility that he brought to his airlines: younger and slightly edgy. (There is a tattoo parlor onboard.)

branson virgin cruises

By Lauren Hirsch

  • Sept. 17, 2021

Virgin Voyages, a joint venture between Bain Capital and Richard Branson’s Virgin Group, made its United States debut this week, more than a year later than scheduled.

Ryan Cotton, the head of the consumer and retail group at Bain, spoke with the DealBook newsletter about the venture and the prospects for the cruise industry, which has been upended by the pandemic .

The industry has been desperate to get operations rolling again. Three of the world’s largest cruise operators — Carnival , Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line — together lost nearly $900 million a month during the pandemic, the credit rating agency Moody’s reported.

Some companies, like Norwegian , have staged battles with government officials in states like Florida, a hub for the industry, over legislation barring businesses from requiring proof of vaccinations from customers.

The industry’s pandemic woes have not dissuaded Mr. Branson, who has wanted to start a cruise line for about 25 years, Mr. Cotton said. (He still has his original sketches.) Seven years ago, he got serious about it and brought in Bain to help with financing a Virgin-branded cruise ship. The idea was to bring to cruises the same sensibility that Branson brought to his airlines: younger and slightly edgy. (There is a tattoo parlor onboard.)

The venture’s first ship, the Scarlet Lady, has been cruising around Britain this summer on short trips open only to British residents. It was originally supposed to begin operations from the United States early last year, just as everything shut down. Some cruise ships were hit hard by Covid outbreaks early in the pandemic, which decimated the industry. But demand among aficionados has proved resilient , giving cruise lines hope.

“The Covid situation has not gone the way any of us expected,” Mr. Cotton said. But the vaccine rollout has given the new venture confidence in going ahead with a soft launch of the adults-only cruises in the United States.

The cruises are for vaccinated passengers only, and travelers need to be tested before they board. Onboard precautions include grab-and-go food options, capacity restrictions and an air ionization system. Activities on the adults-only cruises include yoga, meditation classes and late-night cabaret shows.

Lauren Hirsch joined the New York Times from CNBC in 2020, covering business, policy and mergers and acquisitions.  Ms. Hirsch studied comparative literature at Cornell University and has an M.B.A. from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth. More about Lauren Hirsch

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A Conversation with Richard Branson, as Virgin Voyages Previews Its First Cruise Ship

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"A sea change." That's the promise Sir Richard Branson makes for Virgin Voyages, the new cruise line from Virgin Group, which today celebrated the major milestone of laying down the keel for its first ship.

Originally announced in 2015, Virgin Voyages has spent the last two years existing mostly on paper. Now there’s something to show for it, as a large, central section of the first ship, the temporarily titled Virgin I, or hull 6287, was set into place. In total, the line has three ships on order to the tune of $2.55 billion, all to be built in Italy by Fincantieri’s Sestri Ponente shipyard near Genoa.

Always up for a publicity stunt, Branson made his entrance at the shipyard by dropping 200 feet from a crane with Tom McAlpin, the line’s CEO, before welding a ceremonial coin into the keel, the structural base of the ship.

Finally, the look of the exterior was unveiled: A sleek, silvery hull is accented by Virgin's trademark red, and a scarlet mermaid figurehead design decorates the sides of the bow. Details of the interiors and amenities may still be under tight wraps but, in March, the line’s CEO Tom McAlpin revealed that a “Creative Collective” of designers and architects have been tasked with fulfilling Branson's vision for the "world's most gorgeous ships.” This group of ten "creators of trends, not followers," to quote McAlpin, is led by the likes of Roman and Williams (Ace Hotels, The Standard High Line, Le Coucou) and PearsonLloyd (Virgin Atlantic Upper Class, Lufthansa Business Class). They’ll be the brain trust behind the mid-size ships, with the capacity for 2,800 guests and 1,150 crew, while “reflecting the craftsmanship and materiality inspired by super yachts,” says McAlpin.

Seven-day cruises out of Virgin Voyages’ Miami home port begin in 2020 and, although itineraries haven’t yet been shared, the line is promising that Virgin I will be the “most recognizable ship sailing the seven seas.” She'll maybe be one of the more scandalous as well, as Virgin Voyages plans to be "Adult by Design," prohibiting passengers under the age of 18.

Closing out the ceremony during a performance from Boy George came the announcement that the Virgin Voyages website is open for business, and accepting refundable $500 deposits “for access to an exclusive pre-sale before Virgin Voyages goes on general sale.”

Condé Nast Traveler sat down with Richard Branson and Tom McAlpin to gain even more insight on what we can expect from Virgin Voyages:

CNT: How long have you been toying with the idea of doing a Virgin cruise line?

Branson: Since I was 26 years old, and it was going to be for under-30 year olds. And I thought I was going to party the nights away, and then it never happened. That was prior to purchasing Necker, and the images I had of cruise lines were that they were stuffy and boring, and I wanted to have a fun cruise line. I still want to have a fun cruise line! Finally we’re going to have it.

Who is the Virgin Voyages customer?

McAlpin: There’s no box that you tick that says it’s exactly one demographic. I would say that it’s the young at heart, people who really want a different experience, who know what they want and that’s something that’s a bit off the beaten path. They want a luxurious experience, a premium experience that’s not being delivered, and they want flexibility. The industry is trying to be all things to all people, and we want to create a cool experience, more romantic, a more transformational experience. The mantra we have is that we don’t just want this to be the best week of your year. We want this to be one of the best weeks of your life. When you get off the ship, you don’t say, "Yeah, I went on a cruise." We want you to say, "I went on a Virgin Voyage and I’ll never go on another cruise line again."

Branson: We want to get people who’d never dream of going on a cruise ship. We’re going to start without kids, which will make me a very unpopular granddad. It sends a message. I think there are a lot of people who find that kids running around a cruise ship gets in the way of their holiday. But then I’m sure we’ll become kids-friendly with a ship down the line.

Are there any design details you’ve insisted upon or that you’re already influencing?

Branson: Virgin is famous for its design. When we went into the train business, we did so with high-speed Pendolino trains, and the amount of people traveling has gone from 8 million to 40 million each year. Design has played a big part in that. When we opened our Virgin Hotel in America, in Chicago, design played a big part. With our spaceship—there’s no point in going to space in a boring-looking spaceship versus a very sexy spaceship, and design again plays a big part. When it comes to our cruise ships, design is everything, really. We’re setting ourselves apart and making everyone who works on it feel really proud of it. I’ve had the privilege of actually walking inside the cruise ship today [via virtual reality headset], and the team have delivered. They’ve come from other Virgin companies and their work has been fantastic. For instance, the cabins for the staff are really well thought-out, and obviously if you have a staff that’s highly motivated and loving their jobs, which, generally at Virgin they do, a lot flows from that.

Image may contain Human Person Text Wall Alphabet and Label

Sir Richard Branson was present to celebrate the laying down of Virgin I 's keel.

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How far along is the interior design process?

McAlpin: It’s very far along. We don’t have all that steel in the shipyard without the design already being laid out. We know exactly where the faucets in the bars are going to be.

We are differentiating ourselves in everything. The look of the ship—it looks different. The colors are different. We want her to be distinctive no matter where she is in the world. We’re not about having a big gimmick. We’re about creating a platform, a structure, to provide great experiences that make you more in touch with the ocean. That’s why 86 percent of our cabins will have ‘sea terraces.’ Ninety-three percent will have ocean views.

We have a lot of influence from superyacht design, and the modern straight-edge bow comes from that. It allows our ship to look different, to look more like a yacht. It’s also very efficient. We’re a lot about conservation, and we want to have the best fuel efficiency we can, and the best way to improve efficiency is with the hull form.

Speaking of the hull, you've revealed that a mermaid design will grace its sides. I know, with Virgin Galactic, that Eve, the “Galactic Girl,” is modeled after your mother. Is the Virgin Voyages mermaid modeled after anyone in particular?

Branson: They’ve all got a little bit of her in it. I’ve definitely told her that it’s all her.

McAlpin: It’s inspired by the ships of hundreds of years ago, when they had these mermaids on the bows of the ships to bring good luck, and for sailors to determine one ship from another. We think it’s the right spirit for our ship.

The cruise industry is far from being "green." How do you see Virgin Voyages doing something about its impact on the environment?

Branson: We keep this very much in mind in every single thing that we do. If you have shampoo and conditioner on the ship, it has to be friendly to the seas and friendly to the individual. If you have suncream, it mustn’t damage the reefs . If you have things in bottles, they must be reusable bottles. Every single eco-friendly box must be ticked and we’ve got the kind of people who will make sure of that. We did away with plastic at our Virgin Limited Edition properties a long time ago. It makes business sense as well as being the right thing for the environment.

McAlpin: This goes back to our culture and Richard’s culture, which is that you’ve got to focus on sustainability and be good stewards of the environment. Our brand purpose is an epic sea change for all. Those words have a lot of meaning because "epic" means grand, "sea change" means change, and "for all" means everyone affected by our operations. It’s for our sailors, for our partners, for the communities, and for our oceans. We’re going to do some things in regard to conservation I can’t share with you yet, but in the early stages of designing the ship we entered into an agreement with Climeon of Sweden, to better utilize waste heat and convert it to clean electricity. We’ve spent several million dollars per ship to do that. It improves our efficiency, but it’s also the right thing to do. We are just signing a deal with Scanship, who provides wastewater management systems. We’re partnering with them to develop technology we think will work by using microwave technology to create energy from waste. If we’re successful, we’ll be able to reduce our load and create clean energy. What we’ve learned from Richard is that it’s important, and it’s our responsibility, to take these risks.

The ships will be sailing in your backyard, Richard, in the Caribbean. Would you like to see them calling on the British Virgin Islands as a port?

Branson: Of course. It will give us a hell of a thrill to see a Virgin ship coming into the Virgin Islands and I’m sure we’ll be lucky enough, even if it just once.

McAlpin: We’re flexible. We can do different sailings, one-off sailings, and even if it doesn’t happen with the first ship, there’s the second and third ships as well.

All of the content that Virgin Voyages has so far released has mentioned "sailing the seven seas." Are you committed to a range of itineraries, or will Virgin Voyages only focus on the Caribbean?

Branson: For the first year, it’ll be the Caribbean. But it won’t be long before we’re in the Mediterranean as well. I’d love to do the Antarctic and Arctic .

McAlpin: We don’t think this is a three-ship fleet. We think this is much more than a three-ship fleet, but we’re focused on three ships right now, and they’re flexible. We can go anywhere we want to go.

branson virgin cruises

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Watch Richard Branson Give a First Tour of His Virgin Voyages Cruise Ship

Set to launch in march with cruises in the caribbean, the scarlet lady just passed its sea trials—and enjoyed a visit from branson himself., sandra ramani, sandra ramani's most recent stories.

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Richard Branson ’s Virgin travel brands already cover the air , railways , the world of luxury hotels , and even outer space —so it makes sense that the billionaire visionary is now heading for the seas. As announced earlier this year, Virgin Voyages will launch in March 2020 with the introduction of the Scarlet Lady, an 18-and-over ship that will sail between Miami and the Caribbean all year-round. (A second ship, the Mediterranean-based Valiant Lady, is scheduled to launch in 2021, followed by two more through 2023.) But before all the VIPs and entertainers board the Scarlet Lady for the first celebratory cruise , the ship had to undergo its initial sea trials—which it just passed with flying colors under the watchful eye of Branson himself.

Following the two sea trial phases, which took place between Marseille and Genoa, Branson boarded the ship with his family and some top Virgin Voyages executives for his first look at how things are coming along. As seen in a Branson-narrated video tour, the design is in line with the signature Virgin style fans love about the aircrafts and hotels, while adapting them for the seas. It’s also got plenty of nods to Virgin brand history—and its irreverent, independent spirit. “The stereotype of a cruise ship is not particularly something I want to go on,” he notes in the video, “so we thought if we could create the kind of cruise ship that ourselves and our friends would go on, then we’d go on it—and that, I think, is what the wonderful team at Virgin have done. They’ve created magic.”

Virgin Voyages Richard Branson

The living room of one of the two top-level Massive Suites  Photo: Courtesy of Virgin Voyages

As Branson further reveals, the name the Scarlet Lady is an homage to one of Virgin Atlantic’s first planes, and the ship’s on-board The Manor nightclub and entertainment space (designed by noted firm Roman and Williams) takes its name from one of Virgin Records’ first studios, at which The Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney and more recorded. Of the 1,330 cabins and 78 RockStar suites, 86 percent will have balconies and 93 percent ocean views. Designated as “adult by design” (so, 18-and-over only), the ship will have lots of fun dining options, including some new-to-the-cruise-world spots like a contemporary restaurant serving brunch with shows by the resident drag performer, a food hall with stalls and food carts, a Korean grill, and a part-school, part-restaurant Test Kitchen.

Virgin Voyages Richard Branson

Branson gets ready to paint the first red “V” on the hull of the Scarlet Lady  Photo: Courtesy of Virgin Voyages

Of course, there are also numerous drinking and entertainment venues (think karaoke bars and a vinyl room with personal listening booths), world-class fitness and spa offerings, unlimited free WiFi, and much more—including the first-ever tattoo parlor at sea. Sustainability initiatives will be implemented throughout, as will engaging and game-changing on-board and shore programming. “Virgin likes to surprise,” notes Branson. “We’ve gone into quite a few sectors in my lifetime, and I think surprised people and changed those sectors—and I’m absolutely convinced we can do that in the cruise—or what we call Voyages—business.” Bookings, including for the special March 2020 Sneak-a-Peak cruises and the April 2020 inaugural sailing, are available here .

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Virgin Voyages Announces Special Sailing Starring Richard Branson

  • June 16, 2023

Resilient Lady

Virgin Voyages announced a special Virgin Celebration Voyage starring Richard Branson to celebrate its 50+ year legacy.

Setting sail from Athens on August 27, 2023, “A Virgin Celebration Voyage” will give guests exclusive access to Branson, Virgin company leaders and the brand’s founding members.

“When we launched our Sailing Club last year, we knew we wanted to offer a unique loyalty program that provided Sailors with irresistible benefits and exclusive access to special brand moments,” said Tom McAplin, CEO of Virgin Voyages. “A Virgin Celebration Voyage is a great example of this and benefits not only our Virgin following but our incredible Sailing Club members. It’s an exciting time to be a real brand loyalist.”

This special sailing will feature a range of exclusive events such as intimate fireside chats, special performances, culinary explorations and more. Curated with Virgin brand loyalists and Sailing Club members in mind, Virgin Voyages is extending its savings offer to this group. Guests can take advantage of the Red Hot Savings Offer and get 30 percent off the fare. In addition to the savings, travelers can look forward to more surprises onboard.

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Virgin Voyages, meet the BVI

Richard Branson welcomes Valiant Lady in the BVI for the first time

It felt so special to wave Valiant Lady into the British Virgin Islands during Virgin Voyages maiden sail to the BVI.

I jumped on-board the ship with Premier Natalio Wheatley, to say hello to the crew and meet captain Justin Lawes. We also held a traditional plaque and key exchange ceremony, which felt particularly special after calling the BVI home for so long.

Richard Branson greets Virgin Voyages in the BVI for the first time

One of the most memorable parts of the journey was seeing the ship glide past Necker. It was a dark evening, but the ship lit up the sky with the most fantastic fireworks display. I’d brought everybody on the island down to the waters edge, where we all stood jumping and waving in awe while 2,500 sailors clapped and cheered in return.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Richard Branson (@richardbranson)

Just a month earlier, I was standing on top of the Sydney Harbour Bridge welcoming Resilient Lady into Australia’s shores for the very first time. It was moving to realise just how far we’ve come in the past few years, with three ships sailing to more than 100 destinations all around the world.

The sailors we waved into the BVI were on a seven-night voyage from Puerto Rico to Guadeloupe, Barbados, St. Lucia and Martinique. What a line-up! The other new Caribbean itinerary will take sailors from Puerto Rico to Aruba, Curaçao, Martinique, and St. Kitts & Nevis.

Virgin Voyages' Valiant Lady ship ports in the BVI for the first time

We created Virgin Voyages to shake up a stagnant cruise industry and do things differently. We wanted to attract people who love travelling but were sceptical about cruising, so we designed a superyacht style ship with no buffets, no kids (sorry grandkids!), Michelin dining experiences, and a big focus on health, wellness and fun. It was a risk, as it is so far from the typical cruising experience, but it has all been worth it to hear our sailors feedback and to see Virgin Voyages scooping up award after award. In 2023, the team won Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best Award and became the first brand to ever sweep the Cruise Critic Cruisers’ Choice Awards – all testament to the team’s passion and hard work. Virgin Voyages is also proof that you should only ever launch a business that is the best product it can possibly be. Everything else will follow.

Virgin Voyages speedboat stunt with Richard Branson

As Resilient Lady sailed past Necker and into the night, I couldn’t help but feel immensely proud of the team for creating the best cruise line we could have ever imagined.

Here’s more about the wonderful Caribbean itineraries, including the two new ones!

Ahoy Australia! Launching Virgin Voyages Down Under, in true Virgin style

Man enjoying holiday on the beach

New year, new travel wishlist; The best ways to travel with Virgin Red

Virgin Voyages

Sailing to success: Virgin Voyages named best cruise line in the world (again!)

Richard Branson is building a luxury cruise ship for adults only — here's a closer look

  • Virgin Voyages  recently released renderings for its maiden ship, the Scarlet Lady. 
  • The ship features interiors and exteriors imagined by Tom Dixon Design Studio of London, Roman and Williams of New York, and Concrete Amsterdam
  • Among many amenities, the cruise liner boasts a nightclub, a thermal spa, two restaurants, an indoor and outdoor athletic club, and a barbershop. 

Virgin Voyages, the cruise line company launched by Virgin Group founder Sir Richard Branson,  has released renderings of their new cruise ship, the Scarlet Lady, and they are pretty remarkable.  The brand's design concept is "The Modern Romance of Sailing," and it features both interiors and exteriors imagined by a handful of the world's most successful design firms. 

The Scarlet Lady will be geared toward adults,  as an 18-year-old age requirement will be held in order to board. 

Tom Dixon Design Studio of London, Roman and Williams of New York, and Concrete Amsterdam are just some of the groups Virgin Voyages has partnered with to create the unique beauty of the ship. 

"Our design partners together with our internal design team have dreamed up eye-catching, intimate and alluring spaces that we can’t wait to see come to life," said Tom McAlpin, President and Chief Executive Officer for Virgin Voyages, in a statement to Business Insider. 

There is a stylish private outdoor lounge called Richard's Roof-deck, which is exclusive to the ship's suite guests. The more communal outdoor relaxation area for the rest of the ship's guests is called The Dock, which allows sun-bathing during the day and star-gazing at night. 

Inside the ship, there are two main restaurants. Pink Agave will serve delicious Mexican cuisine in an upscale modern setting with hanging blue lights and curved lounge tables. Then there is Test Kitchen restaurant, which features a cool, metallic-steel vibe and an entire faux periodic table serving as light fixtures in the entrance way. 

In terms of fitness and relaxation, the ship has an outdoor athletic club which features boxing bags and a running track, and an indoor gym that showcases stationary bicycles, group fitness classes, and yoga. Then there is Redemption, the ship's exclusive thermal spa that boasts a hydrotherapy pool, mud room, salt room, cold plunge pools, quartz beds, and other spa treatments. For those looking for more refined treatments, the Scarlet Lady also has a Mani-pedi spa, a barbershop, and a blow dry hair salon. 

The Scarlet Lady name is a two-pronged choice for Virgin Voyages. On one hand, the name is inspired by one of the earliest planes flown by Virgin Atlantic Airways. On the other, it reflects Virgin Voyages's conscious choice to promote female management and leadership positions on cruise ships, which they will do so on the Scarlet Lady through the "Scarlet Squad" recruitment and training program. 

"I want all future crew to know that Virgin Voyages will create an onboard environment that is fair, inclusive and where everyone has an opportunity to reach their full potential," McAlpin said.

According to Virgin Voyages' press release, the ship is expected to arrive in Port Miami in 2020 for its maiden journey. There will be a capacity of 2,700 passengers and 1,150 crew members. A second ship is set for delivery in 2021. 

Have a closer look at the Virgin Voyages Scarlet Lady:

Here's Virgin Voyages' The Scarlet Lady. Let's take a quick tour around the ship.

branson virgin cruises

Beginning on the ship's top deck, we find Richard's Rooftop. This private club features a futuristic aesthetic that only guests staying in suites will have access to.

branson virgin cruises

On the other side of the ship is the Crow's Nest, a 360-degree secluded sun deck where guests can get away to do some yoga or sunbathe.

branson virgin cruises

Right below the Crow's Nest is the sports bar, which features multiple entertainment options including gaming, TVs, and a food counter.

branson virgin cruises

Around the corner from the sports bar and on the very aft of the ship is The Dock, a 220 square foot outdoor lounge open to all. The Dock was created as a space for guests to socialize in and lose themselves in beautiful views.

branson virgin cruises

On the sides of the ship is the outdoor athletic club, which was designed by Concrete Amsterdam and features a boxing ring, strength training and gymnastics equipment. The Virgin red running-track loops around and above and can be seen holding up the boxing bags in the photo.

branson virgin cruises

There are cabanas to relax in after a hard workout only a few steps away. Notice the cooling fans on the upper right.

branson virgin cruises

Heading inside, Pink Agave is the ship's upscale Mexican restaurant, with curved lounge chairs and blue metallic lamps offering an intimate dining experience.

branson virgin cruises

Take a drink in the lounge area before we head into the nightclub. Champagne, anyone?

branson virgin cruises

The Manor is the Scarlet Lady's signature nightclub, inspired by Richard Branson's experience in the music industry and his first-ever Virgin music studio bearing the same name.

branson virgin cruises

Roman and Williams designed the ballroom, which will play music, feature dancing and laughing, and be one of the most exciting places on the entire ship.

branson virgin cruises

Test Kitchen restaurant is next. The entrance features light fixtures that mimic the periodic table.

branson virgin cruises

Test Kitchen restaurant was designed by Concrete Amsterdam with a cool metallic design in mind.

branson virgin cruises

The laboratory-like environment has a unique feel with sleek lines and a clean interior.

branson virgin cruises

Let's walk over to the B-Complex, the ship's exclusive workout area with individual Build, Burn, Bike, and Balance rooms.

branson virgin cruises

Not a bad place to do yoga, huh?

branson virgin cruises

There are bikes on board as well for spin classes.

branson virgin cruises

Let's move on to deck 5, where we find Redemption, the ship's exclusive thermal spa that was inspired by an underwater cave.

branson virgin cruises

Nearby, you can treat yourself to a haircut and a shave at Stubble & Groom, the ship's exclusive barbershop...

branson virgin cruises

...Or try out a new hairstyle at the Dry Dock Salon.

branson virgin cruises

You can also get a mani-pedi.

branson virgin cruises

The Scarlet Lady is expected to set sail in 2020.

branson virgin cruises

  • Main content

The best cruise lines in the world for 2024, ranked

branson virgin cruises

With so many cruise lines to choose from, it can be hard deciding which one to sail with.

But travel experts have put together a list of rankings.

Luggage Storage website Bounce used data including number of ships, number of cabins, amount of Facebook likes, number of YouTube subscribers, amount of Instagram followers and itineraries to come up with a top list.

Here are the top 20 cruise lines in the world for 2024.

  • Cruise Ships

20. Azamara

20. Azamara

Azamara landed at number 20 on the list.

The cruise line describes its self as "luxurious and intimate," and has four ships.

19. Fred Olsen

19. Fred Olsen

With just 619 cabins, Fred Olsen cruises offers intimate cruises to places bigger ships can't go.

18. Celestyal

18. Celestyal

Celestyal's affordable cruises landed at number 18.

It offers an impressive 473 itineraries.

17. Regent Seven Seas

17. Regent Seven Seas

Regent Seven Seas' luxurious ships made it to number 17 on the rankings.

The capacity of its biggest ship is just 829 sailors.

16. Hurtigruten

16. Hurtigruten

Upmarket Norwegian cruise company Hurtigruten was at number 16.

You can see places including the Kimberley in Australia or Antarctica on one of its 37 itineraries.

It's also planning its first 'zero emissions' ship.

15. Seabourn

15. Seabourn

At number 15, is luxury cruise line Seabourn.

It's famous for smaller ships, all-inclusive packages and caviar parties in the ocean.

The biggest ship in the fleet still has only 266 cabins.

14. Silversea

14. Silversea

Silversea, which will bring new "ultra-luxury" ship, Silver Nova, to Australia and New Zealand for the first time this summer landed at number 14.

The company has 13 ships.

READ MORE: Why cruise ships are christened by celebrities

13. Oceana

Another upmarket cruise company, Oceana came in at number 13.

It offers a big choice of itineraries - 633 to be exact.

12. Cunard

Historic cruise firm Cunard, which recently launched new ship Queen Anne, was number 12 on the list.

It currently has four ships.

11. Virgin Voyages

11. Virgin Voyages

Richard Branson's adults only company, Virgin Voyages, which sailed for one season in Australia , narrowly missed the top ten.

Its biggest ship as 1408 cabins.

READ MORE: What we loved the most about Virgin Voyages, as Richard Branson's cruise firm heads to Australia

10. Holland America

10. Holland America

European brand Holland America was at number 10.

It has an impressive 1.6 million Facebook likes.

9. P&O Cruises

9. P&O Cruises

P&O Cruises - not to be confused with P&O Australia - has seven ships.

It landed at number nine on the list.

8. Celebrity Cruises

8. Celebrity Cruises

Celebrity Cruises, which sails from Australia is known for innovations including its Magic Carpet bar.

The capacity of its biggest ship is 3950.

It was at number eight in the rankings

READ MORE: All the things I learned on my first cruise

6. Disney

Family favourite, Disney, which came to Australia last year for the first time and recently announced a plan to port a ship in Japan, was equal sixth.

It has 1.7 million Instagram likes from loyal fans.

6. Costa Cruises

6. Costa Cruises

Euro favourite, Costa Cruises, whose biggest ship is Costa Smeralda shared equal sixth place.

"When it comes to cruise options, Costa Cruises is far ahead of the competition with an impressive 1,768 itineraries," Bounce said.

"Costa offers many choices, allowing you to embark and disembark at different ports rather than a fixed port like many other cruise lines."

5. Princess Cruises

5. Princess Cruises

Princess Cruises, who recently launched its biggest ship Sun Princess , made the top five on the rankings.

4. Norwegian Cruise Line

4. Norwegian Cruise Line

Norwegian Cruises, which despite its name actually sails around the world, came in at number four.

3. Carnival

3. Carnival

Carnival, which has two ships in Australia, Luminosa and Splendor, is known for being family-friendly and affordable.

It was at number three in the ranking.

"The company scores highly for its number of cruise ships at 26," the experts said.

"It also takes second place for its number of rooms at 2,641, shared by two ships, Carnival Celebration and Carnival Mardi Gras.

"It also has one of the largest followings on YouTube. With 115,000 subscribers, it takes second place for the factor."

2. MSC

MSC is much beloved in Europe, and has a new ship, World America coming soon.

"With a score of 8.80 out of 10, it takes second place," Bounce said.

"MSC Cruises ranks relatively well across the board, taking second place for its 5.2 million Facebook likes. It also ranks third for five factors we looked at and is in the top five for its over 76,000 YouTube subscribers."

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  • World's Best

Travel + Leisure Readers' 5 Favorite Mega-ship Ocean Cruise Lines of 2023

These are T+L readers’ favorite mega-ship ocean cruise lines in our annual "World’s Best Awards" survey for 2023.

Paul Brady is the news director at Travel + Leisure and the brand's expert on cruise travel. He has been covering the travel industry for more than 15 years for outlets including Condé Nast Traveler , Skift , and The Huffington Post .

branson virgin cruises

How Voting Works

What readers loved, the full list.

It’s full steam ahead for the cruise industry: after a pandemic pause, mega-ship ocean cruise lines are back, and readers are raving about the quality of vacations at sea. Consider this stat: more travelers are planning to set sail on a cruise this year than booked one in 2019, according to one industry association. The reasons are as plentiful as the options in this category, which ranks ships with 1,500 cabins or more. There’s a ship to please almost any taste, whether it’s a familiar favorite or a brand-new vessel. There’s the endless array of onboard food and entertainment options. And, yes, there’s the value that only a cruise can deliver , particularly at a time when most travel experiences are getting pricier.

Every year for our World's Best Awards survey, T+L asks readers to weigh in on travel experiences around the globe — to share their opinions on the top hotels, resorts, cities, islands, cruise ships, spas, airlines, and more. Nearly 165,000 T+L readers completed the 2023 survey, an increase of nearly 25 percent over pre-pandemic voting levels. A total of more than 685,000 votes were cast across over 8,500 unique properties (hotels, cities, cruise lines, etc.).

For the cruise category, respondents were asked to rate individual ships; the results were combined to generate scores for cruise lines in different categories based on number of cabins. The mega-ship ocean cruise line category is only for ships with 1,500 cabins or more. Some cruise lines may appear in multiple categories depending on the makeup of their fleet.

Ships were specifically rated on the criteria below:

  • Cabins/facilities
  • Itineraries/destinations
  • Excursions/activities

For each characteristic, respondents could choose a rating of excellent, above average, average, below average, or poor. The final scores are averages of these responses. 

PAUL NORDMANN/Courtesy of Princess Cruises

This year’s No. 2, Celebrity Cruises, drew raves from readers for innovative new ships such as Celebrity Beyond, which entered service in 2022. “A design showstopper,” said one voter, who liked “the new Daniel Boulud restaurant on board, the new nightlife options, and the Sunset Bar, which has a Caribbean-meets-Mediterranean feel.”

Also highly regarded this year was Princess Cruises (No. 3), which impressed travelers with the right combination of quality, cleanliness, and value, with impressive itineraries to boot. “It’s an excellent cruise line for families with children, with activities geared to the age of your kids,” wrote one voter, who has traveled with Princess several times to places including Alaska, the Mediterranean, and even Japan. “Everything is clean and well-organized.”

Still, as good as those mega-ship stalwarts were, this year’s winner surged ahead thanks to its innovative new take on cruise vacations. Read on for what made Virgin Voyages the top line for mega-ship ocean cruises in 2023.

Virgin Voyages

Courtesy of Virgin Voyages

Leave it to Sir Richard Branson to shake up an industry: the rock-star investor put his wattage behind this mega-ship upstart, which launched in 2021. It’s gotten rave reviews from just about everyone, both veteran cruise-goers and newbies alike. “The crew was the best I've ever experienced at sea, the food was outstanding, and the beautiful ship was full of fun people of all ages,” said one fan of the line, which makes a point of calling its customers “sailors” rather than guests. Unique onboard amenities such as the only (legitimate) tattoo parlor at sea — not to mention intriguing, audience-participation entertainment options — deliver plenty of Virgin verve. The line is already expanding, with three ships now sailing. The newest is Resilient Lady, which launched in May and will summer in the Mediterranean.

1. Virgin Voyages

Reader Score: 93.01

2. Celebrity Cruises

WBA Hall of Fame honoree. Reader Score: 86.05

3. Princess Cruises

WBA Hall of Fame honoree. Reader Score: 82.20

4. Royal Caribbean International

WBA Hall of Fame honoree. Reader Score: 82.06

5. Norwegian Cruise Line

WBA Hall of Fame honoree. Reader Score: 80.03

Related Articles

branson virgin cruises

The best adults-only cruises to try if you can’t stand being around kids on vacation

What are the best adults-only cruises — the ones that not only ban kids but cater to grown-up tastes and interests?

You may be asking because you just spent time on a megaship where the kids took over the pools and hot tubs (not to mention the elevators), much to your chagrin. Or, you might be looking for a vacation with more lectures and less limbo, or perhaps a cruise that skews more R-rated than G.

The list of cruises for adults only is, alas, very short. Only a handful of cruise lines ban children from their ships and promise cruises for grown-ups — perhaps the most notable being cruise newcomer Virgin Voyages and fast-growing Viking .

The trend in recent years in cruising is, in fact, more family-focused, with more kids appearing on ships of all types. Indeed, some of the biggest, best-known cruise brands have gone full-bore after the family market , to the extent that the sun-soaked top decks of their ships sometimes can feel more like a scene out of "Daddy Day Care" than a blissful vacation retreat.

For more cruise guides, tips and news, sign up for TPG's cruise newsletter .

Don't despair, though. Even as many lines double down on the family market, a small group of cruise operators remains all-in on the idea of adult-only cruises.

Here are our picks for the best adults-only cruise lines, with a grown-up vibe to boot.

Related: A beginners guide to picking a cruise line

Virgin Voyages

The much-ballyhooed new line from Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Group has banned children under the age of 18 from its ships. It's part of an effort to create a hipper, more-sophisticated, adult-focused vibe that company leaders think is sorely lacking in the cruise world.

"We have done a ton of research really trying to create a sophisticated experience," Virgin Voyages CEO Tom McAlpin said in the days before the line's 2021 debut . "I've done some personal research. We found that when you put kids in the pool, they scream, and we don't want that."

Related: I've been on more than 150 cruise ships. Here's what I thought of Scarlet Lady

Virgin Voyages' first three adults-only cruise ships, the 2,770-passenger Scarlet Lady and sister vessels Valiant Lady and Resilient Lady , cater to grown-ups looking for a decidedly adult sort of fun with such offerings as interactive dance parties and a drag queen performance. It also offers a karaoke lounge with pink-and-purple karaoke rooms and a tattoo parlor (read about how one of our staffers was among the first to get inked on board ).

What you won't find on the three ships (a fourth is due later this year) are waterslides, watery splash zones, teen lounges and all the other family-friendly features that are becoming so common on bigger ships.

To create an adults-only cruise experience, Virgin Voyages took a page from fast-growing Viking 's playbook. Viking's 12-ship ocean cruise division has banned children under the age of 18 since it debuted in 2015. In addition, its 80-ship river cruise division has had a minimum age limit for more than two decades. (Initially, the cut-off was age 12; as of 2019, that jumped to 18, too.)

Not that Virgin and Viking are anything alike. Virgin is designed to appeal to millennials and older travelers who want to party like they are millennials. Viking, by contrast, is the anti-millennial line.

Viking's target market is squarely in the 55-plus bracket. It zeroes in on that demographic with an upscale, destination-focused experience that is heavy on what the industry likes to call "enrichment" — onboard lectures and other learning opportunities. It also emphasizes tours focused on history and culture (with at least one free excursion in each port) and entertainment offerings that veer more toward string quartets than dancers in string bikinis.

"What we're looking to do is try not to be everything for everyone," Viking's executive vice president of marketing, Richard Marnell, told TPG. "We do not have a kids' program. What we have is . . . [an] immersive experience that is best suited for people that are intellectually curious."

P&O Cruises

This storied British line clearly sees the demand for adults-only cruise ships, but it isn't giving up on the family market, either. The line splits the difference between the two segments. Five of its seven vessels (Arvia, Iona, Britannia, Ventura and Azura) are marketed as "family-friendly" and open to passengers of all ages. The other two (Arcadia and Aurora) are reserved exclusively for adults.

Given that more than 95% of the Southampton, England-based cruise line's passengers are British, you'll probably want to be either British yourself or a major Anglophile to consider booking one of the latter two vessels. Sailing with P&O Cruises is a very British experience, something that becomes clear the moment you see its vessels. They feature hulls painted with massive Union Jacks.

In addition, you'll find quintessentially British offerings on board P&O Cruises ships, such as elaborate afternoon teas, quoits on the top deck and restaurant menus designed by chefs big in the United Kingdom, such as Marco Pierre White.

That said, if you're a Princess Cruises fan, you might feel right at home on a P&O Cruises ship. Nestled under the same corporate umbrella, the two brands are longtime sisters that have swapped ships back and forth (though Holland America fans might be interested to know that Arcadia actually shares a ship design with that line's Vista class).

For booking purposes, P&O Cruises considers anyone who will be 18 or older when sailing an adult.

Saga Cruises

Like P&O Cruises, Saga Cruises is a British line that has honed in on the business of offering voyages just for adults. But it goes way beyond what P&O Cruises or any other line does in shunning younger travelers. The minimum age at Saga Cruises isn't 18 or even 21 — it's 50.

That's right — you won't find a single millennial or even that many Generation Xers on board a Saga Cruises ship (at 58, even the oldest members of Generation X only make the cut-off by eight years). You will find a heck of a lot of baby boomers, many of them retired.

Saga Cruises operates just two ocean vessels, sailing exclusively out of the U.K., plus several river ships. Like P&O Cruises, it's a product that is probably best for British travelers or big-time Anglophiles.

Other adult-focused cruises

In addition to lines that ban passengers under the age of 18 outright, a number of cruise operators allow young children but get relatively few of them.

Examples include such upscale lines as Regent Seven Seas Cruises , Silversea Cruises and Seabourn , which cater heavily to an older crowd. Small-ship specialist Windstar Cruises allows tweens and teenagers on its six ships, but it doesn't allow any children under the age of 8.

Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours, which sells both ocean and river cruises, traditionally discourages customers from bringing passengers under the age of 12 on vessels except during Christmas holiday sailings.

Also, the longer the cruise, the fewer children you will find. Book a two-plus-week sailing to a more exotic location, like Asia or South America, during the school year on a line like Holland America or Princess, and you'll share the ship predominantly with adults.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

  • The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
  • A beginners guide to picking a cruise line
  • The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship
  • The ultimate guide to what to pack for a cruise
  • A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
  • 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
  • Top ways cruisers waste money
  • The ultimate guide to choosing a cruise ship cabin

Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

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Disney Cruise Line

Looking for DisneY Cruise Line Opportunities? Explore more roles by using our guided searches:

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Cruise Vacation Agent, Disney Cruise Line (Celebration, FL)- Full Time

Job summary:, responsibilities:.

  • We sell and confirm Cruise reservations by providing comprehensive information about the Disney Cruises
  • We engage with the Guest by addressing needs, answering questions, providing directions and sharing other information
  • We assist the Guest with creating and modifying reservations, handling their accounts, and providing Guest Service
  • Develop relationships with Guest and Cast Members from all lines of business to provide excellent service to our Guests and Cast as well as help find solutions when challenges arise
  • Meet required departmental metric expectations as well as maintaining efficiency goals
  • Complete all required Company trainings and compliance courses as assigned
  • Flexible with work schedule, including working additional hours, weekends and holidays

Basic Qualifications:

  • Sales and service experience in a guest-centric environment
  • Written, verbal, and interpersonal communications skills
  • Operate a computer within a Microsoft Windows environment
  • Navigate between multiple and concurrent computer applications

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Ability to speak Portuguese and/or Spanish
  • Prior Disney, travel industry, cruise industry or related field
  • Sales and closing skills and the ability to overcome objections
  • Previous experience within call center environment

Additional Information:

Disability accommodation for employment applications, about walt disney world resort:.

Since opening in 1971, Walt Disney World Resort has played an important role in many childhood and family memories. Today, hundreds of millions of guests from around the globe visit this magical place to enjoy a Disney vacation. Through a combination of creativity, innovation and technology, the resort immerses guests in classic Disney tales and new kinds of family entertainment. Drawing from a rich heritage of storytelling, Walt Disney World Resort cast members bring Disney magic to life through unmatched attention to detail and superior guest service.

About The Walt Disney Company:

The Walt Disney Company, together with its subsidiaries and affiliates, is a leading diversified international family entertainment and media enterprise that includes three core business segments: Disney Entertainment, ESPN, and Disney Experiences. From humble beginnings as a cartoon studio in the 1920s to its preeminent name in the entertainment industry today, Disney proudly continues its legacy of creating world-class stories and experiences for every member of the family. Disney’s stories, characters and experiences reach consumers and guests from every corner of the globe. With operations in more than 40 countries, our employees and cast members work together to create entertainment experiences that are both universally and locally cherished.

This position is with Walt Disney Parks and Resorts U.S., Inc. , which is part of a business we call Walt Disney World Resort .

Walt Disney Parks and Resorts U.S., Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability or protected veteran status. Disney champions a business environment where ideas and decisions from all people help us grow, innovate, create the best stories and be relevant in a constantly evolving world.

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Virgin Voyages is Travel + Leisure’s best cruise ship… again!

Travel + leisure world’s best awards 2024 was just announced with our lady ships taking home the top honors for the second consecutive year..

With only three years at sea, we’re thrilled to announce that we’ve been voted Travel + Leisure’s Best Mega-ship Ocean Cruise Line in 2024. Inspired by the Golden Age of sea travel, we wanted to bring back the romance of the open ocean, redesign it for travel enthusiasts of today, and of course, add a signature Virgin twist. Having first received this award in 2023, and now earning it again reaffirms our commitment to doing just that. 

We’d like to thank and congratulate our amazing Crew, whose dedication to delivering brilliant service remains steadfast and unwavering, and of course our valued Sailors. This win is possible due to your continued support and trust in our brand, and we’re so grateful you've chosen Virgin Voyages to make all your holiday dreams an amazing reality. With so many ships to choose from, securing this top honor depended on multiple factors, and both Sailors and critics have taken notice. 

Becoming The Best Cruise Line “Virgin Voyages was not only voted the best mega-ship ocean liner in Travel + Leisure’s 2024 World’s Best Awards, but absolutely knocked it out of the park by receiving top marks in every cruise amenity category. The cabins and facilities? Excellent. On-ship dining? Delicious. The value of the experience? Incomparable.” - Travel + Leisure.

Luxury Inclusions Meets Innovative Execution State-of-the-art technology has created an onboard experience where luxury and sustainability work in tandem — ushering in the future of eco-conscious travel. By swapping buffets and basic beverage plans with all-inclusive dining in 20+ specialty eateries with made-to-order meals (plus Michelin-chef designed menus) and anytime essential drinks — our ships reduce food waste and single-use plastics like water bottles, utensils, throw-away cups, and condiment packets. Plus, with the Sailor App acting as an onboard concierge and program finder, and The Band (a multi-functional wearable made from recycled products, functioning as both a room key and onboard bank), we’ve cut down on paper consumption and plastic key cards — bonus points for a low percentage of Sailors getting locked out of their rooms.

Plan Ahead, Last-Minute & Anytime in Between Right now, our three lady ships are making waves on both sides of the Atlantic. Valiant Lady is spending her summer in the best tropical locations on our Caribbean Weekenders — perfect for anytime getaways and last-minute luxury cruise deals, while Scarlet Lady and Resilient Lady are spending theirs on the shores of the Mediterranean. From Barcelona and Athens, respectively, sail to the dazzling shores of Italy, France, and Spain, or famed Greek Island hot spots (Santorini, Corfu, Mykonos), Croatia and Montenegro this summer through October.

There's more to come between 2025 and 2026. More stops will be added to these itineraries, and brand-new destinations including Iceland, Scotland, Ireland, and Northern Ireland can be explored out of Portsmouth — with all itineraries open to book right now.

Our fourth ship, Brilliant Lady, debuting in 2025, is making her way on a sea-defined roadtrip to the four corners of the USA, stopping in some of America’s most exciting destinations (like NYC, Los Angeles, and Alaska!), plus Canada, Mexico, and across the Panama Canal too.

With all the hype surrounding our multi-award-winning lady ships, check out our incredible itineraries that sail to over 100 ports, and experience it all for yourself on the exclusively adult voyage of a lifetime.  

© 2024. Travel + Leisure® is a registered trademark of Travel + Leisure Holdco, LLC, a subsidiary of Wyndham Destinations, Inc. Travel + Leisure® World’s Best Awards is used under license. Travel + Leisure® is published by TI Inc. Affluent Media Group, a Dotdash Meredith company, which is not affiliated with Wyndham Destinations, Inc. or its subsidiaries.

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  1. Sir Richard Branson launches Virgin Voyages' first ship in Dover

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  2. First ship in Richard Branson's new fleet arrives in UK

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  3. Richard Branson's Virgin Voyages Cruise Ship for Adults: Tour, Photos

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  4. Richard Branson Virgin Cruise Ship

    branson virgin cruises

  5. Virgin Voyages: Zweites Kreuzfahrtschiff von Richard Branson heißt

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  6. Richard Branson shares images of Virgin Voyages cruise liner

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COMMENTS

  1. Virgin Celebration Voyage w/ Richard Branson

    A Virgin Celebration Voyage. It's time to celebrate Virgin's legendary history at sea. This special sailing on September 3rd, 2024, offers a rare glimpse into how Virgin became one of the most recognizable brands of all time. There will be exclusive events plus never-before-told stories from Richard and his friends.

  2. A Virgin Celebration Voyage Starring Sir Richard Branson

    Extraordinary seven-night voyage features some of Virgin's most influential leaders and history makers. MIAMI, FL - June 16, 2023 - Virgin Voyages is riding the wave of its newest ship's inaugural season with a brand first: A Virgin Celebration Voyage. For more than 50 years, Sir Richard Branson has charted the course from land, air ...

  3. Best New Cruise Ships for Adults

    110,000t. 86,982 London buses. 100% Adults Only. Exclusively Adult experiences. From decadent dinners to drenched-in-red afterparties, reconnect with your plus one, best friends, and yourself to celebrate life's sweetest moments aboard our 100% adults-only voyages. Learn More.

  4. Richard Branson looks to disrupt cruise industry with Virgin Voyages

    Richard Branson aims to upend the $100 billion cruise industry with the U.S. debut of Virgin Voyages' Scarlet Lady. Virgin Voyages' largest investor, Bain Capital, said taking the company ...

  5. Richard Branson's Adults-Only Virgin Voyages Announces Third Cruise

    Richard Branson's Adults-Only Cruise Line Will Have On-Demand Champagne with the Shake of a Phone Virgin Voyages' first ship, Scarlet Lady , was announced in January 2019.

  6. Richard Branson Interview

    The audience, Branson says, is the young at heart. As an adults-only cruise line, the minimum age is 18, but passengers in their 70s and 80s were also onboard the Greek Islands cruise. The core ...

  7. What it's like on Virgin's adults-only cruise ship

    Virgin executives hope their ship, the Scarlet Lady, can prove to the world there's a "new way to cruise." After over a year's delay, Virgin Voyages (of Richard Branson fame) is ready to ...

  8. Richard Branson's Virgin Voyages Is Making Waves in the ...

    Virgin Voyages is finally setting sail on its MerMaiden Voyage next month, and we got to take a look inside the cruise line's first ship, Scarlet Lady, and speak to Richard Branson and Tom McAlpin ...

  9. Richard Branson's Virgin Voyages starts U.S. cruises as the industry

    Virgin Voyages, a joint venture between Bain Capital and Richard Branson's Virgin Group, made its United States debut this week, more than a year later than scheduled.

  10. Richard Branson's First Virgin Voyages Cruise Ship Made Its ...

    Sir Richard Branson is officially ready to hit the high seas with the debut of Virgin Voyages' first ship, the Scarlet Lady. Unveiled in Dover, England on Friday, ahead of its inaugural trip in ...

  11. A Conversation with Richard Branson, as Virgin Voyages Previews Its

    "A sea change." That's the promise Sir Richard Branson makes for Virgin Voyages, the new cruise line from Virgin Group, which today celebrated the major milestone of laying down the keel for its ...

  12. What It's Like to Take Richard Branson's Virgin Voyages Cruise Around

    What It's Like to Take Richard Branson's Virgin Voyages Cruise Around Greece. 'Resilient Lady' is the third vessel to join the billionaire travel mogul's adults-only cruise line. Modified on ...

  13. Virgin Voyages Details One-of-a-Kind Cruise With Richard Branson

    Richard Branson is planning a big party later this summer aboard Virgin Voyages' Resilient Lady to mark the Virgin brand's 50-plus years of innovation. Cruisers can sail along with Branson ...

  14. Virgin Voyages Review From Inaugural Sailing of Branson's Adult-Only

    Branson says Virgin goes "where no other cruise company has gone before.". With that, he's challenging the industry's sleepy reputation. On Scarlet Lady, the first of three ships setting ...

  15. Watch Richard Branson Give a Tour of His Virgin Voyages Cruise Ship

    Watch Richard Branson Give a First Tour of His Virgin Voyages Cruise Ship. Set to launch in March with cruises in the Caribbean, the Scarlet Lady just passed its sea trials—and enjoyed a visit ...

  16. Embark on the second-annual "Virgin Celebration ...

    About Virgin Voyages. Promising to Create an Epic Sea Change for All, Virgin Voyages is the award-winning, exclusively adult cruise line founded by Sir Richard Branson. Delivering unforgettable, relaxing vacations at sea, Virgin Voyages launched at the end of 2021.

  17. Virgin Voyages Announces Special Sailing Starring Richard Branson

    Virgin Voyages announced a special Virgin Celebration Voyage starring Richard Branson to celebrate its 50+ year legacy. Setting sail from Athens on August 27, 2023, "A Virgin Celebration Voyage" will give guests exclusive access to Branson, Virgin company leaders and the brand's founding members. "When we launched our Sailing Club…

  18. Virgin Voyages launches new adults-only cruise ship

    Virgin Voyages is launches its second cruise ship March 11, 2022. Virgin Voyages aimed to disrupt the cruise industry when it launched Scarlet Lady, its first adults-only cruise ship, last year ...

  19. Virgin Voyages

    The award-winning Virgin Voyages is on a mission to create the world's most irresistible travel brand. We're seeking to redefine what you should expect from a holiday at sea and create an Epic Sea Change For All. Our first ship, Scarlet Lady, is unlike any other ship you've ever met. With RockStar Quarters, champagne on demand and amazing ...

  20. Virgin Voyages, meet the BVI

    In 2023, the team won Travel + Leisure's World's Best Award and became the first brand to ever sweep the Cruise Critic Cruisers' Choice Awards - all testament to the team's passion and hard work. Virgin Voyages is also proof that you should only ever launch a business that is the best product it can possibly be. Everything else will ...

  21. Reinventing Cruises: New Virgin Cruise Line From Richard Branson Sets Sail

    Now Virgin Group founder Sir Richard Branson is taking to the high seas, and today announced that Virgin Voyages is officially open for business, and just started taking bookings for its inaugural ...

  22. Richard Branson's Virgin Voyages Cruise Ship for Adults: Tour, Photos

    Richard Branson is building a luxury cruise ship for adults only — here's a closer look. Brian Pascus. Jul 28, 2018, 7:07 AM PDT. The front view of The Scarlet Lady cruise ship Virgin Voyages ...

  23. The best cruise lines in the world for 2024, ranked

    Richard Branson's adults only company, Virgin Voyages, which sailed for one season in Australia, narrowly missed the top ten. Its biggest ship as 1408 cabins. READ MORE: What we loved the most about Virgin Voyages, as Richard Branson's cruise firm heads to Australia

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    These are T+L readers' favorite mega-ship ocean cruise lines in our annual "World's Best Awards" survey for 2023 ... Leave it to Sir Richard Branson to shake up an industry: the rock-star ...

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    Related: A beginners guide to picking a cruise line. Virgin Voyages. The much-ballyhooed new line from Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Group has banned children under the age of 18 from its ships. It ...

  26. Virgin Voyages Cruises 2024

    And in 2024 Elevate is going global. You loved it, so we brought it back. Three ships, two months, one epic onboard program for discerning foodies. Sailing June 30th through August 4th. New year and a shipload of incredible new experiences and epic events to give you even more reasons to come cruise with us in 2024.

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  28. Leisure's Best Mega-ship Cruise Line in 2024

    With only three years at sea, we're thrilled to announce that we've been voted Travel + Leisure's Best Mega-ship Ocean Cruise Line in 2024. Inspired by the Golden Age of sea travel, we wanted to bring back the romance of the open ocean, redesign it for travel enthusiasts of today, and of course, add a signature Virgin twist.