SCARLET LADY, what a name, ambitious and unique in the international cruise industry. VIRGIN VOYAGES is going on rumbling the industry. Others "brand" their condo names with a company pre-/suffix or an "of the SEAS" and such. With 110,000 GRT SCARLET LADY and upcoming sister ships will be quite big. The mainstream industry megalodons squeeze in such "vessels" minimum the double of 2,680 passengers, which VIRGIN VOYAGES is naming Sailors. And as we all live in one world, the new ships will be enviromental friendly, for reducing the carbon footprint.
by Earl of Cruise
Another aspect is to be seen in the ban of plastic. Mass market vessels
use too many plastic and that is seperating them too from the luxury
brands - think of a delicious chef meal served on plastic ... the
thought alone makes me shudder.
VIRGIN VOYAGES is oriented to the mass market, but clearly upscaled and definitely a real premium product.
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| Presentation of VIRGIN VOYAGES first vessel, SCARLET LADY, courtesy by FINCANTIERI |
SCARLET LADY
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| SCARLET LADY naming ceremony at FINCANTIERI, courtesy by Lloyd Marchand |
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| The bow section of the new VIRGIN VOYAGES cruise vessels, this bow has nothing to do with the old stem bows of ancient times, as some nostalgists hope for and will see, courtesy by Scott Scanfillipo |
During the lively festivities, July 19th, 2018, at Fincantieri's
Sestri Ponente shipyard, VIRGIN GROUP founder Sir Richard Branson and
VIRGIN VOYAGES president and CEO Tom McAlpin announced the first ship's
name - SCARLET LADY - and said the company will eliminate single-use plastics and mentor
women in shipboard roles. Both are still neccessaties to emphazise, as equal rights are not given and plastic is infesting our seas. The occasion was at FINCANTIERI when the constructors and VIRGIN VOYAGES celebrated the steel cutting for the second of three IRGIN VOYAGES
ships, being built at the SESTRI PONENTE Genoa shipyard, VIRGIN GROUP
Founder Sir Richard Branson confirmed the name of the first ship
currently under construction at the yard as SCARLET LADY, inspired by
the name of one of the first aircraft to fly for the sister company
Virgin Atlantic.
Okay the name is reminding me, as a classic film aficionado at three films with that name: THE SCARLET LADY - 1922, a British film directed by Walter West, 1928 an US American film directed by Alan Crosland (as US Americans tend to watch only films with their US stars), 1969 (La Femme Ècarlate / La Donna Scarlatta) a French-Italian comedy, directed by Jean Valère and starring Monica Vitti, Maurice Ronet, and Robert Hossein.
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| Lya De Putti in The Scarlet Lady (1928), Source courtesy by IMDb |
But SCARLET LADY is in homage to sister company VIRGIN ATLANTIC; the name appeared on one of the earliest planes to fly for the airline. Now the SCARLET LADY name will be paired with the brand’s iconic mermaid image on the VIRGIN VOYAGES´ first and flagship. The vessel is due to enter service in 2020.
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| Scarlet Lady of VIRGIN ATLANTIC and Sir Richard Branson, courtesy VIRGIN GROUP |
Today's, July 19th,
construction milestones began with the flooding of the ship’s drydock,
in preparation for the connection of two hull sections, and the first
time SCARLET LADY tastes sea water. But there was also a steel-cutting
ceremony for VIRGIN VOYAGES’ second ship, due for delivery in 2021. Further
the cruise companie´s innovative 'Vitamin Sea' wellness program was revealed.
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| The mermaid SCARLET LADY |
The second and third VIRGIN VOYAGES vessels will enter the market in 2021 and 2022. Each VIRGIN VOYAGES vessel will be 278 meter in length, accomodate 2,680 voyagers in 1,400 cabins and suites. A service and navigation crew of 1,150 will be on board.
the carbon footprint will be reduced as far as actually possible, starting with the plastic ban, going on with a new innovative heat recuperation/recycling from the machines, that will save 1 Mega Watt energy.
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| Sideview rendering of SCARLET LADY of VIRGIN VOYAGES, courtesy VIRGIN VOYAGES |
In a prepared press statement by VIRGIN VOYAGES it was announced that "Scarlet
is the embodiment of everything this ship represents, As our
figurehead, she takes on a role historically dedicated to goddesses,
important women in society, and even mermaid figures. Though beautiful
and mysterious in vision, she represents a woman of power - the leader
not only on our first voyage, but also in our efforts to encourage
front-facing female leaders throughout our company with our VIRGIN VOYAGES Scarlet Program.”
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| (from left) Sir Richard Branson, Nirmal Saverimuttu, Steve Pagliuca, Dee Cooper and Tom McAlpin toast at Virgin Voyages Unveils |
"SCARLET LADY will represent the `embodiment of everything this ship represents´
stated VIRGIN VOYAGES in its released statement on their website. Used as
a figurehead within the Virgin brands before, Scarlet Lady as a mermaid
will take on the role `historically dedicated to goddesses, important women in society and even mermaid figures´.”
With the mystique that a mermaid brings, Scarlet Lady will represent a “woman of power”
and will help encourage front’facing female leaders throughout the
company to progress in the Virgin Voyages Scarlet Squad Program.
VIRGIN VOYAGES reveals SCARLET LADY, Source: YouTube
'Scarlet Squad'
The
ship’s namesake has also inspired plans to launch the ‘SCARLET SQUAD’
program aimed at recruiting, supporting and mentoring female shipboard
talent, and growing opportunities to access leadership roles in on-board
areas such as marine, technical and hotel management, that
statistically show low numbers of female leadership. Within the company it will be break through the ‘glass ocean’ in the industries "normalities". We all may have in our ears and eyes, the malicious comments when female officers had mishaps with their ships - it is simply disrespecting human rights. VIRGIN VOYAGES
plans to release more details on the program in the company’s
sustainability and social impact report later this year.
"Across
the maritime industry, we can do better in on-board recruiting and
leadership representation for women", McAlpin said. "I want all future
crew to know that Virgin Voyages will create an on-board environment
that is fair, inclusive and where everyone has an opportunity to reach
their full potential."
Some internal and external renderings of the coming SCARLET LADY, all pictures courtesy VIRGIN VOYAGES
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| Redemption Spa thermal Suite |
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| Athletic Club Cabanas |
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| The VIP outside area above the bridge, by Tom Dixon |
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| The Well Being Pool |
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| The Athletic Club outside area with bar |
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| The Theatre |
Plastics ban!
This
initiative includes banning plastic items such as straws, bottled water,
other beverage bottles, condiment packets, shopping bags, food
packaging, stirrers and take-away coffee and tea cups. Instead, VIRGIN VOYAGES will emphasize the use of recyclable and reusable materials
across the ship. This will be a USP (Unique Selling Proposition) in a plastic flooded vacation industry and will set a standard.
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| Rendering, aireal view of SCARLET LADY, courtesy VIRGIN VOYAGES |
Sailors (passengers) will have access to free
filtered still and sparkling water at all bars and restaurants, as well
as specially designed Natura filtered water stations throughout the
ship.
"Nothing makes me prouder than seeing companies like VIRGIN VOYAGES striving to make a positive impact on the world we live in",
Branson said. "Business is a force for good and can and must be the
catalyst for global change."
"We believe that in order to fulfill
our purpose of creating an "Epic Sea Change for All," we must make a
commitment that is bigger than just eliminating straws", McAlpin added. "We must make a commitment to building ships and experiences that do
everything possible to look after the well-being of our precious oceans.
We are delighted with what we’ve achieved so far and will continue to
push ourselves to look for innovative ways to do things that will make a
difference."
VIRGIN VOYAGES, a sneak peak in the Adult Only SCARLET LADY, Source: Youtube, Talking Cruise
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