Virgin Cuts Steel For First Cruise Ship
by Daniel McCarthyAt a ceremony in Genoa, Italy, Virgin Voyages took another step toward its entry in the industry when it cut steel for its first cruise ship.
Fincantieri shipyard director Paolo Capobianco and Virgin Voyages president and CEO Tom McAlpin were both on hand for the ceremony, which included an appearance from Virgin CEO Richard Branson on a prerecorded video.
McAlpin called the occasion not just a step toward a cruise ship, but one aimed at “building a whole new brand.”
The 110,000 ton ship is scheduled for delivery in 2020. It will sail seven-night Caribbean itineraries out of Miami. Two more ships are in the works from Virgin and are expected to hit the waters in 2021 and 2022.
