Virgin Voyages’
highly anticipated adults-only cruise ship now has a name. The Scarlet Lady is scheduled to set sail from PortMiami in 2020.
MIAMI — Virgin Voyages’ highly anticipated adults-only cruise ship has a name: the Scarlet Lady.
The Plantation-based cruise line on Friday announced its first vessel’s name — an homage to sister company Virgin Atlantic’s earliest planes — and more details of the ship’s environmentally focused vision and public spaces, including an outdoor gym area.
Virgin, like some cruise lines, will aim to eliminate plastic straws and single-use plastics used by guests. Bottled water, condiment packages, shopping bags, food packaging, stirrers and take-away coffee and tea cups will get the ax.
It also is focusing on opportunities for women in jobs that historically have been dominated by men.
The 2,700-passenger Scarlet Lady, which is only for passengers 18 or older, will begin sailing to the Caribbean from PortMiami in 2020. A second ship is due for delivery in 2021.
The line also is revealing some of the spaces for active travelers as part of the line’s “Vitamin Sea” directive, which focuses on health and wellbeing. The new details follow the May release of images of some public spaces, including lounging areas and a laboratory-inspired restaurant.
Among new details: The ship will include a Crow’s Nest, a secluded sundeck with 360-degree views for sunrise and sunset yoga classes, and The Runway, a Virgin-red running track.
Both areas will be connected to The Athletic Club, an “adult-play” area located at the top of the vessel whose centerpiece is a red-andwhite semicircular lounger, the largest daybed at sea. The area will include an outdoor training zone with a boxing ring and strength and gymnastics equipment reminiscent of 1920s New York sports clubs, Virgin said. There will be oversize gaming for adults, cabanas and a bar. The B-Complex gym will include strength, spin yoga and cardio equipment.
The Scarlet Lady’s Athletic Club will have a 220-square-foot area of triple netting where passengers can gaze into the ocean below.
For those worried the vessel would be all loungers and no pool, as initial renderings of the outdoor spaces indicated, Virgin has clarified that the ship will have a small “wellbeing pool,” which will sit next to some Venice Beach-like equipment and fitness apparatus. In renderings, the pool sits under a circular opening in the deck above.
The vessel will have a spa, called Redemption, located on the fifth floor. It is inspired by an underwater cave, with a hydrotherapy pool, mud room, salt room, cold plunge pools, quartz beds and spa treatments. At night, the spa will host spa parties in its thermal suite. Other additions include a stand-alone blow dry bar called the Dry Dock salon and a Stubble & Groom barbershop that includes a male pedicure spa.
Virgin also announced plans to launch the “Scarlet Squad” program, which will recruit support and mentor female crew members and grow their access to leadership roles in the marine, technical and hotel management sectors. Those positions historically have been dominated by men.