Richard Branson’s $2 Billion Plan to Create Non-Sucky Cruises

Out: “stuffy and dull” ocean adventures. And shuffleboard.

October 25, 2016 9:00 am

“To me the sea is a continual miracle; The fishes that swim–the rocks–the motion of the waves–the ships, with men in them, What stranger miracles are there?” – Walt Whitman

Here’s a stranger miracle from the sea: a seven-day cruise you’d actually want to board.

Credit Richard Branson. The billionaire entrepreneur just announced the launch of Virgin Voyages, a “stylish” cruise line that plans to set sail in 2020.

“I have never been on a cruise, and never wanted to — they sound stuffy and dull,” wrote Branson in his announcement.

According to the UK newspaper the Daily Express, Branson is spending close to $2 billion to launch Voyages, which has a contract for three vessels. The first ship is scheduled to arrive in 2020; based in PortMiami, VV will initially offer seven-day Caribbean tours.

What’s going to make Virgin Voyages different? Besides “irresistible style” and utilizing clean energy, Branson is offering few details. That said, the company is targeting “pirates, explorers, mermaids and young-at-hearts.”

So … guessing shuffleboard is out.

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