Sir Richard Branson

Miami, FL – June 23, 2015 – Sir Richard Branson, founder of the Virgin Group, made a major splash here in Miami as he announced that Virgin Cruises has selected PortMiami as the home port for its first cruise ship that will set sail in 2020. He also revealed Virgin Cruises has signed a binding Letter of Intent (LOI) with Italian shipbuilding company Fincantieri for three new mid-size ships. Emerging through a cloud of iconic Virgin red smoke, Branson flew across Miami’s Biscayne Bay via helicopter landing at Museum Park. Joined by Virgin Cruises’ President and CEO Tom McAlpin, the two raised a Virgin Cruises flag to mark the cruise line’s official arrival in Miami. This is a very exciting day for Virgin and travelers around the globe,” said Branson. “We now have the right partners in place to build a world-class cruise line that will redefine the cruising experience for good. The Virgin Cruises approach will appeal to cruisers and non-cruisers alike, and we look forward to being in Miami and delivering an experience for people who want a new way to cruise.” Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez noted, “With the largest cruise port in the world, Miami is an exciting city that offers companies and brands an excellent environment for business. We are delighted to be selected by Virgin Cruises as their home port and I can’t wait to see their beautiful ships become part of Miami’s spectacular skyline.”

Virgin Cruises’ three new mid-size ships, of about 110,000 gross tons each, are slated for delivery in 2020, 2021 and 2022. Each ship will feature 1,430 guest cabins to host more than 2,800 guests. There also will be 1,150 crew on board to deliver the famed Virgin customer service. Embarking from PortMiami, Virgin Cruises plans to offer a range of seven-day Caribbean itineraries, with a Sunday sail date. “Virgin is a customer built brand that listens carefully to what customers want and then works hard to deliver for them. We are committed to making waves in the cruise industry, and partnering with Fincantieri and PortMiami sets Virgin Cruises up to do just that,” said McAlpin. “Today’s announcement brings together important ingredients in our future success — Miami’s vibrant culture paired with the excellent Port infrastructure and Port team; and Fincantieri’s expertise in prototyping, their creativity and understanding of our vision.” Customers are invited to join the journey by visiting www.virgincruises.com to share their ideas on what the new cruise line can do to deliver an incredible experience at sea.

Sir Richard Branson

We now have the right partners in place to build a world-class cruise line that will redefine the cruising experience for good.

Sir Richard Branson

Carley Johnston, Alexis Farley, & Sir Richard Branson

Alexis Farley, Sir Richard Branson, & Carley Johnston

Carley Johnston, Sir Richard Branson, & Alexis Farley

Alexis Farley, Carley Johnston, & Sir Richard Branson

Sir Richard Branson

Alexis Farley, Sir Richard Branson, & Carley Johnston

Rebeca Sosa, Jose Pepe Diaz, Tom McAlpin, Juan Kuryla, Sir Richard Branson, Carlos Gimenez, & Jean Monestime

Sir Richard Branson

Marisol Medranda, Samantha Sasso, Sir Richard Branson, Carley Johnston, & Alexis Farley

Marisol Medranda & Carley Johnston

Samantha Sasso & Marisol Medranda

Sir Richard Branson

Sir Richard Branson & Tom McAlpin

Sir Richard Branson, Carlos Gimenez, & Tom McAlpin

Carlos Gimenez, Vincenzo Petrone, Ryan Cotton, Richard Branson, & Tom McAlpin

Vincenzo Petrone, Carlos Gimenez, Sir Richard Branson, Tom McAlpin, & Ryan Cotton

Leann Standish, Sir Richard Branson, Carlos Betancourt, & Brandi Reddick

Michael Schwartz, Tamara Schwartz, Molly Brandt, & Frank Weber

Larry Williams, Carlos Gimenez, & Barry Johnson

Larry Williams, Sir Richard Branson, & Carlos Gimenez

Barry Johnson, Sir Richard Branson, & Christine Barney

Brandi Reddick, Carlos Betancourt, Carlos Gimenez, & Juan Zapata

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