Virgin Group has launched its new cruise business Virgin Cruises, in a bid to “shake up” the industry.
Tom McAlpin will join Virgin Cruises as CEO and will head the management team. Most recently, Tom has been President and CEO of The World, Residences at Sea.
Virgin Cruises will be headquartered in the Miami/Fort Lauderdale area and plans to design and construct two new world class cruise ships.
Virgin Group Founder Sir Richard Branson said the company plans to “shake up the cruise industry and deliver a holiday that customers will absolutely love”.
“They’ll be sailing on the latest ships offering great quality, a real sense of fun, and many exciting activities all delivered with the famed Virgin service,” he stated.
At this time, the company has not disclosed when it will start operating for competitive reasons.
According to McAlpin “cruise guests deserve something better and different to what is being offered today”.
He added that Virgin Cruises would be “creating breath-taking experiences for them and a new generation of guests”.
Virgin Group has partnered with private investment firm Bain Capital, to work on the new venture.
Ryan Cotton, a principal with Bain Capital, said “with a small number of global players, an experience in need of refreshing, and consumers ready for something new and exciting, the industry exhibits all the characteristics of one that is ripe for a new entrant”.
“Drawing on our long history of growing and building great companies, we are confident that together with Virgin and the management team we will build Virgin Cruises into a new favourite for leisure travellers.”
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