A dedicated terminal for Virgin Voyages has been opened in at PortMiami.
The 132,000 square foot Terminal V will be the year-round base for the adult-only line’s first ship Scarlet Lady.
The opening ceremony headed by Virgin group founder Sir Richard Branson came less than a month before second ship Valiant Lady is showcased to the trade and media at an overnight event in London Tilbury on March 11.
Valiant Lady will reposition to Miami in winter 2022, with both ships sailing a mix of multi-night Caribbean itineraries, each with a stop at Virgin Voyages’ Beach Club in Bimini.
The grand opening of the Miami terminal was just over a year after the groundbreaking ceremony.
Features include 1,000 palm trees, floor-to-ceiling windows, natural skylights, LED screens, a VIP entrance for those travelling in suites and a lounge for crew.
Sir Richard said: “Coming to this beautiful new terminal and seeing Scarlet Lady in her home port here in Miami has been such an incredible experience.
“The team at Virgin Voyages has created a stunning building that delivers on our commitment to being better stewards of the earth with its LEED [Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design] gold certification.”
Virgin Voyages chief executive Tom McAlpin added: “We’ve always strived to turn the ordinary into the extraordinary, and Terminal V gives us greater opportunity to elevate the sailor experience from the moment you see the ahoy sign to the time you disembark.
“Scarlet Lady deserves a home as beautiful as she is, and we cannot wait for our sailors [passengers] to begin their voyage at Terminal V.”