Richard Branson unveils his luxury, adults-only cruise ship

British entrepreneur hopes to lure young travellers with his 'Scarlet Lady'

Last updated: February 22, 2020 | 18:02

Reuters and Compiled by Christian Borbon, Digital Content Producer

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Richard Branson unveiled the 'Scarlet Lady', a 60,000 tonne cruise liner complete with a tattoo studio and yoga deck aimed at drawing in a younger generation of holiday-makers

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Despite the unfortunate timing, with passengers on one ship quarantined after hundreds caught the coronavirus and another turned away by five countries over fears someone on board may be ill, Branson sees cruises as a growth area.

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With the Virgin brand already offering everything from airlines to banking, TV, healthclubs and travel, he has set his sights on a boutique hotel-style pitch.

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The Squid Ink Tattoo parlour is seen on the Virgin Voyages Scarlet Lady cruise liner.

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The Mega Rockstar suite is seen on the Virgin Voyages Scarlet Lady cruise liner.

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People do yoga at a gym on the Virgin Voyages Scarlet Lady cruise liner.

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A woman walks through an entrance to a night club on the Virgin Voyages Scarlet Lady cruise liner.

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Chairs sit at a bar area on the Virgin Voyages Scarlet Lady cruise liner.

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Demand for cruising holidays has leapt over the past decade, with some 32 million passengers expected to set sail in 2020, a figure that has almost doubled since 2009.

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'The Scarlet Lady is truly special and we've worked with some of the world's most sought-after designers, artists and architects to craft an extraordinary experience.' The launch date though comes at an undeniably awkward time.

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The central atrium on the Virgin Voyages Scarlet Lady cruise liner at Dover Port in Dover, Britain.

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A sign sits at the check-in desk for the Virgin Voyages Scarlet Lady cruise liner at Dover Port in Dover, Britain.

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Sun loungers sit on the deck of a Virgin Voyages Scarlet Lady cruise liner

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Built at the Fincantieri shipyard in Italy, the Scarlet Lady will host 2,770 passengers and 1,160 crew.

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The central atrium is seen on the Virgin Voyages Scarlet Lady cruise liner.

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An image of Richard Branson, founder of Virgin Group is displayed on a television on the Virgin Voyages Scarlet Lady cruise liner.

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'I have dreamed of starting my own cruise line since I was in my 20s and I'm thrilled that moment has arrived,' he said in a statement.

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