Sir Richard Branson is growing his empire and launching his first cruise line, Virgin Voyages which is only open to travelers who are 18 and above. The inaugural new adults-only cruise ship, Scarlet Lady. would set sail for the Caribbean in 2020.
Branson ‘s new cruise line introduced its crew uniforms yesterday ahead of their showcase at London Fashion Week on 15th of September. The uniforms — some of which come complete with capes, suspenders and red sneakers — were created by Garreth Pugh, the famous british fashion designer.
As per the release from the company, Virgin Voyages asked the staff for input.
Branson said “People are at the heart of all of our Virgin companies and when our people feel their best, they help make guest experiences the best they can be”. He further added “We want Virgin Voyages’ crew to be the happiest at sea and making sure that they feel comfortable and confident is a big part of that experience. Gareth Pugh and the Virgin Voyages’ team have worked hand-in-hand to bring to life what will soon be the most eye-catching and stylish uniforms on the high seas.”
Those days are gone when the traditional uniforms for cruise crew in general include waist coats and ties. Virgin Voyages uniforms are fashionable and sexy, boasting a line of red capes, red and black dresses, black-and-white striped t-shirts and form-fitting unisex black and white ensembles with suspenders.
Made by PLAE, most of the outfits will be paired with a gender neutral, custom-designed pair of red sneakers.
Fashion designer Pugh said “For this project, we were really allowed to push the boundaries, and to redefine the idea of what constitutes a uniform”. “We ultimately wanted to make everything about it modern, luxurious and desirable — to allow the entire crew to look and feel like a million dollars, in keeping with the rest of the experience.”he added.
Since the time they have announced their adults-only cruise in January this year, Virgin Voyages has been shaking up the industry. Scarlet Lady is not going to offer buffet-style dining like most ships do, rather it will feature more than 20 dining options for guests, all included in the price of their cruise. The ship also doesn’t force guests to wear formal wear, and won’t have assigned seating or dining times.
The cruise line will also have a ‘’no-tipping policy’’, including gratuity in the overall price, to keep guests away from the unexpected expenses.
