Branson To Target Australians With New Cruise Ship

While in Sydney to champion his cruise line, Branson made it clear that he's unimpressed with the outdated ships that have been the norm for Aussie travellers for a long time now.

 

In contrast, Virgin Voyages sent its state-of-the-art $1.1 billion Resilient Lady, the latest addition to its adult-only fleet, aiming to sweep Australians off their feet.

This new vessel, which recently wowed over 1200 Australians at its Scarlet Night poolside event, is embarking on its maiden voyage from its Melbourne home base. The inaugural season offers voyages ranging from two to 14 nights.

According to Virgin Voyages CEO Nirmal Saverimuttu, the Australian market holds immense promise due to the brand's appeal and the pent-up demand for cruising experiences.

Resilient Lady boasts an array of attractions—from 20 eateries and 25 bars to unique features like a tattoo parlour, record store, and a 255-meter running track.

“We really want a lot of people to get on and try the product. Short cruises tend to book very close [to departure] so we’ve been holding capacity back for that. But sales in the last few months have really started to take off because we’re now in that core booking window,” commented Saverimuttu.

To entice cruisers, Virgin Voyages is launching with special pricing, starting from $149 per night per person, including up to $1000 in bonuses. This strategy aims to introduce as many people as possible to the Virgin Voyages experience.

Branson acknowledged the warm reception in Australia for the Resilient Lady, marking a positive turn after the challenging period due to the pandemic, which heavily impacted his various businesses. He revealed sacrifices made, including selling a majority share of Virgin Galactic, to ensure the survival of his empire and protect jobs during those trying times.

“I had to sell 85 per cent of the shares in the space company to help keep everything else going, and that’s what I did. Everybody had to work enormously long hours and incredibly hard to keep everything going, and keep 60,000 jobs protected, and somehow we got through it all and hopefully have come out stronger for it”, he stated.

However, the cruise industry faces challenges in Melbourne, with Carnival Australia cruise lines Princess and Cunard pulling out due to a steep 15% port fee hike. This decision has stirred concerns about the economic impact on Victoria.

Virgin Voyages' Saverimuttu expressed disappointment over the fee increase, highlighting the company's commitment to operating in various Australian ports.

Despite these hurdles, Resilient Lady's maiden voyage from Melbourne to Tasmania signals a promising start for Virgin Voyages' venture into the Australian cruise scene.

 

Source: smh.com.au