Latest news with #ValiantLady
Daily Mail
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE A day with billionaire Richard Branson as he sips a piña colada before noon and parties at a private beach club
It seems that Sir Richard Branson 's day-to-day life isn't always what one would expect, especially since he's a billionaire who runs one of the biggest companies, the Virgin Group. The 74-year-old's business empire includes 40 companies in over 35 countries, which employs over 60,000 people. From airlines and space travel to hotels, cruises and telecommunications, overseeing the venture capital conglomerate of the Virgin Group seems like an extremely busy task. But for the British entrepreneur, he makes it look easy. Especially while sipping on a piña colada as he carries on his duties for the day. got an exclusive look at what his day in the Bahamas was like as he joined Virgin Voyages cruise goers on May 8 as part of the Celebration Voyage, which set sail from Miami four days prior. After landing in Bimini in the Bahamas via a seaplane from Miami, Richard boarded Virgin's Valiant Lady cruise ship for an intimate meet and greet with media and influencers. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the Daily Mail's new Showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. Normally, when he's not jet-setting, he kicks off his mornings with a workout, whether it be a game of tennis at 6am or - if he's on one of his cruises, for example - he'll run around the jogging track, which provides a 360-degree panoramic view of the sea. But, on this particular day, he met with a group of journalists at 10 am at Richard's Rooftop on Deck 16 - an exclusive rooftop bar and lounge area for the cruise's 'RockStars' - with a piña colada in his hand (his tall glass even had an 'R' for Richard embellished on it). The casual meet and greet included an impromptu chess game (his favorite game) against a journalist as others looked on, taking photos of videos. During the nearly hour-long session, Richard spoke about the exciting news of Virgin Voyages' newest Lady Ship setting sail from New York harbor this September, which will be the fourth ship to launch as part of the brand's fleet. The businessman reflected on the four-year journey of Virgin Voyages and how it had a rocky start, but finally launched at the end of 2021. 'When we started Virgin Voyages a few years ago, we arrived in England and the Spice Girls were coming to celebrate with us, and they didn't turn up. They rang me up and said, "There's something called Covid out there, on cruise ships." 'And I told them... "what a load of buttocks." Anyways, they turned out right and I was wrong. So, we had a suspicious start to a cruise line.' He continued, 'It is brilliant to have a fourth cruise ship arriving and doing some West Coast of America, Alaska, Canada, Panama Canal. It's very exciting,' referring to the destinations that are part of Brilliant Lady's itineraries once it launches. Richard took a seaplane from Miami to spend a day in the Bahamas with sailors on Virgin's Celebration Voyage, which set sail from Miami on May 4 Virgin recently announced that Spice Girl Melanie C will be joining after all. She's set to headline the Celebration Voyage departing from Lisbon, Portugal, this July. Following the morning meet and greet, and some more photo opportunities with fans on the cruise, Richard, accompanied by his team who made sure to take content of him all day for the brand's social channels, disembarked from the massive ship and, with help from a golf cart, made his way to the beach. But it's not just any beach. Virgin Voyages' has its own private adult-only Beach Club that overlooks the ocean and has its own set of beach chairs. Plus, two swimming pools, multiple bars and food stations throughout (which are free for cruise goers). Talk about paradise. Richard, being the billionaire that he is, had his own private area (even more private than the exclusive Rockstars area) where he could cool down and relax inside an Airstream camping trailer... or hang out with superstars like Nicky Jam. The Latin award-winning singer was spotted with Branson before both stars surprised people in the lagoon-style pool as a DJ took over around 1.00pm. Joined by Virgin's CEO Nirmal Saverimuttu, Nicky, 44, hyped up the crowd ahead of his nighttime performance on the cruise as it was announced that there was an exclusive voyage just for Nicky Jam sailing from San Juan this December. Following this, Richard surprised the crowd by spraying a bottle of champagne over the people partying in the pool. Then, he proceeded to have some sparkling wine for himself before he made another surprise. Motioning for the crowd to make way, the Virgin Group founder shocked everyone by jumping into the pool - via a cannon ball - splashing those around him. Coincidentally, the music playing in the background was Spice Up Your Life by one of his favorite female pop groups, The Spice Girls. The afternoon poolside fun came to an end for Richard as he changed into some dry clothes and wrapped up his festivities for the day. After some more casual meet and greets with sailors who were enjoying the private beach club, Mr. Branson took the seaplane back to Miami around 7pm. For more entertainment, Nicky Jam performed poolside on the cruise starting at 9pm where he brought a ton of energy as he performed his Reggae chart-topping hits to sailors aboard Valiant Lady. Meanwhile, Richard was seemingly recharging for another jam packed day of events for the following day. He previously noted that he needs 'six hours sleep to do it all again,' but 'a little differently' the next day. In an exclusive interview with which took place at the end of April, he spoke about growing his empire and the prospect of reopening Virgin Megastores since people are buying vinyl records again. 'We used to have a great Megastore in New York. And we may even go as far as reopening some Megastores in other places,' he spilled, 'because I think people are loving discovering vinyl again, and Virgin could also sell them some holidays, Virgin balloon trips, and a few other things in these Megastores. 'They're still going in the Middle East, so maybe we can get them going again in the UK.' He added, 'We'll most likely give it a shot.' Richard's revelation came during the unveiling of Virgin Hotel London-Shoreditch's brand-new listening bar Hidden Grooves. After seeing it come to life, he said that he's decided 'on the spur of the moment' to open a Hidden Grooves at Virgin Hotels' New York City location, which opened early 2023. Richard, whose homebase and where he spends a lot of his downtime is the private paradise Necker Island, confessed to that his 'mind is always racing' when it comes to building his conglomerate. 'If I feel that something's not been done well, I'll just jump in and do it. And obviously, I'm lucky, because I own the company, I can just say, "Screw it, let's do it," and get it done,' he said. 'And I try to enable everybody who works for Virgin to be able to do that, but, in the end, the buck stops with me, so I can just make decisions and get on with it.' Richard has plenty of business plans over the next few years, including more Virgin Atlantic flights, Virgin Voyages cruises to the Red Sea, the launch of high-speed trains to rival Eurostar through the Channel Tunnel, and 'building a number of spaceships' with Virgin Galactic that 'should be ready to fly' by the end of next year, he says.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
I hung out in a VIP lounge on an adults-only cruise ship and saw how suite passengers who pay at least $8,000 vacation
I took an adults-only Virgin Voyages cruise and visited the ship's VIP lounge, Richard's Rooftop. The lounge is reserved for suite guests and has shaded beds, pools, and a full-service bar. On a seven-day Mediterranean cruise, suites for two cost between $8,000 and $20,000. On my first adults-only cruise, I got a taste of the star treatment. While lying on a spacious outdoor bed in the quietest corner of the top deck, servers brought me ahi tuna and frozen drinks as I gazed at the ocean. I was on Richard's Rooftop — the VIP lounge on board Virgin Voyages cruise ships. The adults-only cruise line's exclusive hideaway is reserved for passengers staying in suites — known as "Rockstars" by the cruise line. Prices vary depending on the ship, dates, and itinerary, but a representative from Virgin Voyages told Business Insider that the starting rates for entry-level suites for two on Mediterranean cruises in summer 2025 are around $8,000. The most expensive suites cost up to $20,000. While I didn't book a suite, I got access to the lounge during a seven-day Mediterranean cruise on Virgin Voyages' Valiant Lady in August 2023. To me, it was easily the most relaxing part of the ship. The rooftop lounge was at the front of deck 16. According to Virgin Voyages, the lounge was named for and inspired by founder Richard Branson. To enter, passengers scanned their room key cards. Inside, the space was filled with cabanas, pool chairs, two whirlpools, and several round loungers that felt like beds to me. Iridescent glass dividers added colorful hues to the white furniture. I thought this was a captivating detail by the designer, Tom Dixon. Each grouping of seats had a food and drink menu for the rooftop bar, and crew members served guests at their lounging spots. I ordered a tuna poke bowl and a non-alcoholic strawberry daiquiri. Both were refreshing and delicious. During my visits to the lounge, there was always enough empty seating to settle into a spot where I couldn't see or hear anyone else. The VIP lounge was quieter, emptier, and more shaded than the outdoor communal spaces for all passengers. The pools were crowd-free, and the service was more personal. Crew members checked in with guests often to see if they wanted more refreshments. With a more peaceful, private vibe than the rest of the pool deck, Richard's Rooftop was the only place on the ship where I could lie in the sun and feel like I was in bed simultaneously. That made it the most relaxing part of the whole cruise. Next time I cruise with Virgin Voyages, I'll consider upgrading to a suite. Read the original article on Business Insider
Business Insider
20-05-2025
- Business Insider
I hung out in a VIP lounge on an adults-only cruise ship and saw how suite passengers who pay at least $8,000 vacation
I was on Richard's Rooftop — the VIP lounge on board Virgin Voyages cruise ships. The adults-only cruise line's exclusive hideaway is reserved for passengers staying in suites — known as "Rockstars" by the cruise line. Prices vary depending on the ship, dates, and itinerary, but a representative from Virgin Voyages told Business Insider that the starting rates for entry-level suites for two on Mediterranean cruises in summer 2025 are around $8,000. The most expensive suites cost up to $20,000. While I didn't book a suite, I got access to the lounge during a seven-day Mediterranean cruise on Virgin Voyages' Valiant Lady in August 2023. To me, it was easily the most relaxing part of the ship. Virgin Voyages cruises are only for guests who are 18 or older. Since I was traveling with a partner — and I don't have kids — I was excited to lounge on quiet, calm pool decks, dine at relaxing restaurants, and have access to a range of activities for that's exactly what I got.
Business Insider
20-05-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
I hung out in a VIP lounge on an adults-only cruise ship and saw how suite passengers who pay at least $8,000 vacation
On my first adults-only cruise, I got a taste of the star treatment. While lying on a spacious outdoor bed in the quietest corner of the top deck, servers brought me ahi tuna and frozen drinks as I gazed at the ocean. I was on Richard's Rooftop — the VIP lounge on board Virgin Voyages cruise ships. The adults-only cruise line's exclusive hideaway is reserved for passengers staying in suites — known as "Rockstars" by the cruise line. Prices vary depending on the ship, dates, and itinerary, but a representative from Virgin Voyages told Business Insider that the starting rates for entry-level suites for two on Mediterranean cruises in summer 2025 are around $8,000. The most expensive suites cost up to $20,000. While I didn't book a suite, I got access to the lounge during a seven-day Mediterranean cruise on Virgin Voyages' Valiant Lady in August 2023. To me, it was easily the most relaxing part of the ship. The rooftop lounge was at the front of deck 16. According to Virgin Voyages, the lounge was named for and inspired by founder Richard Branson. To enter, passengers scanned their room key cards. Inside, the space was filled with cabanas, pool chairs, two whirlpools, and several round loungers that felt like beds to me. Each grouping of seats had a food and drink menu for the rooftop bar, and crew members served guests at their lounging spots. During my visits to the lounge, there was always enough empty seating to settle into a spot where I couldn't see or hear anyone else. The VIP lounge was quieter, emptier, and more shaded than the outdoor communal spaces for all passengers. The pools were crowd-free, and the service was more personal. Crew members checked in with guests often to see if they wanted more refreshments. With a more peaceful, private vibe than the rest of the pool deck, Richard's Rooftop was the only place on the ship where I could lie in the sun and feel like I was in bed simultaneously. That made it the most relaxing part of the whole cruise.
The Independent
03-05-2025
- Business
- The Independent
Cruise weddings: Why more couples are getting married at sea
Forget castles or country manors, increasing numbers of couples are opting to get married on a cruise. Travel agents and cruise lines are seeing a surge in interest from people looking to tie the knot while on board their favourite ship. P&O Cruises reported a record number of bookings for weddings on the water last year, up 12 per cent. Several other cruise brands offer wedding ceremonies at sea, including Celebrity Cruises, Cunard, Norwegian Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean Princess, Virgin Voyages and Holland America Line. Dave Mills, chief commercial officer at online travel agent Iglu, said weddings at sea are becoming an increasingly popular option, especially for couples aged 40-plus who are looking to combine their love of cruising with a good-value ceremony. Mills said: 'The beauty of a wedding at sea is that a single point of contact at the cruise line will take over the wedding planning and details, and everything is scalable from a small, intimate ceremony to a huge, lavish event. 'At the same time, of course, customers will have a built-in honeymoon and precious time to spend with loved ones. Each year we will be involved in many such events, increasing slowly but surely in line with overall growth in cruising and a better awareness of the opportunity to do such a romantic thing. 'Lines limit the number of weddings allowed to ensure each couple is rightly the centre of attention on the day. Cunard for example, allows one wedding per ship per day, so early booking is key.' Wedding packages typically range from £1,000 to £3,000, on top of the cruise fare. Packages differ but may include a wedding cake, music, food, drinks and spa treatments. In comparison, the average cost of a wedding in the UK is £20,822, according to Bridebook, so a cruise ceremony and party may work out cheaper – although you would have to convince your guests to pay to attend. Phil Evans, managing director at Cruise Nation, said: 'Couples have the same benefits as a normal wedding abroad, but with so much more. 'Incredible sunshine, relaxation and beautiful food across multiple destinations, and that's not to mention the incredible range of activities on board, such as bars, classes, pools, restaurants and plenty of other things to keep your guests entertained during travel days.' Here is how two couples celebrated their big day on the water... 'Sir Richard Branson officiated at our luxury cruise wedding' Ben Killeen and Emma Thomas from Hampshire were not avid cruisers when they first met on a dating app back in 2015, but soon caught the bug on a Virgin Voyages sailing in 2022. They loved the experience so much that they got married on board a Virgin ship, marking their fourth cruise with the brand. The couple got married aboard Virgin Voyages' Valiant Lady during a five-night Celebration Voyage from Miami to Bimini last year, stopping off at Puerto Plata, and, to top it off, their ceremony was officiated by Sir Richard Branson. Ben, 29, a sales manager for a job board, said: 'We were looking at different options, and then this opportunity came up. 'It was surreal when we realised it was Sir Richard Branson who would be there.' The pair opted for a $4,000 (£3,000) You, Me And The Sea package, which includes intimate ceremonies for the couple and a captain or ship's officer to officiate. This is separate from the cruise fare. Other perks include priority boarding, streaming of the ceremony, music and decorations, $200 (£150) on-board credit and one beauty treatment each. Emma, 32, a cabin crew member, said: 'It was all so luxurious. You can go get your hair done, the guys can get a trim or a haircut, and we even went up to Richard Branson's rooftop! We had a few beers that morning and chilled in the Jacuzzi – where else can you do that? 'The view was incredible. I remember looking out at the scenic beauty of Puerto Plata and thinking, 'Wow, we're getting married right here.' It's such an amazing memory to look back on.' Once dressed in her halter-neck satin maxi dress, Emma was escorted by a crew member to the ceremony in the Perch – a relaxation space on the top deck - with Puerto Plata in the background. Passengers can choose the venue on board and have a song to walk down the aisle to, or just go straight into the ceremony, which is what they did. You can also select your cake fillings and bouquet. Emma said: 'Sir Richard Branson met us there, and it was a bit of a blur, but in the best way. He was so warm and welcoming. 'We didn't have any guests – it was just us – but we had Virgin Voyages crew members watching, which was lovely. We were asked if we wanted to say our own vows or if we'd prefer Richard to say something. We opted for him to say a few words and it was just perfect.' After the ceremony, they headed to The Wake, Virgin Voyages' high-end steakhouse, for dinner. Emma added, 'It felt like we were in New York. We got to cut the wedding cake there and just soak in every moment.' It was also Scarlet Night that evening, a big party around the ship, and Boy George was doing a DJ set, making the day even more special. Emma added: 'It was the most amazing experience. [Friends and family] didn't believe us until we showed them the photos. 'It was high-energy and infectious. I get emotional talking about it because I loved it so much. There's just something magical about it – the people, the places, the experiences. It was luxury from start to finish. I can't recommend it enough.' Cruise content creators and magazine publishers Jay Cannon, 32, and Dan Wailing, 29, have been on more than 70 cruises together since they met in 2020, so it made sense for them to get married on board. Jay's first sailing was as a 12-year-old with Fred Olsen, and he introduced an initially sceptical Dan to cruises in 2021. Since then, they have built one of the biggest YouTube cruise channels in the UK – Sail Away with Dan and Jay – with 41,000 subscribers, and launched Sail Away magazine in October 2023. They had enquired about a wedding ceremony with Celebrity Cruises but ended up getting an offer from Holland America Line to pay for it after reviewing its Nieuw Statendam ship. Holland America Line packages range from $1,800 (£1,350) for a symbolic non-legal ceremony to between $2,000 (£1.500 )and $2,500 (£1,900) for an official harbourside ceremony and from $3,000 (£2,250) for a wedding ashore. These prices include features such as priority boarding, a wedding coordinator, private ceremony, an officiant, music and photos. The couple were married aboard Nieuw Statendam in September 2024 during a sailing around Turkey, Greece and Egypt. They were welcomed aboard with champagne in the cabin and rose petals on the bed. The pair even got a mention on the ship's tannoy and were complimented on their suits by passengers as they headed to their intimate ceremony in the B.B. King's Blues Club on board. They walked in to Wait a Minute by Willow, and You've Got the Love by Florence and the Machine, played after they exchanged vows with their proud parents watching. Jay said: 'There wasn't anywhere else that we could have gotten married, [other] than a cruise ship. It seemed a natural fit for us. 'It was a beautiful venue, and the captain presided over the ceremony. It was like having a wedding over two weeks, as we enjoyed the whole ship during the sailing. 'Once we had the service, we got into our swimwear, which you can't usually do at a wedding. 'We then had our first dance in the evening at BB Kings Blues Club. It was a dream come true.' Jay adds that the cost of a cruise wedding can work out cheaper than doing something on land. He said: 'Everything was arranged [for us], including dinner and pictures, the only thing we didn't have was the wedding car.'
