Virgin Voyages, which is known for its leisure vacation products, is now all set to take over Miami with its new cruise ship terminal at Miami Port. The company launched its plans for building a two-storied terminal at the Miami port for its two cruise ships – Scarlet Lady and another one which is currently under construction.
Sir Richard Branson, the founder of the Virgin Group, with Virgin Voyages chief executive officer, Tom McAlpin and some local officials including Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos A Gimenez and Miami-Dade commissioner Rebecca Sosa made the announcement at The Standard. The construction of the port is set to begin in 2019 if the county approves of the project.
The cost of the terminal is estimated to be at $150 million. The terminal will be a 100,000 square foot area with an all-glass building. The storm proof terminal will be built by Arquitectonica, a Miami based architecture and design company.
The design firm is famous for its redevelopment works on the American Airlines Arena and Miami Beach Convention Center. So, we all have our hopes up in anticipation of this terminal.
The internet is already flooding with the design of the terminal. It is reported that the terminal is inspired by South Florida’s tropical vibe. It will house palm trees and golden sands to give it an authentic look.
According to Sun Sentinel, Gimenez said, “It’s gratifying to see Virgin Voyages expand its presence in Miami-Dade County. By constructing a new cruise terminal at PortMiami, Virgin Voyages is signaling its confidence in our thriving community, which is not only the Cruise Capital of the World but also the Gateway to the Americas. We are honored that Virgin Voyages has chosen PortMiami as its home starting in 2020.”
With its construction beginning in 2019, the project will be completed by November 2020. The company is not playing around as the Virgin Scarlet Lady would be set for sail from the Miami terminal to the Caribbean in the same year. The second ship, which is still unnamed and under construction, will also make its debut in 2021 – 2022. The bookings will open on 2019 Valentine’s Day.
Until now, Virgin was well known for its luxury hotels, extravagant voyages and Trains USA, but now, it has decided to take over the ports as well. This step is seen as a major development in the company’s boundaries and how they are not afraid to set foot in unknown land, especially in such a major city like Miami.
Since its beginning, Virgin Voyages has made it their mission to bring the best to their consumers. Year by year, they are progressing towards refining their services and bringing the best to their customers.
The project still has to get final approval from the county. But, as soon as this approval is secured, the company will immediately start their work and bring the ultimate tropical terminal to Miami in 2021. With all the buzz going around for this project, we can already see the anticipation in people.
This project is not only a turning point for the Virgin Voyages but also for the entire city of Miami. This has already turned many heads towards the city’s new expedition, and it wouldn’t be a surprise if this project attracts a great number of tourists to the city.
Virgin Voyages has shown their confidence in the project and they are ready to build a magnificent port to accommodate their cruise ships. The terminal is going to be one of a kind with the beautiful tropical inspired all-glass structure. With this project, Virgin Voyages has shown their determination to become the best leisure vacation industry in the world.