Virgin Voyages has announced that the Scarlet Lady has officially reached completion. Nearly three years in the making, Virgin Voyages formally welcomed its first “Lady Ship” in its fleet of four after it departed the shipyard in Genoa, Italy. In March, “sailors” (its guests) will embark on the maiden voyage, departing from the ship’s home port in Miami. 

Good to know: Virgin Voyages says it is taking an industry-leading approach in regard to addressing climate change. Not only has the brand designed its fleet of ships to the latest energy-efficiency standards with state-of-the art equipment, Virgin Voyages is offsetting its direct climate change emissions through the purchase of carbon offsets. This commitment, according to Virgin Voyages, makes the brand the first cruise line to become carbon-neutral for its direct emissions footprint from its first day of commercial operation. The projects that will be supported by Scarlet Lady will meet high-quality, internationally recognized verification standards, including The Gold Standard and the Verified Carbon Standard.

The brand has recognized that climate change is an urgent, global issue for every industry and business. Like others, Virgin Voyages’ long-term ambition is a net-zero carbon future. This will require significant advancements in technology and infrastructure, and access to solutions that remain in development. Additionally, Virgin Voyages says it is committed to working with the industry to support the necessary research and development to advance carbon-free fuels and to scale commercially viable solutions. 

What’s of note? Virgin Voyages is one of first cruise lines to use Climeon, a technology that utilizes heat generated from the ship’s engines to generate electricity, thereby decreasing the demand for fuel. While the industry continues to improve on the journey for readily available and commercially viable solutions, purchasing high-quality carbon offsets allows the cruise line to take immediate action, while also supporting a long-term strategy that secures a net-zero future for the cruise industry. 

Sailors aboard the adults-only Scarlet Lady can expect a variety of entertainment and 20-plus eateries on board. All restaurants, group fitness classes, soft drinks and more “Virgin surprises” are included within the voyage fare. Scarlet Lady will sail from Miami to the Caribbean in 2020, hosting more than 2,770 sailors and 1,160 crew.