Virgin Voyages opened Terminal V at PortMiami earlier this month.
Virgin supremo, Sir Richard Branson, was joined by Miami/Dade County Mayor, Daniella Levine Cava and Virgin Voyages’ CEO, Tom McAlpin to cut a ribbon to officially open the terminal.
With a street address of 718 N Cruise Blvd. – named to celebrate Sir Richard Branson’s birthday on 18th July – the opening of Virgin Voyages’ own cruise terminal represents a major milestone in the brand’s history and it was also the first time ‘Scarlet Lady’ sailed from her new home.
“Coming to this beautiful new terminal and seeing ‘Scarlet Lady’ in her home port here in Miami has been such an incredible experience. The team at Virgin Voyages has created a stunning building that delivers on our commitment to being better stewards of the earth with its LEED Gold Certification,” Sir Richard Branson said.
Terminal V is a three-story 132,000 sq ft building located on the northwestern corner of PortMiami and has unobstructed skyline views of Biscayne Bay, downtown and Edgewater.
“We’ve always strived to turn the ordinary into the extraordinary, and Terminal V gives us greater opportunity to elevate the Sailor experience from the moment you see the AHOY sign to the time you disembark. ‘Scarlet Lady’ deserves a home as beautiful as she is, and we cannot wait for our Sailors to begin their voyage at Terminal V,” said Virgin Voyages’ CEO, Tom McAlpin.
A geometric design, a palm grove where land meets sea, was inspired by Miami’s iconic palm trees and the area’s historical origins, as it was formerly used for harvesting coconuts.
The concept was developed by global architecture and landscape firm Arquitectonica and built from the ground up by Suffolk Construction. Terminal V’s rooftop resembles the edges of a palm canopy with angular cutouts that allow natural light to stream through.
The interior also incorporates changing LED screens, local artwork by the non-profit organisation Art in Public Places and an al fresco terrace for guests to take in the sea breeze before embarkation.
Guests who who’ve booked suite accommodations, can gain access to Terminal V’s VIP entrance, expedited security screening and an exclusive pre-boarding lounge. The new cruise terminal also features a crew-only lounge where they can unwind. Rounding out the design are designated areas for drop offs, ride sharing and provisioning.
’Scarlet Lady’, Virgin Voyages’ first ship will call at Terminal V year-round, while ‘Valiant Lady’ will join her in the winter of 2022.
Both ships will sail on a mix of multi-night itineraries in the Caribbean, each with a stop at Virgin Voyages’ signature Beach Club in Bimini.
