6 0 INTERV IEW The ladies in red Rebecca Barnes asks Virgin Voyages’ Tom McAlpin about eco-friendly terminals, iconic godmothers and influencing passengers to live more sustainably Having launched two ‘Lady ships’ in the space of six months, it’s not surprising that Virgin Voyages has been in full celebration mode for the past year. But with the debut of its third ship, Resilient Lady, being postponed until May 2023, now could well be time for the line to regroup and focus on some of the ongoing challenges faced by the industry. “Resilient Lady was slated to debut in August, but after careful consideration we decided to defer the launch,” says Tom McAlpin, brand’s CEO. “There are several factors that played into this decision including regional uncertainty, ongoing crewing challenges brought on by the global pandemic and supply chain obstacles affecting the entire industry.” However, with two successful ship launches in its wake and the brand making tremendous strides with record bookings and receiving continuous positive feedback from sailors and crew, McAlpin doesn’t seem too fazed. “Our industry and this company are resilient, and our momentum is unprecedented,” he says. “We’ve accomplished so much in the last year, and for now we’ll continue to deliver on our promise of giving sailors one of the best vacations of their lives and cannot wait to welcome Resilient Lady in 2023.” This promise includes the opening of Terminal V at PortMiami, which McAlpin says gives sailors “a stunning launching point for their time abroad.” One of the only Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Goldcertified terminals in PortMiami, the building pays homage to the city’s iconic palm trees, with the edging of the roof meant to resemble a palm canopy. There’s also a special VIP entrance for the brand’s ‘RockStar’ sailors. “Terminal V has this incredible wow factor thanks to its bright colours, local artwork, floor-to-ceiling windows and angular skylights that allow the sun to stream in – it really sets the stage for an unforgettable vacation at sea,” enthuses McAlpin. In true Virgin fashion, the traditional godmother role has also been turned on
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