Why Richard Branson removed a cruise ship staple and banned his grandkids from Virgin Voyages

Richard Branson’s friend reveals why the billionaire didn’t want a cruising staple on Virgin Voyages as one of his ships plans to call Australia home this summer.

Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Voyages is heading to Australia for the first time this summer, with the Resilient Lady cruise ship calling Melbourne its home port.

But chief brand officer Nathan Rosenberg says you won’t find water slides, a buffet dining area or children running around like most cruise ships.

The adults-only Virgin Voyages likes its guests unbothered and it is a concept taken very seriously.

Not even Branson’s grandkids could convince him to let them on-board.

“He had his birthday party on-board last year. It was his 70th which was delayed two years because of Covid but he finally got on board with his friends and family,” Mr Rosenberg told news.com.au.

“His grandchildren were so unhappy that they weren’t allowed to sail with us because we’re an exclusively adult product, they created a petition and video, and got about 1000 signatures trying to petition Virgin Voyages to allow children on-board.”

Branson presented the petition to the senior team but the answer was not what the kids had hoped: they could come aboard … when they turned 18.

Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Voyages is adults-only with not even an exception made for his grandkids. Picture: Peggy Sirota

Mr Rosenberg, who has worked alongside Branson on Virgin Voyages for the last decade, said the British billionaire had his hands all over the business.

“He’s sailed with us about 10 or 11 times now and it’s always a list of things he has whenever he leaves the ship, saying ‘we need more chessboards’ or ‘we need more of this.’” he laughed.

“I love those little notes we get after he leaves the ship saying ‘had a great time, here’s what I think we should do now.’”

One thing Branson wanted in every room of his cruise ships was a hammock on the balcony.

Mr Rosenberg said they were made as part of a women’s empowerment project in the Philippines and can also be purchased on-board.

It was Branson’s idea to put a hammock on every balcony. Picture: Virgin Voyages

Why Richard Branson got rid of a cruise ship staple

One thing Branson didn’t want was a buffet, which has been a staple of the cruise ship experience for decades.

The main dining area is still like a food hall but to limit waste, the food is made to order.

“Obviously it’s great from a business point of view because you can manage your costs but also it’s a much better experience for your people and your sailors,” Mr Rosenberg claims.

“It’s fresh food and it’s portion controlled so you’re reducing wastage. It’s a win-win-win basically.”

The Resilient Lady arrives in Australia in December. Picture: Virgin Voyages

On-demand champagne and the highest running track at sea

The Resilient Lady is Virgin Voyages’ newest ship that only started sailing this year.

The ship is currently in Athens, Greece and in October she will make a 45 day journey to Dubai, Singapore, Sydney and then on to her new home port in Melbourne.

Some of the most interesting features on board include a tattoo parlour – that news.com.au is told almost always has a waitlist – and an on-demand champagne delivery service, where you can shake your phone to have champagne delivered anywhere on the ship.

There is also a catamaran net 14 decks above the water, which Mr Rosenberg will never forget Branson jumping on as a prank after he warned him it wasn’t ready yet (it secretly was), and the highest running track at sea at 17 decks above the water.

The ship has a tattoo parlour, catamaran net and highest running track at sea. Picture: Virgin Voyages

Itineraries over the summer include two to 14 nights, taking passengers to destinations across Australia including Hobart and Burnie in Tasmania, and Sydney in NSW, and New Zealand destinations including Picton, Napier, Tauranga, Auckland, Christchurch and Dunedin.

The company has not yet announced itineraries for the 2024-2025 summer but with Mr Rosenberg and Virgin Voyages president Nirmal Saverimuttu both Australian, news.com.au understands it is likely the ship will be Down Under again.

There may not be any water slides but there is pools. Virgin Voyages

Richard Branson plans trip Down Under

Branson hasn’t been to Australia since 2019 but is scheduled to visit at the end of the year for the Resilient Lady’s arrival.

Virgin Voyages’ first ship Scarlet Lady began sailing in 2021 and since then Valiant Lady and Resilient Lady have joined the fleet.

Mr Rosenberg said Branson had his sights set on cruise ships for a long time.

“He wanted to start cruise ships when he got into his like 20s and 30s but wasn’t able to sort of get it together because it’s not an inexpensive business to set up,” he said.

“It was really something he got serious about in the early 2000s but then basically we got to a point where we wanted to build our own ships rather than buy an old ship.

“When you build your own ships you can control the entire experience. So then it got sort of really serious around 2012 to 2013 and that’s when it all started happening. He has been there every step of the way.”