Richard Branson Wants His Own Cruise Line

Sir Richard Branson has plans to launch a fleet of Virgin Cruise ships, says the UAE’s The National. The project is expected to cost US$1.7 billion and Branson is reportedly looking for Arabian Gulf investors.

“We are looking at a very different kind of cruise company. We’re trying to create the kind of cruise ship that would be attractive to the kind of people who would never consider a cruise at the moment,” Branson told The National.

The 63-year-old founder of Virgin founder is believed to have hired Allen & Co, a small New York-based investment bank that specializes in media and leisure projects, to help him find business partners.

Branson is involved with the Abu Dhabi government-backed investment group Aabar in the space industry, and is believed to want to start his cruise ship venture with two new vessels for the Caribbean and Mediterranean markets. Arabian Gulf tours would come later. If plans go to schedule, the line could be operational by 2019.
 
“We would offer more entertainment and leisure opportunities on board the ships, making them attractive to a younger market. We believe we can supply the Virgin ‘touch’ on cabins, leisure and dining facilities,” a Virgin spokesman said.

The line is expected to be based in Miami.