Virgin Voyages today cut steel for the first of three cruise ships to be built at Fincantieri.

President and CEO Tom McAlpin was joined by Fincantieri team members and the ships’ designers. 

“Today is the moment when our intrepid, romantic and irresistible vision for Virgin Voyages starts to become tangible. I’ve been inspired by the passion from all those involved, it’s so exciting as we continue to work together to bring true sea change to the cruise industry,” said McAlpin. 

In addition to the steel cutting, Virgin Voyages also announced the firms that comprise the company’s design team.

• Roman and Williams – Stephen Alesch, Co-Founder; Robin Standefer, Co-Founder

• Concrete Amsterdam – Rob Wagemans, Architect / Creative Director / Founder; Kasia Hiejerman, Architect

• Design Research Studio – Tom Dixon, Creative Director; Gareth Payne, Head of Interior Design; Helen Arvanitakis, Managing Director

• Gem SRL – Giacomo Mortola, Architect / Founder

• Softroom – Chris Bagot, Director & Co-Founder; Oliver Salway, Co-Founder

• WORKac – Dan Wood, Co-Founder

• Knibb – Sean Knibb, Founder

• HL Studio – Patrick Hegarty, Owner; Emil Leon, Creative Director

• HKS inc. – Olga Acosta, Associate Principal, Interior; Adele Cuartelon, Designer

• Pearson Lloyd – Luke Pearson, Co-Founder

McAlpin added, “The design collective includes some of the world’s most stylish firms who are creators of design trends, not followers. Together they are imagining a vessel unlike anything sailors have experienced before that will be a complete departure from the ordinary. With this group, we have a depth in creativity that brings a different perspective to space design at sea that will change cruising for good. Irresistible style will finally find its sea legs.”

Virgin Voyages’ first ship, of about 110,000 gross tons, will arrive at PortMiami in 2020.