By
Alex Smith |
Virgin Voyages has celebrated the opening of its new Terminal V at PortMiami with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Founder of the Virgin Group Sir Richard Branson, Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava and Virgin Voyages’ CEO Tom McAlpin were among the attendees at the ceremony, entering via Virgin-branded electric Moke vehicles and greeted by aerialists dressed as mermaids.
“Coming to this beautiful new terminal and seeing Scarlet Lady in her homeport here in Miami has been such an incredible experience,” said Branson. “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.”
Terminal V is a three-storey building at the northwestern corner of PortMiami, with unobstructed skyline views of Biscayne Bay, downtown and Edgewater. Its geometric design was based upon the concept of a palm grove, inspired by Miami’s palm trees and the area’s historical use for growing and harvesting coconuts. Its rooftop resembles the edges of a palm canopy, with angular cutouts to allow natural light inside. Terminal V also features floor-to-ceiling windows and natural skylights and is surrounded by more than 1,000 palm trees.
The terminal’s interiors feature emerald and ruby jewel tones and incorporate changing LED screens, local artwork by the nonprofit organisation Art in Public Places. An al fresco terrace provides a place for passengers to sit before embarkation, while a ‘Sail the Virgin Way’ sign and red lighting on the building’s exterior are intended to mirror the city’s lights.
Guests who have booked suite accommodations will gain access to Terminal V’s VIP entrance, expedited security screening and an exclusive pre-boarding lounge. The new terminal also features a crew lounge and designated areas for drop offs, ride sharing and provisioning.
The concept for the new facility was developed by global architecture and landscape firm Arquitectonica and built by Suffolk Construction.
“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,” said McAlpin. “Scarlet Lady deserves a home as beautiful as she is, and we cannot wait for our sailors to begin their voyage at Terminal V.”
Scarlet Lady will sail from Terminal V year-round, while Valiant Lady will join her in the winter. Both ships will sail on a range of multi-night itineraries in the Caribbean, each with a stop at Virgin Voyages’ private resort, Beach Club in Bimini.