Virgin Voyages’ new Terminal V at PortMiami is officially open for business.
The cruise line’s founder, Sir Richard Branson, was joined by Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levina Cava and Virgin Voyages’ CEO Tom McAlpin for a ribbon-cutting ceremony on February 13. It was marked with mermaid-esque aerialists and a grand entrance via Virgin-branded electric Moke vehicles.
“Coming to this beautiful new terminal and seeing Scarlet Lady in her home port here in Miami has been such an incredible experience. 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,” said Sir Richard Branson, founder of the Virgin Group.
Terminal V stands three stories tall, and is 132,000 square feet in total. It sits at the northwestern corner of the port, and has unobstructed skyline views of Biscayne Bay, Edgewater, and downtown Miami.
Its geometric design was inspired by Miami’s palm trees, and the rooftop resembles the edge of a palm canopy with angular cutouts that allow natural light to stream in. The terminal is also enveloped by over 1,000 palm trees, and features lush indoor landscaping.
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The space also includes LED screens, local artwork by nonprofit Art in Public Places, and an outdoor terrace that passengers can use before embarking the ship.
Terminal V has a street address of 718 N Cruise Blvd, which is a nod to Branson’s birthday on July 18.
“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. Scarlet Lady deserves a home as beautiful as she is, and we cannot wait for our Sailors to begin their voyage at Terminal V,” said Virgin Voyages’ CEO, Tom McAlpin.
Virgin Voyages’ first ship, Scarlet Lady, is currently operating four and five-night cruises from Miami. The line’s second ship, Valiant Lady, is set to debut next month in Portsmouth, England before moving to Barcelona, Spain in May.
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