Richard Branson hopes to launch year long cruises on his line Virgin Voyages, the Mirror can reveal.
The billionaire told the publication of his dreams of running a 12-month long voyage that would allow cruise fans to live and work on the luxurious vessels as they wend their way round glamorous destinations.
Although such a plan has not been finalised by Virgin Voyages, and potential routes not yet worked out, such a sailing would be a significant expansion of the cruise firm's current longest offering - a month long voyage aboard Scarlet Lady as it sails along the Mediterranean. The current best price for that trip is a touch over £8,000, suggesting the year-long cruise may cost around the £100,000 mark.
If Virgin Voyages confirms the plans, then it would join a number of other firms offering longer and longer sailings in a 12 months in which the mega-cruise has made numerous headlines. Unhappy customers told of how they'd moved their lives around to spend three years aboard the Life at Sea cruise last year, only for it to be cancelled, while one long Royal Caribbean sailing became a TikTok sensation.
"We also introduced something recently which is actually an idea I had. I have always worked from anywhere, generally from home, why shouldn't people work from a cruise line?" Sir Richard told the Mirror from the back of a double-decker bus converted into a cruise ship last week.
"We offer a month-long voyage on Virgin Voyages. We had 1,000 bookings on the first day. We might even offer a year pass for people. That is for the future. I do (see this as something we might offer in the future). There are some people who would be able to afford to do it, it is a nice thing being on a boat with Virgin Voyages, it is social, there are people coming on the whole time. The food is spectacular, there is no queuing for food.
"At the moment we're not doing around the world, but what people are currently doing is for a month. They will go around the four or five stops two or three times. It is an internal debate but I am definitely pushing for longer trips."
Currently Virgin Voyages' longest cruise is the Scarlet Summer Season Pass. From June to September 2024, the adults-only cruise line is inviting sailors on a workcation adventure through the vibrant coastal towns of southern Europe. The Season Pass includes four back-to-back voyages in a Central Sea Terrace cabin for two where they'll have a private balcony, complete with a signature red hammock.
For the first time in Virgin Voyages' ten year history, this summer those living in the UK will be able to board one of its ships without leaving the country - cutting the likely environmental impact of sailing. Starting in Portsmouth, on the south coast of England, passengers will head to Bruges, Belgium on a three-night trip.
You can find out more on virginvoyages.com.
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