Planes, trains, and space ships are already a reality for Virgin, and if Richard Branson gets his wish, a cruise line will be next.
Currently, only three companies, Carnival, Royal Caribbean, and Norwegian, control 80% of the global market when it comes to cruising, prompting Branson to believe that he can come in and compete by doing things differently.
Though specific details are slim, Branson told The National that his line would be based in Miami and "supply the Virgin touch" while offering "more entertainment and leisure opportunities on board the ships."
“We are looking at a very different kind of cruise company," he said. "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." While there aren't figures to define the market of "people who would but currently won't" take a cruise, we do know that there are plenty of reasons why many avoid cruising.
The next step for Branson is to find investors, and if he is successful, he said he will start the construction of two new ships with the hopes of setting sail in 2019 on Caribbean and Mediterranean routes. We'll be sure to keep you updated as things progress.
Despite numbers that suggest the cruise industry is expanding, lord knows it could use some encouraging and positive press for a change. Given his track record, Branson seems like the perfect man for the job.
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