New adults-only cruise brand Virgin Voyages has announced that it will offer guests sailing on its first vessel, the Scarlet Lady, a wearable device to enable shipboard experiences. Developed via a partnership with Bionic Yarn and made from recycled ocean plastic, the device is called The Band.
Virgin Voyages guests will receive The Band by mail prior to their trip. Activated with a tap of the wrist, The Band serves as a hands- and wallet-free way for travelers to:
- Access their cabins, serving as a room key
- Board the ship with ease
- Pinpoint location for delivery of Shake for Champagne
- Make onboard purchases and pay for the drinks tab
- Game at the casino
- VIP pass for Suite Sailors to enter Richard’s Rooftop
After their trip, guests will be able to take The Band home as a keepsake.
To complement The Band, The Sailor App will be available in the coming weeks for travelers to complete the check-in process, book shore excursions and more.
The Band is made from rope material built entirely from Bionic Yarn, and it contains six grams of marine and coastal plastic – equivalent to one-half of a plastic water bottle that washes ashore. Through their partnership, both Virgin Voyages and Bionic have also committed to further sustainability initiatives, including additional ocean clean-ups and a commitment to recovering two or more pounds of plastic for every new Virgin Voyages guest in 2020. Additionally, the cruise line is banning all single-use plastics, minimizing electricity usage and eliminating food waste with its no-buffets policy.
The Scarlet Lady, the first ship for the new brand, will make its inaugural voyage April 1 from Miami to the Caribbean, after which it will offer a season of four-, five- and some seven-night holiday sailings. The line’s second ship, the Valiant Lady, will homeport in Barcelona, Spain, following its May 2021 debut, offering three different seven-night Mediterranean itineraries, all with an overnight in Ibiza. Each ship will have a capacity of more than 2,770 guests.
Related Stories
Second Virgin Voyages Ship, Valiant Lady, Bound for Barcelona
Holland America’s Westerdam Barred From Japanese Ports
Questex Travel Publications Partner to Create Cruise Central