And the pass, which is valid for 12 months before needing to be renewed, has had a welcome reception on social media due to a ‘game-changing’ way of paying for the journeys.
Branson, who is worth $2.6 billion (£2.05 billion), is a household name in many parts of the world for his renowned business acumen. Having created the Virgin Group back in the 1970s, the decades since them have seen him venture in to many sectors through Virgin Records, Virgin Atlantic, Virgin Trains, and Virgin Galactic.
He has an eye for a mixing it up and not putting all his eggs in one basket; with his cruise ship company Virgin Voyages being one of the more recent business ventures he has embarked on.
Offering luxury trips across the globe, he has three cruise ships and is always looking at new, bespoke things to do to entice people on board.
One of his latest offerings has been to launch an annual pass. For $120,000 (roughly £94,000) plus taxes and fees, passengers can buy the ticket giving you ‘limitless’ travel with the cruise line for an entire 12 months.
“I’ve always been a big believer in the power of travel and adventure to spark creativity and bring clarity,” Branson said.
A Virgin Voyages ship in Sydney Harbour (Chris Putnam/Future Publishing via Getty Images)
“What started as a sought-after ‘work from sea’ concept with our Season Pass has evolved into something even more special. Now, sailors can jump aboard any of our ships, across an endless variety of exciting destinations for an entire year.
“We’re offering unlimited opportunities for adventure in a way that has never been done in cruising before.”
Those who take up Branson’s annual cruising pass will be given perks such as priority boarding, complimentary laundry services, dedicated concierge support, unlimited premium Wi-Fi, and $100 bar tab credit per voyage.
They will also get access to exclusive onboard events and experiences that ‘make every voyage feel extra special’, the company says.
Virgin Voyages has three ships that will soon become four (Matt Blyth/Getty Images)
And as an added benefit, passholders are welcome to add a plus one to their cabin, with the ability to travel with different companions throughout the year.
With a fourth ship being launched in 2025, called the Brilliant Lady, Branson says it is a great way to experience one of the newest ways to cruise across the world.
And in a world first, Virgin Voyages will be accepting cryptocurrency when it comes to payment methods after confirming Bitcoin was an accepted method of confirming your annual pass.
“Adoption at its very best,” one X (formerly Twitter) user wrote, adding: “I will be spending my next summer profits with Virgin then.”
“Always great to see some positive crypto news,” another user posted.
A third added: “This is amazing! Virgin Voyages is leading the way by accepting. Can’t wait to set sail into the future of cruising!”
And a fourth continued: “A great move by Virgin Voyages! This could be a game-changer for crypto adoption in the travel industry.”
Virgin Voyages offers cruises across the world including Mediterranean, Caribbean, and North America. The annual pass is available on a first-come, first-served basis through to 31 March, 2025.
The British billionaire, worth a cool $2.6 billion (£2.05 billion), is known throughout the world for his business acumen.
Setting up the Virgin Group in the 1970s, his ventures include Virgin Records, Virgin Atlantic, Virgin Trains, and Virgin Galactic.
With just three ships, each of them carries roughly 2,700 passengers on every voyage, having first set sail back in 2021.
And now, Branson has set his sights on those who work from home.
The idea? Get remote workers to give up their home office or the local coffee shop in favour of his state of the art ships.
Offering a brand new month-long cruise, Branson’s Virgin Voyages is looking to set sail across the Mediterranean on a journey lasting one month.
A Virgin Voyages cruise ship. Chris Putnam/Future Publishing via Getty Images
Running from June to September this year, the adults-only cruise is dubbed the ‘Scarlet Summer Season Pass’ and stops off idyllic locations including Cannes, Rome, Ibiza, Palma de Mallorca, and Corsica.
Wi-Fi wouldn’t be a problem, with super-fast coverage included in your package through SES Cruise mPOWERED + Starlink PRO.
It also comes with your own dedicated concierge, a laundry service, and early access booking for dining.
There is also early access for Shore Things excursions, which are local experiences to get truly immersed in the location you’ve stopped off at.
The pass also comes with exclusive access to Richard’s Rooftop deck, daily coffee credits, and welcome champagne.
For a cabin sleeping two, prices start at $9,990 (£7,878). That’s 30% less than if you booked four separate week-long cruises, according to the company website.
Virgin Voyages’ CEO Nirmal Saverimuttu told CNBC Travel: “People have really adopted the flexible working style, and it resonates with travellers.
“We got a lot of people who said it feels like an incredible value.”
More than 2,000 people registered their interest in the scheme within a day of it being launched.
The pass also comes with exclusive access to Richard’s Rooftop deck, daily coffee credits, and welcome champagne.
KPMG’s chief economist, Diane Swonk, told CNBC Travel: “We are in the midst of a massive transformation in how, what, and where we do our jobs. There is no putting the work-from-home genie back in the bottle.
“Firms who try too aggressively to do so lose a lot of their access to top talent and the diversity of their workforce.”
As with any cruise ship, though, living on it for one month doesn’t mean you’re exempt from the brutal departure time cut offs.
The shocking incident happened on the Princess Cruise ship, the Ruby Princess, while it was approaching San Fransisco in California.
Authorities reported that a man, aged 72, fell overboard before the approach at around 7.00am local time on Monday (2 December).
Ruby Princess was on a five-day holiday to Mexico when the incident happened, with the trip having began on 27 November.
The disappearance of the man was only reported when the cruise ship docked in the city, with crew realising he was unaccounted for.
As a result, he is feared to have fallen overboard, with other alternatives ‘ruled out’.
Not identified at this stage, he is now feared to have died in the incident with it being some time since he was last seen.
A Princess Cruise spokesperson said: “Princess worked throughout the day with local authorities.
“CCTV footage has also been extensively reviewed and the ship was searched thoroughly several times without success.
The Ruby Princess as it departed San Fransisco (Tayfun Coskun / Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
“Having ruled out other possibilities, this is being treated as a man overboard incident.”
The spokesperson added that everyone at the cruise line ‘extends their heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of the guest who was travelling alone’.
US Customs and Border Protection has since taken over the investigation into the incident with the ship now docked in California.
San Francisco TV station KRON4 has also reported that the United States Coast Guard is searching the area via plane, with the search happening up to 45 miles off the coast of nearby Monterey.
The man could not be located when passengers departed the ship (James D. Morgan/Getty Images)
Hunter Schnabel, of the Coast Guard, said: “What information we have to go off kind of does make it a little more difficult.
“To search a wide area of the ocean does take a lot of time and there is a lot that goes into that.”
The Ruby Princess has since departed San Fransisco for a 16-day holiday to Hawaii, with more than 4,000 people voyaging on the vessel.
In October, a woman died after falling overboard from the MSC Virtuosa as it sailed near the Channel Islands off the coast of the UK.
British and French police launched an investigation into the matter in an attempt to determine what happened.
For those unaware, those opting for the ‘spicy’ trip are heading out to sea with lots of people open to sharing their partners.
It’s for those who don’t follow monogamy and want a safe and secure place to go about exploring that.
Some passengers who have travelled on the ‘spicy’ cruises have spoken out about their experiences and on key issues – such as when something is classed as cheating. Meanwhile, those who work on them have also dished the details on their experience.
Temptation Cruises are one of the world’s leading company’s offering these trips, with their next voyage taking place in February 2024. Sailing from Miami and out in to the Caribbean, it will be a week of fun at sea that’s for sure, with very few places left.
But that fun comes with rules – break these rules and you should expect consequences, from being denied entry to specific areas of the vessel to even being asked to leave at the next stop off.
The one everyone wants to know about. The red room, or play room, is an area of the ship that sees couples mix with other couples in a secure, intimate area with the doors manned and photography banned.
“The Playroom is a couples-only area (no exceptions),” the Temptation website states. Sorry, solo travellers.
But there is hope for some singles, according to those who have worked on a Temptation Cruise.
Kate Shelor, a qualified intimacy coach as well as a hypnotherapist, previously told LADbible that you can be invited in to the red room if you go with a couple and are part of their experience.
Clothing
When it comes to clothing, there are actually rules when it comes to keeping your kit on despite taking it off being one of the big reasons many board the cruise ship in the first place.
The rule is mainly in place for when you’re not in the locations where people are getting jiggy with it.
“The dress code on board is ‘cruise casual’,” the cruise company says. “At dinner, you can expect a ‘smart casual’ dress code (dress, slacks, and blouses). Baseball caps, swimsuits, tank tops, T-shirts and shorts are never allowed in the restaurants in the evenings. Short pants are allowed only in the buffet.”
Clothing is optional at all pools, sun decks, and designated events.
You don’t have to wear clothes in the pool areas (Temptation Cruises)
Photography and film
A big no no, especially when it comes to areas where there is nudity.
“Due to the unique concept of our cruise, we ask that you refrain from taking photos/video in certain areas, as well as stipulated theme nights and all workshops,” Temptation says.
“Be sure and capture your favourite Temptation Caribbean Cruise moments throughout all other areas around this spectacular ship.”
You cannot, for example, take photos in the red room where couples are getting intimate with each other.
Do this and you will be in big trouble that could have legal consequences for yourself.
Miami is the cruise ship capital of the world (Getty Stock Images)
Smoking
As with any cruise ship, there is a general non-smoking policy on board the vessel. In order to facilitate those who do smoke, though, there will be areas in which you can smoke.
Temptation says: “The ship is considered non-smoking; however, the cruise line has provided designated areas of the ship as smoking areas.
“These designated areas can be found outside, on deck 12 and forward.”
Where the magic happens (Facebook/Temptation Cruises)
Alcohol and drugs
Obviously, booze is everywhere on the cruise. It even has its own drinks packages you can pay for before arrival.
But drink too much and you could be refused service. So just be decent and don’t overdo it, capeesh?
Illegal drugs will be a complete red flag, though. No its or no buts. And if you’re caught with them, expect a heavy handed response.
“We have created a relaxed ambiance aboard our Temptation Caribbean Cruise; however, drug use will not be tolerated,” Temptation says.
“No illegal drugs or other illegal substances are allowed on board, at any time. Violation of drug laws may include, but is not limited to, removal from the ship and involvement of the appropriate authorities.”
But there’s one thing you need to really put a lot of time and effort in to thinking about, according to cruise experts, with it being none of the above.
Experts over at Iglu Cruise have revealed that those looking to book on to a cruise ship inundate them with questions over where exactly you should be booking to stay within the boat itself.
And let’s face it, most of us can’t afford to drop £3,100 a night for a huge suite on the world’s largest cruise ship.
It’s just like hotels in many regards here; not every room is the same and some will come with hidden perks you might only appreciate once you get on board and get a feel of where everything is.
Those who aren’t too good with nausea in rough waters will also want to take note, especially with brutal footage being released showing what it is really like when a storm hits on the open seas. And then there’s the infamous Drake Passage.
You could also argue it’s even more important if you’re one of the growing number of people deciding to permanently live in a cabin on a cruise liner.
“It very much depends on your individual preferences,” the experts said.
“The first question to ask yourself is how you want to spend your cruise, and then pick a cabin accordingly.
“Good examples of this are cabins located closest to kids’ areas; the spa; dining; the pool; the theatre and so on. Some travellers will want to be near lifts and stairs.”
They added: “Midship is deemed to be best for those concerned about the swells, the aft of the ship is wonderful for sailaways from ports, when you can watch the foamy ship’s wake leaving a trail behind you.”
Before booking you should also check what is around the cabin that you’ve decided upon. For example, expect it to be a bit noisy if you’re near the ship’s bars and clubs.
The experts said: “Be careful what is above, beneath, and, if you choose an outside or balcony cabin, what’s immediately outside such as a promenade deck. Take a very close look at deck plans to be sure what could be surrounding you.”
