Virgin Voyages Cuts Ribbon at New PortMiami Terminal
by Daniel McCarthy
Photo: Virgin Voyages
Virgin Voyages has officially taken its claim at PortMiami.
On Monday, Virgin celebrated the grand opening of Terminal V at PortMiami, an occasion that was just about four years in the making.
The celebration, which featured mermaid aerialists and a grand entrance via Virgin-branded electric Moke vehicles, included Sir Richard Branson, Miami-Dad County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, and Virgin Voyages CEO Tom McAlpin.
“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.
The three-story, 132,000 sq. ft. terminal, where Scarlet Lady already sailed from over the weekend, allows guests to see unobstructed views of Biscayne Bay, downtown Miami, and Edgewater as they board their ship. The building is enveloped by more than 1,000 palm trees, and, inside, features floor-to-ceiling windows, natural skylights, and lush indoor landscaping that offers Sailors both a grand and warm welcome on their voyage.
The terminal also allows Virgin to go the extra mile for their suite guests—while all guests will board through the terminal, suite guests will get access to Terminals V’s VIP entrance, which allows for expedited security screening and an exclusive pre-boarding lounge.
The terminal also includes a crew-only lounge where the Virgin team can unwind.
