Richard Branson strengthens his fleet. The delivery of “Valiant Lady” was held yesterday at the Sestri Ponente shipyard and today the launch of “Resilient Lady”, the second and third of four cruise ships commissioned from Fincantieri by Virgin Voyages, new operator of the cruise sector and brand of the Virgin Group.
“Valiant Lady” and “Resilient Lady”, like the twin “Scarlet Lady” delivered last year, have a gross tonnage of approximately 110,000 tons, a length of 278 meters and a width of 38. The units of the class are all equipped with over 1,400 cabins capable of accommodating more than 2,770 passengers on board, assisted by a crew of 1,160 to ensure Virgin’s distinctive style. The quality of life on board is guaranteed by the “comfort class” certification, which certifies minimum levels of perceived noise and vibration, and by an extensive use of home automation, thanks to which guests are able to manage a wide range of functions of the cabin (air conditioning, lighting, opening and closing of curtains, music and television) through an app to be installed on your smartphone.
These ships are characterized by the particular attention paid to energy recovery thanks to the use of alternative and cutting-edge technologies in the sector capable of reducing the overall environmental impact. In fact, they are equipped with an approximately 1 MW electricity production system that uses the waste heat of diesel engines. In addition to a scrubber system for the disposal of sulfur oxides, a catalytic converter capable of reducing nitrogen oxides is also installed. The units are fully fitted with LED lights to reduce energy consumption, while the hydrodynamic design of the hull can ensure excellent performance, with consequent fuel savings.