Get Inked With Virgin Voyages.

Get Inked With Virgin Voyages…..sounds like a bizarre strapline for a cruise operator, but from 2020 the option will be there if you want it. While many current cruise operators are introducing incredible ‘firsts at sea’, such as cantilevered restaurants and jaw-dropping water slides, Virgin Voyages will be offering an altogether different first – the option to ‘get inked’. Just to clarify (for those who have no idea what I’m on about), ‘getting ink’ is another way of saying getting a tattoo.

Strange as it may seem to more traditional cruisers, the Virgin Voyages Scarlet Lady will have her own onboard tattoo parlour when she launches in 2020. It has been announced that the line’s upcoming first ship Scarlet Lady will have its own onboard tattoo parlour called Squid Ink. They’ve even teamed up with tattoo industry favourites, World Famous Tattoo Ink, to make sure the standards are as high at sea as they are on land. This means when Virgin Voyages’ Scarlet Lady sets sail in 2020, she will have two full-time resident tattoo artists on board.

Squid Ink will also feature a star-studded line-up of guest artists including the tattoo industry’s most sought-after trendsetters and celebrity artists, such as surrealist specialist artist Arlo DiCristina and illustrative specialist Jime Litwalk.

In another move away from long-standing cruising traditions Virgin Voyages will also encourage its crew members to express themselves through tattoos if they wish, the company has indicated that the hiring of shipboard staff with visible tattoos will be acceptable, which is unique, as for many cruise operators this hasn’t been and indeed still isn’t the case.

Tom McAlpin, president and chief executive officer for Virgin Voyages said “Tattooing is a time-honoured seafaring tradition, and we’re continuing that legacy with rock and roll style by bringing some of the best ink artists to sea. Our sailors are looking to make lifelong memories, and we think there’s no better way to commemorate their first voyage with us than with a souvenir they’ll never lose track of.”

Personally, I’m not with Tom on that one but we’ll see. I know many people are really into their body art, it’s just not something you would traditionally associate with cruising, but I suppose that’s the whole point of Virgin Voyages offering such a service. Breaking the mould and not being afraid to innovate has always been central to the development of the Virgin brand so I see no reason why their cruise operation should be any different.

What do you think of the announcement? I’m sure the traditionalists will scoff at the news but again, I suppose it’s exactly that kind of cruiser Virgin Voyages are specifically not targeting.

Anyway, I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Bye for now.