By Bridget Hallinan, Condé Nast Traveler
The Scarlet LadZ
The inaugural adults-only, cruise-ship-for-non-cruisers by Virgin Voyages—officially has its first stop when it sets sail in 2020: Cuba. On Wednesday, Richard Branson announced that Havana is set to be one of many destinations the cruise line will hit in the Caribbean, as reported by Skift. Although the dates and additional ports won't be released until next year, guests can expect to "dance the night away at a salsa club" and see "pastel-washed colonial architecture" on the first stop of their trip, per the press release (and hopefully, eat plenty of medianoches).
While Virgin Atlantic has been flying to Cuba for 13 years, this is the first time Virgin will visit Cuba by ship. The Scarlet Lady will be joining the ranks of Seabourn, Norwegian, Oceania, Royal Caribbean, and Regent Seven Seas Cruises, among other lines sailing to the island. Wondering about travel restrictions to Cuba? There are 12 authorized categories, including family visits and "activities of private foundations"—and cruises fall under the "people to people" category, which was restricted in November 2017 to traveling in an "organized group accompanied by a guide," according to Skift.
For Cuba newbies, cruising is one of the best ways to see the island and have a cushy room—while the Airbnb selection is impressive, the hotel scene still needs to work out some kinks. Even better, the Scarlet Lady is also decked out with an impressive set of amenities: we're talking a "well-being pool" with a juice bar, a spa (complete with a mud room, quartz beds, and hydrotherapy pool), sunrise and sunset yoga, and a boxing ring, as previously reported by Traveler contributor Cynthia Drescher. The ship has a wellness focus overall, but there are also fun perks like a tattoo parlor, in case you want a (permanent) souvenir. Plus, Virgin Voyages as a whole is firmly anti-plastic—no straws, no stirrers, no shopping bags. So when you climb on board the Scarlet Lady, you'll be in for a luxurious and eco-friendly vacation, sans kids. We can't wait until 2020.
