Virgin Voyages’ Cruise Ship Is Designed Like a Boutique Hotel

REVAMPED CABINS

Traditionally, one of the main issues with cruise ship cabins is space — or rather, the lack thereof. So when it came to redesigning Virgin Voyages’ rooms, the goal, according to Douglas, was to create something more like a retreat that sailors could hang out in, rather than just sleep.

“I felt like there was a lot of redundant furniture inside a classic cruise cabin,” he says. “When you walk in at one o’clock in the afternoon, do you really need a bed? You don’t. You really just want the expansive space, including a comfortable sofa to sit on.”

So, Douglas and his team created a unique seabed that transforms the cabin from day to night. The bed features a lever that allows the mattress to rotate 90 degrees, moving from an L-shape sofa to a queen-size bed. “No longer do you have that awkward feeling of walking into [a friend’s] bedroom if you want to have a drink with them in their cabin,” Douglas says. “We wanted it to feel more like a lounge; something more relaxing.”

And speaking of drinks, the mini bar was revamped to create a “bespoke” experience, which means pro-level cocktail-making equipment so you can mix and shake your own cocktails — or even better, get a friend to do it for you.