Virgin’s three-storey, 132,000sq/ft Terminal V will host the line’s first ship, Scarlet Lady, offering views of Biscayne Bay, Edgewater and downtown Miami.
Valiant Lady, Virgin’s second ship, will join Scarlet Lady in Miami to sail the winter 2022/23 season.
Together, they will sail a range of multi-night itineraries in the Caribbean, with each featuring a call at Virgin Voyages’ Bimini beach club.
Virgin Group founder Branson was joined by Miami-Dade county mayor Daniella Levine Cava and Virgin Voyages chief executive Tom McAlpin for a ribbon cutting ceremony, complete with mermaid aerialists.
The design of Terminal V meets LEED Gold certification, which Branson said delivered on the line’s "commitment to being better stewards of the earth".
This includes using various sustainable building materials, as well as installation of electrical and air conditioning systems designed to reduce the terminal’s environmental impact.
Terminal V opens just over a year after the groundbreaking ceremony, with its geometric design supposedly inspired by Miami’s palms and historic industry.
It features 1,000 palm trees throughout its design, as well as floor-to-ceiling windows, natural skylights, a VIP entrance for guests and an exclusive pre-boarding lounge, as well as a crew-only lounge.
