Sir Richard Branson is one of the most successful and innovative entrepreneurs of our time. He is the founder of Virgin Group, a global brand with over 400 companies in different sectors, such as airlines, telecommunications, music, and more. With his tremendous success, it’s no surprise that many people wonder if he owns a cruise ship.
The answer is yes—Richard Branson does own a cruise ship. In 2007, he acquired the RMS Queen Elizabeth 2 (QE2) from Carnival Corporation & plc for $100 million. The QE2 was built in 1967 as an ocean liner to serve on the transatlantic route between England and New York City before it was retired from service in 2008.
Since then, Branson has been working to transform the QE2 into a luxury floating hotel and cruise experience. In July 2018, his Virgin Voyages company signed a deal with The Dubai Drydocks World to have the iconic ship refurbished and upgraded for its new role as a “floating boutique hotel” at sea.
The plan is to construct three new decks on top of the QE2 with luxurious cabins, suites, restaurants and bars that will be available for overnight stays or short cruises in the Persian Gulf region. It will also feature various leisure activities such as watersports, snorkeling and kayaking tours in nearby waters.
However, this project has yet to be completed due to delays caused by Covid-19 pandemic restrictions. Currently, there is no timeline for when construction will begin or when Virgin Voyages will begin offering its first voyages on board the newly renovated QE2.
Conclusion: So to answer the question – Does Richard Branson own a cruise ship? The answer is yes!
He acquired the RMS Queen Elizabeth 2 (QE2) from Carnival Corporation & Plc back in 2007 and has been working ever since to turn it into a luxury floating hotel experience with Virgin Voyages. Although construction has been delayed due to Covid-19 restrictions, it appears that this project is still on track to be completed eventually.