| Porthole 23 Mar 17

THE global cruise industry is in deep shock this week, after human headline Sir Richard Branson didn’t appear in person at a steel cutting ceremony for the first Virgin Voyages vessel.

Instead Branson led a countdown by video for the event at Fincantieri’s Sestri Ponente yard in Italy.

The first of three ships is scheduled for handover in early 2020, with capacity for 2,800 passengers – or “sailors” according to Virgin parlance.

Fortunately, despite the absence of Branson himself, the event featured an array of hunky blokes dressed in Virgin-red overalls and construction helmets (below), satisfying eye candy needs.

However the Virgin founder is expected in person at the keel laying ceremony in November.