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Move over, Adolfo Perez.
Virgin Voyages said it will become the first cruise line to devote space on a ship to a tattoo parlor.
The shop will be called Squid Ink and will be featured on Virgin’s first ship, the Scarlett Lady, scheduled for delivery in 2020.
“Tattooing is a time-honored seafaring tradition, and we’re continuing that legacy with rock-and-roll style by bringing some of the best ink artists to sea,” said Tom McAlpin, president and chief executive officer for Virgin Voyages.
Two full-time resident tattoo artists will staff Squid Ink, selected by Lou Rubino Jr., owner of World Famous Tattoo Ink, and developer of Soho Ink and Freshly Inked Magazine.
In addition, visiting tattoo creators will rotate aboard. Virgin said Spike TV’s Ink Master star Sarah Miller, surrealist specialist artist Arlo DiCristina and illustrative specialist Jime Litwalk have already committed to a guest artist appearance aboard the Scarlet Lady in 2020.
Said Rubino Jr.: “As global acceptance of tattoos and body art continues to grow, partnering with Virgin Voyages gives us the unique opportunity to bring color to places people might have never thought possible before. We couldn’t be more excited to leave our mark on the sea travel industry.”
In addition to tattoos, Squid Ink will do body piercings as well as permanent makeup treatments using vegan-friendly Perma Blend pigments.
To date, the cruise industry’s big tattoo moment came last year when Adolfo Perez, senior vice president of sales and trade marketing at Carnival Cruise Line, got a tattoo on his upper arm saying “Travel Agents Rock” at a Carnival Agentpalooza agent event in New Orleans.
Virgin Voyages said that it will sponsor the giveaway of 100 nautical-inspired “micro tattoos” on Oct. 20 at Soho Ink in Manhattan. The first 100 tattoo-seekers in line at 12 p.m. can choose from among 10 nautical designs. If they post about it on Instagram, they will be entered to win a free cruise for two, Virgin said.
Source: travelweekly.com
