Tattoos at sea: Virgin Voyages to feature a tattoo parlor on its first cruise ship

Gene Sloan | USA TODAY

Add getting a tattoo to the list of things you can do on a cruise ship.

Start-up cruise line Virgin Voyages on Thursday announced its much-awaited first vessel would have a tattoo parlor – an industry first.

To be called Squid Ink, the venue is being designed in partnership with Fort Mill, S.C.-based World Famous Tattoo Ink.

“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,” Virgin Voyages president and CEO Tom McAlpin said in a statement accompanying the announcement.

To be called Scarlet Lady, Virgin's first ship currently is under construction at a shipyard in Italy and due for completion in 2020. It'll carry 2,860 passengers.

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The tattoo parlor planned for Scarlet Lady will be staffed with two full-time resident tattoo artists handpicked by Lou Rubino Jr., creator of World Famous Tattoo Ink, Soho Ink and Freshly Inked Magazine. It'll also house a rotating line-up of guest artists. Among those who already have committed to working on board are Sarah Miller, star of Spike TV’s Ink Master, and surrealist tattoo artist Arlo DiCristina.

In addition to tattoos, Squid Ink will offer body piercings as well as permanent makeup treatments using vegan-friendly Perma Blend pigments. The outlet also will offer exclusive voyage tattoos designed by the World Famous Tattoo Ink team for passengers looking to commemorate their voyage.

Based in Plantation, Fla., Virgin Voyages is a joint venture between Richard Branson's Virgin Group and Boston-based investment firm Bain Capital. The company has ordered three vessels for delivery between 2020 and 2022.