Sir Richard Branson has described his delight after waking up on his company’s first-ever cruise ship, docked on the Kent coast.

The billionaire businessman’s £550 million Scarlet Lady sailed into Dover on Thursday.

Tweeting about the experience last night, the overwhelmed Virgin boss said: I’ve wanted to launch a cruise line since I was in my 20s and I’m so excited that it’s finally happening with @VirginVoyages.

“When I woke up in one of the Rockstar Suites this morning, I really had to pinch myself.”

The Port of Dover responded: “Thanks for choosing @Port_of_Dover for the official launch. We couldn't be prouder!”

The Scarlet Lady is the first of Sir Richard’s new fleet of cruise ships.

He hopes to attract a younger audience, replacing on-board formal dinners with gigs, tattoo parlours and vinyl stores.

Gone are the buffets and big dining halls - instead the adult-only ship boasts more than 20 eateries ranging from brunch bars to restaurants run by Michelin-starred chefs.

Entertainment has a festival feel with gigs, nightclubs, comedians and drag artists.

And instead of traditional excursions, guests will be transported to a private beach club in the Bahamas, with DJ entertainment provided by the likes of Mark Ronson and Diplo.

Dee Cooper, senior vice president of the design and sailor experience, told KentOnline: “Our aim was to attract a new type of cruise traveller to the ship industry.”

The Scarlet Lady has 1,330 cabins. British designer Tom Dixon is responsible for the 78 Rockstar Suites, two of which offer the full rock star treatment with their own music rooms, guitars and amplifiers.

The Port of Dover is holding a firework display at 6.30pm on Sunday when the Scarlet Lady departs.

The Virgin Voyages vessel will travel to Liverpool for two days before heading across the Atlantic for a star-studded reception in New York and then on to Miami where she will based and make her inaugural passenger voyage around the Caribbean in April.

See more pictures from inside the Scarlet Lady here.

Read more: All the latest news from Dover