Stacy Shaw, vice-president of sales and business development, told TTG that while Virgin Voyages – which is set to launch its first vessel in 2020 – is part of more than 60 businesses across the Virgin Group, "each is managed independently".

She said: "There are more than 60 businesses within the Virgin group across many different industries.

"While there is a spirit of entrepreneurial thinking, passion, creativity and a desire to change the world for good that runs through all the businesses, each is managed independently. We love and admire all of the Virgin companies and trust that they make the best decisions for their businesses as experts in their industries and markets.

"It isn’t our place to comment on their decisions or policies but we’re happy to talk about what we’re doing as a new company that will have sailors [passengers] and partners from all over the world who we intend to take very good care of."

TTG held a poll asking agents if they planned to sell the brand. Of the almost 200 respondents, 53% said they would not sell Virgin Voyages when it went on sale as they were “still angry from when Virgin Holidays went direct”. Only 23% said they would sell the line, while 24% said they would consider it “depending on commission levels”.

Steve Cartwright, managing director of Cartwright Travel said he believed the Virgin name was “still tarnished”. “It [Virgin Voyages] is still Virgin, and they bit the hand that fed them,” he said, while Cruise Club International director Graham Dullop stressed he would “absolutely” consider selling the line, but “with some trepidation”.