17 April 2008

Ventura attracting younger passengers

P&O Cruises has achieved a Ã¢â¬ÅâœbreakthroughÃ¢â¬~ in reducing the age profile of passengers with new ship Ventura.

Ventura Managing director Nigel Esdale revealed that the average passenger age booked on the 3,6OO-passenger ship in its first season was 44 - ten years younger than the UK cruise market in general and only three years older than Carnival UK's casual cruise brand Ocean Village.

Esdale attributed the more youthful passenger profile to families with pre-school children booking to cruise outside the school holidays, a "breakthrough" the company had been trying to achieve.

He admitted that the attraction of Noddy on board was a contributing factor to boosting interest among younger parents with toddlers.

Esdale said 45% of passengers booked on the ship this year were new to P&O Cruises and he predicted that the proportion would rise to as much as two thirds over years two and three.

He was speaking on board prior to the formal naming of Ã&#pound;3OO million Ventura by Dame Helen Mirren, who admitted to never having been on a cruise before.

But she said she was now considering a cruise for her extended family.

Dame Helen named the ship in a spectaular James Bond-themed ceremony in Southampton last night in front of 1,500 guests.

The keel for a sister ship to Ventura is due to be laid in October in preparation for for the construction process that will see the vessel enter service in 2010.

by Phil Davies