17 September 2008

Possible shift in emphasis for P&O Cruises' new ship

The yet to be built sister vessel to Britainââ¬â¢s biggest cruise ship Ventura may not have such a family friendly emphasis, owner P&O Cruises has hinted.

The 3,080 passenger Ventura was launched this spring and marketed specifically at families, with on board elements such as Noddy, a circus school and Scalextric.

P&O Cruisesââ¬â¢ managing director Nigel Esdale said that introducing the lineââ¬â¢s largest vessel had presented a number of Ã¢â¬Åâœchallengesââ¬~ which had led to some on board elements being refined.

The new vessel, due to enter service in 2010, may have a different appeal.

ââ¬ÅâœWith Ventura we set out specifically to be family friendly. We may not choose to do that again,ââ¬~ said Esdale.

He emphasised that it will operate as a family friendly ship, but the degree of the focus on families may change.

Carnival UK chief executive David Dingle said there was the ability to ââ¬Åâœdial up or downââ¬~ the level of the new shipââ¬â¢s family facilities.

The company is to unveil details of what will be P&Oââ¬â¢s seventh ship by the end of the year, with the name due to be announced to coincide with its keel laying on October 27.

Esdale revealed that the introduction of Ventura had attracted more than 107,000 passengers who had never sailed with P&O Cruises before. A ââ¬Åâœsignificant numberââ¬~ of these were first time cruisers.

There had also been a nine per cent rise in the number of children and teenagers aged under 18 and a number of multi-generation passengers ââ¬' grandparents travelling with their children and grandchildren.

He said Venturaââ¬â¢s mix of on board partners such as celebrity chef Marco Pierre White had helped develop P&O as a more contemporary brand.

Meanwhile, the company is to add almost 40 new cabins to its newest adult-only ship Arcadia as part of a 24-day refit starting on November 26.

A redesigned aft deck with enhanced bar area will be created and cinema will be added in the multi-million pound revamp.

The hull will be coated with a new silicone finish designed to help the ship travel through the water more efficiently, leading to an anticipated reduction in fuel consumption of up to eight per cent, according to Dingle.

by Phil Davies        

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