No more hand-me-downs for Aussie cruisers, we’re finally get our first ever completely newbuild ship and its all thanks to our growing interest in the sector.
Carnival Corporation kicked off 2016 with the announcement that its ever-growing P&O Cruises Australia brand would be the recipient of one of four brand new vessels.
While the cruise line was lucky enough to welcome two new ships to its fleet last year (Pacific Eden and Pacific Aria), both were previously part of the Holland America line, making them second-hand for the Australian market.
All P&O cruise ships currently based in Australia once operated under a different name for another cruise line.
But come 2019, Australia will welcome its first new ship specifically built for the market.
This means P&O literally has a blank canvass to work with and design a ship packed with everything the line knows we love about cruising.
While details of the ship are yet to be revealed, the cruise line did say the unnamed vessel will weigh around 135,500-tonnes to carry some 4,200 guests – making it the largest ship in the line’s fleet and one of the biggest to sail around Australia.
At 323 metres in length and with 2,100 guest rooms, it will offer itineraries from three-to-10 days duration.
P&O Cruises’ recently appointed President, Sture Myrmell said the new ship will be a game changer for Australian cruising and will continue the line’s evolution in the market.
“P&O Cruises is the modern face of Australian cruising and, with such a proud heritage of leadership, it is a natural step to announce that the line will take delivery of its first newbuild ship.”
Sture Myrmell, P&O Cruises President
The new ship is just one of many changes rolling out over at P&O Cruises including the 2017 arrival of its sixth ship, Pacific Explorer.
