P&O doubles Australian fleet
14 November
With Australians tipped to holiday closer to home in the current economic climate, P&O Cruises has announced it will double its fleet over the next two years to meet growing domestic demand.
Under the plans, P&O will add another two 2000-passenger superliners to its Australian operations, with one hubbed from Brisbane and the other likely to sail from Auckland.
The new ships open the doors to many possibilities including the joint hubbing of Pacific Sun between Fremantle and Auckland from December 2009.
Carnival Australia chief executive, Ann Sherry, said the new ships represent the biggest ever investment made by a cruise company in this region.
The first ship, to be named Pacific Jewel, will begin sailing year round from Brisbane in December 2009, with the second superliner arriving towards the end of 2010.
The additional ships will open a range of voyage options for travellers with departures from Brisbane, Sydney, Auckland and Fremantle.
“With the new ships in operation, P&O Cruises’ fleet will increase to four – twice the size of any other cruise company operating in Australia,” she said.
Sherry said the ships will include an increased number of balcony cabins as well as new amenities such as ocean-view spa treatment rooms, a child-free oasis, a circus show with a high-wire act and bikes and kayaks for passenger use while in port.
Brisbane-based 65,000 tonne liner, Pacific Jewel, is a sister-ship to Pacific Dawn and will boast an expanded room and facilities inventory along with 198 private balcony cabins.
Pacific Jewel and the second ship are presently operating in Carnival UK’s Ocean Village fleet - named Ocean Village 2 and Ocean Village respectively.
Itineraries for Pacific Jewel will go on sale in December.