A new Ship for P & O

We are delighted to announce that one of the two ships due for delivery from Italian shipbuilders Fincantieri in 2008 has been allocated to P&O Cruises. The new 116,000 tonne cruise ship, to be named Ventura, will be the largest ever built specifically for Britain and will carry 3,100 passengers and 1,200 officers and crew.

Commenting on the announcement, David Dingle, managing director of P&O Cruises said, “This new order acknowledges the unprecedented demand for the P&O Cruises brand and its increasingly wide appeal. Over the last 10 years P&O Cruises uniquely has introduced a progression of new ships purpose-built for Britain, which have created record levels of demand. Ventura, through her innovation, scale and contemporary appeal, marks the next major step forward for Britain’s leading cruise line, maintaining P&O Cruises’ position at the forefront of our industry.”

To meet the rapidly expanding demand for P&O Cruises, Ventura will feature an unprecedented range of passenger facilities including eight restaurants, six shops, five pools and three show lounges including the largest theatre on a British cruise ship. She will offer one of the largest spas afloat, and a unique family zone, which will bring together four extensive activity areas for different child age groups, a family bistro and two pools dedicated to parents and children. Of her 1,550 passenger cabins, almost 900 will feature a private balcony.

We look forward to bring you a great deal more news as we go through the development and building of Ventura.

Much too big - but at least they will not name her Canberra, as had been rumored.

Much too big - but at least they will not name her Canberra, as had been rumored.

So the name Canberra is to be left to moulder in books? Better use it to keep it alive, than name 'Britain's biggest cruise ship' after a town in California! No one will ever build a ship as unique as Canberra again - just as no one later built a liner as great as the original Mauretania - yet her name was successfully reused - I'd rather see the name kept alive.

Peter

are you sure it wasnt going to be named after "OUR" Canberra the state's capital???LOL

but yes wow, that doesn seem like a huge ship. Having family areas does seem a good idea.

karon

is this p&o uk, or p&o australia? we deserve another ship here

:) Yes Luvvin, I think we will end up with another ship.

However I am sure it will be the oldest rust bucket in the fleet.

It seems thats all P&O give us here in Australia.

Ron

We are getting another ship... The Pacific Star... :-)

I agree, I would love to try a 100 thousand ton plus ship and see what its all about.. but i think i like the Aussie culture too much to try a cruise from the US or Europe.

Cheers,

Dan

We are getting another ship... The Pacific Star... :-)

 

I agree, I would love to try a 100 thousand ton plus ship and see what its all about.. but i think i like the Aussie culture too much to try a cruise from the US or Europe.

 

Cheers,

 

Dan

I agree about the aussie culture bit but wouldnt it be nice to cruise on a ship like those from the celebrity fleet

I agree about the aussie culture bit but wouldnt it be nice to cruise on a ship like those from the celebrity fleet

Yeah i actually meant we need a 100,000 ton plus ship cruising out of Sydney with aussies on board. (I should proof read before I click submit, sometimes my brain says something and my fingers forget to type...) :D

as opposed to going to the US to try one.

Cheers,

Dan

apart from the pacific star tho.. i mean it looks nice compared to the sun.. but they should have a really nice ship out here and not for posh people or people that like to whinge about everything.. hey whats cruising in america like around the carribean? i really want to do it one day.. not if its all posh though

I think the Australian cruise market has got, in the celestrial trio (Sky, Sun & Star), what it really wants - relaxed, casual cruising suited to the Australian way of life.

The summer visits by Pacific Princess and the other bigger ships (Sapphire, Diamond, etc) can cater for the market that is looking for something a little more glamourous.

I don't think we really need the garish Carnival or Celebrity type ships down here, looking like Las Vegas casino's on water.

Kym

apart from the pacific star tho.. i mean it looks nice compared to the sun.. but they should have a really nice ship out here and not for posh people or people that like to whinge about everything.. hey whats cruising in america like around the carribean? i really want to do it one day.. not if its all posh though

I think what would be nice is the size and facilities of a mega liner but run with the aussie attitude being relaxed and casual.

Do the saphhire and diamond that come in summer attract mainly aussies or are they full of people from around the world?

I think what would be nice is the size and facilities of a mega liner but run with the aussie attitude being relaxed and casual.

 

Do the saphhire and diamond that come in summer attract mainly aussies or are they full of people from around the world?

again i agree with you- i would love to see P & O acquire a mega liner but keep the aussie attitude. I think the sapphire and diamond are mainly marketed at the UK and US cruisers

Yes, a mega liner run the same as Pacific Sky/Sun would be good.

Dan - the Princess Megaliners tend to attact a more international passenger base - particularly American.

Kym

again i agree with you- i would love to see P & O acquire a mega liner but keep the aussie attitude. I think the sapphire and diamond are mainly marketed at the UK and US cruisers

I went on the new Carnival Valor to the Caribbean from Miami in April this year. It was a fantastic ship. The big ship means less movement while at sea and I never found it to be crowded except on formal night out side the captains cocktail part while ppl were waiting for lifts to go to dinner. There are two main dining rooms on the ship not just one. I forget how many bars but too many to remember including a revolving piano bar and a karoake room.

Also with these bigger ships the price would come down from the kind of prices we pay in Aus. You can get cruises for under $1000 AU for seven days in the US especially on internet discount sites.

With a lot more ppl cruising these days in Australia I think we deserve a nice new BIG ship even if it alternatives with bases in Sydney and another location overseas such as Sydney in Winter and Tahiti or Hawaii in our summer.

fivefoot4

I beg to differ re larger ships riding better than smaller.

Princess' Golden Princess', at 110,000 GRT rides much rougher than Pacific Sky (Sky Princess) or Artemis (Royal Princess) at 45,000GRT.

Ride has more to do with fineness of hull (length to beam ratio) than overall size. The larger ships are beamy, flat-bottomed (to reduce draft), and very prone to wind abeam movement.

I've been on all three mentioned ships in gales, and would much prefer to be on either of the two smaller ones rather than the behometh, which shudders, pitches, bounces, and fights for seaway.

Can anyone please tell me what the "P & O" stands for?? Thanks

Can anyone please tell me what the "P & O" stands for?? Thanks

The Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company (P&O).

Thanks..I always wondered....now I know

We were on the Star Princess cruise from Sydney to Bangkok in early 2004. Australians were the largest contingent on board. Apparently it was the first time that US citizens had been outnumbered on a 'true' Princess cruise.

Apparently the bar staff were happy (we drink a lot), and the rest of the service crew unhappy (we are lousy tippers);)

The cruise had been heavily marketed in Australia and the prices were very reasonable.