P&O Cruises World Cruising has amended their policy on the carriage of mobility aids including wheelchairs and scooters effective as of the 2013 northern hemisphere summer onwards.
All mobility aids must now be stored inside cabins when not in use so as to ensure the clear passage and safety of guests in walkways and public areas.
“If a passenger requires the use of a mobility scooter they should select either a wheelchair accessible cabin, or suite or mini-suite accommodation when making their booking,” a P&O Cruise spokesperson said in a statement.
“Alternatively, where suitable, passengers can bring a collapsible wheelchair which can safely be stored inside any cabin.”
Segways, trikes and various other non standard mobility aids are not permitted aboard P&O Cruises World Cruising ships
The new ship will have a normal capacity of 3,611 passengers and 1,350 crewP&O Cruises owner Carnival has ordered a new 141,000 tonne cruise liner which it says will be the largest built specifically for the British market.
The liner, costing 559m euros ($807m; £489m) and scheduled to enter service in March 2015, will be built by Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri.
The as-yet unnamed ship will be able to carry a maximum of 4,372 passengers.
Rival Royal Caribbean claims to have the world's biggest cruise ship, Allure of the Seas, weighing 225,282 tonnes.
The 16-deck Allure can carry 5,400 guests and went into service late last year.
Carnival said its new ship, which will sail out of Southampton, would "offer an innovative new design and unprecedented number of passenger facilities".
Continue reading the main story
New ship in numbers
- Overall length 330m
- Maximum breadth 43.2m
- Height to top deck 47.3m
- Number of decks 17
- Number of cabins 1,812
The company's chief executive Micky Arison said: "The UK continues to be a key growth market for Carnival and innovative vessels such as this new P&O Cruises ship - targeted specifically to British clientele - underscore our commitment to this important cruise region".
Miami-based Carnival operates almost 100 ships and currently has eight ships on order, including the new P&O liner.
Fincantieri boss Giusseppe Bono said the deal demonstrated the company's efforts to secure orders in what is a "particularly depressed market".
New Portunus Club Details
Ruby, Sapphire and Gold Portunus will be replaced by the new loyalty scheme from April 2012 with the new tiers named after Oceans
Pacific requires 150 – 500 points
Atlantic requires 501 – 1000 points
Mediterranean requires 1001 – 2000 points
Caribbean requires 2001+ points
Baltic is a rolling tier and must have 2501 points to qualify plus at least 80 nights spent onboard in the last 3 years prior to the next cruise
Ligurian is a rolling tier and must have 2501 points to qualify plus at least 201 or more nights spent onboard in the last 3 years prior to the next cruise
Benefits Ashore
Pacific
- Complimentary Membership after 15nts spent onboard
- Magazine
- Telephone hotline
- Access to Club online
- Member cruises – cruises specifically selected and discounted for members
- Atlantic
- Complimentary Membership after 15nts spent onboard
- Magazine
- Telephone hotline
- Access to Club online
- Member cruises – cruises specifically selected and discounted for members
- 10 discount on Travel insurance with P&O Cruises insurance provider
- Priority Booking – Opportunity to book cruises for new programme before general release
- Priority to book and pay for charter flight seats 2 days ahead of general release
Mediterranean
- Complimentary Membership after 15nts spent onboard
- Magazine
- Telephone hotline
- Access to Club online
- Member cruises – cruises specifically selected and discounted for members
Caribbean
- Complimentary Membership after 15nts spent onboard
- Magazine
- Telephone hotline
- Access to Club online
- Member cruises – cruises specifically selected and discounted for members
- 10 discount on Travel insurance with P&O Cruises insurance provider
- Priority Booking – Opportunity to book cruises for new programme before general release
Baltic
- Complimentary Membership after 15nts spent onboard
- Magazine
- Telephone hotline
- Access to Club online
- Member cruises – cruises specifically selected and discounted for members
- 10 discount on Travel insurance with P&O Cruises insurance provider
- Priority Booking – Opportunity to book cruises for new programme before general release
Ligurian
- Complimentary Membership after 15nts spent onboard
- Magazine
- Telephone hotline
- Access to Club online
- Member cruises – cruises specifically selected and discounted for members
- 10 discount on Travel insurance with P&O Cruises insurance provider
- Priority Booking – Opportunity to book cruises for new programme before general release
- Priority to book and pay for charter flight seats 2 days ahead of general release
Benefits onboard
Pacific
- Onboard spend discount 5%
- Loyalty Manager
Atlantic
- Onboard spend discount 7.5%
- Loyalty Manager
- Lapel Pin
- Invitation for sailaway glass of champagne or Elderflower drink
Mediterranean
- Onboard spend discount 8.5%
- Loyalty Manager
- Lapel Pin
- Invitation for sailaway glass of champagne or elderflower drink
- Cocktail party on cruises of 8 nights or more
- P&O Cruises branded slippers, bagged to take home.
Caribbean
- Onboard spend discount 10%
- Loyalty Manager
- Lapel Pin
- Invitation for sailaway glass of champagne or elderflower drink
- Cocktail party on cruises of 8 nights or more
- P&O Cruises branded slippers, bagged to take home.
- Officer hosted event on cruise of 8 nights or more
- Complimentary half bottle of champagne per cabin on 2nd formal night
- Priority booking for select dining venues taken in embarkation lounge onboard
- Dedicated check in at Southampton
- Priority embarkation in Southampton
- Embarkation lounge onboard for Southampton departures
Baltic
- Onboard spend discount 10%
- Loyalty Manager
- Lapel Pin
- Invitation for sailaway glass of champagne or elderflower drink
- Cocktail party on cruises of 8 nights or more
- P&O Cruises branded slippers, bagged to take home.
- ‘Exclusive’ Officer hosted event on cruise of 8 nights or more
- Complimentary half bottle of champagne per cabin on 2nd formal night
- 50% discount on machine washable laundry
- Priority booking for select dining venues taken in embarkation lounge onboard
- Dedicated checkin at Southampton
- Priority embarkation at Southampton
- Embarkation lounge onboard for Southampton departures
- Select your time of disembarkation for Southampton cruises
- Seperate dismbarkation baggage collection area
Ligurian
- Onboard spend discount 10%
- Loyalty Manager
- Lapel Pin
- Invitation for sailaway glass of champagne or elderflower drink
- Cocktail party on cruises of 8 nights or more
- P&O Cruises branded slippers, bagged to take home.
- ‘Exclusive’ Officer hosted event on cruise of 8 nights or more
- Complimentary half bottle of champagne per cabin on 2nd formal night
- 50% discount on machine washable laundry
- Free pressing service, back in time for first formal night
- Priority booking for select dining venues taken in embarkation lounge onboard
- Recognition of most travelled passengengers whilst onboard
- Dedicated check in at Southampton
- Early embarkation at Southampton
- Embarkation lounge onboard for Southampton departures
- Select your time of disembarkation for Southampton cruises
- Seperate disembarkation baggage collection area
- Priority cabin access for Southampton departures
- Baggage collected on day of disembarkation in southampton at 6.30am
- Hospitality area in cruise terminal at Southampton
Southampton unveils plans for a new £30m cruise terminal
By Sarah Gordon
The future of the UK cruise industry looks bright after Southampton announced it is to splash out £30m on a new terminal to support the growing industry.
The cruising hub will add a fifth terminal to the port, which planners claim will be able to accommodate even the largest ships sailing the high seas.
Cruising has become big business in the last 10 years with 300 ships stopping in the UK over the past year, a figure which is expected to grow by 20 per cent in 2011.
T5: Southampton will be able to accommodate the world's largest cruise ships
While the terminal, upon which construction will begin next year, will cost £30m, it is expected to boost the economy by about £150m a year once it is completed in 2013.
A UK stopover is particularly popular on European cruises and many Britons enjoy boarding in the UK, avoiding the expense and hassle of international flights.
Southampton's terminal five will be the largest turnaround facility in northern Europe, securing Britain's future as a leading cruise destination.
The ability to accommodate the world's biggest ships, such as Royal Caribbean's Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas, will bring new lines to Britain's shores and increase its market share.
Doug Morrison, port director for Associated British Ports, Southampton, said: 'We are very proud of our port here in Southampton and the building of a fifth cruise terminal will cement our position at the forefront of the European cruise industry.'
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/article-1339079/New-Southampton-cruise-terminal-cost-30m.html#ixzz18IeS3uDV
P&O Cruises to make Oriana adult only
P&O Cruises’ 15 year old ship Oriana is to switch to offer cruises exclusively to adults only. The change will come after the 1,818-passenger vessel returns from a regular refit in a year’s time.
From November 30, 2011, the British cruise market leader will operate child-free ships – Oriana, Arcadia and Adonia, which joins the fleet next May as a replacement for Artemis.
P&O Cruises will then have four family-friendly vessels – Azura, Ventura, Oceana and Aurora.
The company is contacting passengers explaining the changes to Oriana. Those booked with children on five cruises on sale which run after the change to Oriana will be offered alternative voyages or full refunds.
“We are totally committed to satisfying the holiday needs of both families and those travelling without children,” the line said in a note to agents.
A company spokeswoman said: “When Artemis leaves the fleet next May the number of holidays exclusively for adults available within the P&O Cruises programme will be effectively reduced as Adonia, her replacement, is a smaller ship.
“We therefore wish to add a third ship to offer this type of holiday. We feel we can do this as Azura, the most recent ship to be added to our fleet provides additional holidays for families.”
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We are proud to announce a small and elegant addition to our fleet...
Joining us in May 2011, just after the farewell cruise of Artemis, Adonia will be considerably smaller than her sisters in the fleet.
With an elegant and traditional interior including a delightful library, nautical Crow’s Nest and classic Anderson’s bar, Adonia will exude real small ship charm with a warm and intimate ambience. Yet being built as recently as 2001 she will offer all the modern facilities you would expect from P&O Cruises; a spa, cyb@study, a choice of dining and a high proportion of balcony staterooms.
Being a smaller vessel - just 32,000 tonnes with 335 cabins and carrying 710 passengers - she will also be able to travel to some off the beaten track destinations that can’t be reached by the larger ships of today.
Adonia’s exciting itineraries will be released over the next couple of months and her holidays will be available to book from spring 2010.
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Courtesy of ais shipping news
| P&O Cruises to make Ventura changes following ‘challenges’ |
Changes are to be made to P&O Cruises’ £300 million new ship Ventura after the line admitted to facing “challenges” in its introductory summer season.
The 3,000-plus passenger family-focussed superliner – the biggest in the fleet - will see alternations to its dining while the company is to address complaints over a lack of sun loungers, particularly on sea days.
Ventura has carried around 57,000 passengers this summer as well as hosting more than 4,000 travel agents.
The company’s managing director Nigel Esdale revealed the changes in a letter to travel agents.
He said: “In general newcomers have reacted very favourably to Ventura and we continue to see this as our primary focus.
“That said, we have had some challenges in marrying the differing needs and expectations of a new audience with those who have travelled with us many times before.
Indeed the first year of operation for any ship is always its most difficult and the team on board have worked extremely hard to consistently deliver against our passengers' expectations.”
Esdale conceded that the ship had experienced “particularly heavy demand” for Freedom Dining at peak times, especially during the summer school holidays.
“In order to realise this concept to the full, and thereby ensure that it does indeed offer customers the flexibility that they desire, we have increased the number of tables within the Cinnamon Restaurant and will be introducing specialist software to enable the team to effectively manage the utilisation of the range of restaurants around the ship,” he said.
“More significantly though, passengers will no longer need to book a table in advance. Instead they can enjoy the ultimate freedom of arriving at the time they would like to dine and, where possible, they will be seated immediately.
“This is the system that we operate on board Oceana with great success.”
The entertainment scheduling is also being improved and phased to offer increased choice and flexibility at a range of times, thereby alleviating 'peak time' demand.
The standard of presentation in the casual dining areas is being enhanced.
The family-orientated Beach House will “evolve” to offer an additional informal dining venue with waiter service.
On sunloungers, Esdale acknowledged that availability “has been an issue” during some of the summer school holiday cruises.
“In order to address this we have decided to devote some of the space originally allocated to Cirque Ventura on Deck 19 as an additional sunbathing area,” he said. “This will give those passengers who like to spend some time relaxing in the sun more space to do so.
“We will retain the bungee trampolines which have been a real hit with passengers aged from 8 to 84. And we will continue to offer the Cirque Ventura circus skills school teaching the art of juggling, tightrope and stilt walking.”
New furniture, including a reclining chair, will be introduced to cabin balconies in next spring.
“This will have the added advantage of helping to alleviate the high demand for loungers on the open deck, which we experienced during the summer school holidays,” added Esdale.
The ship will be using a new terminal at Southampton next year.
Esdale added that “the sheer number of people boarding this vessel has inevitably meant a greater requirement for car parking.
“This has been at the forefront of our minds when planning for the brand new cruise terminal currently under construction and, as a result, the new terminal will be better able to accommodate such demands when it enters use next year.”
by Phil Davies
OCEAN TERMINAL RETURNS 
25 YEARS ON, ‘OCEAN TERMINAL’ RETURNS TO SOUTHAMPTON Associated British Ports’ (ABP) Port of Southampton has unveiled the official name for its new multi-million pound fourth cruise terminal - Ocean Terminal. The new terminal has been named after its predecessor on Ocean Dock, which was once home to many of the great transatlantic liners of the world, including Queen Elizabeth and Queen Mary.
Building work has already started on the £19-million terminal, which is being constructed following a 20-year agreement with Carnival UK, which operates Cunard, Ocean Village, P&O Cruises and Princess Cruises. The new terminal is being built opposite the old Ocean Terminal and will be home to some of the largest cruise vessels afloat when it opens next year. The 300m-long tube-shaped building will contain 6,000 tonnes of steel, equal to the weight of 100 elephants, and the baggage hall alone is the size of 14 tennis courts. The building will be able to hold the equivalent of 437 double-decker buses stacked on top of each other.
Jonathan Manser, Managing Director of The Manser Practice Architects, commented on the philosophy behind the new terminal’s design: “The new terminal has been designed to enhance people’s holiday experience from the minute they enter the terminal until the minute they leave at the end of their cruise. We want to create a more exciting departure gate for passengers, which will enable them to see their cruise ship as soon as they enter the terminal building. The building itself will be extremely striking and visible from the shore, adding a recognisable structure to Southampton’s coastline.”
Doug Morrison, ABP Port Director, Southampton, said: “As the new terminal is being built opposite the previous Ocean Terminal, it made sense to commemorate this historic gateway and the great ships that sailed from it. We are delighted to see the new terminal begin to take shape – its contemporary design will act as a symbol of the modern cruising age and our long-standing partnership with Carnival UK. “Over the last few years, the cruise industry has seen enormous growth, making the Port of Southampton the cruise capital of Northern Europe. The new terminal is essential for the port’s future growth within the cruise market but also represents a significant economic contribution to the Southampton region.”
The terminal is due to be opened in May 2009, with P&O’s Ventura being the first to sail from it.
As a postscript to yesterday's confirmation of the structural changes to Grand Princess, here's a before and after look at that controversial "shopping trolley handle" at the stern. Or rather after and before, so you can see the new version first.
Passengers sailing from the UK will be among the first to enjoy the new facilities on board.
Princess Cruises say one reason for demolishing the structure is to reduce the ship's weight, and thereby save fuel, so there's no truth in any rumours that it was designed like the wing on a Formula One racing car to improve cornering speeds.
Later ships with variants on the design used lighter materials in the construction, and Princess say there are, as yet, no plans to remove the "handle" from Caribbean Princess, Golden Princess or Star Princess.
Other work to be carried out during the 24-day drydock in Freeport, Bahamas, will incorporate features which have been introduced on newer ships in the Princess fleet since Grand's launch in 1998.
The atrium space will be completely rebuilt into a new Piazza with an International Cafe and Vines winebar. The library will be transformed into a Leaves Tea Lounge, which will have a "tea sommelier" alongside the books. New restaurants will be created - a Crown Grill steakhouse, and Alfredo's Pizzeria, and the ship will get a Crooner's martini bar.
All this and the new nightclub, too. I wonder if Princess could be persuaded to name it "Steve's Bar," rather than the prosaic One5 .
The remodelled ship will arrive in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on May 5, and then head straight for Southampton, where it will be based for the summer.
ARCADIA REFURBISHMENT
Great news - P&O Cruises Arcadia is to have new cabins and boutique cinema as part of a multi-million pound refurb.
She will get new carpets, new soft furnishings and upholstery and also 34 new cabins with private balconies.
P&O Cruises' managing director Nigel Esdale said: “This is Arcadia’s first major refurbishment since she joined the fleet in April 2005 and we are taking the opportunity to enhance and improve the features of this already very successful child free ship.
“The work that we are undertaking will add to Arcadia’s contemporary charm.
The 30-seat boutique cinema will replace the existing Cyb@Study, although wireless internet access will continue to be offered on board
P&O Cruises have confirmed that the first passengers to experience the new look Arcadia will be departing on the 16-night Mediterranean cruise from Southampton on December 20.
Good Day Everyone,
I am doing my best to keep up with requests for information and photos etc. Angus Staff Chief Engineer is now a proud Father of a baby girl so our Congratulations to Angus and Jackie on the birth of Megan.
Many of you have requested photos and information on the recent three weeks of refurbishment in the Lloydwerft shipyard in Bremerhaven, Germany. During the multi-million pound refit a new aft section of 34 staterooms was added, along with a 30-seat boutique cinema, called The Screening Room. Please bear in mind that these photographs were taken in December so the skies are rather overcast.
This was Arcadia’s first major refurbishment since she joined the fleet in April 2005 and we are delighted with her new look and enhanced features. Arcadia is a very successful child free ship and the work we have done has added to her contemporary charm and will continue to surprise and delight our passengers.
A new section of staterooms with private balconies has been added to the aft end of the ship. This has resulted in the creation of an enlarged deck area and enhanced entertainment venue around the already popular Aquarius Pool. To further enhance this area, a larger and more stylish, new bar has been created, much to the delight of our Bar Staff! They have much more space for their stock and it is now a pleasure to work behind this bar.
New Stateroom section being lifted into place
Aquarius bar
A further new feature for passengers is a 30-seat boutique cinema, creating a dedicated space for showing films on board. The cinema, known as The Screening Room has been added in place of the existing Cyb@Study - computer workstations will now be available within the Horizon Suite and Library and wireless internet access will continue to be offered on board.
The Screening Room
The photo gallery has been revamped with more space and privacy given for portrait sittings and the addition of equipment for passengers to download images from their own cameras to be printed directly on board.
The Photo gallery
New portrait area – there is a demand for more unusual high quality photography.
Increased photography area with Photo Now Kiosks
Further refurbishment has taken place throughout the ship, with new carpets, soft furnishings and upholstery added in areas including the Spinnaker Bar, Neptune Pool and passenger cabins.
Spinnaker bar – the Christmas Decorations have gone now!
Neptune pool - with the new beds that you all asked for. Also the swimming pools have been completely refurbished.
New teak furniture enhances open deck space and a sprung wooden floor in the gym will improve delivery of exercise classes.
New sprung wooden floor in the gym
This will keep you all going in the meantime - I am off now to host at the Portunus Gold Tier Lunch! All arrangements in place for our Egypt calls and the travelling Egyptian Immigration Officer has been so helpful to us therefore the Ship will be more or less 'clear' for passengers and crew to go ashore on arrival Port Said - see the trouble we go to to ensure a smooth journey.
Bye for now,
James.
www.jamescusick.co.uk
