The cruise line said the 135,500-tonne ship would be the greatest cruise ship ever to be based full-time in Australia, carrying more than 4,200 visitors and guests. To be introduced and launched in 2019, the new ship will have double the limit of the biggest cruise vessel as of now home-porting year-round in this market.
At 323 meters long and with 2,100 visitor rooms, the new ship will be a distinct advantage for Australian cruising. Built particularly for current Australia, it will offer itineraries from 3 to 10 days' duration. The new ship will be based year-round in Australia.
Fair Australia Executive Chairman Ann Sherry and P&O Cruises Australia President Sture Myrmell hailed and welcomed the first "newbuild" cruise ship for the Australian market as the most ideal uplifting news for one of the world's top performing cruise markets.
"The much anticipated first newbuild cruise ship is a huge vote of confidence in the Australian cruise market with much of the 20 per cent year-on-year passenger growth over the past decade driven by P&O Cruises' dynamic industry leadership," Ms. Sherry added.
Mr. Myrmell said that the new ship added to P&O Cruises' pattern of development, with the late option of Pacific Aria and Pacific Eden to its three-ship fleet to be followed in 2017 with the addition of Pacific Explorer.
"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," Mr. Myrmell added.
Mr. Myrmell also said that additional details and components of the new ship will be uncovered and revealed later but it will be built on the continued advancement of the P&O Cruises' brand and will mirror the tastes of modern and innovative Australia.
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