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Cruise Business Live: from naming ceremony of Azura in Southampton
- Details
- Category: Top Headlines
- Published on Saturday, 10 April 2010 17:33
- Written by Teijo Niemelä
The UK cruise market that is forecast to generate 1.65 million passengers this year should easily hit 2.5 million in the next few years, according to Carnival UK chief executive officer David Dingle. Speaking at the naming ceremony of the 116,000 gross ton newbuilding Azura of P&O Cruises in Southampton, Dingle said that the next newbuilding of the brand should be a new platform in order to comply with the new SOLAS stability rules.
Micky Arison, chairman and ceo of P&O Cruises’ parent company Carnival Corp & PLC, said in the same press conference that a new ship will be ordered to P&O Cruises as soon as Dingle and P&O Cruises’ managing director Carol Marlow can fill it.
The British market swallows any new capacity that is introduced and following the introduction of Azura, P&O Cruises will only have the 710 passenger Adonia due to join its fleet, which is scheduled for April next year. Currently trading as Royal Princess of Princess Cruises, the ship will replace the 1984 built, 1,260 passenger Artemis that has been sold. Only 2-3% of the British public take a cruise each year compared to 3.5% in the US, which bodes well to further growth of the market, Dingle continued.
The 3,080 lower berth Azura represents the maximum size of vessel that is suited for the British market, Dingle said, adding that its wide range of amenities will cater for a wide range of passengers. In its advertising P&O Cruises does not promote Azura first and foremost as a ship for families – that is the domain of mainly Ventura – but the new ship has the aft of deck 16 designed for children and teenagers, like in the previous ship.
Azura is a sister vessel of Ventura that was introduced two years ago, but the two ships have a number of differences in design. Azura does not have a magrodome over any of its pools, unlike Ventura, but it is the first ship in the seven-strong P&O Cruises’ fleet to feature Sea Screen, i.e. a huge video wall on pool deck for film shows on deck. Azura has two fine dining restaurants instead of just one on Ventura.
Azura also has 18 single cabins, a new and welcome feature.
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