175 years, seven ships, 15,000 passengers, one port in one day!
P&O Cruises will be hosting a “Grand Event” -- a momentous occassion promising to bring their entire fleet of seven ships together for one day for the first time in the company’s history.
The celebration, which will take place on 3 July 2012 in Southampton, is part of a year of celebrations scheduled to mark the 175th anniversary of the Peninsular Steam Navigation Company being awarded the lucrative Admiralty contract to carry mail to the Iberian Peninsula and beyond. Not long afterwards the concept of cruising was born and since 1837, cruising has evolved into a popular holiday choice and now P&O Cruises carries more British cruisers than any other line.
P&O Cruises managing director, Carol Marlow, said “We are very excited to announce this special day. It will be a great celebration for P&O Cruises, our passengers and for the whole maritime world.
“As cruising has become the fastest growing sector of the UK holiday market, so the P&O Cruises fleet has grown to seven ships dedicated to the British market. Whereas the very first P&O ships plied their trades to the Iberian Peninsular and the Orient, P&O Cruises ships sail throughout Europe, the Caribbean, South America, Scandinavia, Mediterranean, Atlantic islands and, of course, on round the world cruises. What was once a national necessity is now a national pastime and is worthy of a grand celebration.”
Each ship in The Grand Event will then depart on its own Grand Event cruise, with a spectacular send off with champagne deck party, flutterfetti and marching bands. The ships will then form a procession as they leave Southampton for the English Channel and beyond.
Once in the open water, the ships will meet again, saluting one another before they sail onwards to their various destinations.
Departing on July 3, 2012, all seven cruises will be heritage themed with special on board entertainment including a 175th Anniversary Gala dinner, heritage art display, guest speakers and more.
“We are also inviting passengers to help us celebrate by offering a full World Cruise prize draw on each cruise and a total of seven passengers plus their guest will be travelling around the world as our guests in 2013.”
The voyages included in the Grand Event are as follows:
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Azura 11 night Atlantic Islands -
Ventura 17 night Central Mediterranean -
Oceana 7 night Norwegian Fjords -
Arcadia 14 night Iceland and Norway -
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Adonia 21 night Central Mediterranean -
Each cruise will be Heritage Themed, and will have guest speakers, special onboard entertainment, and a gala dinner!
These sailings will sell very quickly so to secure your space call now on our 'Big Event' hotline number 0800 608 6200.
Or 'Book Now' by clicking below
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