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Chairman Says P&O Aren’t Worried About Anthem!

The UK is known for having a booming cruise industry and according to Carnival Corporation’s chief executive Arnold Donald, the country has enough room for two brand new cruise ships. In just over five week’s time on April 20th, Anthem of the Seas – the newest vessel to join Royal Caribbean’s fleet – launches in Southampton, joining sister ship Quantum of the Seas. Speaking at a press conference in Southampton, ahead of Her Majesty the Queen naming P&O Cruises’ newest ship Britannia today Mr Donald said: “there may be some people who experiment with both , but I don’t see them in competition. Britannia is cruising for UK people, Anthem is not that.” Britannia and Anthem of the Seas have both been scheduled to sail similar itineraries. Anthem will then take its place at its new homeport in Bayonne, New Jersey, this October. Passengers can expect a range of entertainment on board both vessels, but with a very different angle. Those who choose to embark on an Anthem cruise may wish to try their hand at a selection of fun-filled activities, including a roller disco, bumper cars, simulated skydiving and a 360-degree capsule (the North Star) on the top deck of the ship. In contrast, passengers who set sail with Britannia might choose to join the Supper Club and the Cookery Club, or watch some well-loved sit-coms in the...

The Queen and the Commoner

So what exactly have the Queen and a travel agent got in common? They’re both godmothers to cruise ships of course! With the Queen announced to be naming the Britannia it’s made the www.CRUISE.co.uk team think about the times when she’s been Godmother to ships such as Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 and Queen Elizabeth, as well as naming P&O’s Oriana twenty years ago. It’s fairly common for royalty to be godmother to a ship – as you might expect with most ships having names like “queen” or “princess!” The Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton became godmother to Princess Cruises’ Royal Princess, Diana Princess of Wales was godmother to the first Royal Princess in 1984 and The Duchess of Cornwall is godmother to Cunard’s Queen Victoria. What you might not know is that whilst the Queen is naming Britannia – she isn’t godmother! That duty has been taken by Louise Hunt, a travel agent who won the competition to be godmother to the P&O ship and took part in the official ceremony during Britannia’s float out ceremony. And it’s not just P&O that are allowing this prestigious role to be fulfilled by those that aren’t aristocracy… Royal Caribbean (surprisingly!) haven’t chosen a “royal” candidate (geddit?) to be godmother of their new ship, Anthem of the Seas. Instead, they have launched a competition so that a travel agent can win the...

Splendour of the Seas Joins the Marella Fleet!

Marella Cruises has announced it will be expanding its fleet with the addition of a Royal Caribbean International vessel. Royal Caribbean has agreed to sell its ship Splendour of the Seas to Marella Cruises in the second quarter of 2016, from which it will then be leased to Marella Cruises. The vessel first entered service in 1996. It weighs in at 69,130 tonnes and boasts a 1,830-passenger capacity. Michael Bayley, president and chief executive of Royal Caribbean International, said: “Splendour of the Seas has been a treasured member of the Royal Caribbean International family since she entered service. “She has offered countless guests memorable vacation experiences and we look forward to continuing to provide the same Gold Anchor Service our brand is known for right up to the last sailing.” Before being transferred, Splendour of the Seas will complete its scheduled cruises, meaning the agreed sale will not alter or disrupt any sailings. The ship will be the largest in Marella Cruises’ fleet and features a range of onboard entertainment, including a swimming pool, rock-climbing wall, eight bars and lounges, and many restaurants and cafes. Helen Caron, managing director of Marella Cruises, said: “This is the first step in our fleet modernisation and transformation strategy and will bring an enhanced offering to our customers with more balcony cabins than ever before, a wider choice of suites, an increased number...

Scots Outspend English Cruisers

Scottish passengers are Britain’s biggest spenders on cruise ship holidays, it has been revealed. Scots will book more expensive cabins and spend more whilst they are on board than English passengers. They are also more likely than their neighbours south of the border to go on a second cruise two years later. This has led Royal Caribbean to target the Scottish market and invest more to encourage Scottish travel agents to sell cruises. UK managing director Stuart Leven said the news came as the firm is set to add £3 billion worth of new ships in the next four years and as the price of cruises was coming down. Kennedy Cree, manager of Scotia Travel and cruise specialist said that the cruise market has been growing in Scotland for the last five years – but that there is still room to expand further. He said; “passengers have never had it so good, with so many different places to go. Every major operator is building new ships, and trying to find something different to offer, with Royal Caribbean the trend-setters. “They provide a ‘resort feel’ to their ships – providing as much aboard as you would find on land.” With P&O’s Britannia, (the largest ship ever built exclusively for the UK market,) also set to sail this March, the Scottish and British cruising market is booming. What do you think of the...

‘The Queen’ vs The Queen

The big news this week has to be the fact that P&O have announced H.M The Queen will be naming their newest ship Britannia. This wont be the first time the Queen has christened a cruise ship; she named both the Queen Mary 2 and the Queen Elizabeth for Cunard but this will be the first time she’s named a P&O ship since the Oriana in 1995. Asking Royalty to name your cruise ship is a time honoured tradition dating back centuries but not all Cruise Lines seem to be as proficient at it as others. Take Royal Caribbean for instance. Not being able to get any real royalty they had to ask Princess Fiona (from Shrek!) to name Allure of the Seas back in 2010. It has to have annoyed P&O that they haven’t had any ‘real’ royalty since ’95 though. Whilst P&O haven’t had to resort to fictional characters to name their ships it’s clear that ‘losing’ the Queen to Cunard must have hurt. So much so in fact than in 2008 P&O had Helen Mirren, flush from her Oscar winning role in The Queen , name the Ventura. Now we’re not saying there’s anything wrong with Helen Mirren; we love Helen Mirren in fact! Winning an Oscar for playing a Queen is a poor substitute for a real Queen though. What do you think: ...