Cruise Diary, Tuesday 9th February 2010
Video Playing Now: Cruise News: 9th February 2010
Tuesday 9th February
By Steve Read
Why P & O?
INDIA could be the next place to see a cruise boom – with Britain’s P&O likely to lead the way.
That’s according to the boss of the world’s biggest cruising corporation, Carnival chairman Micky Arison.
He told my colleague Phil Davies of Travelmole: “India is a potentially good market for cruising, and the P&O brand would be a very good brand to consider for India since it is very well known and established.
“At the point when we look at that market P&O would be a front runner
“But how we do it, when we do it, where we do it... the market may notbe ready yet.
“Five years down the road I wouldn’t be surprised if it becomes ready and at that point we’ve got a brand that can work.”
Other highlights:
● They are close to signing up for a new Princess ship. Mr Arison said: “With the economy the way it is, with fuel rising despite that ... it puts a lot of pressure on us and the yard to come up with a price that works.
“We have been working very hard to do that and I think we’re close with Princess. Hopefully we’l l have something to announce relatively soon.”
The ship is likely to be slightly larger than the Ruby Princess, around the 130,000-ton mark.
● Mr Arison said websites are “critically important” for cruise sales.
“When I started in this business, people got their information about cruises from two places – the Sunday travel sections, and travel agents.
“Today they're getting it from the internet primarily.”
It’s nice to hear that the man at the top is a fan!
You can read the full interview at travelmole.com.
Under construction, but not for long..
CONSTRUCTION of Allure of the Seas is going so well that her maiden voyage will be a week earlier than planned.
The ship, which will be Oasis of the Seas’ only sister, will now sail with her first paying passengers on December 5.
People booked on the original December 12 maiden voyage can switch to the December 5 trip and keep the same cabin, if they do it before the end of this month.
The 225,000-ton ship, which will have 2,700 cabins, is being built at the STX shipyard in Turku, Finland.
The cold weather must really get those Finnish shipbuilders going. Today it’s -6◦C, which feels like -14◦C in the wind.
Keep warm by keeping busy, lads!
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Sea Trials
THE new Norwegian Epic has her first sea trials on Friday – in the Bay of Biscay.
The 153,000-ton, 4,200-passenger ship will sail from the STX yard at St Nazaire, France, for the exercises.
I hope it’s not too rough in the bay. Unless, for the sake of a true test, that’s what they're hoping for ...
Azura's Entertainment line-up
P&O have announced the entertainment line-up for the maiden voyage of their new ship Azura, which launches in April.
Tenor Russell “The Voice” Watson tops the bill, with Claire Sweeney and Gary Wilmot.
Azura, a sister ship to Ventura – at least, on the outside – will be named by ballerina Darcey Bussell in Southampton in April.
The maiden voyage is a 16-night cruise around the Med, calling at Malaga, Katakolon, Corfu, Dubrovnik, Venice, Korcula and Gibraltar. Fares are from £1,502.
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