Commenting on the announcement, David Dingle, managing director of P&O Cruises said, “This new order acknowledges the unprecedented demand for the P&O Cruises brand and its increasingly wide appeal. Over the last 10 years P&O Cruises uniquely has introduced a progression of new ships purpose-built for Britain, which have created record levels of demand. Ventura, through her innovation, scale and contemporary appeal, marks the next major step forward for Britain’s leading cruise line, maintaining P&O Cruises’ position at the forefront of our industry.”

To meet the rapidly expanding demand for P&O Cruises, Ventura will feature an unprecedented range of passenger facilities including eight restaurants, six shops, five pools and three show lounges including the largest theatre on a British cruise ship. She will offer one of the largest spas afloat, and a unique family zone, which will bring together four extensive activity areas for different child age groups, a family bistro and two pools dedicated to parents and children. Of her 1,550 passenger cabins, almost 900 will feature a private balcony.

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Patsy wrote:
...And what about the Queen Victoria?

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She will be built and delivered to Cunard.

******

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Matts wrote:
So it is announced and its not the new Canberra...

Patsy wrote:
Thank goodness that quashes the Canberra rumours.

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Who had started this (silly) rumour anyway? If P&O ever had intentions of another CANBERRA it would be on the lines of an AURORA or ORIANA, or an improvement of the two. That simple.

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Originally posted by bulbousbow:

Who had started this (silly) rumour anyway? If P&O ever had intentions of another CANBERRA it would be on the lines of an AURORA or ORIANA, or an improvement of the two. That simple.

******

Cheers

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It doesn't seem like Carnival is too interested in any sisters to Aurora / Oriana ...

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They certainly don't look much like the direction where Carnival seems to want to go - lots of passengers, maximum flexibility on-board (no dinner sittings, for example), as many balcony cabins as possible. Oriana and Aurora are looking more & more like the odd ones out. Hmm - Canberra had a life of over 35 years; I think Oriana & Aurora will do well to reach half that. With P&O, at least.

I really do hope QV does actually get built. I hate these rumours. Do people start them for fun? That's not getting at you, Noordam, because you said yourself it was as you heard it. So someone before you must have thought it up. It might help if 1) Carnival got their fingers out with info and 2) it didn't keep being pushed back. I won't be at all surprised if the next delivery date is 2020! LOL!

Traditions will exist, but hollowed out, more glitz, more ktitsch ("Ventura"...)and altogether succesfull, but not really "authentic", just a brand.

At least we will not have to worry about which cruise line to take in the future. All we will need to decide is if we cruise Vista Class or Grand Class.

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Originally posted by Chris:

It doesn't seem like Carnival is too interested in any sisters to Aurora / Oriana ...

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Rich

[ 09-21-2005: Message edited by: Linerrich ]

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Originally posted by Budgie:
[...] This is a great step forward for P&O, it shows that Carnival have faith in the P&O brand and are willing to back that up with hard cash.

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They might have faith in the brand - but not enough to give it an own design.

[...]
How many of P&O's recent ships have been new builds and how many have been relocated from other brands? The more new builds P&O get the better things will be.

Out of five ships three were built for P&O during the last ten years (quite new for a ship) - two are unique designs for P&O and one is a modifed Vista class.

[...]
Trying to make another brands ship fit in does not work that well, far better to design the ship for a market, at least as far as the interior is concerned. .[/QUOTE]

But this is just what is happening here! (and what happened with Arcadia) - this ship will be a modified version of a design which has been developed and "used" for another brand several times - the difference between moving an "old" ship to P&O and this case is only that this will be a new ship which will move to P&O immediately.

[...]
Come on, we have to move with the times, if noit we stand still at best or worst go backwards. Freedom of the Seas is due to enter service shortly, Voyager is now sailing from Europe and all are large family ships P&O need this new ships to attract the family cruiser and to introduce cruising to a whole new generation.
Budgie[/QUOTE]

the contrary is the case. I guess most of us would welcome innovation - what I and others in this forum complain about is that there is no innovation, that an OLD design is reused again and again and that the same platform(s) are used for different brands. Nothing against a new, big P&O ship - but another Grand Class is a bit booring - and looking backwards.

[ 09-21-2005: Message edited by: Ernst ]

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Originally posted by PamM:
I would have thought along those lines too Malcolm, but I was looking at Arcadia earlier and several of her cruises over the next few months are fully booked.

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Many members of the 'Ocean Liner Society' are P&O fans. They often try out the new P&O ships, only to claim they still prefer Aurora and Oriana!

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Originally posted by Linerrich:
"Ventura" conjures up images of California, at least for Americans (who won't be passengers on this ship!) It's the name of a large city and famous freeway, among other things. Must be the Princess influence!

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Don't forget about Jesse "The Body" Ventura. The former professional wrestler and governor of Minnesota. Maybe P&O will invite him to the naming ceremony.

Personally, I don't like the name. But that might just be my American cultural biases speaking. It might work nicely in the UK.