Ready for 2022: The new ship (Picture: P&O Cruises)
A second new-generation ship will join P&O Cruises in 2022 to broaden its appeal to younger cruisers including millennials, it was announced tonight.
The ship, measuring 180,000 GRT and able to carry 5,200 guests, will be a sister to one already announced to be launching in 2020. Both will have dual-fuel engines using LNG for power in port and at sea, with cleaner air emissions and improved air quality.
The vessels will be built in Germany and registered in the UK.
P&O Cruises senior vice president Paul Ludlow said: ‘We have a bold and ambitious vision for P&O Cruises to become Britain’s number one holiday choice and we can only do that by increasing our fleet. The build for our 2020 ship begins this spring and it will offer all generations of British guests the holiday of a lifetime on the next generation of P&O Cruises ships.
‘In four years’ time when her sister ship is launched, adding an additional 22 percent capacity, we will see an even greater rise in the popularity of cruising across all demographics and all age ranges including both millennials and Generation Xers.
‘Many of them have already learned to appreciate cruising by going on cruises with their families while growing up. Additionally, there are millions more we will attract in the future by retaining the amazing on-board and on-shore experiences and itinerary choices P&O Cruises is known for, while reflecting forward-thinking trends and tastes of British holidaymakers.
‘This evolution of the guest experience will be evident over the next few years but will be underpinned throughout with in-depth market insight and feedback we receive from the best source: our current, past and prospective guests.
‘The first of our new ships will go on sale in September and we will be announcing key elements of the design and build this year. Our P&O Cruises signature features in dining and entertainment will be across all our ships, but the space and build of the two new ships allows us to have innovative new experiences to create the most memorable holidays.’
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I hope this does not mean P&O will be selling off their smaller ships. Why can’t they build more of those size ships instead of concentrating on the mega floating resorts? I won’t be going on these new ships.