P&O Cruises has confirmed it will add two more ships to its ranks, to make it the largest fleet of cruise ships home-ported in Australia.
The Carnival Australia-operated cruise line’s biggest ever single fleet expansion will see it take on two ships from Holland America Line in response to growing demand for cruise in the local market.
"This is a very exciting development for the Carnival Group, P&O Cruises and for our shipside and shoreside teams who have worked so passionately and effectively to build the business and the cruise category," Carnival Australia chief executive Ann Sherry said.
"The P&O brand set the foundation for the resurgence of cruising in this region making it the most successful sector of Australian tourism.
“Adding two more ships to the fleet is a signal that the next generation of P&O Cruises is about to commence.
“It will also accelerate progress in reaching the industry goal of a million passengers a year by 2016 – four years earlier than forecast.”
The expansion takes Carnival Group’s tally of Australia-based ships to 12 under its P&O Cruises, Carnival Cruise Lines and Princess Cruises brands.
The two newcomers will join P&O in November 2015 with work currently underway to develop itineraries and home-porting arrangements.
The mid-range ships are similar in size to Pacific Dawn, Pacific Jewel and Pacific Pearl and will be tailored to the Australia and New Zealand markets.
"The ships are a perfect size for the Australian market,” P&O senior vice president Tammy Marshall said.
"They are intimate, offering space, comfort and style, giving passengers more destinations to choose from, more onboard experiences to indulge in and more reasons to cruise."
