P&O Cruises Australia will become the first cruise line to build a new ship specifically for the Australian market, to launch in 2019.
The historic move will see the cruise line build a 135,500-tonne ship which will be the biggest cruise ship ever to be based full-time in Australia, carrying more than 4200 guests.
Carnival Australia executive chairman Ann Sherry and P&O Cruises Australia president Sture Myrmell described the announcement of the first ‘newbuild’ cruise ship for the Australian market as the “best possible good news” for the burgeoning local cruise market.
“The much anticipated first newbuild cruise ship is a huge vote of confidence in the Australian cruise market with much of the 20 per cent year-on-year passenger growth over the past decade driven by P&O Cruises’ dynamic industry leadership,” Sherry said.
The new ship will follows the recent addition of Pacific Aria and Pacific Eden to P&O’s three-ship fleet as well as the 2017 addition of Pacific Explorer.
“P&O Cruises is the modern face of Australian cruising and, with such a proud heritage of leadership, it is a natural step to announce that the line will take delivery of its first newbuild ship,” Myrmell said.
Details and features of the new ship will be revealed at a later date, but it will have double the capacity of the biggest cruise vessel currently homeporting year round in this market.
At 323 metres in length and with 2100 guest rooms, the new ship will offer itineraries from three to 10 days in duration.
