Round-up: Cruises
ATN gives an overview of the latest happenings in the cruise business...
P&O orders new superliner
P&O Cruises has announced that its largest ever ship will be built for it by parent company Carnival Corporation.
The 141,000-tonne ship will be capable of carrying 3,611 passengers and will be the largest ever built for the UK cruise operator. The ship is due to enter service in March 2015. Carnival said the ship will usher in “an exciting era for P&O Cruises”.
“The ship will offer a stylish and innovative new design and an unprecedented number of passenger facilities, along with many of the brand’s classic and iconic features.”
P&O Cruises managing director Carol Marlow said: “This next-generation ship will deliver the ultimate P&O Cruises experience, with ‘sophisticated wows’ and new features to attract thousands of newcomers to our brand, and equally to resonate with existing P&O Cruises passengers.”
MSC back to Tunisia
MSC Cruises revealed it plans to return to Tunisia starting this summer. MSC cancelled cruises in March to Egypt, Tunisia and Bahrain through to winter 2012. But chief executive Pierfrancesco Vago said it would be calling at the Tunis port of La Goulette again from July. “The country is back to normal, security is now stable and we are glad to offer guests one of their favourite destinations for this summer’s 7-night cruises in the Mediterranean.”
“Tourism represents one of the biggest resources for this country’s economic revival and we are proud to be making our contribution.”
MSC Fantasia and MSC Lirica are scheduled to return to La Goulette on July 5, with MSC Splendida and MSC Sinfonia calling at the port the day after.
The line will also be offering Tunis as a winter destination on MSC Splendida’s six seven-night cruise sailing between December 2011 and March 2012, departing from Genoa.
Azamara offers extended voyage
Azamara Club Cruises has launched a new brochure offering travellers ‘Extended Voyages’ which means they can seamlessly join two, three or four consecutive cruises into one experience.
With Azamara Quest or Azamara Journey sailing in the Far East, the Mediterranean and Northern Europe, or South America, travellers just pick a season before embarking on the voyage, ranging from 11 to 78-nights without any repeated ports of call.