P&O Cruises to name new ship Britannia
P&O Cruises has announced that its new 141,000 tons cruise ship, scheduled to enter service in spring 2015, will be named Britannia.
Speaking today in London, P&O Cruises & Carnival UK chief executive officer David Dingle said: “Britannia is a most fitting name for the newest addition to P&O Cruises, which, with its long and famous heritage, remains Britain’s favourite cruise line.
“Britannia will capture both the contemporary spirit of P&O Cruises and the spirit of Britain today.
“Today’s Britain is a place of increasing style and sophistication, optimism and excitement. Britannia will reflect that feeling and will mark a new era of growth and success for the cruise industry.
“Britannia will underpin P&O Cruises unique commitment to building ships specifically designed to anticipate the tastes of today’s Britain.
“It will be a modern classic, a ship for this and future generations offering authentic travel by sea in an enduringly contemporary setting.”
Britannia will boost P&O Cruises capacity by 24 per cent.
With a length of 1,082 feet, it will carry over 3,600 passengers and at 141,000 tons will be 25,000 tons larger than P&O Cruises previous newest ship.
Britannia will offer the best of British contemporary design, with an unprecedented number of passenger facilities.
It is being designed throughout by London-based Richmond International, creating “flowing” interiors which have a coherent feel while each area will have an individual identity, look and feel through shape, space and soft furnishings.
The ship will be designed to both attract many thousands of newcomers and also resonate with existing passengers.