P&O Cruises announces significant investment in adults-only ships

P&O Cruises has announced a multi-million pound investment plan for major upgrades to its adults-only ships. arcadia And aurora. The renovation work is scheduled to be completed by May 2023, with more extensive renovations planned for November 2024 and April 2025.

upgrades on arcadia And aurora

P&O Cruises will invest heavily in upgrading the guest areas on its adults-only ships. arcadia And auroraannounced the cruise line on March 28.

Changes include new balcony furniture, new cabin chairs, and updated furniture in the ships’ open deck areas. Arcadia’s Neptune Pool will also receive significant investment, adding new loungers, sofas, tables and armchairs.

Paul Ludlow, President of P&O Cruises, shared his enthusiasm for the investment: “Arcadia and Aurora are two of our most popular ships in the fleet, offering guests a more intimate experience in stylish surroundings. After a busy season with guests on longer itineraries and world cruises, we will ensure both ships are looking their best ahead of the summer season.”

aurora And arcadia Adjusts part of the broader plan for P&O cruises

Today’s announcement comes as no surprise as Carnival Corporation announced its plans to focus on three of its top-performing brands: Carnival Cruise LineP&O Cruises and AIDA Cruises, during the first quarter earnings call on March 27th.

As part of this strategy, P&O Cruises will invest millions in significant updates to its adult-only ships, arcadia And aurorawith more extensive upgrades planned for November 2024 and April 2025. Josh Weinstein, CEO of Carnival Corporation, highlighted the company’s growth strategy during the release of its first quarter results.

Josh Weinstein, CEO of Carnival Corporation: “Our growth is focused on three of our highest return brands: Carnival Cruise Line, AIDA and P&O Cruises UK, following our portfolio and fleet optimization.”

To support the cruise lines, Weinstein has actively worked with each brand to develop strategies:

“To support this growth and drive overall revenue generation over time, I have actively worked with each brand on their strategies and roadmaps to ensure they have clearly identified target markets, appropriately sized capacity for market potential and demand generation opportunities have to reach the target market at the lowest possible acquisition cost and deliver an amazing guest experience,” Weinstein continued.

The first phase of this strategy involves bringing arcadia And aurora meet modern standards and adapt them to the company’s two Excel-class cruise ships, Iona And Arvia.

Arcadia and Aurora

MS arcadiabuilt by Fincantieri in Marghera, Italy, joined P&O Cruises in April 2005. At 84,000 gross register tons, she is the second smallest of the seven ships in the fleet and can accommodate 2,388 guests.

Holland America Line initially ordered Arcadia in 2000 as her fifth Vista-class ship. In 2003 the ship was assigned to the Cunard Line to become theirs Queen Victoria but was transferred to P&O Cruises shortly before her launch.

MV aurora, built by Meyer Werft in Papenburg, Germany, is the smallest and oldest ship in P&O Cruises’ fleet at 76,152 GT and can accommodate 1,878 guests with twice the capacity. Both arcadia And aurora are aimed exclusively at adult guests.