Tag Archives: P&O Aurora

P&O Cruises to upgrade Arcadia and Aurora

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P&O Cruises has announced a multi-million-pound investment for its adult-only ships, Arcadia and Aurora. 

The changes, which are due to be completed by May 2023, will include new balcony furniture, new chairs in cabins, as well as new furniture in the open deck areas.

On Arcadia, the Neptune Pool will also see changes with new lounge chairs, sofas, tables and armchairs.

A wider refit for Arcadia will take place in November 2024, while Aurora’s is scheduled for April 2025.

P&O Cruises president Paul Ludlow said: “Arcadia and Aurora are two of our most beloved ships in the fleet, offering guests a more intimate experience in stylish surroundings.

“After a busy season hosting guests on longer duration itineraries and world cruises, we will be making sure that both ships look their absolute finest ahead of the summer season.”

P&O Cruises recently named its latest ship Arvia during a  beachside ceremony in Barbados.

The event – hosted by broadcasters and DJs Sara Cox and Trevor Nelson – featured performances from Olly Murs and the ship’s godmother Nicole Scherzinger.

The 5,200-passenger Arvia is the line’s second Excel-class ship, following on from Iona.

It is P&O’s second vessel to be powered by liquefied natural gas and has an optimised hull design to minimise drag and the “latest energy-efficient technology”, according to P&O Cruises.

P&O and Cunard to Drydock at Harland & Wolff

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Harland & Wolff has been awarded a drydock contract for two cruise ships from P&O Cruises and Cunard.

The two Carnival Corporation ships will drydock for a total of 33 days as the Aurora and Queen Victoria will both visit the Belfast facility.

They are two of a projected 24 Carnival Corporation ships to drydock in the second quarter.

The work due to being undertaken on both ships are standard drydocking operations that will give Harland & Wolff the opportunity to demonstrate to the wider cruise industry, its skills, capabilities and expertise in these types of projects, the company said, in a press release

The Queen Victory will drydock from May 2 to 19 and will be the largest cruise ship ever to have drydocked in a UK shipyard and the only Cunard ship to have ever drydocked in Belfast.

The Aurora will visit from June 9 to 23.

Harland & Wolff, group CEO John Wood, commented: “When acquiring the assets of Harland and Wolff (Belfast) in December 2019 and in a pre-pandemic period, the cruise industry was one of our key target markets.

“Our facilities are ideally placed to capitalize on these types of large projects whilst we continue servicing our smaller but regular clients. We have now secured contracts in four out of our five markets; commercial, cruise & ferry, renewables and energy – we now look forward to completing the final milestone of securing a defence contract in the near future.”

Carnival UK, vice-president maritime David Varty said: “We are delighted to be able to have these two ships at a UK shipyard with such a long heritage and reputation and we very much look forward to supporting the UK maritime industry and working closely with the Harland & Wolff team on this project.”

P&O Cruises extends cancellation of sailings into 2021

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All P&O Cruises sailings have been cancelled until early 2021, the line confirmed today.
All Caribbean cruises are cancelled until the end of January 2021 and departures from and to Southampton will not operate until February.
The ships Arcadia and Aurora have already seen cancellations through to the end of their spring world cruises.
Passengers with bookings on a cancelled cruise will be notified and automatically receive an enhanced 125% future cruise credit or a 100% refund by filling out a web form, according to the line.
P&O Cruises had extended its pause in operations until November 12 and cancelled two extended itineraries due to depart in January 2021.
The line’s previous pause was in June until October 15 due to Covid-19 restrictions on cruise operations.
P&O Cruises president Paul Ludlow said: “With evolving restrictions on travel from the UK, unfortunately, it is necessary to cancel these itineraries.
“These further cancellations vary according to ship as well as complexity and length of itineraries, advice and guidance regarding ports of call and current air availability for fly/cruises.
“We are continuing to monitor the overall situation closely and will certainly reintroduce cruises should the opportunity arise and it is feasible to do so.”
Ludlow confirmed that the Carnival Corporation company is working with several of the “most brilliant minds in science as well as government at the highest level” on approved and enhanced health protocols, which will be in place once the company resumes sailing.
He added: “Whilst adherence to the protocols on board and ongoing vigilance will be critical, this will always be coupled with providing the well-deserved and memorable holidays for which we are known, with all the standout moments on board and experiences onshore. This is what we have always done and will continue to do.
“We cannot wait for restrictions to ease, borders to open and for us to once again be able to set sail for a new beginning.”