It’s already shaping up to be a big year for cruising – and it’s only the second week of January!
Throughout 2016, there will be $7 billion of new ships arriving in berths around the globe – most interesting for us, P&O Cruises announcing that it will build a new ship specifically for the Australian market.
It will be the biggest cruise ship ever to be based fulltime in Australia, and it will be carrying more than 4,200 guests.
The ship will be launched in 2019 and will have 2,100 cabins, offering itineraries from three to 10 days to some of Australia’s favourite destinations like the South Pacific.
The addition was part of a major announcement made by P&O Cruises’ parent company, Carnival Corporation.
The new Aussie ship will be one of four newbuilds that will be delivered between 2016 and 2020.
“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,” said Carnival Australia Executive Chairman Ann Sherry.
10 ocean ships are also scheduled to enter service in 2016 – the AIDAprima, Carnival Vista, Genting Dream, Harmony of the Seas, Koningsdam, Mein Schiff 5, Ovation of the Seas, Seabourn Encore, Seven Seas Explorer and Viking Sea.
Royal Caribbean’s Ovation of the Seas will be arriving in Sydney in December – and head to Asia in June. She will have the capacity to cater for 5,000 guests and 1,500 crew, making her the biggest ship to ever to be homeported in Australia.
Ovation of the Seas will feature a range of new technologies including the iFly sky diving experience, the robotic bar, bumper cars as well as 18 dining options including Jamie Oliver’s restaurant.
It’s going to be a very exciting year!
