P&O Cruises have finally began work on their forthcoming flagship, which is due to enter service in 2015. The still unnamed ship will be the largest in the P&O fleet at 141,000 tonnes and boasts the same hull, though a different internal design, to Princess Cruises' latest ship, Royal Princess.
P&O Cruises Managing Director, Carol Marlow said: "The cutting of the steel marks the moment the ship goes into production so for us it is a very exciting time as we go from the drawing board to reality."
There is still little details of exactly what the new ship will feature, though P&O will be using a British design company, Richmond, for the very first time.
Marlow continued, "Richmond’s design will make a stunning statement across the entire ship’s interiors. Through their ideas they will imbue the ship with a cohesive personality which works across all the public areas including the cabins, cafes, bars, restaurants and lounges. Richmond’s designs will add an elegant and timeless British-ness to appeal to everyone who steps on board and will facilitate an excellent evolution of the P&On-ess our passengers know and love."
With Richmond onboard, the latest ship should have a real feel of Britishness onboard. Richmond boast the Langham London, Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park and The Intercontinental London, among their portfolio, so we can expect another exquisite ship to hit the high seas.
With the name yet to be announced, we're very curious to see what P&O come up with.
Written by Charlie Hamilton-Beaufort
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