P&O Cruises' 175 year anniversary, The Grand Event on 3rd July 2012, will include a review of their fleet from Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal.
The Grand Event is part of P&O Cruises' celebrations to mark their 175 year heritage, with the visit from Her Royal Highness the pinnacle of the event. Princess Anne will visit the Oriana — the ship named by HM The Queen in 1995 — before boarding THV Patricia, a tender boat, to conduct her fleet review as Master of the Corporation of Trinity House.
Following on from the review by Her Royal Highness, all seven ships will depart Southampton in procession, with each ship hosting a deck party filled with flag-waving and flutterfetti, along with daytime pyrotechnics from the quay side. The fleet will then move into formation and salute the THV Patricia and HRH the Princess Royal as they depart the Solent.
P&O Cruises Managing Director, Carol Marlow, said: "We are honoured to have HRH The Princess Royal visit us on this, one of the most significant days in our history, as all our seven ships gather in their home port on the same day for the first time ever to celebrate 175 years of heritage. As one of our esteemed godmothers she is intrinsically linked with P&O Cruises and we are privileged that she has agreed to conduct our Fleet Review.
I am sure that this magnificent Fleet Review with Her Royal Highness in celebration of 175 years of heritage will go down in British maritime history, providing long lasting memories as we look forward to the next stage in our company’s history, with a new ship being launched in 2015"
P&O Cruises are certainly celebrating their history and continued success in a truly British fashion and tens of thousand are expected the line the Solent and the docks to watch the celebrations take place.
Written by Charlie Beaufort
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