Alan Lam reporting
Cruise & Maritime Voyages (CMV) has announced that the Pacific Pearl, the ship currently operated by P&O Cruises Australia, will join its fleet to commence operations from 9 June 2017 under the new name Columbus.
The 1,400-pax ship will be dedicated to the British cruise market, homeporting year round in London Tilbury, offering a traditional scenic British cruise experience.
Columbus, with 775 cabins, is the line’s fifth vessel and will become CMV’s new flagship. The company intends to target the adult only market for this ship, but in the 2017 summer season she will operate two sailing for all age groups.
“The successful introduction of Magellan in 2015,” said Christian Verhounig, CEO and Chairman of CMV, “has encouraged our group to accelerate its mid-term growth plans and the addition of Columbus to the fleet in 2017 is another important milestone in achieving our longer term growth objectives.”
This addition will increase CMV’s overall capacity to 125,000 in 2017.
“We are really pleased to welcome this fine ship to our fleet,” said Chris Coates, commercial director, “which we believe will be very well suited to our core British market who appreciate and value the many benefits of cruising on smaller to mid-sized more traditional vessels of this type. The introduction of Columbus, and her past association and popularity with the British cruise market spanning 13 years, will increase 2017 UK bed night capacity by 25% to 95,000 passengers.”
CMV’s 2017 summer itineraries will be on sale from 31 March 2016, following the Easter holidays. A special 2017 launch edition preview brochure will be released on 7April 2016.
