Former P&O Cruises ship to be refitted and rebranded at Sembcorp Marine and Damen yards
By
Rebecca Gibson |
Cruise & Maritime Voyages (CMV) took delivery of its new flagship, Columbus, in Singapore on 12 April 2017.
Columbus previously sailed as Pacific Pearl for P&O Cruises Australia. More than 300 crew members and 100 specialist outfitters have already joined Columbus at Sembcorp Marine Shipyard, where she will undergo re-classification and provisioning works. After departing Singapore on 19 April, the vessel will then embark on a ballast voyage via the Suez Canal to the Damen Shipyard in Rotterdam. Refurbishment works will continue during the journey and will be complete at the shipyard.
Renovation tasks include converting the existing children's areas and teenage centre into the Columbus Observation Lounge, Trumps & Aces Card & Bridge Room, the Ship's Library and a Crafter's Studio. The existing large casino is also being scaled down into a combined Captain's Club & Casino, while the existing Captain's Lounge will be changed into the Taverner's Pub.
Columbus, which will fly the Bahamian flag, is scheduled to arrive in Tilbury in London, UK on 5 June ahead of her naming ceremony and an overnight gala dinner and launch party. The ship will also host luncheon and overnight consumer and trade showcase events on 9-10 June before commencing her three-night maiden cruise to Amsterdam and Antwerp on 11 June.
“We are delighted to have taken delivery of this fine traditional cruise ship and look forward to commencing cruise operations under the CMV flag,” said Chris Coates, commercial director at CMV. “This follows some refurbishment and lounge adaptation works before her official naming ceremony in London Tilbury on Thursday 8 June 2017.
Columbus will homeport in London Tilbury year round with a 31,000 passenger capacity programme and her introduction to the CMV fleet has attracted unprecedented interest with very strong bookings being recorded both during her debut season and further ahead to 2018.”