By
Rebecca Gibson |
P&O Cruises marked the start of the construction phase of its new vessel on 15 May 2013 with a keel laying ceremony at Fincantieri’s Monfalcone shipyard in Trieste, Italy.
During the ceremony, the first of 74 sections of the vessel’s hull was lowered into dry dock. The section consists of six pre-manufactured blocks, weighs 408 tons and is fitted with 214 tons of pipes, cables, insulation and other equipment.
The 141,000-ton ship will be the largest cruise ship ever built for the British market and is due to enter service in 2015. It will offer many of the line’s popular signature features found on ships such as Oriana, Ventura and Azura, as well as a range of new concepts. The vessel will also deliver increased operational and environmental efficiency.
“Each of our new ships has been exclusively designed for the British market. We have ensured that each anticipates the subtly changing trends in what British passengers expect from their cruise holiday – and is equipped to meet those expectations for many years to come,” said Carnival UK CEO David Dingle. “Our success in adapting to the market’s changing needs is why our ships continue to fill and why the whole cruise sector ultimately continues to buck any downward trend.”
Carlo De Marco, director of Fincantieri Shipyard, said: “It will be an honour and a pleasure, to celebrate in 2015 the delivery of this ship and together the tenth anniversary of the collaboration between P&O Cruises and Fincantieri, started in 2005 with Arcadia.”