By
Rebecca Gibson |
P&O Cruises is inviting guests and the general public to suggest a name for its new 180,000gt ship, which will be Britain’s largest-ever cruise vessel when she sets sail for the first time in 2020.
The competition to name the ship will run on P&O Cruises’ website and social media channels from 10 July 2017 and the winning name will be revealed next year by a panel of experts. To help inspire entrants, P&O Cruises has produced four short videos featuring its Food Heroes Eric Lanlard and Olly Smith, as well as producer and performer Jonathan Wilkes and Azura godmother and Strictly Come Dancing judge Darcey Bussell CBE. The competition winner will receive two VIP places at the ship’s naming ceremony in spring 2020.
"This new ship will be the first new launch for P&O Cruises in five years and will play a pivotal role in redefining the brand and broadening our appeal,” said Paul Ludlow, P&O Cruises’ senior vice president. “It is therefore incredibly important that we have a name that reflects the ship’s heritage as well as highlighting the array of new cruising experiences it will offer – something memorable and dignified that reflects its position as the new star in our fleet. I encourage the general public to get their thinking caps on but also to remember that naming a ship is akin to naming a child. The name is an inherent part of its personality and is something that will sail with it for life!”
P&O Cruises’ newbuild will be the first to join the fleet since Britannia in 2015 and will accommodate around 5,200 guests. She will also be the most environmentally efficient ship in P&O Cruises’ history, using LNG fuel to generate the primary source of power both in port and on the open sea. This will significantly reduce exhaust emissions.
“The ship will bring an array of new cruising experiences to guests and attract newcomers to the brand, while instantly resonating with forward-thinking P&O Cruises guests, encapsulating the ‘P&O-ness’ they recognise and love,” said Ludlow. “Choice, flexibility and the ability to create individual holiday experiences onboard will be at its heart.”