Highlight will include The Dome, an all-weather venue for daily entertainment and informal dining
By
Rebecca Gibson |
P&O Cruises’ new LNG newbuild will feature an entertainment hub named The Dome when she debuts in summer 2020.
Featuring a transparent sky dome, a pool with a retractable stage, a water feature and whirlpools, The Dome will act as an all-weather venue for daily entertainment and informal dining. At night, guests will be able to watch aerial performances, immersive shows and projections on the roof of The Dome.
Other onboard highlights will include 12 bars and lounges, 17 dining venues (including seven speciality restaurants), 13 entertainment venues, three pop-up entertainment spaces, four swimming pools, 16 whirlpools and a half-mile promenade around the ship on Deck 8. This will provide easy access to al fresco dining and relaxation areas under shaded pavilion awnings. The signature Atrium at the centre of the ship will feature glass walls spanning three decks, a grand staircase, gallery and overhead walkways.
“Choice, flexibility and the ability to create individual holiday experiences onboard will be at the heart of the new ship which, thanks to an innovative use of space, will offer an extensive range of dining, entertainment and relaxing areas,” said Paul Ludlow, P&O Cruises senior vice president. “Understanding the psychographic – the mindset – of our current and future guests is the key – acknowledging and realising what they want from a holiday and then providing it for them.”
Various renowned design and architect firms will help to design the 5,200-guest newbuild’s interiors, including Hamburg, Germany-based company Partner Ship Design, which specialises in creating interiors that enhance the onboard experience and guest flow. Other interior designers will include London-based architects Jestico & Whiles, and London-based hotel and interior architect Richmond International, which worked on P&O Cruises’ Britannia, launched in 2015. Meanwhile, London-based multidisciplinary design and product practice Acumen is developing the initial cabin concepts.
“Our vision is to offer the next generation of British guests the holiday of a lifetime on the next generation of P&O Cruises ships,” said Ludlow. “This new ship will bring an array of new cruising experiences to guests and attract newcomers to our brand, while instantly resonating with forward-thinking guests, encapsulating the ‘P&O-ness’ they recognise and love.”
To be built by Meyer Werft in Papenburg, Germany, the new 180,000gt vessel will be the biggest cruise ship ever built for Britain and P&O Cruises’ first newbuild for five years.
The vessel will use LNG fuel as its primary power while at sea and in port. This will significantly reduce exhaust emissions, making her P&O Cruises’ most environmentally efficient ship to date.