By
Elly Yates-Roberts |
Vasco da Gama has become the sixth ship to join the Cruise & Maritime Voyages (CMV) fleet and is preparing to begin her 43-night maiden voyage from Singapore to London, England on 22 April.
Formerly P&O Cruises Australia’s Pacific Eden, Vasco da Gama will undergo technical refurbishments and have her livery repainted before setting sail from Singapore. Once operational, the 55,820gt ship will be able to accommodate up to 1,220 passengers in 630 cabins, including 120 balcony cabins and 29 suites.
“We are exceedingly happy to announce that we have officially taken delivery of our new ship Vasco da Gama and we are delighted to welcome her into the CMV family,” said Mike Hall, head of Marketing at CMV.
Vasco da Gama is named after Portuguese explorer, famous for being the first European to reach India by sea. The ship’s maiden voyage follows her namesake’s footsteps across globe, calling at destinations in Malaysia, Thailand, Sri Lanka, India, Oman, Egypt, Jordan, Israel, Morocco and Portugal. Highlights of the journey include a visit to the Taj Mahal in India, the city of Petra in Jordan and the Suez Canal.
The ship will spend the summer cruising from Germany and then set sail on 9 October for a 53-night voyage to Sydney, Australia, calling at Barbados in the Caribbean, the Panama Canal, Acapulco in Mexico and islands in the South Pacific.
The new ship offers a wider choice of dining options than her sister ships. For example, guests onboard will have more flexible dining, with a selection of three main restaurant between 5.30pm and 8.30pm. A restaurant serving British cuisine with a twist and The Club Bistro will be available for all main meals. The other restaurants will offer dinner options of Asian and Mediterranean food. In addition, passengers can choose to dine at The Grill or the Chef’s Table for a supplementary fee.