A New Member To P and O's Fleet.

If you didn’t already know, P and O cruises have announced plans to build Britain’s largest cruise ship. The new ship will be bigger than anything else in the fleet and will be 141,000 tons. It will hold 3,611 passengers and come into service in spring 2015. Want to know more? then read on.........

The yet unnamed ship is described as a “modern classic” and will offer a stylish and innovative new design and an unprecedented number of passenger facilities. Peninsular members need not worry as along with these new features many of the brand’s classic and iconic features will be included. Specifications and new product innovations will be announced at a later date.

A ceremony marking the steel-cutting for the ship was held at the Monfalcone shipyard of Fincantieri near Trieste, Italy. P&O Cruises managing director, Carol Marlow said: “The cutting of the steel marks the moment the ship goes into production so for us it is a very exciting time as we go from the drawing board to reality.”

For the first time a British design company, Richmond, is overseeing the whole ship’s interiors to incorporate the classic and iconic history of P&O Cruises with modern design and features to appeal to both existing and a new generation of passengers.

Richmond, leading designers in the hospitality industry, have a remarkable portfolio of iconic British hotels, notably The Langham London (flagship of the Hong Kong based Langham Hotels); Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park; The Intercontinental London and Four Seasons Hampshire Hotel and Spa and international resort hotels including the Four Seasons Mauritius; Sandy Lane Barbados; Boca Beach Club at Boca Raton, Miami; the Fairmont Montreux Palace, Switzerland as well as many award winning hotels including the Four Seasons Budapest and the Waldorf Trianon Palace Hotel and Spa, Versailles.

The keel-laying, which involves the placement in the dry dock of one large section of the ship’s hull and the beginning of the actual ship build, will take place in May 2013.

The ship, yet to be named, will take to the water for the first time at her float out in summer 2014, before her delivery to P&O Cruises in spring 2015.

So there you have it, all the current info on P and O's latest addition. Watch this space to hear more.