P&O scraps two ships from fleet, reveals name of new 3,000-guest vessel

P&O scraps two ships from fleet, reveals name of new 3,000-guest vessel

P&O Cruises Australia has announced it will farewell Pacific Dawn and Pacific Aria from its fleet in February and April 2021 respectively.

The cruise company also revealed that Pacific Encounter (pictured above) will be the name of the next 3,000-guest ship to join its fleet in 2021.

The update on P&O Cruises’ fleet transformation program comes as preparations continue for the addition of Pacific Adventure in 2020.

It is part of the company’s previously announced strategy of replacing vessels over time with larger ships to enable the cruise line to better meet demand guest expectations.

From late 2021, Pacific Explorer, Pacific Adventure and Pacific Encounter will comprise the new look P&O fleet with a total capacity of around 9,000 guests – equivalent to the brand’s capacity when the fleet consisted of five smaller ships.

P&O Cruises president Sture Myrmell said the update showed that great progress had been made in reshaping the cruise line’s fleet to set the scene for a successful future, but noted that much more was still to be done to complete the transition.

“We have a clear picture of the P&O fleet of the future and it is a very exciting prospect with the brand well-positioned to continue to lead in this dynamic market,” he said.

“When we embarked on this transformation two years ago, we committed to refresh the fleet over time and to set the brand up for continued success.

“P&O’s Pacific Adventure will be introduced with our distinctive look and feel along with some new onboard features that means P&O Cruises remains the driving force for cruising in Australia and New Zealand.

“For all of us at P&O, the announcement that Pacific Encounter will be the next ship to join the fleet in 2021 is another exciting moment in the evolution of our cruise line.

“It is always sad to farewell much-loved ships. Both ships are close to our hearts, with Pacific Dawn particularly special to us and the many thousands of guests who have sailed on her.”

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