thied Posted April 28, 2011 #1 Share Posted April 28, 2011 P&O Cruises World Cruising has announced details of “The Grand Event” on 3 July 2012, when its entire fleet of seven ships will be docked together in its homeport of Southampton for the first time in the company’s history. This is part of a year of celebrations in 2012, marking the 175th anniversary of the Peninsular Steam Navigation Company being awarded the lucrative Admiralty contract to carry mail to the Iberian Peninsula and beyond. Not long afterwards the concept of cruising was born and since 1837, cruising has evolved into a popular holiday choice with P&O Cruises in the UK now carrying more British cruisers than any other line. P&O Cruises managing director Carol Marlow said: We are very excited to announce this special day. It will be a great celebration for P&O Cruises, our passengers and for the whole maritime world. As cruising has become the fastest growing sector of the UK holiday market, so the P&O Cruises fleet has grown to seven ships dedicated to the British market.Whereas the very first P&O ships plied their trades to the Iberian Peninsular and the Orient, P&O Cruises ships sail throughout Europe, the Caribbean, South America, Scandinavia, Mediterranean, Atlantic islands and, of course, on round the world cruises. “What was once a national necessity is now a national pastime and is worthy of a grand celebration.” Each ship in The Grand Event will then depart on its own Grand Event cruise, with a spectacular send off featuring a champagne deck party, flutterfetti and marching bands. The ships will then form a procession as they leave Southampton for the English Channel and beyond. Once in the open water, the ships will meet again, saluting one another before they sail onwards to their various destinations. Departing on 3 July 2012, all seven cruises will be heritage themed with special onboard entertainment including a 175th Anniversary Gala dinner, heritage art display, guest speakers and more. “We are also inviting passengers to help us celebrate by offering a full world cruise prize draw on each cruise with a total of seven passengers plus their guest travelling around the world as our guests in 2013.” Carol Marlow said. The Grand Event Cruises include: An 11- night Atlantic Islands cruise on Azura; A 17- night Central Mediterranean cruise on Ventura; A seven-night Norwegian Fjords cruise on Oceana; A 14-night Norway and Iceland cruise on Arcadia; A17-night Baltic cruise on Aurora;A four-night cruise break on Oriana and a 21-night Central Mediterranean cruise on Adonia. Love Thied. . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bazzaw Posted April 28, 2011 #2 Share Posted April 28, 2011 It's getting a bit late now - and I don't have some "stuff" readily to hand right now - but, as far as I recall/understand, this concept of "cruising" as opposed to "transiting" was started by P&O - but started here in Australia. Basically - if I remember the lectures given by P&O Historian on the 75th anniversary cruises out here a few years ago, the very first "cruise" was to Norfolk Island?? Basically the reason was that a ship was here , after coming out from UK and had to wait around to take some cargo back?? - so to fill in time they advertised a "cruise" to Norfolk Is -- and it was a SELLOUT!!! Around the 1920's/30's , I think?? Something like that. Barry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thied Posted April 28, 2011 Author #3 Share Posted April 28, 2011 It's getting a bit late now - and I don't have some "stuff" readily to hand right now - but, as far as I recall/understand, this concept of "cruising" as opposed to "transiting" was started by P&O - but started here in Australia. Basically - if I remember the lectures given by P&O Historian on the 75th anniversary cruises out here a few years ago, the very first "cruise" was to Norfolk Island?? Basically the reason was that a ship was here , after coming out from UK and had to wait around to take some cargo back?? - so to fill in time they advertised a "cruise" to Norfolk Is -- and it was a SELLOUT!!! Around the 1920's/30's , I think?? Something like that. Barry The lectures given by P&O Historian on the 75th anniversary cruises would have been very interesting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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