TD Breaking News – The Pacific Jewel

P&O confirms deployments

Carnival Australia this morning issued a statement confirming the Australasian deployment of two ships currently operating under the Ocean Village brand in the UK (TD/CW breaking news).

The first ship will be renamed as Pacific Jewel and will begin sailing year round from Brisbane in 2009, while the second superliner will arrive late in 2010 and will sail from Auckland and possibly Sydney.

Pacific Sun, currently operating out of Brisbane, will shift to homeport from Fremantle in Dec 2009 with P&O saying the move “is in response to West Australians’ passion for cruising, which has been steadily growing in recent years.”

Once the two new vessels are added to the fleet P&O Cruises Australia will have capacity for about 8000 passengers.

Carnival Australia chief Ann Sherry said the ships would offer “amazing new amenities that would differentiate the product,” including P&O Cruises’ largest spa area, a child-free oasis, a circus show with a high wire act and bikes and kayaks for onshore adventures.

Carnival said the move is the biggest ever investment made by a cruise company in this region.

More details in today’s Travel Daily.