More news on the new Carnival P&O Ventura...and Cunard Victoria

Carnival Assigns Another New Order to P&O 
Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL; NYSE: CUK) has assigned the newbuild slot for the previously announced 116,000-ton cruise ship to U.K.-based P&O Cruises. To be built by Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri, the vessel is scheduled to enter service in spring 2008.

The new 3,100-passenger vessel will become the largest cruise ship specifically built for British cruise service and continues Carnival's ongoing European expansion strategy. An itinerary for this vessel has not been announced.

The new P&O Cruises ship was part of a five-ship agreement with Fincantieri announced in September 2004 that also included the new 110,000-ton Carnival Freedom for Carnival Cruise Lines, the 116,000-ton Emerald Princess for Princess Cruises, a 110,000-ton ship that still must be assigned to a particular Carnival brand, and a significant redesign of Cunard Line's previously ordered Queen Victoria.

"The agreement with Fincantieri presented a unique opportunity to contract for a package of five ships at a very attractive price. At the time we signed the contract, we had not made a decision as to which brands would be designated for two of the ships. Given P&O Cruises' strong performance and the excellent demand for cruising in the UK market, the decision was made to designate one of the ships for P&O Cruises," said Micky Arison, Carnival Corporation & plc's chairman and CEO.

He said that the company will make a decision on which brand will receive the second vessel by the end of the month.

The new P&O Cruises ship, to be named Ventura, will feature eight restaurants, five pools and three show lounges, including the largest theater on a British cruise ship. In addition to one of the largest spas afloat, the ship will include a "family zone" featuring children's play areas, a "family bistro" and two pools dedicated to families and children. Of the ship's 1,550 cabins, nearly 60 percent will offer private balconies.

Commenting on the announcement, David Dingle, managing director of P&O Cruises, said, "This new order acknowledges the unprecedented demand for the P&O Cruises brand and its increasingly wide appeal. Over the last 10 years, P&O Cruises uniquely has introduced a progression of new ships purpose-built for Britain, which have created record levels of demand. Ventura, through her innovation, scale and contemporary appeal, marks the next major step forward for Britain's leading cruise line, maintaining P&O Cruises' position at the forefront of our industry."

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The not quite New York cruise terminal sort of opens...

It is such a pity (in my view) that ships like the QUEEN MARY 2 will from 2006 no longer be sailing to and from New York itself, but from a new terminal in Brooklyn.

 

It was SO magical (and practical too), when we went on the QE2 and sailed right into New York itself. Not only was it exciting - but also meant within minutes we were at Penn Station (a few blocks away) and heading off on the train to Washington. Oh well....

 

Here is some news from a cruise newsletter about the terminal that had its first "trial" when the Carnival owned P&O ship arrived there yesterday:

 

"New" Cruise Terminal Opens in New York City  

 P&O's Oriana became the first cruise ship to dock at the New York City's new $45 million Red Hook cruise terminal in Brooklyn on Saturday.

Unfortunately, construction work on many of the facilities has yet to be completed so passengers were processed through a temporary facility which workers were rushing to complete prior to the 853-foot cruise ship's arrival early Saturday morning.

A full service terminal is expected to be completed in April of 2006.

 

The move from Manhattan to Red Hook is part of a larger $200 million effort that was unveiled by NYC Mayor Bloomberg last year to renovate and expand its cruise facilities. The plan is intended to promote the fast-growing industry by building a new terminal in Brooklyn and completely overhauling the New York Cruise Terminal on Manhattan's West Side to support the growing number of passengers flowing into New York's ports.

Critics of the plan say that it will dramatically alter the experience of passengers arriving or departing in New York. Instead of sailing past the historic New York City skyline, the ships would take a turn after entering the harbor and tie up in the largely industrial area of Red
Hook.

The city is leasing about 28 acres from the Port Authority, which includes Piers 11 and 12, the associated upland area in Red Hook. The cruise facility on Pier 12 is expected to provide sufficient warehouse and upland area to accommodate the operational needs of the cruise lines. A passenger pick-up and drop-off area and approximately 400 parking spaces
will be provided on Pier 12, while Pier 11 will offer a vehicular access road to the terminal."

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THE NEW "NEW YORK" PIER WELCOMES ITS 1ST SHIP.... BUT ITS NOT NEW YORK...

No-pier pressure for Mike on liner

BY HUGH SON and DAVID SALTONSTALL DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITERS

Politicians are famous for finding elaborate props to put in their election-year photo ops, but a 70,000-ton cruise ship? That's what Mayor Bloomberg will be standing astride today when the city welcomes its first ocean liner, Oriana, to Red Hook, Brooklyn, where the city is planning a new passenger ship terminal. The planned $47 million terminal isn't finished, and the next boat isn't due in Red Hook until April - well after this year's mayoral race - when the humongous Queen Mary 2 is scheduled to tie up. But the city's Economic Development Corp. made an exception for the Oriana, city officials said, after realizing that all five of the city's piers on Manhattan's West Side were full this weekend. Workers have been scurrying all week to put up temporary tents so that Bloomberg and the boat's 1,900 passengers will have a place to disembark. "We are thrilled that our partners in the cruise industry have so much business to bring to New York City," said Bloomberg spokeswoman Jen Falk, who estimated that the ship's passengers could spend as much as $500,000 during their one day ashore. The ship, which originated in Southampton, England, is then off to Boston, Maine and the Canadian coastline. The city announced last spring that it had entered into an agreement with P&O Princess Cruises International, which owns the Oriana, to make the Red Hook pier its home in New York. Noting the mayor's campaign race, one marine industry expert questioned the timing of the event, but praised the mayor for speedily getting the docks in ship shape. "On one level, it could be seen as a photo op," said Carter Craft, director of the Metropolitan Waterfront Alliance. "On another level, it could be seen as a feather in the mayor's hat, because they did the work fairly quickly."

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NEW SHIP FOR P&O

The BBC site annouced that P&O (part of Carnival) will add another ship out of Southampton. It is a very large one.... we love the ARCADIA (on it agin in 2007) and so maybe need to start planning for 2008.... Cruise port's new liner announced

The Ventura will be completed in 2008 Another large cruise ship is to be based in Southampton, it was announced on Tuesday. P&O's Ventura, which will carry 3,100 passengers with 1,200 officers and crew, is expected to begin running cruises out of the port in 2008. Though smaller than the recent Queen Mary 2, the owners say the 116,000-tonne ship is the biggest vessel built solely for the UK market. It will have eight restaurants, five swimming pools and a large theatre. She is being built in Italy by shipbuilders Fincantieri.

CUNARD PRESS RELEASE - QE2 HISTORY AS LONGEST SERVING...

This is a Cunard Press release dated: SEPTEMBER 1, 2005 - 07:01 ET

QE2 Becomes The Longest Serving Cunarder Ever

LONDON, ENGLAND--(CCNMatthews - Sep. 1, 2005) - The most famous ship in the world, Queen Elizabeth 2, reaches a notable milestone on Sunday 4 September when she becomes the longest serving Cunarder ever. When she entered service in 1969 city analysts prophesied that QE2 would be mothballed within six months - that the age of the liner was dead. How wrong they were! On Sunday QE2 will pass the 36 years 4 months and 2 days' record of service of Scythia, which sailed from 1921 to 1957. QE2 was also the Cunard flagship for longer than any other - from 1969 until she handed over the role to Queen Mary 2 last year. In November last year she became the longest serving Cunard express liner when she passed the 35 years 6 months and 1 day record previously set by Aquitania, which served Cunard Line, in peace and in two wars, from May 1914 to December 1949. This historic event will be marked on board QE2 with a special dinner, the unveiling of a plaque and all passengers will receive a certificate acknowledging their presence on board. Fittingly the vessel will be berthed in Sydney, Nova Scotia. It was Nova Scotian Samuel Cunard who founded Cunard Line in 1839. A Record Unlike Any Other QE2 has sailed more than 5.3 million nautical miles - that's more than any ship in history and is equivalent to travelling to the moon and back 12 times. She has carried nearly three million passengers - many of them returning again and again to their second home. She has called at her homeport of Southampton 651 times and has completed 1,383 voyages. She has made 796 Atlantic crossings and completed 23 full World Voyages. She has sailed at an average speed of 24.75 knots over the last 36 years and she can sail backwards faster than most cruise ships can sail forwards! One gallon of fuel moves her just 49.5 feet! She has been commanded so far by 24 Captains. A History Unlike Any Other QE2 was launched by Her Majesty the Queen in 1967 and was the last passenger ship to be built on the Clyde. For the last 36 years QE2 has been the most famous passenger liner in the world, making headlines throughout her career. She was one of the star attractions when she led the Tall Ships into New York Harbour for the Statue of Liberty's centenary celebrations in 1986; over one million sightseers flocked to see her when she called at Liverpool for the first time during Cunard's 150th anniversary celebrations in 1990 and she was at the head of the flotilla reviewed by the Queen on the 50th Anniversary of 'D' Day in 1994. However, QE2's history has not only been one of sedate cruises, ecstatic welcomes and luxury living. In 1982, she was requisitioned by the Government for service in the Falklands Campaign - and so joined the ranks of the great Cunarders called upon to serve the country in times of conflict. QE2 goes from great things to greater, and many sailings this year - her second season of European cruises - were completely sold out. - Ends - Notes to Editors A complete list of QE2 Fun Facts and Statistics is attached. A complete fact sheet on QE2 is available on request. For Further PRESS Information Contacts Eric Flounders, Corporate Communications Manager: 0207 940 5390 eric.flounders@cunard.co.uk Michael Gallagher, Corporate Communications Executive: 0207 940 5391 michael.gallagher@cunard.co.uk Or visit the Cunard website: www.cunard.co.uk Photography Images of QE2 are available for downloading at: www.cunardimages.com login - press password - guyonda QUEEN ELIZABETH 2 36 YEARS OF ACHIEVEMENT QE2 has... * completed 1,383 voyages with an average speed of 24.75 knots. * sailed 5.3 million nautical miles - that's more than any other ship ever and the equivalent of travelling to the moon and back 12 times. * carried almost three million passengers. * completed 796 Atlantic crossings. * called at New York 705 times and Southampton 651 times. * completed 23 full World Cruises. * nine diesel electric engines - each the size of a double decker bus. * the most powerful propulsion plant on a non-military vessel. * the largest marine motors ever built. * the largest cinema at sea (capacity 531). * the only Synagogue at sea. * been commanded by 24 Captains. QE2 is... * probably the most misnamed ship in the world. She is Queen Elizabeth 2, not Queen Elizabeth II. * the most famous ship in operation. * the only ship to be awarded Five Stars by the RAC. * the largest consumer of caviar on earth. * the fastest merchant ship in operation, capable of speeds of up to 34 knots (cruising speed 28.5 knots). Unbelievable! * She cost just over GBP 29 million to build in 1969 - since then Cunard has spent more than fifteen times that amount on refits and refurbishments. * The GBP 100 million cost of re-engining her in 1986 / 87 is the largest amount ever spent on such a project. Her steam turbines had taken her a total of 2,622,858 million nautical miles - the equivalent of 120 times around the world - and were replaced by the present diesel electric propulsion system. * On 13 June 1999, QE2 exceeded 175,290 hours of steaming time - that equates to exactly 20 years on the move (including four leap years). * Cunard's first ship Britannia, would fit into QE2's Grand Lounge. * One gallon of fuel moves QE2 49.5 feet; with the previous steam turbine engines, one gallon of fuel moved the ship 36 feet. * The diesel electric system produces 130,000 hp, which is the most powerful propulsion plant of any merchant ship in the world. * QE2 can sail backwards (full speed astern is 19 knots) faster than most cruise ships sail forwards. * The 95 MV total power output is enough to light a city the size of Southampton. * QE2 sends all its used cooking oil ashore for reconstituting into animal feed. * 277,000 metres of cling film is used very year, enough to go around the Queen Elizabeth 2 nearly 731 times. * An estimated one million turned out to see her when she called at Liverpool for the first time on Tuesday 24 July 1990. * The ship's fuel oil tank capacity of 4,381.4 tonnes is sufficient for 10 days' sailing at 32.5 knots, equalling 7,800 miles. * QE2 consumes 18.05 tonnes of fuel per hour - that's 433 tonnes per day. * Heineken and Becks together account for almost 50% of the beer consumed. * Her rudder weighs 80 tons. * Pound for pound, the most expensive food item on board is saffron (2.5 times the value of Beluga caviar). * The number of tea bags used each day would supply a family for an entire year. * To eat QE2's daily consumption of breakfast cereal, one person would have to eat at least two packets a day for more than a year. * Enough fruit juice is used in one year to fill up QE2's swimming pools nearly 8 times. * Approximately 600,000 litres of beverage are consumed annually. The kitchens and dining rooms have: Glassware 51000 items crockery / dishes 64000 items cutlery 35850 items kitchenware 7921 items tableware 64531 items Linen consumption on a transatlantic voyage: Tablecloths 2932 oven cloths 1000 pillow cases 3100 laundry bags 3250

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