P&O Cruises Australia sells ship to CMV

P&O Cruises Australia sells ship to CMV

CMV Travel & Leisure Group has bought 1,260-passenger capacity Pacific Eden from P&O Cruises Australia.

The vessel’s new name will be announced on March 20, 2018, before it is delivered in Singapore in early April 2019.

The travel trade and Columbus Club Members will vote for the new name based on a shortlist provided by Cruise and Maritime Voyages (CMV).

Following the delivery, the ship will be docked for a short period during which it will undergo a livery change and rebrand.

The ship will then carry out its inaugural voyage to northern Europe via the Suez Canal.

CMV has announced the new ship will be deployed to both the German and Australasian cruise markets.

The ship will operate under CMV’s German brand, TransOcean Kreuzfahrten, between May and October from both Bremerhaven and Kiel.

It will then operate during the Australian December-March summer season from Fremantle and Adelaide.

The summer 2019 German-based programme for the new ship will go on sale midway through next month.

CMV’s UK, North American and wider global markets will be marketing the voyages between Europe and the Antipodes and the wider Australian season.

The vessel, launched in 1994 by Holland America Line as the Statendam, operate alongside CMV’s 1,400 passenger Columbus, 1,300-passenger Magellan, 800-passenger Marco Polo, 600-passenger Astor and 550-passenger Astoria.

Christian Verhounig, CMV’s chief executive and chairman, said: “We are very pleased to have concluded this deal and firmly believe that Pacific Eden will be a very popular addition to our fleet.

“This stylish traditional vessel is ideally suited to our business model and is in very good shape following a multi-million dollar refurbishment in 2016.

“As part of our mid-term growth plans, the ship will provide the required level of extra capacity needed in Australia and Germany as we continue to grow our international business.”