A development milestone in the potential of British cruising has been marked as P&O Cruises cuts the first piece of steel for new ship Arvia.
The 184,700-tonne sister ship to Iona is becoming developed at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany.
The company’s 2nd LNG-run Excel course ship will be part of the P&O Cruises fleet in December 2022.
In a speech at the virtual ceremony P&O Cruises president, Paul Ludlow, explained: “The steel cutting marks an incredible milestone for the foreseeable future of P&O Cruises.
“It is a potential which will contain two of the most environmentally impressive ships in the entire world right now.
“Iona is poised to be a part of our fleet this summertime as we return to service and is eagerly expected by our workers, crew and unquestionably by our guests who can not wait around to sail on her in the course of her maiden time from Southampton.”
He included: “Whilst Arvia might have a distinctive appear and really feel to Iona, getting constructed to sail in the solar, the inherent DNA is the very same.
“It is 1 which exemplifies design excellence, forward-imagining energy technology and future-concentrated encounters.
“The components, know-how and interior arrangement of areas leaves nothing at all lacking.
“Every sheet of metallic, each management panel, every cabin, mild fitting and chair has been made and debated to make certain that it supplies a pinnacle holiday for our company and the foremost operating and residing practical experience for our crew.”