Watch: P&O Cruises' Arvia named in star-studded Caribbean ceremony
Jo KesselP&O Cruises has named its newest vessel Arvia during a “world first”, star-studded ceremony in Barbados on Thursday (16 March).
The christening of the 5,200-passenger vessel, the line’s second Excel-class ship, took place beachside, onboard and was broadcast live on YouTube.
The event was hosted by DJ’s Trevor Nelson and Sara Cox with the prime ministers of both Barbados and Grenada in attendance and saw former Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger perform and christen the ship.
Speaking from Heywood’s Beach as the ceremony began, P&O Cruises president Paul Ludlow explained why Barbados was close to the line’s heart.
“We’ve been bringing guests here and had a ship based here for many decades and it is therefore very fitting that we name our newest ship, our sunshine ship, under the Caribbean sun,” he said.
Ludlow said Arvia was a vessel of many firsts for the line.
“It’s a creation of years of vision, design, technical, environmental and engineering excellence which has cumulated in this ship you see before you today, with high ropes, golf, a swim-up bar and over 30 places to eat and drink, including innovative plant-based dining.”
Singer Olly Murs performed from the beach, while the remainder of the ceremony took place onboard in the Avia’s Sky Dome, which features a retractable roof.
Welcoming Scherzinger on stage, Ludlow explained how the former X Factor judge would create “spectacular shows for us here in the Sky Dome”.
“The headline show will be unlike anything we have on any of our ships and will be one of the many highlights for our guests,” he teased.
Arvia was christened using a specially-made bottle of Mount Gay rum instead of champagne.
Attending the naming ceremony was Simone Clark, Iglu Cruise’s SVP global supply, who told TTG that she has seen a big growth of bookings on Arvia with consumer who were new to cruising.
“Holidaymakers are interested in the newer ships which have more to do on board and P&O Cruises offers great value for money. It also generally attracts younger passengers,” she said.
Next month, Arvia will be back in Southampton to operate seven and 14-night voyages around the Mediterranean and return to the Caribbean for the winter.
Arvia’s ceremony is still available to watch
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