To all of you who have championed smaller ship cruising and have asked us to re-introduce a small ship, it gives me great pleasure to announce the addition of a new member to the P&O Cruises family – Adonia. Joining the fleet in 2011 she will accommodate 710 passengers and be the smallest of our seven ships.
It is good to see that there is genuine interest in the smaller, more intimate ships and, based on the majority of the comments you’ve posted, I think Adonia will be just what you are looking for. She will be elegant and welcoming. She will possess a real small ship charm and she’s going to offer a truly traditional cruise experience. That said she will have all the comforts you would expect from a modern vessel.
Her smaller size will offer a more familiar and relaxed feeling and enable you to get to know your fellow cruisers and crew more easily. More importantly though, she will be able to travel to some of the most intriguing “off the beaten track” destinations, so you’ll still be able to visit ports that the bigger ships can’t access.
Adonia was built in 2001 and recently she has been sailing as Royal Princess. At just over 30,000 tonnes, she’s much smaller than any of her fleet companions. You’ll find that more than three-quarters of her 355 staterooms have balconies. Her public rooms will have a traditional feel, featuring wood panelling, leather armchairs and a fine collection of artwork. She will boast an extensive library with over 4,000 titles and her grand lounge will have an intricately inlaid wooden dance floor. And one more aspect that is close to some people’s hearts – she will be an adult-only ship.
We will, of course, ensure that Adonia feels like a P&O Cruises ship; they’ll be some of our signature features including a forward observation lounge, the nautical Crow’s Nest, and Anderson’s, a centrally located traditional club-style lounge bar.
We hope you give Adonia a warm welcome to the fleet and we look forward to sharing her exciting itineraries with you, which will be available to book in the spring.
With kind regards,
Carol
James Cusick
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47 comments:
This is excellent news....well done P&O.
What a beautiful ship and how extraordinary that both the Artemis and new Adonia share the earlier name of Royal Princess. Bet her maiden voyage will coincide with the final cruise of the Artemis …darn… we are booked on that!! Ah! Well, can’t win them all. Totally delighted that we are to have another child free ship.. Fantastico
Kind regards,
Michael and Shirley
Fantastic! It shows you and P&O are listening to what your customers are asking for.
Good news,I prefer the small ships
Excellent news, really good that P&O will continue to have a range of ships to cater for all tastes. Also to still have a small ship that can get to the out-of-the-way places that larger ships cannot. Pity that I have just booked a Swan Hellenic cruise for 2011 - but maybe I can fit one on the new Adonia in as well that year! I will have been on all the other P&O ships by then, so want to experience Adonia as soon as possible.
Also good to see that Carol is listening to passenger comments and responding directly to them. Please can I make just one more plea, which would make P&O almost perfect for passengers like me (single ladies who love to dance):
Please could P&O seriously consider having gentleman hosts, in a similar way to Cunard, who can partner ladies on their own when there is dancing at night,or at ballroom dance classes - especialy on longer cruises with more sea days. Ballroom dancing is very popular at present, but I rarely get a chance to dance these days. In the past, some male Ents Officers would usually come to the evening dances, particularly formal balls to act as partners. However, these days they always seem to be too busy with other duties; not all male Ents Officers can dance, and there are proportionally fewer of them now. On the last two cruises, I didn't get a single dance in, despite sitting looking hopeful!
So please, P&O, make my cruises perfect - I am sure lots of other ladies would agree with me. In my view, it is one of the few ways in which Cunard scores over P&O.
Thanks, Michele
Wonderful news, can't wait to try her!
Great news to see a smaller ship replacing Artemis and thank you for letting us know. I prefer larger ships personally, typically around the size of Arcadia, but it will suit many passengers - and we all count don't we?
What I am concerned about is that Cabin Stewards and Restaurant/Bar Waiters appear to have far more cabins/tables to service and in recent years we feel service has suffered as a result.
My husband and I are due to join Arcadia in Hong Kong in March, for the remainder of the cruise and as it's a very special birthday and retirement treat for my husband, and we're in an expensive cabin, I really worry that we'll be disppointed and regret spending so much money.
Are you able to reassure me at all?
Thank you
Gill
Hurrah. At last a return to cruise ships as they used to be. My husband and I were on the Royal Princess less than a year ago and remarked if they re-named it, painted the funnel yellow and handed it over to P and O it would be like returning to the days when we first started cruising over 40 years ago.
Fantastic news about the new Adonia after knowing that we shall be loosing Artemis which we loved
Congratulations P&O and we cannot wait to cruise on her in 2011 as this will be our Golden Wedding year
Pete and Liz
Brilliant decision Carol (sorry I spelt your name wrong in my previous posting).
We sailed on her as Minerva II up the Amazon and that was our first full cruise, so to us it will be like going home. As a child free ship she should have some similarities to the Swan Hellenic experience.
I hope you can find some really unusual ports of call. As she is smaller than Artemis she could open up more options. There are so many ships now that all sail to the same places.
Thank you so much, we greatly look forward to sailing on her.
We are just packing to fly out to board Oceana on Friday. I hope your Christmas is as good as I know ours will be.
Joyce (I think I am going to come up as anonymous because I can't get the system to accept my comment)
Great news Carol it's just what P & O need, and I'm really looking forward to my Amazon cruise in March where she will be in Manaus the same time as Arty so I should get a good look at her.
Just shows despite some negative comments you do listen to what we want
I am so pleased to see this news Carol. We sailed on the lovely Victoria in her last season and the Captain said that one of these vessels would replace her (for information there were 8 of these, identical ships, built for Renaissance Cruises who went bankrupt). At that time I think we got the first Adonia instead. Arcadia is about as big I like at present but will definitely look forward to planning a cruise aboard the new Adonia.
Andrew
(Brightonbreezy)
Fantastic news - we have said for years this class of ship was exactly what P&O wanted. We were disappointed when Minerva 2 became Royal Princess but now we can look forward to what itineraries will be available in 2011.
Carol & John Porter
Carol
This is excellent news. We cruised to the Black Sea on Royal Princess two years ago, and it was a delight, rather like a country house hotel which moved. We shall be happy to"holiday" as "guests" on her.
Currently looking forward to Atremis in January.
Ralph Harrison
Brilliant news !! We went on her Dec 2004 when she was Minerva 2. We have booked the Farewell Cruise on Artemis and had thought that we would not be on P & O again as we do not like the large ships. Now we will look forward to booking a cruise on Adonia !!
Valerie and Brian
Brilliant. Absolutely brilliant. It's good to see that large monster ships aren't always seen as the way forward. It seems that we are listned to after all. Well done. My faith is restored. Can't wait to see the itinerary.
Looks like this news is going down well!
The photos on your email-shot clearly show that this new Adonia is almost identical to Nautica, which I recently sailed on, a beautiful ship and a wonderful crew. They are both ex-Renaissance ships.
Good to see a return to traditional cruising, maintaining an adult-only experience. She will be able to get into smaller ports...so offering more choice on itineraries.
Well done P&o - you have proved you are still a cruising line at heart.
That is really good news. You're right, small is beautiful.
We have travelled with Oceania on Insignia and it was a brilliant experience. Great staff, lovely ship and amazing food. Now we'd like to give a British line a try and this looks like a similar size ship.
Look forward to seeing her itineraries. Best wishes for what looks like a great new ship.
Allelujah!! Congratulations P&O! It's a brave move in the current climate of huge, some would say, impersonal cruise ships. We sailed on Artemis earlier this year on the Transatlantic cruise and loved every second. So much so, we have booked for the same cruise in March 2010. So, we were devastated when the letter arrived saying she was being sold. Geoff & Lily
Hi Carol, I can't believe it. We went to the Black Sea on Royal Princess this summer and ab-so-lutely lov-ed her (as Craig would say) We really thought that P & O should have a "Small Ship" in the Fleet and it seems that our wish is your command!! Marvelous.
I too really like Gerard Kenny just like Aurorabore, Elaine. He was on Aurora's ill fated Maiden voyage. That is, The One That went out for Two Days Only and had to Come Home. He did his show, but it was all rather sad because we were on our way home. Could you get him back please?
This is turning into a great blog thanks for all your interest.
Judith
It is lovely to hear that you are listening to your passengers, the people who count. Would love to cruise around Italy on a smaller ship.
Gill Taylor
Great to have a small ship in the fleet that will, I hope, have some new and exciting itineraries, not just the same old ports of call in the Med.
Very nice, but does anyone actually think what we say had any bearing on the decision....P&O were going to sell Artemis, they didn't ask us did they? & they already had the replacement lined up & that was done & dusted ages ago I expect.
Great news as I am a big fan on adult only cruises especially if Adonia can get to some different places particularly in the Med. As Arcadia will be abscent on the marvelous sounding Arctic cruise till towards the end of June, this ship will perfectly fit the bill.
Wonderful news. Like so many others my wife and I were very sad to hear the news about Artemis' departure and had started discussing switching to Fred O. Roll on 2011!
Just to add to my earlier comment Carol - it would be great if the itinerary planners could include a couple of short (say 3 or 4 day) cruises in her first year. Many of us may have commitments for that year that prevent a full cruise but could fit in something shorter. I am sure she will be popular with cruisers of all ages.
Andrew
(Brightonbreezy)
I find it totally unbelievable that your ships can visit so many beautiful ports in such a short time, and that your potential and regular UK customers can be so demanding.We have one easy port to get to for departure and year in and year out the ship, yes 1 ship has 2 selections on most cruises that are only 7 day cruisescand a couple of 10-14day cruises thrown in scattered through the year. If only we were so well regarded and spoilt here in the land down under.
You are all so lucky that someone listens to your non stop whinging!
Well, it's now been 5 years since I spent a couple of years working as a member of the entertainments team on Oriana and Aurora. I miss the life terribly, especially Oriana, and no other cruise ship I have worked on since, has ever felt like a home to me like she did.
P&O is truly an icon of British seafaring history and I'm delighted to say that my parents will be taking their first cruise with you on Azura next year.
I only wish I could afford to go with them.
Hi Carol,
Great to see that P&O are going to have a small ship again. My wife and i are looking forward to our trip on Artemis in 2011.
I have missed the blog for more than a week now as i am overseas until January 2010, this is the first time i have managed to catch up with the blog.It makes good reading.
Regards to all, looking forward to catching up with the blog some time soon again.
Geoff Witts Perth,(via Ormoc, Leyte, Philippines.)
Hi Carol,
I asked a question on the 5th December re taking our own alcohol on board Aurora for our personal use in our cabin on the Grand Voyage as we were allowed to on Arcadia earlier this year. As has been the norm. since I booked this cruise, nobody seems to be able to answer any questions let alone this particular one. All other queries were answered by yourself except this one.
Are you able to give me a response?
Yeh or Neh will suffice!
Hi anonymous, try reading the esential information section in the 2010 brochure regarding alcohol on board ..page 235, 10th paragraph.
just been on ventura to big just love oriana went on last adonia enjoyed am looking forward to the new one will be booking for sure i do think you are stretching the dining staff a bit thin but all the best to P@O for years to come david @ teresa forward
Agree with Forward said, Ventura is way too big. Oriana and co are just right. Never got to enoy the old Adonia but have enjoyed the Artemis, all the existing ships. It may sound sad, but I genuinely can't wait for the new Adonia.
Codge
Well Carol will be leaving the blog soon and James will be back. I am so looking forward to having James back on the blog and also seeing him on J922. I will hopefully look in on James blog and let you know how I'm getting on as a passenger (hope you don't mind James me piggy backing your blog)???!!!! I spend far too much time on the internet, if I start my own blog I fear it may just take even more time!
Elaine
PS, Carol, I am not saying I haven't enjoyed your brief entries in the blog. They have been informative.
Elaine (aurorabore)
Thanks Anon re the alcohol Q. Very difficult to read that brochure as we are unable to get it here in Aus.Hence really need the info online.
Basically, if you are over 18, you can take alcohol onboard for your own consumption and in your cabin …they reserve the right to confiscate alcohol at the gangway where they consider that the health, comfort, safety and enjoyment of passengers will be compromised.
Anon,
Thank You so much for answering my question!
Have a good one!
I was just wondering if any one remembers the P&O Cruises calendar they did in 2006. I know it was 2006 because I’ve still got mine.
Anyway Carol would it be possible to do another one for 2011?
We've only had 4 blog entries over the last 3 weeks. Nigel used to blog every day. Can someone in Carol's office help out please as she must be too busy?
Bet she did not like some of the replies she got!
EX P&O cruiser
I have to say if I were Carol I wouldn't post on the blog either considering some of the comments on here!
However it may just be that she is busy. Who knows.
Anyway fellow bloggers and Carol, I'd like to take this opportunity to wish you all a very merry christmas and a happy new year.
James, I look forward to finally meeting you tomorrow. I hope your not disappointed. I'm a lot quieter in person than I am on here! ;-o)
Elaine (aurorabore)
Merry Christmas and happy New Year to you also Elaine.
Hope you have a great warm cruise and I look forward to reading your comments on this blog while you are on board.
I can't wait to hear what James has to say on his first entry.
The new Adonia is identical to the Princess Cruise lines Pacific and Tahitian Princesses.
Have been on both and although they are lovely ships we found them to be quite unstable, particularly Tahitian.We actually had tender ports cancelled on Tahitian as it was considered too rough to off load passengers, was approx. .5 metre seas or less, not a problem for a larger ship. We named them the long,high canoes
As we like to cruise child free, this is a very welcome addition to the P & O Fleet. We cruised Artemis in November 2008 to Columbia and the Panama Canal and Acapulco. Cruised Arcadia in June 2009 to Norway, Belgium, Holland etc. Loved the child free aspect and we are really looking forward to cruising on Adonia in 2011. Cant wait for the brochure to come out.
Jenny
It is sad news about the Artemis going but I think now is the time for her to bow out gracefully. She needs to be able to sail into retirement before she wears herself out completely and lets people down. She has been breaking down quite often of late and people are starting to lose patience. Here's to the end of an era and the start of the new Adonia era
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