Pacific Pearl’s new home

P&O Cruises’ Pacific Pearl has found a new home with British-based operator Cruise & Maritime Voyages (CMV), where she will be renamed Columbus and commence operations from 09 Jun, 2017.

CMV chief executive and chairman, Christian Verhounig, said “the successful introduction of Magellan in 2015 has encouraged our group to accelerate their mid-term growth plans and the addition of Columbus to the fleet in 2017 is another important milestone in achieving our long-term growth objectives”.

“The strategic development of the group’s presence in the UK and wider international markets will increase our overall capacity to 125,000 passengers in 2017,” he continued. The vessel will undergo a dry dock with some refurbishment and livery work to be completed in Singapore before embarking on her inaugural CMV cruise season as Columbus sailing from the United Kingdom, with the ship’s new program slated to go on sale via travel trade and the CMV website from 31 Mar.

Pacific Pearl’s retirement from the P&O fleet was announced at the end of last week ( breaking news Fri), with president Sture Myrmell describing the move as part of an “unprecedented fleet renewal program” for the line.

Pacific Pearl’s final voyage as part of the P&O fleet will be the 16-day cruise to Singapore departing Auckland on 27 Mar.