Eden and Aria go to CMV

UK-BASED Cruise & Maritime Voyages (CMV) has been revealed as the purchaser of P&O’s Pacific Eden and Pacific Aria, which Carnival Australia earlier this week announced would leave its fleet in 2021 (TD 25 Nov).

CMV will take delivery of Dawn in Singapore on 02 Mar 2021, while Aria will be handed over on 02 May 2021, boosting the CMV fleet to eight ships with a total capacity of 9,000 berths.

After minor upgrades in Singapore, the duo will be officially renamed in mid-2021 and then embark on maiden positioning voyages via the Suez Canal to Northern Europe.

“The introduction of two more ships to the global ocean fleet is the next exciting chapter of our strategic growth objectives,” said CMV CEO Christian Verhounig.

“This will enable us to service increasing market demand for our traditional brand of cruising, generated by our expanding international network of inhouse sales office and developing source markets,” he said.

Verhounig noted CMV had now acquired five cruise ships in just five years, and was on course to carry 200,000 passengers in 2021.

CMV Australia National Sales Manager, Darren Chigwidden, said having the new P&O vessels among the CMV fleet was a

“great opportunity for our travel agents - who are key to our ongoing success - as they are already familiar with the unique selling points of the ships”.

He said the inaugural 2021 programs would go on sale in the first quarter of 2021, with a range of launch incentives planned to encourage early bookings.

CMV’s Vasco da Gama arrives in Australian waters this weekend for her 2019/20 local season.