British-based Cruise & Maritime Voyages (CMV) has acquired two more cruise ships to join its expanding ocean fleet – increasing to eight cruise ships in 2021.
The introduction of two more ships to the global ocean fleet will enable us to service increasing market demand for our traditional brand of cruising, generated by our expanding international network of in-house sales offices and developing source markets.– CMV chief executive, Christian Verhounig
The independently owned CMV Group will take delivery of P&O Australia’s Pacific Dawn and Pacific Aria in Singapore in 2021, increasing CMV’s capacity to 9,000 berths and an increase in passenger capacity by 30%.
The duo will be officially re-named in mid-2021, following dry docking in Singapore where some minor upgrades will be completed, and the ships’ livery updated. The vessels will then embark on maiden positioning voyages via the Suez Canal to Northern Europe.
Pacific Dawn (to be renamed) at 70,285grt, with 798 cabins and carrying around 1,400 passengers, will be deployed to the UK market in late May 2021
Pacific Aria (to be renamed) at 55,819grt, with 630 cabins and carrying around 1,100 passengers, will be deployed to the German market.
CMV chief executive Christian Verhounig said, “The introduction of two more ships to the global ocean fleet will enable us to service increasing market demand for our traditional brand of cruising, generated by our expanding international network of in-house sales offices and developing source markets.”
The new ship names will be unveiled later in December 2019 under CMV’s explorer theme, providing a more traditional cruise experience that can access harder-to-reach ports.
The inaugural 2021 programmes will go on sale via travel trade and CMV’s international sales offices and websites during Q1-2020, with special 2021 launch incentives planned to encourage early bookings.