P&O Cruises has turned to much-loved British icon Noddy as it evolves into a mainstream family holiday aimed exclusively at the UK market.
The flagship British cruiseline released details today of its new ship, the £300 million, 3,600-passenger Ventura currently being built in Italy and due to make its debut in April 2008.
It will be the largest cruise ship ever built for the British market, and with P&O Cruises promising it will be its most family friendly ship it has employed the services of Noddy and his friend Big Ears bringing Toyland to the high seas what it hopes will be the many young customers who sail on Ventura.
Like Disney Cruise Line, the characters will make regular appearances on the ship and host character breakfasts.
P&O Cruises managing director David Dingle said: “Our passengers have grown up with Noddy and he remains as popular with children today as he was fifty years ago.
“This is the first time a British cruiseline has forged a relationship with a recognisable children’s character and Noddy is the perfect choice for P&O Cruises.”
Noddy will not be the only British institution that P&O Cruises hopes will make the Ventura a distinctly British ship.
Building on the success of the cruiseline’s existing tie up with Gary Rhodes on Arcadia and sister cruiseline Ocean Village with James Martin, renowned chef Marco Pierre White, the first UK chef to win three Michelin stars, will develop a signature restaurant on the ship called The White Room.
He will also be responsible for the food at a family-themed casual restaurant called The Beach House, a pizzeria and three restaurants that will offer guests a choice of either Freedom Dining or traditional sittings.
Dingle said: “The White Room will be a sumptuous restaurant with a menu reminiscent of the finest dishes found in the most memorable hotels and restaurant across Italy.
“Marco will use the expertise gained running Frankie’s restaurants to help create The Beach House, a family dining venue on Ventura. This will be a cruise ship first – offering families the chance to dine together in somewhere designed specifically for that purpose.”
To bring a contemporary British feel P&O Cruises has also teamed up with the Tate Modern making the ship a showcase for the best of British art with 7,000 pieces being sourced from 55 different artists.
The famous gallery on London’s South Bank will also host Introduction to Modern Art themed cruises.
A team of designers will give the interior decor a more sophisticated feel than some of the American-style ships in parent company Carnival’s fleet, starting with the central atrium designed around an impressive ‘gateway’ made of granite.
“Ventura will take the contemporary cruise experience to the next level,” Dingle said. “Her stylish interior and range of facilities will appeal to people who might not have previously considered a cruise holiday, as well as those who enjoy cruising on big, modern ships.
“Each time we build a new ship we look for evolution rather than revolution. We’re committed to creating a designer ship that can be enjoyed by our existing passengers and embraced by those who haven’t cruise with us before.
“Our research tells us that in Britain today people are looking to spend on experiences rather than material things. They want to escape the stress of work and everyday life and find more time to relax and play. They want to spend more time together as families and couples. Ventura is designed to meet those needs.”
The ship marks a huge investment in the rapidly growing UK cruising market but P&O Cruises will need that growth to continue unabated because Ventura will increase its capacity by 30%.
It is hoped the ship’s inaugural European itinerary will go on sale as early as April next year and although nit has not been confirmed it is expected the ship will be based in Southampton during its first summer season.
Click here to view a Flickr gallery of images of P&O’s latest ship, the Ventura.