Princess Cruises’ 700-passenger Royal Princess is to be transferred to P&O Cruises in spring 2011.
The ship will be renamed Adonia and joins the fleet just a month after Artemis leaves, taking the number of ships operated by P&O Cruises back to seven.
Adonia will be P&O’s smallest ship and designated child-free following passenger demand, said P&O Cruises managing director Carol Marlow. “I have been on the ships talking to passengers and one of the overriding comments has been that they love the small, adult-only ships.
“Adonia will fill the needs of our passengers. It is refined, elegant and traditional, ideal for the British market. I am delighted we have been able to arrange this transfer.”
Marlow said P&O started looking for additional capacity when it was clear Artemis was to be sold. Adonia is newer than the ship it replaces, built in 2001 as opposed to 1984. It also has more balcony cabins – 257 compared to 152 on Artemis.
Marlow said: “It will give our passengers a very comfortable experience.”
Marlow, who experienced Royal Princess when it was Minerva II and sailed for Swan Hellenic, said she would like to see a few changes to make it perfect for the British market, but that it was too soon to discuss details.
She said Adonia’s itineraries have not been finalised but confirmed the ship will be visiting ports that bigger ships cannot get into. Itineraries will go on sale in spring 2010.
P&O Cruises last had a ship called Adonia in 1998, which was also adult-only and established a “great reputation”. It was transferred to Princess Cruises in 2005 and renamed Sea Princess.
Artemis was sold to a Greek shipping company and is being chartered by Phoenix Reisen. Its farewell cruise, departing Southampton on April 12 2011, sold out in just 17 minutes.