There’s a very much a ‘harking back while looking forward’ theme to events in the cruise industry this week.
On the one hand, the UK’s oldest cruise company wants you to scour your attics for trinkets that represent the classic days of cruising.
While on the other, the second largest American cruise organisation has its eyes set on something massive appearing over the horizon – the world’s largest cruise ship Oasis of the Seas – as it prepares to leave its ship yard in advance of going into service in December.
It is understandably a very anxious time for all involved as the final pieces of the massive jigsaw that make up the 5,400-passenger, £900 million ship are put into place at its shipyard in Turku in Finland.
It is a big enough challenge building any modern cruise ship. But one that surpasses all in terms of size – 1,187 feet long and with 16 passenger decks plus a huge variety of new elements on board – is going to be a test for even the most skilled maritime engineers.
Landmark in cruise line history
Therefore, it comes as little surprise that teething troubles emerge. In the case of Oasis the equipment used in the main theatre for rigging lights, sets and displays failed and needed to be repaired.
According to Royal Caribbean chairman Richard Fain the work was able to be carried out but it did mean cutting down on rehearsal times for show performers, meaning that not all shows will be ready to be performed in the ship’s shakedown cruises which will run in advance to it entering service out of Fort Lauderdale in Florida before Christmas.
“This is a real disappointment but the delay took us beyond our comfort level to make sure the shows are up to snuff,” he wrote in his dedicated Oasis of the Seas blog.
I’m sure worse things happen at sea and you can be certain that once the first paying passengers embark from Port Everglades on December 5, all will be ready for action.
A key landmark event occurs on Wednesday when Oasis of the Seas is to be formally handed over from the shipyard to the company following a series of rigorous seas trials and inspections.
What is absolutely definite is that Oasis of the Seas is going to bring the future of cruising smack bang into the present day.
As I have blogged before, the next 12 months will see a raft of new ships entering into service, Oasis of the Seas being just one.
Memories of the seas
April 10, 2010 will be a momentous date for P&O Cruises as that’s when 3,000-passenger Azura is to be named in Southampton at what is sure to be a suitably glittering occasion with an as-yet unnamed godmother.
In preparation for the big day, the company is providing householders with the opportunity to de-clutter their homes, as it is on the hunt for your old sea faring stuff.
Like a cruise industry version of the TV reality show Clean Sweep, company is looking for is nautical memorabilia which reflects the history of the company, which first starting plying the oceans as far back as 1837.
Not that P&O Cruises is planning some massive ship boot sale or thinking of starting an on board flea market. That would certainly not help enhance the image.
The plan is to create a kind of floating museum filled with items contributed by members of the public.
Selected historic souvenirs, works of art and items of historical importance will be used on loan to display on Azura.
All memorabilia selected will be displayed on the ship during its maiden season next year and will then be part of a travelling heritage display across the company’s fleet of seven vessels.
The line sees the introduction of the vessel – seen as a modern take on the traditional P&O Cruises’ ocean going experience – as an appropriate time to celebrate its heritage by exhibiting memorabilia and works of art associated with the fleet.
People with items of historical importance and sentimental relevance are being asked to loan them out, whether it be Canberra on camera, images of Iberia or a souvenir from Strathaird or Strathmore.
In this way the company hopes to create a collection designed to evoke many memories of cruises of the past while matching the ‘back to the future’ inspiration for Azura, evocative of the elegance and glamour of classic British cruising at its best.
So while P&O Cruises seeks to recreate images of the past, the future is very much in the minds of those at Royal Caribbean as this week marks a momentous occasion for the US cruise giant.
*Those wishing to contribute P&O Cruises’ memorabilia should post a photograph and a short explanation of the item and its history to:
Michele Andjel
P&O Cruises
Carnival House
100 Harbour Parade
Southampton SO15 1ST
Envelope should be marked: Memorabilia
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