P&O fleet welcomes princess
Princess Anne will today review P&O’s fleet of seven ships as they depart from Southampton in formation to mark the company’s 175th anniversary.
The seven ships – Adonia, Arcadia, Aurora, Azura, Oceana, Oriana, and Ventura – sailed into Southampton at dawn, marking the first-ever occasion all seven P&O Cruises ships have gathered together in their home port.
Ballerina Darcey Bussell, who named the Azura in 2010, was presented with seven captain’s hats, and later the Princess Royal will be greeted by the seven ship’s captains in a special ceremony and join a VIP reception onboard Oriana with P&O Cruises consultant chefs Marco Pierre White and Atul Kochhar.
Once in formation, the ships will be reviewed by Princess Anne, who will be on board the Trinity House vessel Patricia. After a ‘flutterfetti’ departure with streamers and fireworks and – weather permitting – a display over Southampton by the Red Arrows, the ships will take the Royal salute.
They will then go their separate ways on seven Grand Event cruises around the world, watched by an estimated 10,000 spectators at Southampton Water.
By Linsey McNeill
EU airports bring back 100ml liquid rule
British Airways passengers endure 11-hour 'flight to nowhere'
CLIA: Anti-cruise demos could cause itinerary changes in Europe
Co-pilot faints, easyJet flight issues ‘red alert’
Gatwick braces for strike