After a summer of comedy and cruising P&O announces it will be back with an encore to last year's Big Laugh festival.
With the success of the cruise line's floating comedy fest aboard the Pacific Jewel, P&O returns for the 2019-20 season with its follow up act the Pacific Aria.
The Aria is smaller, newer and appeals perhaps to a more sophisticated sense of humour. Compared to the raucous Jewel's capacity 1670, the Aria is a more refined 1260 berths.
Like the Jewel the Aria will be homeported in Auckland and undertake its own set of comedy themed cruises, including round trips from the City of Sails and a four-night Auckland to Sydney comedy gala in October 2020.
However, there is more to the Aria's Auckland posting than entertainment designed to tickle your funny bone. The 2020 programme will see eighteen separate cruises - of between eight to twelve nights – sailing from New Zealand into the South Pacific.
Itineraries announced this week include the ten-night 'Bounty Discovery' cruise, sailing to Norfolk Island, Noumea, Lifou, Port Vila and Mystery Island – a tiny, enigmatically named atoll in Vanuatu.
Bounty Discovery departures are scheduled for April, June, July and September 2020.
"With Pacific Aria homeporting in Auckland for seven months we have even more opportunities to offer new longer itineraries that showcase the incredible beauty of the South Pacific," said P&O Cruises President Sture Myrmell.
After a season in New Zealand, it was announced in August that the Pacific Jewel would be 'bowing out' from P&O's fleet in February next year.
The Aria will be more than a suitable understudy for the Jewel providing P&O's pacific itinerary from New Zealand.
"Although next year's homeporting in Auckland will be a little shorter than was planned, we are very confident that our New Zealand guests will take the stylish Pacific Aria to their hearts," Myrmell said.
Cartoon capers: Concept drawings for the Cartoon Network Wave, top, and P&O's outgoing Pacific Jewel. Photo / Facebook.com, Cartoon Network Wave / Supplied
It is not yet clear as to what the next port of call for the Jewel will be or if a buyer has been found for the vessel.
However, at the beginning of the year speculation was rife after concept drawings for the Cartoon Network Wave appeared – a cartoon themed cruise with a bright yellow livery. Apart from the giant kids TV characters adorning the side – the concepts for the Wave had a striking resemblance to the Jewel.
When asked if the Jewel had been sold to the Cartoon Network, Myrmell laughed off the suggestion. He was adamant that the cruise line had no plans to sell the ship to the children's entertainment company.
"The company took the liberty to use our ship as a canvas, which is quite recognisable. It was a concept and it not something that we [P&O] were part of."
Talking to Myrmell on the launch of the P&O Big Laugh festival, it was apparent he could see the funny side of it too.
P&O Cruises' 2020 program goes on sale this week. For more information visit pocruises.co.nz or see a licensed travel agent
