Dame Kelly Holmes to Name P&O Cruises Arcadia - Britain's Newest Superliner
Double Olympic gold medallist Dame Kelly Holmes is to name the largest superliner to be built exclusively for Britain - Arcadia, the latest addition to the P&O Cruises fleet. Dame Kelly will become Arcadia's official Godmother in a spectacular evening ceremony that will take place in Southampton on 12 April 2005.
Commenting on the announcement, David Dingle, Managing Director of P&O Cruises said,
"Dame Kelly Holmes' triumphs in last year's Olympic Games were outstanding achievements for Britain, and we are honoured that she has agreed to become Godmother to Arcadia. This new vessel, the largest and most contemporary cruise ship ever built for Britain, is the latest in a long line of achievements for P&O Cruises, and we are delighted that Dame Kelly is to be associated with her."
In keeping with Arcadia's modern and innovative values, her naming ceremony will be a departure from tradition. Dame Kelly will perform the customary champagne naming but the celebration will encompass grand scale theatre and dramatic surprise, as well as stunning pyrotechnic displays.
A child-free ship, Arcadia will feature an expansive spa with a thermal suite and hydrotherapy pool, three-tier theatre, 3,000 piece multi-million pound modern British art collection, 14 bars and six fine dining options including Arcadian Rhodes, a restaurant developed exclusively for P&O Cruises by renowned chef Gary Rhodes. Carrying 1952 passengers and a complement of 880 crew, she will sail
to destinations in the Mediterranean, Atlantic Isles, Baltic, Norwegian Fjords, USA, Caribbean and Central America.
Arcadia has 540 metres of promenade deck which will be popular with joggers; for the more serious, this distance can be covered by Dame Kelly in just one minute 18 seconds based upon her 800m gold winning time in Athens.
Editor's Notes
P&O Cruises has been operating cruise ships for 160 years and combines innovation, professionalism and unrivalled experience on its fleet of five superliners. P&O Cruises offer predominantly British passengers the most stylish and friendly holidays afloat with destinations including the Caribbean, South America,
Scandinavia, Mediterranean, Canary Islands and Round the World cruises.
Arcadia statistics and technical information:
Gross tonnage: 83,000
Overall length: 285 metres
Maximum speed: 22 knots
Builder: Fincantieri, Italy
Number of crew: 880
Passenger capacity: 1952
Cost £200 million
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