NEWS SPECIAL REPORT


Cruise line showcases Arvia two months ahead of launch. Josie Klein reports from Papenburg


P&O hosts agents on shipyard visit to new ship Arvia


P


&O Cruises has declared its latest ship Arvia is in its “final sprint” to completion ahead of its


maiden voyage in December. Arvia, sister ship to Iona,


will arrive at Southampton on December 3 and depart on its first sailing, a Mediterranean itinerary, on December 9. Last week, staff from the cruise


line, as well as five agents and media partners, were welcomed on board the Excel-class ship, which is being built at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany.


Guided by the ship’s captain


Robert Camby, they were given a tour of the atrium, swim-up bar and infinity pool, which are in the final stages of construction. They were also shown the room


which will become home to the line’s first escape room, named Mission Control, as well as the bridge, restaurants and rum distillery. The 5,200-passenger ship has


been designed to travel to sunny destinations year-round and maximises views of the ocean from everywhere on board. Robert Scott, vice-president of


Scott plans to expand P&O sales team to make line more accessible to trade


P&O Cruises has added a who’s who page to its agent portal as the line declares it must work harder to secure agents’ support. Scott said he wants to be at the


end of the phone for agents who have a question and will make time to see trade partners in person as part of a wider plan to support agents.


Robert Scott


He also revealed plans to grow


P&O Cruises’ sales team in 2023, but did not confirm how many staff it is looking to take on. “I want to make sure I’m


available and ensure I can see agents quarterly and speak to them on the phone whenever,” said Scott. “I know it sounds really basic


but it matters to me. “Agents are absolutely critical


to our success. We continue to look at our structure and listen to agent feedback so we have our finger on the pulse when it comes to what agents need, and that helps us frame our objectives for the next year. “Within our plans for 2023, we


want to look at expanding the team to see where we can improve our relationship with agents.”


14 13 OCTOBER 2022 PICTURE: Christopher Ison


sales, marketing and brand for P&O Cruises, attended the shipyard visit and saw Arvia for the first time. “We are in the final sprint now


and it’s great to come on board and see how the work is going,” he said. “It’s very reassuring to see that the


drawings of the ship are so close to the reality. You can see the amount of work that has gone into it and it’s clear that it’s the combination


of thousands of hours of work by hundreds of people.” The five agents invited to visit


the ship were the winners of P&O Cruises’ Arvia Insiders competition, which saw agents create videos explaining why they should be an ambassador for the line, with the


winners given exclusive access to Arvia as well as a free two-week voyage to be taken in 2023.


AGENTS’ VIEWS


Kate Marshall, Hays Travel “I am a bit of a geek for cruises having become a bit


obsessed with them at the start of the pandemic. I went on my first-ever cruise about 18 months ago and have really fallen in love with cruising, so much so I’ve been on 19 more since! Arvia is going to be a next-level ship and it’s so exciting to be a part of the journey.”


Holly Crabtree, Cruise.co.uk “I absolutely love Arvia, she’s amazing. I am in my first year in


this job and to have an opportunity to do this is incredible and really brings


Arvia to life. This has been a personal journey and the ship will always have a special place in my heart.”


Millie Cooper, Bolsover Cruise Club “It has been an amazing


experience. I’ve got to learn so much behind-the-scenes stuff and seen first hand the passion everyone involved with Arvia has, including chef José Pizarro and wine expert Olly Smith. I have already sold more than 100 Arvia holidays which has definitely been helped by all the stuff I’ve been able to do as an ‘Insider’. Customers have watched my social content and been desperate to book, which has been amazing.”


Arvia in the Meyer Werft shipyard


travelweekly.co.uk


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