more pleasure cruising

P&O clears the decks for more pleasure cruising

P and O’s passenger division has announced sweeping changes in the pattern of its passenger operations which may be the prologue to closure of its regular passenger line services and concentration on a lucrative pleasure cruise programme.

The changes, which will create P and O’s largest-ever world-wide cruise operations, will see the disap pearance, at least for some months, of the pride of the fleet, the “Can berra”, from the usual Australia- United Kingdom shipping lane, and the employment on cruise work of five more liners, “Spirit of London”, the newest addition to the fleet, “Oriana”, “Arcadia”, “Himalaya” and “Chusan”.

Between now and the end of 1973, 55 cruises will start from Australia.

The company has no comment on the future of its passenger services and concentrates in its publicity blurbs on its willingness to “increase substantially our involvement in the profitable world-wide cruising market.”

The demand for passenger services between UK and Australia and New Zealand has been bolstered over the years by the immigration programme but, inevitably, the jet aircraft— especially now that airlines are slashing their prices—is tearing the guts out of the shipping lines’ pas senger services.

The compensation is attractive, however, for pleasure cruising is growing in popularity and at a price comparing favourably with land-based

holidays. Even the insular English are looking for a closer acquaintance with the briny than they’ve been accustomed to getting from the end of a pier.

P and O is determined to gain on the nautical swing what it’s now losing on the roundabout. Its bait for the Americans, who’ve always liked cruising, is the 45,000-ton “Canberra” which will be based in New York for a continuous cruise programme beginning early next year. But, before she sails for New York, “Canberra” will dip her bows into the Australian market with three cruises, a long weekend mini-cruise to sea but nowhere in particular, beginning on September 29, a 10-day cruise to Honiara and Auckland (Oct. 15) and a 28-day cruise to Rabaul, Japan and Hong Kong (Oct. 15).

The other ships will carry out full cruise programmes next year.

“Himalaya” has 14 cruises, the 42,000ton “Oriana” nine cruises, “Arcadia” seven, and “Chusan” will be entering the South African market again as she did last year. “Spirit of London” is going to America’s West Coast for a year-long programme of cruises to Alaska and Mexico.

In the British and Continental European cruise area. P and O will offer 42,000 holidays in an April to Christmas programme ranging from the Caribbean and Eastern Mediter ranean to the North Cape and West Africa.