Cruise and Maritime Voyages (CMV) took delivery of their new flagship Columbus in Singapore on 12 April 2017.
Earlier in the day the ship had arrived at the Singapore Cruise Centre under her P&O Cruises Australia livery as Pacific Pearl at the end of her farewell voyage from Australia before transferring to the Sembcorp Marine Shipyard to complete the required handover formalities as the renamed and reflagged Columbus .
Chris Coates, Commercial Director at CMV said: ‘We are delighted to have taken delivery of this fine traditional cruise ship and look forward to comencing cruise operations under the CMV flag. This follows some reburbishment and lounge adaptation works before her official Naming Ceremony in London Tilbury on Thursday 8 June 2017.
‘Columbus will homeport in London Tilbury year round with a 31,000 passenger capacity programme and her introduction to the CMV fleet has attracted unprecedented interest with very strong bookings being recorded both during her debut season and further ahead to 2018.’
Over 300 crew members and 100 specialist outfitters have already joined Columbus who will fly the Bahamian flag and is scheduled to stay in Singapore until Wednesday 19 April.
This is to complete the required maritime formalities including re-classification and provisioning works before embarking on a ballast voyage via the Suez Canal to the Damen Shipyard in Rotterdam.
During the voyage the refurbishment works will continue with completion in Europe including her relivery works.
Columbus is scheduled to arrive in Tilbury on Monday 5 June ahead of the Naming Ceremony and overnight gala dinner and launch party.
Her debut season also includes luncheon and overnight consumer and trade showcase events on Friday 9 and Saturday 10 June before Columbus commences her CMV maiden cruise season which starts on Sunday 11 June with a three-night cruise to Amsterdam and Antwerp.
The lounge adaptation works include the existing children’s areas and teenage centre being converted into the Columbus Observation Lounge, Trumps & Aces Card & Bridge Room, the Ship’s Library and a Crafter’s Studio. The existing large casino is also being scaled down into a combined Captain’s Club & Casino while the existing Captain’s Lounge will be changed into the Taverner’s Pub.
