Britain's greatest and best loved female performer, Dame Shirley Bassey DBE, is to be Godmother to Adonia, the latest addition to the P&O Cruises fleet.
Dame Shirley will name the stylish ship in a glittering ceremony in Southampton on Saturday May 21, 2011.
Adonia is considerably smaller than the larger ships of today. Carrying just 710 passengers, the ship will be able to reach off the beaten track ports of call, yet is big enough to provide an extensive range of on board facilities. Exclusively for adults, Adonia will offer an atmosphere that is intimate and refined, and the on board excellence for which the company is renowned.
'I have had the most exciting career imaginable, but to be invited to be Godmother to a cruise ship is something very special and very personal', said Dame Shirley.
Dame Shirley is Britain's most successful female artiste ever, a national treasure who defines the word 'superstar'. We are Britain's favourite and most successful cruise line and can trace our British history back longer than any other line. It's a perfect match and I am sure on our naming day she will need no excuse to 'get the party started!' said P&O Cruises managing director, Carol Marlow.
During a career that has included 135 million record sales, Dame Shirley Bassey has had many incredible highlights, including being the only singer to record three James Bond movie theme songs & most recently releasing 'The Performance', an album which she describes simply as 'The performance of my life'. Dame Shirley has received numerous awards and accolades including being named a DBE [Dame of the British Empire] in 1999.
'Adonia will be the jewel in the P&O Cruises crown and will celebrate all those things our regular passengers love about cruising with us, a classic dance floor, Crow's Nest observation lounge, formal nights, classical music recitals, guest speakers, silver service dining and a dedicated card room. Loyal cruisers and those new to cruising alike will be charmed by the refined P&O Cruises experience Adonia will offer, and entertainment will form a vital part of that, so it is entirely fitting for Dame Shirley to give Adonia the best possible start to her life with P&O Cruises', continued Carol Marlow.
Over 500 invited guests will witness the naming ceremony on Adonia?s top deck in Southampton Docks on Saturday, May 21, prior to the vessel's maiden voyage the following day, a 16 night cruise to the Western Mediterranean, which includes calls to Alghero in Sardinia; Portofino in Italy; Sete in France; Port Mahon and Barcelona in Spain.
Adonia facts
Built in 2001, Adonia has all the facilities you would expect of a modern ship, with a classic and refined interior style.
Adonia's main restaurant will be the Pacific Restaurant and there will be two further Select dining venues, Italian 'Sorrento' and a steakhouse and grill. There will also be a buffet restaurant, with some al fresco dining and a barbecue area out on the Lido deck.
For entertainment, Adonia will have eight bars, including P&O Cruises signature 'Crow's Nest' observation lounge; Andersons, the familiar club-style lounge bar; and Raffles, which will also offer a coffee shop menu throughout the day with pastries, chocolates, hot drinks and afternoon tea. There is also a traditional library with fireplace and views on three sides.
Adonia will also feature The Curzon Lounge, where passengers can enjoy a drink with a sea view during the day, and by night enjoy a performance by the Headliners theatre company, concerts, dancing, or after dinner speakers.
There will be the signature Oasis Spa, offering a range of treatments and therapies such as hot stone massages and body scrubs, Aromatherapy, and reflexology. There is also a well equipped gym with panoramic sea views.
Adonia's well appointed cabins will feature Egyptian cotton linen, tea and coffee making facilities so popular with British passengers, and over 75% of the cabins will have a private balcony.
About P&O Cruises
P&O Cruises can trace its roots back to 1837 when the Peninsular Steam Navigation Company was awarded the lucrative Admiralty contract to carry mail to the Iberian Peninsula and beyond. Today, as trusted cruise experts, P&O Cruises has a fleet of seven ships offering holidays tailored to British tastes combining genuine service, a sense of occasion and attention to detail, ensuring passengers have the holiday of a lifetime, every time. Azura was launched in April 2010, officially named by Godmother Darcey Bussell CBE and small ship Adonia will be added to the fleet in May 2011.
Press information
For further enquiries please contact:
Michele Andjel, michele.andjel@carnivalukgroup.com 023 8065 6653/07730 732 072
Kate Rist, kate.rist@pocruises.com 023 8065 6652/07730 732 065
Lorraine Sadowski, lorraine.sadowski@pocruises.com 023 8065 6650/07917 520144
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