New Zealand to host luxury P&O cruise ships

Media release

New Zealand to host luxury P&O cruise ships Aurora and Oriana in 2009
 

New Zealand will play host to two P&O British superliners Oriana and Aurora in early 2009, as part their worldwide voyage.

The 1,822-passenger Oriana will visit Tauranga and Auckland while in New Zealand waters, as part of an 82-night circumnavigation of the world. From here, she will continue to the Caribbean, Hawaii and Hong Kong.

Passengers will likely include busy executives taking a sabbatical to travel or those who missed their OE while in their twenties enjoying an adult ‘gap year’.

Fine dining at Gary Rhodes new restaurant ‘Oriana Rhondes’ will provide a special treat for food lovers, as will the range of restaurants and cafes on board.

Not to be outclassed by her sister, the 1,874-passenger Aurora will provide the ultimate in international dining. Triple Michelin starred chef Marco Pierre White’s new restaurant on board Aurora, Café Bordeaux, will open in time for the 2009 voyage.

The Aurora will berth in Wellington, Napier, Auckland and the Bay of Islands on her journey around the world which includes stops in South Africa, Mauritius, Papua New Guinea, Tahiti and Mexico.

For more information, see a travel agent, call P&O Cruises World Voyages on 0800 951 200 or visit www.pocruises.co.nz.

Fast facts about the Oriana

The Oriana’s onboard art collection contains nearly 3,000 works of art by British artists; which is a larger collection than that housed in London’s National Gallery
At 12.8m by 5.6m the Oriana’s Crystal Pool is one of the largest swimming pools onboard any ship
The original Oriana provided a vital link between the UK and Australia by bringing British immigrants to their new life down under
During a world cruise, Oriana’s passengers and crew will eat 306,000 fresh eggs, 28,640 litres of icecream, 22.2 tonnes of fish and 50.4 tonnes of flour.
 

Fast facts about the Aurora

At 62 metres tall, the Aurora is 10 metres higher than Niagra Falls, making it too tall to fit under the Auckland Harbour Bridge
Aurora’s 9,200 square metres of open deck can accommodate 35 tennis courts
Three Statues of Liberty, from base to tip of torch, could lie end-to-end alongside the 270 metre long ship
The Aurora travels 83,000 nautical miles per year – equivalent to almost four complete circumnavigations of the globe
Aurora’s two main propellers weigh more than 20 tonnes each
During her journey passengers will consume approximately 700,000 main meals, 252,000 cakes and 24,000 litres of icecream.
 

ENDS

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