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It’s Time! The Transformation of Pacific Aria and Pacific Eden Begins

After months ofanticipation, the time has finally come – the ships that will become PacificAria and Pacific Eden are starting their dry docks in Singapore as P&OCruises prepares to expand to a record five ship fleet.<?xml:namespace prefix="o" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"?>

Over the nextthree weeks, more than 900 contractors from 43 different nationalities willwork around the clock to transform the ships, which are set to become gamechangers for the Australian cruise industry.

The work starts onPacific Eden today with the ship docking at Sembcorp Marine Admiralty Yard thismorning, while Pacific Aria arrives on October 31, in what will be Singapore’sfirst ever double dry dock.

The extensivenature of the work means about 250,000 man hours will be spent on the ships. Each ship will spend 11 days in dry dock withwork continuing as they sail to Australia in November.

During dry dock,each ship will receive an estimated 20,000sqm of carpet, 2500sqm of wall covering, morethan 300 pieces of art, 2500 pieces of furniture and 2500 signs, as well as 500litres of paint.

About seventy12-metre shipping containers are waiting at the shipyard, filled with anassortment of nearly 5000 products ranging from forks to furniture.

Dwarfing thehumble weekly grocery list, P&O’s shopping bill for both ships is more than430 A4 pages long and includes purchases ranging from 47,000 glasses to 74,000pieces of china and 30,000 items of cutlery.

As well as thewalls being decorated, shelves stocked and drawers filled, the ships will bereconfigured with Australian power points and beer taps will be installed inpreparation for their new home down under.

Pacific Eden is scheduledto emerge from dry dock on November 3 and will cruise via Fremantle and southernAustralia en route to Sydney Harbour for her dual naming ceremony with sistership Pacific Aria on November25. Pacific Aria will leave dry dock on November12 sailing straight to Sydney.

P&O CruisesSenior Vice President Sture Myrmell said the 1500-guest ships would set a newpath for the local industry with stunning new features including luxe bars, aplush private dining room, a resort-style pool deck, contemporary diningincluding Luke Mangan's Salt grill and some of the most spacious rooms acrossthe fleet.

“We can’t wait tointroduce Australians to Pacific Aria and Pacific Eden. They’re unlike anythingwe’ve ever seen in these waters – they’re stylish but relaxed, just like modernAustralia, so we think local cruisers will love them,” Mr Myrmell said.

For moreinformation visit pocruises.com.au, or see a licensed travel agent.

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