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Multi-million pound refurb for P&O Ventura

Contributing to the on-going trend of revamping cruise ships in grand style, P&O Cruises’ Ventura has recently emerged from a multi-million pound refurbishment to include a number features which have proved popular with passengers travelling on her sister ship, Azura.

One of the line’s largest ships, the family-friendly Ventura has been refurbished as part of P&O Cruises’ refit programme and new features will include restaurants The Glasshouse, which will offer premium wines by the glass specially selected by TV wine expert Olly Smith and East, which will boast a new menu by Michelin-star celebrity chef Atul Kochhar.

Something sure to prove popular with solo cruisers is the introduction of 18 centrally-located single cabins, 12 of which will be outside-facing, while exclusive, adult-only spa terrace The Retreat is another new addition, offering sun loungers, a separate pool and some great views to passengers willing to pay a small cover charge for a day pass.

Web-conscious cruisers will be happy to know that the Ventura is now fully Wi-Fi enabled, though there will still be some fixed PCs in the ship’s new library, which was formerly the cybercentre. Past passengers heading for the old library will be in for fragrant surprise too, as it’s now been replaced by a new perfumery.

For those who enjoy the odd tipple or two, a new enomatic wine system has been introduced in the new Glasshouse restaurant and in the existing Waterside buffet restaurant. For anyone not in the know, this self-service system allows passengers to buy premium wines by the glass by purchasing a special wine card.

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What’s on the Horizon for P&O Ventura’s 2023 Refit?

Table of Contents

What is the P&O Ventura?

P&O Ventura is a Grand-class cruise ship operated by P&O Cruises and caters to the British market. Launched in 2008, the Ventura is one of P&O’s largest ships and is known for its variety of entertainment options and dining venues.

What is a ship refit?

A refit involves renovating, overhauling, reequipping, and repairing a ship. It is typically conducted to rejuvenate the ship’s interiors, update the facilities, improve passenger comfort, and ensure the vessel meets the latest safety and environmental standards.

What is expected in P&O Ventura’s 2023 refit?

Though specific details are yet to be officially released, the P&O Ventura 2023 refit is expected to incorporate new and updated amenities, refreshed cabin designs, revamped dining venues, and introductions of new entertainment areas.

Why is P&O Ventura’s 2023 Refit Important?

The refurbishment is crucial to ensuring the ship remains attractive and competitive in an industry that continually evolves, offering the passengers the best possible cruising experience.

How Often Do Cruise Ships Typically Undergo Refits?

Cruise ships usually undergo major refits every five years, with minor updates happening as necessary in between. The Ventura last had a significant refit in 2018.

Does a refit mean changes to the ship’s capacity?

While refits often involve changing cabin configurations, it does not necessarily mean a change to the ship’s guest capacity.

Will the Ventura’s 2023 refit affect pre-booked cruises?

Typically, cruise lines plan refits during periods of lower demand or off seasons to minimize disruptions. Any impact on pre-booked cruises would likely be communicated to passengers well in advance.

How long does a refit like the Ventura’s 2023 project typically take?

The duration varies, but major cruise ship refits can take several weeks to a few months to complete.

Are there any new onboard facilities expected after the refit?

While specific details are not yet confirmed, after a major refit, guests can typically expect updates to existing amenities and new additions designed to enhance the overall cruise experience.

What happens to the old furniture and fittings during a refit?

Cruise lines often recycle, sell or donate the old furniture and fittings to sustainable third parties.

Where will the P&O Ventura 2023 refit take place?

Most ship refits occur in large shipyards equipped to deal with extensive ship overhauls, but the exact location for the Ventura’s refit is yet to be announced.

What will happen to the staff during the refit?

Crew members are often given the opportunity to take leave, receive further training, or may be transferred to other ships in the fleet during a refit.

Will the Ventura look different after the refit?

The exterior of the ship is unlikely to change significantly, but passengers can expect a fresh and modern interior look following the refit.

How will the refit enhance passenger safety?

Modernizations during a refit also consider safety upgrades, including improvements in navigation and fire safety systems.

What environmental considerations are taken into account during a refit?

Many cruise lines are becoming increasingly eco-conscious during refits, opting for more energy-efficient systems and sustainable materials.

What impact will the refit have on P&O’s Ventura’s value?

Refurbishments are an investment and often translate to increased market value for the ship, attracting more passengers due to improved amenities and updated look.

Will the refit affect the fares on the Ventura?

Although major upgrades can sometimes justify a slight increase in fares, any changes would take into consideration maintaining competitive pricing in the cruise market.

Are the cruise itineraries likely to change after the refit?

Itineraries post-refit are usually not affected, unless the refit includes updates geared towards serving different climates or geographic areas.

Does the refit indicate the future direction of P&O Cruises?

Refurbishments often reflect a cruise line’s vision for the future, incorporating new technology, guest feedback, and industry trends.

Conclusion: Why should passengers look forward to P&O Ventura’s 2023 refit?

The impending refit signifies P&O Cruises’ commitment to providing its passengers with the best onboard experience filled with modern comforts, entertainment.

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P&O completes Ventura refit

By Rebecca Gibson | 13 May 2013

Following the revitalisation, Ventura features The Retreat, an open-air spa terrace with seating and a pool, a new dance floor in the atrium, a library with fixed PCs and a perfumery.

The ship also has 18 single cabins and a full wifi service, while The Glasshouse has replaced Las Ramblas bar and restaurant and East restaurant features a new menu designed by Michelin-starred chef Atul Kochhar.

Rebecca Gibson

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P&O Cruises Showcases Ventura Refurbishment

• May 8, 2013

A multi-million pound refurbishment has been carried out to Ventura to incorporate features which have proved popular with passengers on sister ship Azura.

Successful concepts from Azura, such as The Glasshouse, The Retreat, menus designed by Michelin -star chef Atul Kochhar in speciality restaurant East and single cabins have all been introduced on board Ventura as part of P&O Cruises ongoing refit programme.

Highlights include:

The Glasshouse

•  The Glasshouse has been introduced, to replace Las Ramblas bar and restaurant on Deck 7

•  Installation of enomatic wine system allows passengers to buy premium wines by the glass selected by TV wine expert Olly Smith

•  Conversion to The Glasshouse menu with a selection of small and large plates available for lunch and dinner (additional charge). Small plates include:chorizo, pork belly and butter bean cassoulet and larger plates include a selection of steak, burger and fish dishes with triple cooked chips as well as vegetarian options including woodland mushroom and spring onion risotto with melting camembert

•  East now features a new menu designed by Michelin-star celebrity chef Atul Kochhar

•  Atul has devised a unique Thai/Indonesian menu, which also includes influences from Malaysian and Vietnamese cuisine. Sample dishes include:

     – 24 Hour Slow Cooked Lamb Rendang – Indonesian style curry with coconut milk, shallots, garlic and ginger

     – Spiced Sea Bream – wrapped in banana leaf and griddled with shallots and green chillies

Atul Kochhar said: “Exploring flavours from across the Far East, including Indonesia and Thailand, this new and exciting menu showcases modern Asian cuisine. Incorporating mystical spices with subtle ingredients this menu is inspired by my travels throughout Asia and my love of spice.”

Single cabins

•  18 new single cabins added: 12 outside and six inside

•  Located in the same area as Azura, adjacent to the Exchange Bar on Deck 6, a central location

The Retreat

• Installation of The Retreat into the forward area on Deck 16

• The Retreat is a sumptuous open-air spa terrace with sun loungers, a separate pool and stunning sea views, exclusively for adults

• Passengers can buy a full day pass to The Retreat for a small cover charge

Other changes

•  The atrium features a new dance floor which will host dance lessons day and night with a live band in the evening

•  Ventura is now fully wi-fi enabled

•  The cyberstudy has been converted into the ship’s new library (with some fixed PCs)

•  A new perfumery has replaced the old library

•  A new enomatic wine system has been introduced in Waterside, the ship’s buffet restaurant. This self-service system allows passengers to buy premium wines by the glass, similar to The Glasshouse, by purchasing a wine card on board

P&O Cruises managing director Carol Marlow said:

“This is the latest of several refits to our fleet. Oriana and Oceana have already had multi-million pound investments and Arcadia will be at the end of the year. We are delighted with the changes on Ventura. All of the enhancements have been made following feedback from both existing passengers and potential cruisers. Research showed that speciality restaurants were very important as well as a variety of dining with premium grills, classic fine dining, Asian and Indian menus being the most popular.

“As a result we have added these innovations onto Ventura. We have a new Asian Fusion menu in East, designed by Atul Kochhar and we added The Glasshouse grill and wine bar, both of which have proved so popular on Azura.

“Following the success of the single cabins on Azura and Oriana, we also now have 18 new single cabins on Ventura. This offers an attractive and cost effective option to solo travellers.

“The Retreat has also been a huge hit with passengers on Azura and so we now have the same concept on Ventura. The Retreat offers a private area, exclusively for adults and is the perfect place to relax, unwind and be pampered.

“All in all, these changes are very well suited to passengers seeking a relaxed and contemporary cruising experience – perfect for families, friends and couples alike. We are very excited to have these latest innovations in time for Ventura’s new fly-cruise programme to the Mediterranean next summer. Our passengers can enjoy some of Europe’s most iconic destinations in greater style and even more comfort on our new-look Ventura.”

The changes are reflected in the new P&O Cruises 2014/15 brochure. The new programme, which has significant savings for early bookers, is on sale now.

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A peek round P&O Cruises newly refurbished Ventura

Britannia is the current flagship of the P&O Cruises fleet (the arrival of a new ship in couple of year’s time will change that) and after sailing on her I wasn’t sure if the other ships in the family would live up to my extremely high expectations that I had come to expect from a cruise ship. Last week I finally got to put that misconception to bed as I was invited down to Southampton to spend a day on their newly refurbished cruise-ship, Ventura.

I started my wander around the ship at the impression central atrium which is right bang in the middle of the ship. It’s here that people tend to grand a coffee during the day in the Costa, gather for a pre-dinner drink in the evenings or just spend some time relaxing. It’s also where you will find a brand-new selection of duty free shopping stores. I must say that I was impressed of the selection of goods on offer across the various stores on Ventura which offered the usual selection of fragrance, cosmetics and alcohol but also an extensive selection of luxury watches, diamond jewellery by Kallati, clothing and an essentials shop stocking snacks, books and all those little must haves. You really are spoiled for choice onboard.

P&O Cruises are renowned for their expansive range of food and drink options on their ships and Ventura is no exception to that rule a range of select dining options to choose from as well as the main restaurants and self-service buffet. As I was just on Ventura for the day I never have the chance to try them all, but I headed down to the Glass House for a spot of lunch and was not disappointed. If you are a passionate foodie and a wine lover, then this is the place to be as the menu has been expertly curated with the help of the wine expert Olly Smith.

Sadly, the time was nearing for Ventura to set sail for the Med and I hadn’t managed to see everything but that is testament to the sheer size of the ship and the endless number of things to see and do on board. I did toy with the idea of hiding myself away somewhere on deck and joining but unfortunately, I had to disembark and catch my flight back up to Glasgow.

pandocruises.com

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We are sailing on Ventura 1st July to the 8th just wondered if Steven Mulhern will still be on the ship

How is this a peek around the refurbished ship? There’s no photographs of the interior, just meaningless photographs of lifeboats, decking and a flat! Disappointing article. Was hoping to see some of the refurb like the title of the article promises.

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When Was P&O Ventura Last Refurbished?

One of the biggest changes during Ventura’s refit was a complete overhaul of the retail area. Harding Brothers no longer operate the ship’s shops, instead a company called Dufry have taken over. Dufry have brought in an exciting array of new products and the shops look much more modern and inviting than before.

When did P&O Ventura have a refit?

The refurbishment was completed on 6 April 2013 ; in plenty of time for Ventura’s role as the go-to ship for P&O Cruise’s new range of Mediterranean fly cruises starting this summer. See all P&O Ventura Fly-Med itineraries here.

Which P and O ship has been refurbished?

The refit saw 28 brand-new cabins added to Deck 8 of the 19-year-old ship. Other areas, including public spaces, restaurants, bars and the ship’s spahave also been refurbished. The 1,910-passenger Aurora joins Arcadia and Oriana as the line’s third child-free ship, though the latter will leave the fleet in August 2019.

Which celebrities ships are refurbished?

The upcoming refurbishments to Celebrity Silhouette (January), Celebrity Constellation (April) and Celebrity Infinity (October/November) aren’t affected. When these ships emerge from drydock they will join the three ships refurbished in 2019: Celebrity Millennium, Celebrity Summit and Celebrity Equinox .

Where is the Aurora ship now?

The current position of AURORA is at North East Atlantic Ocean (coordinates 50.61948 N / 2.3874 W) reported 1 min ago by AIS.

How many pools does Ventura have?

Swimming Pools

Ventura’s six pools allow guests plenty of opportunity to swim, play and relax.

How much does the retreat cost on Ventura?

The cost to use The Retreat is £20 per person on sea days or £12 per person on port days . They also offered a 2 week couples pass for £200, this also included the use of the Thermal Spa. Give it a try next time you are on board Azura or Ventura.

What is an overlooked balcony on Ventura?

Ventura cabins with overlooked balconies

These Superior Deluxe balconies are positioned on an overhang above the lifeboats . Whilst this does mean that they are larger than standard balconies, it does mean that everyone above you can look down on to your balcony.

Does P&O Ventura have a cinema?

Ventura’s two-tier theatre is located forward on Deck 7 . West End-style shows and cabaret light up her technologically advanced stage, but you can also enjoy talks and watch films on the big screen in this venue.

Is tea and coffee free on P and O Cruises?

When you’re deciding whether the drinks package is worth it, you should remember that drinks such as tea, coffee, water, cordial and milk are always available free of charge on P&O Cruises . Fruit juices are also available for free at breakfast time.

What is the dress code on Ventura?

In the evenings, which are spent on-board, the dress code is ‘ smart casual’ . This applies to both the waited and buffet restaurants. While this has to be slightly more formal than your beachy daywear, it is by no means pretentious. Men are asked however, to wear trousers as opposed to shorts.

Do you have to attend formal night on a cruise?

Formal nights on a cruise are not mandatory and it is almost always possible to skip formal night if you don’t want to attend. Skipping formal night may mean dining in a different restaurant, the buffet, or having room service delivered.

Who is the captain on P&O Ventura?

During a presentation to passengers in the Arena Theatre on 16 December 2019, Captain Andy Willard gave more details of the technical problems.

What is the Limelight Club on Britannia?

Britannia’s Limelight Club is a combined entertainment and dinner venue in the great tradition of a supper club . … Once the entertainment finishes, the venue turns into a late-night club and dance venue. For more information or to book, call P&O Cruises on 0843 374 0111 or visit pocruises.co.uk.

What can you do on the P&O Britannia?

P&O Britannia – 8 free ‘must do’ activities (MV Britannia)

• 1 – P&O Captains welcome drinks. Don’t miss the captains welcome drinks in the atrium! …
• 2 – P&O Britannia’s crows nest! …
• 3 – Have a drink in the atrium. …
• 4 – Table share at dinner! …
• 5 – Buffet lunch. …
• 6 – Grab and Go. …
• 7 – Go to the Theatre. …
• 8 – P&O sail away party!

How heavy is the Ventura?

How big is Ventura? Ventura measures at 291.40m, 116,017 tons and 14 guest decks. What entertainment is on board Ventura? The Tamarind Club – a wonderful setting for comedy and live music.

Do I need to take towels on a P&O cruise?

You are usually allocated a towel each which are replenished up to twice a day by the cabin steward. You may ask him/her for more but if you get stuck then a raid in the spa changing room area is required. They have racks of towels in there for people to take, normally for use about their own pool.

What is the biggest cruise ship?

Symphony Of the Seas

The 25th ship in Royal Caribbean’s fleet, Symphony of the Seas, is currently the world’s largest cruise ship. The giant cruise ship has 228,081 gross registered tons, measures 238 feet tall and spans 1,188 feet long.

Can you go inside the ship in Subnautica?

After the Aurora’s Drive Core explodes, the ship’s wreckage is surrounded by Radiation and is unapproachable without a Radiation Suit. While quite dangerous and far out, the player can visit the Aurora early in-game before it explodes, although multiple tools are needed to properly explore the ship.

Which cruise ship is anchored off Bournemouth?

There are currently two ships anchored off Bournemouth – Royal Caribbean’s Jewell of the Seas and Anthem of the Seas have been in situ for several months.

Did the Carnival Miracle get refurbished in 2020?

Built in 2004, Carnival refurbished the Miracles amenities when it went into dry dock 2020 . Its whimsical design contrasts greatly with classic lines like Celebrity Cruises. While the Miracle lacks state-of-the-art new attractions on mega-ships, passengers benefit by saving money on its budget-friendly cruises.

How long does it take to refurbish a cruise ship?

Time is money – while a cruise ship overhaul takes 15-30-days , to build a new liner (design to launch) takes ~3 years (depending on vessel size, specifications, special features, owner, etc).

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Cruise Ship Refurbishment Schedule

This is CruiseMapper's cruise ship refurbishments schedule of dry-dock dates, news, and information on deck plan changes during vessel refits, regular maintenance and repairs, overhauls and renovation of small and big passenger cruise ships. Next links jump down directly to the cruise line refurbishment schedule of RCI-Royal Caribbean , CCL-Carnival , NCL-Norwegian , Princess , Celebrity , Holland America , P&O (UK-Australia) , Oceania , DCL-Disney , MSC , Costa , TUI-AIDA , Windstar , plus various small-ship and luxury brands .

Cruise ship refurbishment tends to be the best value-for-money strategy and highly successful policy for major cruise line companies in a time of worldwide economic uncertainty.

For your convenience, this link goes directly to the list of all cruise line refurbishments 2018-2019-2020 schedule . To read more cruise ship technology news, please visit our engines-propulsion-fuel survey.

At CruiseMapper's list of new vessels under construction or on order , you'll also find an impressive number of passenger ships (river-, ocean- and cruiseferries ) being built/launched in the period 2015-2019. The majority of those joined the fleets owned by the world's biggest cruise companies - Carnival Corporation and RCCL-Royal Caribbean - via their subsidiaries/brands.

Cruise ship refurbishments, renovations, refits

Cruise ship drydocking (vessel refits and onboard refurbishments) is a multi-billion market with regularly scheduled vessel renovation projects every 2-3 years. Most drydocks are planned by the world's largest cruise shipowners - Carnival Corporation, RCG-Royal Caribbean Group, MSC Shipping Group, and NCLH-Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings.

2019's drydock schedule featured the industry's largest (so far) vessel reconstruction project - Carnival Triumph's conversion into Carnival Sunrise . The 60-day project (at Navantia Shipyard in Cadiz Spain ) was budgeted ~USD 200 million. For comparison, Carnival Destiny-Sunshine conversion (2013) cost ~USD 155M. Navigator OTS ' drydock reconstruction (Jan-Feb 2019) was budgeted USD 115M. Also in 2019 were conducted the drydocks of the NCLH-owned Oceania (6 ships) with fleet refurb budget ~USD 100 million.

Cruiseship refurb and newbuild contractor companies

One of the industry's largest companies contracted for cruiseship and yacht interior outfitting (both of newbuilds and refitted boats) is De Wave Group (based in Genoa Italy). The company's cruiseship order book in 2022 was EUR 104 million. De Wave Group's latest projects included the newbuilds Seabourn Venture, Seabourn Pursuit, Discovery Princess (EUR 15M), Norwegian Prima (EUR 10M), Celebrity Beyond (EUR 9M/April 2021), as well as refit projects for Virgin's Resilient Lady (June 2021/EUR 40M), NCL (EUR 6M), Oceania's Marina and Riviera (~600 staterooms + public areas).

ALMACO Group is another major turnkey manufacturer serving the marine and offshore industries. The company designs, manufactures and installs staterooms (crew and passenger cabin units), galley/kitchen equipment, provision stores, cold freezer rooms, refrigeration machinery systems, laundry facilities, pantries, bars. ALMACO is also contracted for lifecycle services (scheduled maintenance works) and spare parts supply for passenger vessels (including cruiseferries), as well as for and expert engineering and project management. Among ALMACO's customers (multi-million projects) are Carnival Corporation, Saga Group UK, Ritz-Carlton Yachts, Swan Hellenic, VIKING LINE.

Why cruise ships are being refurbished?

Time is money - while a cruise ship overhaul takes 15-30-days, building a new liner (design to launch) takes ~3 years (depending on vessel size, specifications, special features, owner, budget, etc).

In comparison to cruise newbuilds' cost (especially of bigger units), ship refurbishments are a lot cheaper than building a new one. Due to the impact of the Coronavirus crisis and IMO's new maritime regulations, all major cruise shipping companies started to sell (and eventually replace) the fleet's oldest units to smaller travel operators.

In most cases, "refurbished" is synonymous with "maintenance and repairs", "freshened up" and "overhauled". Works include engineering/machinery updates, hull cleaning-painting, new furniture and decors (sometimes only changing the color schemes), new carpets, smart HDTVs (interactive systems), shipwide Wi-Fi coverage and faster satellite Internet, replacing handrails and glass, upgrades of venues (sometimes creating new lounge areas or expanding old ones), new amenities and services, etc. This would cost the company between US$10-30 million per ship. Some refits may cost up to US$50M.

Drydock refit projects for older vessels always include installing low-water usage toilets (urinals and fixtures), energy-efficient LED lighting (inside and outside), energy-efficient windows, HVAC system (heat-ventilation-air conditioning), hull coating (to reduce the boat's resistance through water).

What the list of cruise ship renovations generally includes?

Major cruise ship overhauls may include reconstructing or adding new cabins, lounges, restaurants, a SPA facility, swimming pool(s), sometimes adding a whole new deck, and even better - a whole midsection, like the case of MS Enchantment of the Seas refurbishment / lengthening in 2005 (next photo and the YouTube video below).

Some technical enhancements, like a new external coating or an updated propulsion, for example, could significantly reduce fuel consumption (improving the ship's efficiency and environmental performance), while "most fun" modern time gadgets and contraptions attract huge crowds - like virtual "real-time" windows in all Inside cabins, or a water park with a slide, or a kids-only area, or a hugely-huge movie screen by the main pool.

Cruise ship refurbishment news are some of the "most wanted" and extremely popular on all major online travel forums. All big lines put their liners into dry dock every few years to update (or upgrade) them - it costs money, but again - it's cheaper than going on newbuilds. It's a fact that many travelers are hesitant to take the first sailing post-drydock.

Most dry-docks are routine - just refreshing, do not include major changes and have a fairly accurate schedule. A major refit, on the other hand, usually involves significant changes in construction (or services) and have an "unpleasant" tendency to start prior to the actual drydock (even during the sailing prior) and often continues into the first sailing after.

The next YouTube video shows the timelapse of the MS Braemar 's drydock extension at the Blohm+Voss shipyard in Hamburg Germany .

Cruise ship refurbishment jobs

Cruise ship refurbishment jobs are another issue. In 2009 Saga Holidays (UK company) refitted and refurbished its newly purchased Saga Pearl 2 ship (former name ms Astoria) spending 20 million pounds on this project and providing more than 300 jobs over a 3-month period.

The next video is about the April 2016 drydock refurb of Splendour OTS (now Marella Discovery) done in Freeport Bahamas.

Often vessels' need unscheduled repairs - not matching with planned maintenance schedules. In such cases are used teams of underwater specialists for fast, high-quality repairs, thus avoiding potential loss of income due to drydocking. The world's first global underwater ship repair service provider is Wartsila which provides any marine services and maintenance works, regardless of the ship's current location.

In 2017, Wartsila (Finnish marine corporation) acquired Trident BV (a global provider of commercial diving services) Via Trident, Wartsila offers worldwide underwater repairs, propulsion systems overhaul, regular maintenance works (hull cleaning, propeller polishing, welding), scrubber-cleaning and retrofitting, even major underwater overhauls. Corporation's main underwater teams are in Holland, Italy, and the Canaries. They can be dispatched to any location in a matter of hours, providing fast-response vessel inspections, repairs, refurbishments, equipment installation/replacement.

Cruise ship refurbishment schedule 2020-2023

This is a regularly updated list of dry-dock dates, with concise info about the cruise ship upgrades, deck plan changes and refits by the cruise company. All links in the following table are internal (CruiseMapper) and redirect to the ship's deck plan page.

Note1: All Singapore-based vessel refurbishment projects are done by Sembcorp Marine (at the Admiralty Yard). The company is among the leaders on the cruise ship refit market. Among its regular clients are Carnival, Royal Caribbean, and Asian/China-based companies.

Note2: All Cadiz (Spain)-based ship refurbishments are done by the Navantia shipbuilding company - Europe's 5th and the world's 9th largest shipbuilder. The company's ship-repair services are provided to both commercial and military (naval) vessels.

RCI Royal Caribbean drydock refurbishments

RCI's "Royal Advantage" renovation program (2011-2016) was budgeted US$300 million. RCI's 6-ship refurbishment project "innovation renovations" was implemented in 2016. The vessels Adventure, Empress, Jewel, Liberty, Majesty, and Radiance received some of the company's most popular shipboard features.

In mid-March 2018, Royal Caribbean announced a USD 1 billion fleetwide refurbishment project ("Royal Amplified", 2018-2022) covering 10 liners in 3 classes (Oasis, Freedom, Voyager). By this program were introduced new and innovative features/technologies, experiences and amenities, pool deck areas and venues, dining options, nightlife concepts, onboard attractions.

RCI drydocks are usually conducted at the shipyards in Freeport (Grand Bahama), Singapore, and Cadiz (Navantia's shipyard in Puerto Real). RCI ships usually enter drydocks in up to 5-year periods. For details see the RCI's link.

Next are listed only RCI's recent drydocking, the majority of which are for general maintenance/classification inspections and technical overhauls.

• Explorer OTS (2023 Jan-Mar) Perfect Storm added
• Independence OTS (2023 Jan-Feb)
• Mariner OTS (2023 Feb-Mar)
• Vision OTS (2024 May)
• Rhapsody OTS (2022 April-May)
• Serenade OTS (2022 March)
• Harmony OTS (2021 April)
• Symphony OTS (2021 May)
• Jewel OTS (2024 May)
• Liberty OTS (2021 July)
• Enchantment OTS (2021 Sept)
• Radiance OTS (2024 March)
• Freedom OTS (2020 (January-March) Royal Amplified, cost US$116 million
• Allure OTS (2020 March-May) Royal Amplified, cost US$165 million
• Navigator OTS (2019 Jan-Feb) Oasis- and Quantum-class cabin updates, Perfect Storm added
• Ovation OTS (2019 April)
• Oasis OTS (2019 Sept-Nov) US$165 million
• Voyager OTS (2019 Sept-Oct) US$97 million
• Quantum OTS (2019 Oct-Nov) US$65 million
• Brilliance OTS (2018 April) Oasis-class upgrades
• Grandeur OTS (2024 April)
• Majesty OTS (2016 May) Perfect Storm added

CCL-Carnival Cruise Line drydock refurbishments

CCL's refurbishment schedule shows newly added onboard amenities and facilities. These old and future planned fleetwide upgrades are by the company's "Fun Ship 2.0" fleet renovation program. The company's additional program for ship technology upgrades (also fleetwide) was budgeted USD 300 million.

• (new facilities): bars (RedFrog, BlueIguana, Library, Alchemy, EA Sports), Guy's Burger, BlueIguana Cantina, Punchliners (George Lopez), DJ IRIE (Spin U /DJ Academy), Seuss at Sea (kids venue), Hasbro The Game Show, Playlist Productions (dining menu and show programming upgrades).
• Some have Bonsai Sushi
• technology upgrades (scrubbers, shoreside power capabilities)
• WaterWorks Aqua Park, Camp Carnival (kids playground)

NCL-Norwegian Cruise Line drydock refurbishments

All drydock refurbishments 2016 thru 2019 as projects were part of NCL's "Norwegian Edge" fleet renovation program (budgeted ~US$500 million). Each drydock cost ~US$35-40 million.

Princess Cruises drydock refurbishments

P&o cruises (australia and uk) drydock refurbishments, hal-holland america line drydock refurbishments.

In 2003-2008, by the SOE ("Signature of Excellence") program, HAL upgraded all older vessels, on which were also added new venues, stateroom categories, and amenities. In November 2015 was announced company's USD 300 million fleetwide renovation program, including Suite cabin improvements (new decors, furnishings, amenities, services) for all suite categories on Vista-Class, Signature-Class and R-Class vessels.

In 2018, HAL contracted ABB Group (Swedish-Swiss corporation specializing in robotics, marine power, and propulsion equipment) for installing shore-power systems fleetwide. The technology allows docked in ports cruise ships to receive shoreside power supply (from the city's grid) and turn off their engines, thus reducing to zero emissions and noise. ABB installed its shore-power equipment on 11x HAL ships. Switchover (ship-to-shore power) at seaports takes around 20 min.

In 2023, HAL conducted 5 refurbishment projects to expand the casino space on its vessels in the Pinnacle-class (Nieuw Rotterdam, Koningsdam, Nieuw Statendam) and Signature-class (Eurodam, Nieuw Amsterdam). Each of the enlarged gambling facilities now has 140 of the gaming industry's newest slot and video poker machines. In addition, a separate non-smoking area was added in the casinos of Nieuw Rotterdam, Nieuw Statendam and Koningsdam.

Celebrity Cruises drydock refurbishments

In July 2018, the company announced a USD 500 million fleet modernization (drydock refurbishment) program dubbed "Celebrity Revolution".

The 4-year fleet refurbishment project was conducted in the period February 2019-2023.

The next table lists all ship drydocks by the Celebrity Revolution project, as well as drydocking projects for regularly scheduled maintenance works.

Oceania Cruises drydock refurbishments

In August 2018, Oceania announced the company's OceaniaNEXT fleet renovation project budgeted USD 100 million. It includes drydock refurbishments of 4 R-Class liners (Regatta, Insignia, Sirena, Nautica).

As a result, the fleet was expanded with 1368 new staterooms (342 per boat), and all shipboard restaurants, bars, and lounges were redesigned and redecorated.

• New public spaces include a redesigned Lobby with Reception Hall (lower level) and Upper Hall (2nd level) connected via Grand Staircase (decorated with railings and balustrades) and featuring a large crystal chandelier (with hanging pieces of hand-painted glass).
• Grand Dining Room (Deck 5 aft) received new premium furniture (leather chairs with metallic bronze threading) and new crystal chandeliers.
• Martinis (piano bar lounge on Deck 5) was redesigned, new silver-white marble bar top and walnut paneling were added.
• All staterooms were completely overhauled (redesigned and refurnished) and upgraded with custom-made furniture, polished wood, stone finishes, designer accessories, smart HDTVs, USB ports, LED lighting. All cabin bathrooms were overhauled and received new tiling, surfaces, fixtures, designer accessories, vanities glass shower enclosures. Penthouse-Vista-Owner suites' bathrooms were enlarged and upgraded with Carrara marble tops, onyx, polished granite.

Works on the fleetwide refurb project involved 1000+ artisans and craftsmen and resulted in 1368 new cabins, 8000 new light fixtures, 12000 new sofas and chairs.

Disney Cruise Line drydock refurbishments

Msc cruises ships lengthening and drydock refurbishments.

MSC Cruises announced in late December 2013 the start of the EUR 200 refurbishment program (named "renaissance") involving not only the revitalization of all Lirica-class vessels but also stretching all four of them in the period 2014-2016 (a total of 38 drydock weeks).

During drydocks in the period 2019-2024, MSC will install a fleetwide ZOE - in-cabin digital assistant developed by Samsung. ZOE is a voice-enabled artificial intelligence device available in all passenger staterooms. ZOE speaks 7 languages, answers cruise-related questions, provides info on shipboard services-activities-facilities, makes reservations-bookings.

Costa Cruises drydock refurbishments

Besides the ship's staff and crew, Costa cruise passengers are also served by Peper robots - the latest cyborg technology implemented fleetwide in 2016. These humanoid robots greet and guide passengers upon embarkation, and also assist them throughout the voyage with information and tips. Pepper robots are mobile and communicate in 3 languages (English, German, Italian).

TUI and AIDA Cruises drydock refurbishments

Besides the ship's staff and crew, AIDA passengers are also served by Peper robots - the latest cyborg technology implemented fleetwide in 2016. These humanoid robots greet and guide passengers upon embarkation, and also assist them throughout the voyage with information and tips. Pepper robots are mobile and communicate in 3 languages (English, German, Italian).

In May 2024 was announced the fleet modernization program "AIDA Evolution". Starting in 2025 with AIDAdiva, these drydocking projects are scheduled for AIDA's three SPHINX-class ships (diva/2025, luna/2025, bella/2026). The planned works include extensive renovations in all public areas, complete redecoration of all passenger staterooms, increasing suites number, machinery updates (technical equipment and systems), increasing suites number, adding exclusive areas and venues (restaurants, bars, services) currently available on newer ships.

Windstar Cruises refurbishments

On November 15, 2018, Windstar announced the "Star Plus Initiative" - drydock fleet renovation program budgeted USD 250 million. The project includes enlarging (stretching) and engine changes for fleet's three Star-Class mega-yachts Star Breeze , Star Legend , Star Pride .

The project resulted in bigger passenger capacity, adding new staterooms, venues, public spaces, new and more efficient engines. Each ship's capacity was increased by 68% (from 212 to 312 passengers). The drydocks were scheduled for the period October 2019 through November 2020, at Fincantieri's shipyard in Palermo Sicily.

The Star Plus project increased Windstar fleet's capacity by 24%. Star Plus was partially financed through the Export Credit facility guaranteed by SACE Italy (financial and insurance products and services).

The drydock lengthening included cutting each vessel in two and installing a new/prefabricated midship section with length 25,6 m (84 ft). Vessel's LOA length was increased from 135 to 161 m (443 to 528 ft). The midship section has an additional elevator.

Following drydock, each ship now has 2x new dining venues, new shop, new retail space; enlarged Gym, new Spa, larger swimming pool, new tender loading area (midship), 2x new tender boats (90-seats each), expanded and upgraded staff-crew areas and cabins. The two new dining venues are an alternative Spanish specialty restaurant ("Cuadro 44 by Anthony Sasso") and a casual BBQ space (adjacent to Star Bar).

The old diesel engines (7 per ship) were replaced with 4 new engines running on ULSD (ultra-low sulfur diesel) fuel, thus reducing SO emissions. Each ship received 50 new cabins (to 156 total), which (based on the total investment) meant shipbuilding cost per berth USD 267,000. Among the new cabins are two larger Owner Suites. All existing staterooms were completely refurbished, including their bathrooms, balconies, sliding doors. The new public spaces and cabins were designed by the NYC-based "The Johnson Studio at Cooper Carry".

Windstar sailships refurbishments 2024-2025-2026

On December 6, 2023, Windstar started a multi-million refurbishment project to extensively redesign and update the fleet's three sailing ships (Wind Star, Wind Spirit, Wind Surf). Each ship is refurbished in two phases, starting with Wind Star (2025 & 2026), follows Wind Spirit (2025/complete) and Wind Surf (2024 & 2026).

By this project will be fully redesigned all public areas and venues (changing layouts, furniture, wall coverings and flooring, lighting, artworks). All passenger staterooms will be fully refurbished (interiors, furniture, smart TVs).

Among the remodeled/redesinged areas are the Lobby (expanded reception area, more seating and retail space), Bar Lounge (furniture, finishes, lighting), updated evening entertainment), Wellness Complex (The World Spa by Windstar & Fitness Center/new color palettes, finishes, gym equipment), Pool Deck (expansion by removing the SkyLight, new swimming pool and Jacuzzi, larger Pool Bar, new poolside furniture/sofas, poufs, ottoman beds, deckchairs, outdoor lighting, speakers, greenery).

The sailships' technology updates/upgrades include larger smart TVs in all staterooms (with interactive content and on-demand movies) and new WiFi points (with access to Starlink Internet).

Small-fleet and luxury cruise lines ship refurbishments

At the following tag-link can be found listed all CruiseMapper's news related to drydock refurbishments .

All P&O Cruises ships by age and size

P&O Cruises currently has 7 cruise ships in its fleet. This post includes a list of P&O Cruises ships by age and size. This is a handy guide to help you decide which P&O ship is best for you.

List of P&O Cruises ships by age

The table below lists all P&O Cruises ships by age from oldest to youngest. It’s also useful to note when these ships were last refurbished.

Which is the newest P&O Cruises ship?

Arvia is the newest P&O Cruises ship and entered service in December 2022. Arvia offers itineraries in the Caribbean and Mediterranean. Read my review of P&O Arvia .

We took a 14-night Mediterranean cruise on Arvia in 2023 and were impressed with the amount of included dining options on board . This made a refreshing change with the addition of more casual restaurants.

Which is the oldest P&O Cruises ship?

MV Aurora is the oldest cruise ship in the P&O fleet and was last refurbished in April 2019. It is one of two adult-only cruise ships owned by P&O Cruises.

Recently, passengers have complained that this ship is now showing her age and the standards of food have dropped. Despite this, reviews indicate that the crew on board are helpful and friendly and the entertainment is a good standard.

List of P&O Cruises ships by size

The smallest ship in the P&O Cruises fleet is Aurora. Azura and Ventura are very similar in size and have the same passenger capacity. In comparison, the newest ship in the fleet, Iona, is the largest with a passenger capacity more than twice the size of Arcadia’s.

Which is the largest P&O Cruises ship?

Arvia is the largest P&O Cruises ship, it’s also the biggest cruise ship made for the British cruise market. The ship has 19 decks and can accommodate 5,206 passengers.

It is the second British cruise ship to be powered by liquified natural gas (LNG) making it one of the greenest ships in the P&O fleet.

Arvia is an Excel class ship and has a variety of new features such as the first rum distillery at sea and a high ropes course.

This ship is definitely designed with families in mind and is attracting a lot of new people to cruising. It has a more casual approach to cruising than P&O previously had.

One of the biggest things we noticed was that the traditional formal nights have been reduced in favour of Celebration Nights. In our opinion, we preferred it as we didn’t enjoy wearing full formal attire on our Caribbean cruise on Britannia.

Which P&O Cruises ship is the best?

This is very subjective, depending on what you enjoy. If you don’t want to cruise on a large ship, we would recommend booking on Arcadia, Azura or Ventura but be aware that these are the oldest in the fleet. One benefit of these ships is that the public areas and balconies are bigger than the newer ships.

If you prefer cruising exclusively with adults, Arcadia is the ship for you because the rest of the fleet is family-friendly.

Britannia is a Royal-class ship and sister to Royal and Regal Princess and remains the flagship. We really like this size of cruise ship but it does lack a variety of included dining options compared to Iona and Arvia.

To learn more about Britannia, you should take a look at our Ultimate Guide to Britannia .

The newest ships, Arvia and Iona, are much larger, with a lot of venues and restaurants to choose from. You can take a look at how Iona and Arvia compare to see which you should book.

Laura is a UK cruise blogger based in Cornwall, UK. She founded Cruise Lifestyle in 2016 to share useful advice about cruising, destinations and food. Last port visited: Bridgetown, Barbados Next port of call: unknown, but she can’t wait for cruising to resume safely!

Find me on: Twitter

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