The maiden voyage of P&O Cruises' Arvia, a new Excel-class ship with a capacity for 5,200 passengers and a sister ship to the Iona, which went on sale last year, was scheduled for December 9.
However, the shipping company has confirmed the delay of the departure date of the Arvia's first voyage, scheduled for December 23rd, on an itinerary that visits Spain, Portugal and the Canary Islands, before repositioning in the Caribbean in January.
A spokesperson for P&O Cruises said: “While we know this is a disappointment to those guests who had reservations to travel on December 9, we are not willing to compromise on the high standards of construction, interior design and service for which P&O Cruises is known.”.
The delay in the launch of the Arvia is one of several that have occurred in the industry in recent months, including last week's announcement from Explora Journeys that the inaugural Explora I vessel would launch in July, instead of May as originally planned.
