The P&O Cruises ship Arvia, which will be officially named in Barbados next March. This will be the first time a P&O ship will be named outside the homeport of Southampton, England. (GP)

Cruise ship to be named in Barbados

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P&O Cruises has announced that its newest ship, the 5 200-passenger Arvia, will be officially named in Barbados on March 16 next year in “a world-first beachside ceremony”.

In making the announcement recently, P&O Cruises president Paul Ludlow said: “We always aim to do things differently, to create standout and memorable moments for our current and future guests. Arvia, which will be delivered in December, will spend her first season sailing in the Caribbean, so it is fitting that we mark her naming in one of our favourite ports of call with a week of celebratory performances and experiences on board.”

The naming ceremony will feature some of Britain’s most modern and renowned performers and presenters. It will also be broadcast live to a global audience.

Ludlow said the naming event, “which has never been done before, will showcase our extraordinary new ship Arvia, the beauty of Barbados, and will include some very special surprises”.

He added: “The ship will be anchored off one of the island’s most stunning beaches, so the audience at home will be able to see both the striking new interior design of the ship as well as the performances and events taking place on the shore. It will be an unmissable event.”

A release from the company stated that Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley thanked P&O Cruises for choosing Barbados as the location for “the unique event”.

She noted that “Barbados continues to share a rich relationship with our sea and tourism, and the cruise industry has been of vital importance to our island and our economy.”

It quoted her as saying: “I am delighted that Barbados can be that place that continues to bring more ‘firsts’ to the world, and through this beachside ceremony, give thousands of people the opportunity to see a glimpse of what we have to offer to visitors.”

Arvia, which carries a crew of 1 800, will first sail to the Canary Islands for a Christmas cruise, then head over to the Caribbean where it will homeport in Barbados for the 2023/24 winter season. (GC)