P & O Cruises: books - history and ships (2/2)

P&O Princess - The Cruise Ships

Recognised as the first British company to operate regular sea cruises, P&O has a history that goes back to 1837. In more recent times, P&O has undertaken a shift away from line voyages to operating cruises full time. The purchase of Princess Cruises in 1973 led to the founding of the company we know today.
Here, Roger Cartwright tells the story of P&O Princess' illustrious history as a cruise line, from the Vectis, the world's first dedicated cruise ship to the Grand class ships of today, each carrying almost 3,000 passengers and weighing in at over 115,000 tons each.

Artemis - The Original Royal Princess

When Royal Princess was named in Southampton by HRH The Princess of Wales in November 1984, she was the most advanced purpose-built luxury cruise ship ever conceived and constructed. Built at the beginning of the modern commercial age of cruising, she was the trend-setter of the cruise ship world and continues to hold a number of records, among them, the first contemporary cruise ship to have all outside cabins, and in 2010 as Artemis, the first British passenger ship to be commanded by a female captain, Sarah Breton. In the following years of service, she has taken passengers all over the globe in luxury and style, and it is hoped she has many more years of cruising ahead of her.
At 45,000 gross tons she is small in comparison with the super-liners of today, but when launched she was one of the largest cruise ships afloat. Her traditional ambiance and service standards have attracted a loyal following, not only among passengers, but also among her crew.

This book, written by Andrew Sassoli-Walker and Sharon Poole, celebrates the innovation in cruise ship design that Royal Princess / Artemis represented, and highlights her career with both Princess and P&O Cruises in the words of both passengers and crew. Fully illustrated throughout with many neverbefore- seen colour images, it is a tribute to a unique and much-loved vessel.

Oriana & Aurora - Taking Cruising into a New Millennium

In 1995, P&O introduced the 70,000grt Oriana into service. She was to be the replacement for the long-lived Canberra and she ushered in a new period in British cruising history. Popular from her first days of service, she has become the epitome of P&O style, offering luxurious accommodation and public rooms.

Five years later, her half-sister, Aurora, externally similar but internally much different, was introduced. Together, the two ships took P&O into the twenty-first century with a modern fleet of luxury liners.
Oriana holds the Golden Cockeral for the fastest ship in the fleet, while Aurora offers an intimacy not seen on the larger and newer P&O vessels.

Aurora : A Photographic Journey

One of Britain's most loved cruise ships, Aurora was built by Meyer Werft and entered service in 2000. Named by HRH The Princess Royal, she was specifically designed for the British cruise market. Since entering service her annual world cruises have made her famous all over the world.

Aurora's interior spaces are quintessentially British, and pay tribute to the long heritage of the P&O Line. From Anderson's to the Curzon Theatre, Alexandria Restaurant to the Uganda Room, Aurora is a much-loved modern classic.

Written and photographed by well-known maritime historians Chris Frame and Rachelle Cross, this beautiful book is a must-have keepsake for anyone who has sailed aboard Aurora as well as those with a love of cruising.