United kingdom Daily news: P&O Cruises celebrates 175th birthday with a Southampton celebration and the Princess Royal

Senin, 02 Juli 2012

P&O Cruises celebrates 175th birthday with a Southampton celebration and the Princess Royal

P&O Cruises celebrates 175th birthday with a Southampton celebration and the Princess Royal

By Mail On Sunday Reporter

PUBLISHED: 05:48 EST, 2 July 2012 | UPDATED: 05:48 EST, 2 July 2012

Thousands of visitors are expected to throng the quayside at Southampton this week when, for the first time, all seven PO Cruises ships will be together as they take part in a fleet review by the Princess Royal.

PO's Grand Event is the highlight of a year of activities marking the company's 175th anniversary.

It all began in 1837 when the Peninsular Steam Navigation Company, the modern company's forerunner, first won a contract from the British Admiralty to carry mail to the Iberian Peninsula.

A slice of history: PO is celebrating its 175 birthday

This week's historic occasion, which takes place on Tuesday, also involves 14,000 passengers and 6,000 crew on board the seven ships, and there will even be a spectacular display by the RAF's Red Arrows.

'We are honoured to have the Princess Royal visit,' said PO Cruises managing director Carol Marlow.

'As one of our esteemed godmothers, she is intrinsically linked with PO Cruises and we are privileged that she has agreed to conduct our fleet review.'

Eric Lanlard, the London-based French master patissier, has been commissioned by PO Cruises to make a special cake for the occasion, and he promises to deliver a four-tiered 'spectacular'.

He said: 'The cake will be covered in white chocolate and decorated with white and milk chocolate decorations as well as fresh seasonal British berries.

'On one tier there will be a sugar logo of the Grand Event and another tier will have a drawing of the seven ships leaving Southampton.'

Sweet treat: Eric Lanlard has promised to make a special cake for the occasion

Mr Lanlard added: 'The cake will have two flavours, one of which will be chocolate with raspberries. It's a fresh patisserie cake instead of the usual iced novelty one.'

Mr Lanlard is to join PO Cruises as a special guest on a number of sailings later this year and in 2013.

He will be travelling on Ventura on a 17-night Mediterranean cruise, which leaves Southampton on September 8.

Next April he will be a guest on Azura, which is undertaking a 13-night cruise of the Western Mediterranean, and on Adonia, leaving on November 22 for a 28-night Caribbean tour.

For further information on the PO Cruises Grand Event, visit www.175.pocruises.com.

For more information about PO Cruises, go to www.pocruises.com.