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1997 Fools: The End of Cunard Announced!!!
Subject: The End of Cunard Announced!!! From: ray@lighthousetravel.com (Ray Goldenberg) Date: 1997/04/01 Message-Id: <5hqf99$46m@ocean.silcom.com> Newsgroups: rec.travel.cruises Hi Everyone, Sadly, the end has come for Cunard as we know it. Our old friend from Australia, John Fisher sent me this wire service report. I am sorry to post it but all great things must come to an end. Please read ALL of the details and let me know what you think. Best regards, Ray LIGHTHOUSE TRAVEL 800-719-9917 or 805-566-3905 London April 1, 1997 P&O Acquires Cunard Line Ltd from Kvaerner Acquisition is a strategic one The P&O Group proudly announced today, they have acquired the fabled Cunard Steamship Line from Kvaerner Industries for $178 million Sterling. P&O will assume ownership and operation of all five Cunard Line vessels immediately. This acquisition, labeled as "strategic" by the Board of Directors as P&O is in dire need of berths to further strengthen their position in both the global and ex-UK cruise market. Record Profits Announced P&O just last week, announced an all time record profit of USD $ 250 million for their cruise division which includes P&O Cruises, Los Angeles based affiliate Princess Cruises, UK specialty operator Swan Hellenic and P&O Cruises Australia. P&O Cruises is now in the enviable position of being the second most profitable cruise line in the world and with their latest acquisition, will surpass Royal Caribbean International as second in size. Operational Changes P&O have announced that no major changes are in store for the Cunard fleet. All five ships will adhere to their previously published schedules for the remainder of 1997. 2, Royal Viking Sun and Vistafjord will however, be repainted in P&O livery to reflect the ownership change as will the new names to be given to Royal Viking Sun and Vistafjord. Effective April 15, 1997, Royal Viking Sun will officially bear the name IBERIA and Vistafjord wil l bear the legendary name ORSOVA . Both will also proudly fly the Union Jack after being re-registered in the UK. Queen Elizabeth 2 however, will remain unchanged. She will retain her great and legendary name. "The Queen is an English institution, a piece of Britain herself, we could think of no greater insult than to alter her in any way" commented Lord Sterling, Chairman of the P&O Group. The most noticeable change will be the P&O house flag to be painted on her superstructure, where the once proud Cunard Lion once was. "It is indeed our proudest day that Britain's two greatest and legendary steamship companies have been amalgamated and Cunard is truly British once again" commented her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second after learning of the news. The P&O Group have promised a full press conference and a more detailed summary of the transaction pending full government disclosure proceedings to be conducted by the Ministry of Transport later this week. CONTACT: HAPPY APRIL FOOLS DAY TO YOU!!! P&O Cruises (UK) Ltd 77 New Oxford Street London WC1A 1PP 011 44 71 800-2222 Best regards, Ray LIGHTHOUSE TRAVEL 800-719-9917 or 805-566-3905
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