Cruise & Maritime Voyages names new ships after pioneering women

Cruise & Maritime Voyages has named its two new ships after pioneering female explorers Amy Johnson and Ida Pfeiffer.

Last year, CMV announced that it will take delivery of two ships from P&O Australia in Singapore in 2021.

Pacific Dawn, which will take over from Columbus as CMV’s new flagship, will now be named Amy Johnson.

A pioneering English pilot, Johnson, who was born in 1903, was the first woman to fly solo from London to Australia in 1930.

CMV selected five names and invited members of their loyalty club, as well as followers on social media, to make their favoured choice from Gertrude Bell, Isabella Bird, Amy Johnson, Mary Kingsley and Lady Hester Stanhope 

Amy Johnson won 41 per cent of the vote.

Meanwhile, Pacific Aria, which will sail under the TransOcean Kreuzfahrten brand for the German market will be renamed Ida Pfeiffer.

An Austrian explorer, travel writer and ethnographer, Pfeiffer was one of the first female travellers, whose journals were translated into seven languages. She travelled extensively through Southeast Asia, the Americas, Middle East and Africa, including two trips around the world from 1846 to 1855.

At 70,285GT, with 798 cabins and carrying about 1,400 guests, Amy Johnson will be deployed to the UK market in late May 2021.

Ida Pfeiffer, at 55,819GT, with 630 cabins and carrying about 1,100 guests, will be deployed on the German market.

It will cruise alongside Vasco da Gama and replace the 580-passenger Astor, which is being renamed Jules Verne and will be redeployed to the French market in May 2021.

Christian Verhounig, CEO said, “We are delighted with the chosen names and the opportunity to recognise two outstanding female adventurers and pioneers. Most of all, we are pleased to confirm that Amy Johnson will take over from Columbus as the fleet’s new flagship.”

The 2021 summer programs will go on sale in February.