Martin Equips P&O Cruises Ventura

The largest superliner built exclusively for the British market, the 116,000 ton P&O Cruises Ventura, calls Southampton her home port. On April 18th, soon after delivery from Italy’s Fincantieri shipyard, the Ventura sailed on her maiden voyage to the Mediterranean, decked out in a full complement of color and effect lighting from Martin Professional.

“In my role as Entertainment Consultant to P&O Cruises I was instrumental in selecting Martin as the lead supplier to provide the ‘moving light’ elements of the entertainment systems for Ventura,” states Chris Blackburn of Snap2Black.

Ventura incorporates flexible Martin lighting systems into several areas of the ship. Its many unique features - multiple bars, lounges, and show spaces, not to mention a variety of pools and relaxation areas - means she offers fantastic choice. “Most major entertainment areas are multi-use, although they do have a main use focus,” says Chris. “They all have an identity.”

Arena Theatre
The two-deck Arena Theatre is the ship’s primary show space. “The brief was to augment the generic rig with moving light and mirror fixtures. There were three or four companies all with equipment that we could have used, but the decision went to Martin to supply, which we are all very pleased with,” Chris says.

Chris mentions reliability, maintenance, ease of use, ease of installation and lighting effect as key factors in choosing the Martin lighting gear, but light output and technical support were of paramount importance. He states, “We were looking for brightness as a key element, as well as flexibility of the unit. But one of the most important for me was the confidence I felt with Martin as a company to provide the backup and support in what is always a difficult time when launching a ship.

“It’s a very harsh environment with vibration issues which you don’t have in land based productions. There is the constant change in temperature and the gear is really hammered. The ship is open 24 hours a day, every day of the year with something going on virtually all of the time so the equipment is used for more than just evening performances. We’re looking for reliability in the mechanics of the fixture because once we put it up in a rig it’s pretty much set there.”

Positioned in the theatre rig are 11 MAC 700 Profiles™, 35 MAC 700 Washes™, 14 MAC 550 Profiles™ and 16 Atomic 3000™ strobes. The rig supports more than the main shows but a variety of on board activities from cabaret performances and theme nights to marketing activities.

The Arena Theatre stages several quality productions produced by Jean Ann Ryan Productions. Lighting designer for the on-board productions is Jim Ryan of Infocus FX and Lighting. Permanent lighting technician onboard Ventura is Production Manager Greg Edrich.

Havana / The Tamarind Club
Dance the salsa to Latino rhythms in Havana or relax in the exotic show lounge, The Tamarind Club. In either venue, you’ll be enjoying yourself beneath a Martin rig of 4 Mania SCX 700™ effect lights, 4 MX-10 Extreme™ scanners and 4 Martin smartMAC™ moving heads. In Havana are an additional 12 Wizard Extreme™ effect lights and 2 Atomic 3000™ strobes. In both venues, a Martin Magnum Club Smoke™ system, a unique multi-headed fog delivery package with a ground based fluid supply, provides the mid-air projection canopy for light beam and atmosphere enhancement. The Martin gear is used to augment an existing rig and adds a high energy element to both areas.

smartMAC
“Everyone onboard fell in love with the smartMAC,” comments Chris Blackburn. “I first saw it at PLASA. The profile, the size, the fact that it actually looks quite funky for that environment, and with energy savings more important than even a few years ago, it’s a good fixture for ships. It’s also quick to get at and easy to service.”

The smartMAC™ is a bright 150 W moving head profile luminaire that offers superior reliability, long service intervals, total silence and reduced power bills thanks to a unique fanless cooling system (no dust and pollutants are forced into the fixture). Extremely bright, the smartMAC houses eight interchangeable dichroic colors and six interchangeable effects.

Both Havana and The Tamarind Club feature small stages and dance areas. Most of the Martin fixtures are located above the dance floor, MX-10 and Manias rigged front and back. Others are positioned upstage to project across the bandstand and onto the dance floor. The effects are used as a disco effect when required or used in the cabaret show set up or for other activities.

Havana, the aft lounge and the ship’s second major cabaret venue, serves as the main disco two thirds of the year. It is used for children’s cruises and as a family/youth area the other third of the year. When Havana functions as the main disco, The Tamarind Club, smaller and located in the center of the ship, is used for more niche late night entertainment for those who want a bit quieter environment. When Havana features family activities, The Tamarind Club serves as the adult disco. Because of its customizable nature, the Martin gear adjusts accordingly.

Atrium
Specified by Project International for the ship’s atrium are 8 MAC 700 Profiles™ and 4 MAC 700 Washes™. The atrium serves as the ship’s hub, a three deck high entrance area from where you find shops, an elegant piano bar, coffee shop bar, art gallery, reception and more.

Installed as a color changing architectural element along with LED, the Martin fixtures alter the look and therefore the atmosphere of the space as the day progresses. Chris states that, although it has yet to be realized, there are plans for a short show in the atrium, which the Martin lights will be instrumental in lighting. “It was important that we had equipment that would serve a dual purpose,” he says. “We also swing the lights into position to light the Captain when he hosts the Captains Cocktail Party, and for other events.”

Laguna Pool
As a high profile family ship, it was important that outdoor events were a part of the program on Ventura, therefore another Jean Ann Ryan Production takes place at the Laguna Pool. “We needed powerful fixtures out there because the show goes from sunset into early evening into the night,” Chris says, “hence we went for the MAC 2000 for their power and the flexibility a fixture like that offers, augmented by the MAC 700.”

The production and other events take place on a dedicated stage – a raised platform - across one end of the pool. Here are 6 MAC 2000 Profiles™ in Tempest domes along with 4 MAC 700 Profiles™ and 4 MAC 700 Washes™. On occasion, the MAC 700s are moved and used in the atrium.

Elsewhere, four MiniMAC Profiles™ and 4 Raptor™ effect lights keep the energy level high in the Teen Centre, where teens can indulge their fantasies of musical stardom by attending Rock School.

Installation of the Martin lighting gear for Ventura was handled by John Fearon of Eclipse Lighting & Sound of the UK.

Ventura is based in Southampton during the spring and summer months, offering holidays of between two and 16 nights in duration in the Mediterranean, Baltic and Atlantic Isles. Between October and March each year she will offer 14 night Caribbean fly-cruise holidays from Barbados.

Arena Theatre:
11 x MAC 700 Profile™
35 x MAC 700 Wash™
14 x MAC 550 Profile™
16 x Atomic 3000™

Havana:
4 x smartMAC™
4 x MX-10 Extreme™
4 x Mania SCX700™
2 x Atomic 3000™
2 x Magnum Club Smoke™
12 x Wizard Extreme™

Tamarind:
4 x smartMAC™
4 x MX-10 Extreme™
4 x Mania SCX700™
2 x Magnum Club Smoke™

Atrium:
8 x MAC 700 Profile™
4 x MAC 700 Wash™

Laguna Pool:
6 x MAC 2000 Profile™
4 x MAC 700 Profile™
4 x MAC 700 Wash™

Teen Centre:
4 x MiniMAC Profile™
4 x Raptor™

Photographs courtesy of P&O Cruises

Martin Professional
Martin Professional is a world leader in the production of computer controlled lighting, also called "intelligent lighting", high technology luminaires utilized throughout all sectors of the entertainment industry. Other important areas of application include the growing market for indoor and outdoor architectural and promotional lighting. Martin offers both dedicated exterior luminaires and specialized lights for retail settings. Martin also produces a complete line of Jem smoke machines as a complement to intelligent lighting. The company is headquartered in Aarhus, Denmark and operates an extensive network of subsidiaries and distributors in over 90 countries around the globe. For more information please visit www.martin.com

About P&O Cruises
P&O Cruises has been operating cruise ships for more than 170 years and combines innovation, professionalism and unrivalled experience on its fleet of six ships dedicated to the British market. P&O Cruises offers passengers the most stylish and contemporary holidays afloat with destinations including the Caribbean, South America, Scandinavia, Mediterranean, Atlantic islands and round the world cruises. Ventura, the largest and most innovative ship to be built for the British market was named by Dame Helen Mirren in Southampton in April 2008. An as yet unnamed 116,000-ton newbuild is scheduled for delivery in spring 2010.

For further press information on P&O Cruises or for images please contact:
Michele Andjel, michele.andjel@pocruises.com +44 023 8065 6653
Kate Rist, kate.rist@pocruises.com +44 023 8065 6652
Lorraine Bryant, lorraine.bryant@pocruises.com +44 023 8065 6650