P&O Princess Cruises announced the acquisition of the former Renaissance vessels, R3 and R4, which will join its North American and Australian fleets. The 684 lower berth vessels, which originally entered service in 1999, will be acquired through a lease purchase structure at a total combined capital cost for the two ships of approximately $150 million. Under the terms of the acquisition contracts, the two vessels are contracted to be deployed in the Pacific Ocean region for at least the first two years of their operation by P&O Princess. R4, which will be renamed Tahitian Princess, is expected to continue to be deployed in French Polynesia for a further three years.