YEAR 2009

Fill that gap ...
take a World Voyage

September 5, 2007 - In reponse to increasing demand for exotic holidays, the P&O Cruises 2009 World Voyages programme is its biggest ever, with three ships visiting 71 destinations in 34 countries.

Says P&O Cruises head of brand marketing Philip Price: "A world voyage is the most indulgent and leisurely way to see the world. We are finding that they are increasingly popular with people who did not have a 'gap year' earlier in life and now have the inclination to do so, but in a little more comfort and style.

"On a P&O Cruises world voyage the experiences are of equal importance to the itineraries themselves. We offer a huge range of 'once in a lifetime' shore excursions. From the tower skywalk in Sydney to breakfast with Orang Utangs in Singapore, there is something to suit all kinds of holidaymaker."

The world voyage shore excursions programme features a diverse range of organised tours and activities, from the cultural and interesting to the extreme and active. Highlights include the Shakaland Zulu village in Durban, koala sanctuary in Brisbane, America's Cup sailing in Auckland and dune buggy safari in Dubai.

To coincide with the launch of the programme, visitors to the P&O Cruises website can now explore the three itineraries and each of the destinations using Google Earth software. Google Earth is a revolutionary new way of exploring the world, using software that maps high-resolution satellite imagery and aerial photography onto a 3D globe.

>i>"The Google Earth development is the latest in a line of innovative and exciting aspects of the P&O Cruises website. You can actually travel each of the three world voyages around the globe 'on line', visit the 71 world-wide destinations and see what adventures lie ahead,"continues Price.

"We recognise that holidaymakers now like to be able to research their holiday choice on line prior to booking. We ensure that our website caters to their needs and offers all the information that they could want and more, including videos, virtual tours and extensive information about each of the ships, destinations and experiences on offer."

Superliner Arcadia is making her world voyage debut in 2009, embarking on a 101-night cruise concentrating on the Middle East, India, the Orient and Australia. New ports of call include Nagasaki in Japan, Xingang for tours to Beijing or the Great Wall and Sihanoukville in Cambodia. Prices start from £8,999 for the full 101-night Grand Voyage.

Oriana will sail for 82 nights around the globe on her westbound World Cruise departing on January 8, 2009. Classic worldwide hotspots such as Sydney, Hong Kong and Singapore are interspersed with new, more unusual, ports of call such as Rabaul in Papua New Guinea. Oriana will also transit both Panama and Suez Canals. Prices start from £7,899.

The 2009 Aurora World Cruise is a 93-night eastbound circumnavigation of the globe, featuring more calls than ever before in New Zealand including new port Tauranga. Other new ports of call are East London in South Africa, Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea and Townsville in Australia. Prices start from £8,599.

A total of 18 line voyages to and from Australia and New Zealand are also available as part of the programme, offering holidaymakers the opportunity to sail for less time and tailor make their holiday with a pre or post cruise stay in one of these popular cities: Auckland, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth or Sydney.

Line voyages range from 36 to 65 nights in duration and are priced from £3,949. A one-night stay in Auckland starts from £99 and a three-night stay in Sydney from £249. All prices are per person based on two sharing.

Holidays in the 2009 World Voyages brochure are available to book now. For more information or to request a copy of the brochure call P&O Cruises on 08453 584444 or visit www.pocruises.co.uk.