Holiday news

A shore thing from P&O Cruises ... all 89 of them
April 11, 2009 - Have you ever dreamt of driving a sleek Ferrari around the streets of Rome or soaring over glaciers in a helicopter?
Well now the dream can become a reality with the range of 89 new shore excursions being offered by P&O Cruises in 2009.
Designed to meet and exceed the needs of new and more adventurous cruise passengers, the programme offers a range of 'must do' activities and experiences on land, sea and in the air.
More about dream excursionss

New ship will launch with added spice
November 26, 2008 - A number of innovations combined with a refined and modern interpretation of the classic cruise experience will be the defining qualities for P&O Cruises new superliner Azura when she launches in 2010.
Azura will feature an Indian fine dining restaurant, Sindhu, the creation of celebrated Michelin starred chef Atul Kochhar. Sindhu means meeting point, amalgamation or fusion, and the menu will offer a fusion of fine British and Indian cuisine. The restaurant is just one of 11 dining venues on board.
Azura will feature 18 single staterooms - a first in the P&O Cruises fleet - and two large suites for extended families or groups of friends to share.
More about Azura's innovations

Keel of P&O Azura laid
October 27, 2008 - The keel of the newest P&O Cruises superliner, Azura, was laid in a special ceremony at Fincantieri's shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy, on October 27, 2008.
The keel-laying involved the placement in the dry dock of one section of the ship's hull. This section is made up of six pre-manufactured blocks, weighs 650 tons and is ready-fitted with piping and other internal structure.
More about Azura

Marco on Aurora and Oceana menus

£14m world voyage bonanza
October 11, 2008 - Hell's Kitchen star Marco Pierre White has opened two new restaurants at sea on board P&O Cruises superliners Aurora and Oceana.
Oceana's Cafe Jardin's galley and restaurant was upgraded during a recent refit and served the first Marco Pierre White dishes early October on a two-night cruise, while Aurora's Cafe Bordeaux opens its doors this weekend for passengers to sample the new menus.
Both menus will serve classic Mediterranean dishes which have been given the Marco treatment especially for passengers on board.
Marco Pierre White said: "I enjoyed working with P&O Cruises so much, creating the White Room and Frankie's Bar & Grill for Ventura, that I leapt at the chance when invited to expand the Marco Pierre White experience to Aurora and Oceana. The two new restaurants will offer passengers completely different dining experiences and both will encompass the best possible ingredients cooked in my unique way."
P&O Cruises managing director Nigel Esdale said: "Marco Pierre White is a great talent and his menus add a unique twist to our passengers' dining experience."

P&O gives away a 'perfect holiday'
September 24, 2008 - P&O Cruises is giving holiday makers the chance to win a free cruise on Ventura by answering ten simple questions. It is looking for people who have never cruised before to visit a dedicated website and tell them what they like and dislike about holiday what they are looking for from a holiday. P&O Cruises will then find a perfect cruise holiday to match. Visitors to the site will then be entered into a prize draw to win a seven-night cruise on board superliner Ventura.
Says Philip Price, head of brand marketing: "Despite the increase in the popularity of cruise holidays there are still people who are not aware of what is on offer from a cruise holiday or think that cruising is not for them. We are confident we can find a perfect cruise holiday to match holidaymakers likes and dislikes. Not only will visitors to the website be entered into the free draw just for answering the ten questions but they will get extra entries for each time they forward the site to a friend."
To enter simply visit www.aperfectholiday.co.uk and answer the ten simple holiday questions. Closing date for entries is Sunday December 7, 2008. Winners must be able to travel on Friday March 27, 2009.

£14m world voyage bonanza
September 25, 2008 - Cruise fans forked out an amazing £14 million on the launch day of P&O Cruises World Voyages. Almost 1,000 people purchased a full world voyage for 2010, at an average price of £14,000 per person, on Monday.
P&O Cruises managing director Nigel Esdale said: "In a time of economic instability, and when everyday budgets are being tightened, it is remarkable how resilient the cruise market can be." Bookings came with the launch of the 2010 World Voyages brochure which contains the first full circumnavigation of Arcadia, for passengers looking for a traditional round the world voyage, and a connoisseur voyage aimed at more experienced cruisers, seeking something little different, on Aurora.
For a copy of the brochure call P&O Cruises on 08453 584444, visit the P&O website.

Arcadia debuts on the world cruise stage
September 12, 2008 - P&O Cruises is offering two world voyages for 2010, one of them on Arcadia who will be making her debut on the world cruising stage.
Arcadia will undertake a traditional round the world voyage while Aurora will be taking a connoisseur voyage aimed at more experienced cruisers who are seeking something little different.
The 2010 World Voyages, which go on sale on Monday, will both depart from Southampton in January, 2010.
More about the 2010 world cruises

Round-trip Caribbean with Oriana
September 4, 2008 - In a break with tradition, P&O Cruises is offering two new round-trip Caribbean sailings in early 2010, each of five weeks, instead of the traditional world voyage, on the ever popular Oriana.
The itineraries both depart from and return to Southampton, and a 45% early discount is available on bookings made before before November 30, 2008.
Departing on January 8, the first new itinerary spends 36 nights visiting popular Caribbean islands and Central American ports of call and costs from £2,499 per person. The second newly added voyage sails on February 13 and visits 13 ports in the Caribbean and USA in 35 nights, with prices starting from £ 2,399 per person.
More about Oriana in the Caribbean

Cruise holidays better value now than 10 years ago
August 29, 2008 - Forget the credit crunch ... cruising is much more affordable today than it was ten years ago.
Research conducted by P&O Cruises has discovered that a two-week cruise holiday this summer in an ocean view cabin setting you back £1,579 per person should, based on actual cost of the same holiday in1998, actually be costing £2,520.
Says P&O Cruises managing director Nigel Esdale: "The cumulative inflation rate between May 1998 and May 2008 is 32%, so if cruise holidays had increased accordingly, then our prices should be more than double those in this summer's brochure. In actual fact, this year's prices are more than £900 cheaper per person, almost £2,000 cheaper for a couple than ten years ago."
More on the good value survey

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.
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.
More about World Voyages in 2009