P&O Cruises celebrates 175 years of heritage in spectacular style with Royal fleet review

PandO Cruises - Adonia, Arcadia, Aurora, Azura, Oceana, Oriana, and Ventura Rendezous in Southampton

Southampton, July 4^th 2012: P&O Cruises yesterday celebrated 175 years of heritage with a ‘Grand Event’ in its home port of Southampton.  The company’s seven ships were welcomed into port by ship’s Godmother Darcey Bussell for a day of celebrations. HRH Princess Royal later conducted a Royal Fleet Review as the ships departed in formation in the Solent, after a spectacular ‘flutterfetti’ and firework evening send-off.
 
The seven ships – Adonia, Arcadia, Aurora, Azura, Oceana, Oriana, and Ventura – with a combined gross tonnage of 569,000 tonnes, arrived into Southampton at dawn, marking the first-ever occasion all seven P&O Cruises ships have gathered together in their home port. 
 
On the aft deck of Azura, Darcey Bussell, who named the ship in 2010, was photographed with seven ship’s officers including the master of the ship, Captain Keith Dowds, and the commodore of the fleet, Steve Burgoine.
HRH The Princess Royal was greeted on the quayside and presented with a posy of flowers by Captain Ian Hutley's daughter, 12 year old Georgia. Later, HRH The Princess Royal was greeted by the seven ship’s captains in a special ceremony.  Her Royal Highness, godmother to two P&O Cruises ships, enjoyed a VIP reception on board Oriana, with P&O Cruises  consultant chefs Marco Pierre White and Atul Kochhar and  wine expert Olly Smith in attendance, as well as a special cake baked by celebrity patissier Eric Lanlard. 
 
With 2,600 bottles of champagne and 1,750 whole lobster loaded on board, passengers enjoyed deck parties as the ships sailed away. 
 
Once in formation, the ships were reviewed by HRH The Princess Royal, who was on board the Trinity House vessel Patricia.  HRH The Princess Royal was escorted by the Royal Navy’s newest Type 45 destroyer, HMS Dragon.   
 
After taking the Royal salute the seven ships went on their separate ways on seven anniversary cruises around the world, including the Mediterranean, the Baltic, Scandinavia and the Canary Islands. 
 
In a complex logistical operation, 15,000 passengers disembarked and 15,000 new passengers embarked throughout the ‘Grand Event’ day.  An estimated 30,000 spectators gathered at vantage points around Southampton Water to watch the departure of the ships. The whole event brought £17 million to the local Southampton economy.  
 
P&O Cruises managing director Carol Marlow said: “Our ‘Grand Event’ celebrations were a truly impressive spectacle, and we were honoured to be joined by HRH The Princess Royal, godmother to two of our ships, to carry out our Royal Review.  During our 175 years of heritage, the ships and crew have been at the cutting edge of maritime and cruising innovation, served with distinction as troop carriers in several wars, and, most importantly, offered our passengers a superb cruising experience year in and year out.
 
“We were delighted to see so many people lining the shore to witness our historical event – in spite of rather grey weather! The whole day was a fantastic celebration of the past and present, looking forward to the future of Britain’s best-known and best-loved cruise line.”

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P&O Cruises Announce 2012/2013 Winter Cruise Program From Southampton

P&O Cruises has doubled its ex-UK capacity next year from one ship to two as both Oceana and Oriana sail from Southampton throughout winter 2012/13 on cruises of two to 35 nights duration.

Oceana’s second year of winter cruising from Southampton includes, for the first time, two short cruises for Christmas and New Year. These cruises offer the chance to spend Boxing Day in Copenhagen or New Year’s Eve in Amsterdam, for some authentic festive celebrations whilst only being away for four or seven days.

Oriana will offer seven ex-UK cruises including a 10 night Baltic cruise in December calling in popular Christmas market destinations such as Copenhagen and Hamburg; and a 12 night Canary Islands cruise in late January to ports including Gran Canaria, Tenerife and Casablanca.

P&O Cruises managing director, Carol Marlow, said: “P&O Cruises already offers the greatest choice of ex-UK cruises and next winter will have 39 roundtrip cruises from Southampton from October to April. A growing number of people are keen to holiday in the winter, but don’t necessarily want to fly, so this additional range of cruises from Southampton will increase their options sill further. Convenience is a key booking factor for our passengers, with travelling to Southampton so easy – and then their holiday starts right away.”

This is in addition to the four winter world cruises from January to April 2012, from and to Southampton, including Azura’s maiden world cruise.

Ship/itinerary winter ex-UK highlights, October 2012 – April 2013:

Adonia

· Sailing one ex-UK cruise from October 2012 to April 2013
· Prices from £2129 per person for the 16 night Atlantic Island cruise departing December 2012

Arcadia

· Sailing five ex-UK cruises from October 2012 to April 2013
· Itineraries range from a 10 night Atlantic coast cruise to a 23 night Caribbean transatlantic
· Cruising to the Mediterranean, Caribbean, Atlantic coast and Atlantic islands
· Prices from £879 per person for a 10 night Atlantic coast cruise departing in October 2012
· Highlight cruises include a 20 night Eastern Mediterranean cruise departing November 2012 with prices starting from £1,779 per person

Aurora

· Sailing five ex-UK cruises from October 2012 to April 2013
· Itineraries range from a two night cruise break to a 23 night Mediterranean cruise
· Cruising to the Mediterranean, Europe and the Caribbean
· Prices from £239 per person for a two night cruise break in October 2012
· Highlight cruises include a 17 night Central Mediterranean cruise with prices starting from £1,499 per person

Azura

· Sailing seven ex-UK cruises from October 2012 to April 2013
· Itineraries range from a two night cruise break to a 24 night Caribbean cruise
· Cruising to the Mediterranean, Europe, Caribbean, Atlantic Islands and Atlantic coast
· Prices from £239 per person for a two night cruise break departing December 2012
· Highlight cruises include an 11 night Atlantic Coast cruise departing in December 2012 with prices starting from £869 per person

Oceana

· Sailing 11 ex-UK cruises from October 2012 to April 2013
· Itineraries range from a two night cruise break to a 35 night Caribbean cruise. Also including a seven night Christmas cruise to Belgium, Denmark and Sweden, and a four night New Year cruise to Belgium and The Netherlands
· Cruising to the Mediterranean, Europe, Atlantic Islands and the Caribbean
· Prices from £239 per person for a two night cruise departing in December 2012
· Highlight cruises include a 35 night Caribbean round trip departing January 2013 with prices from £2,899 per person

Oriana

· Sailing seven ex-UK cruises from October 2012 to April 2013
· Itineraries range from a 10 night Baltic cruise to a 35 night Caribbean cruise
· Cruising to the Mediterranean, Atlantic Islands, Baltic and the Caribbean
· Prices from £779 per person for a 10 night Baltic cruise in December 2012
· Highlight cruises include a 12 night Atlantic Islands cruise departing in January 2013 with prices from £999 per person

Ventura

· Sailing three ex-UK cruises from October 2012 to April 2013
· Itineraries range from a two night cruise beak to a 14 night Mediterranean cruise
· Cruising to Mediterranean, Europe and Atlantic Islands
· Prices from £239 for a two night party cruise departing October 2012
· Highlight cruises include a 14 night Western Mediterranean cruise departing in October 2012 with prices starting from £1,299 per person

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P&O Unveils 2011/2012 World Cruises

7/15/2010 - Five ships, taking in 177 ports in 55 countries, with 95 separate holidays to choose from, the new 2011/12 world cruise program from P&O Cruises is its most expansive ever.

World cruise expert P&O Cruises is offering five world cruises, 18 line voyages and 72 shorter cruise holidays, departing in 2011 and 2012. The 2011/12 world cruise brochure will be available on line at www.pocruises.co.uk or via travel agents and will be on sale from Thursday July 15 2010.

· Arcadia, 72-night Grand Alaska Adventure departs Tuesday April 12 2011
· Adonia, 87-night South America Grand Adventure departs Friday January 13 2012
· Arcadia, 109-night Grand Odyssey departs Monday January 9 2012
· Aurora, 98-night westabout full world circumnavigation departs Wednesday January 4 2012
· Oriana, 97-night eastabout full world circumnavigation departs Thursday January 5 2012

P&O Cruises managing director, Carol Marlow said: “A world cruise is the ultimate holiday experience and this programme has more opportunities to see the world than ever before. Our world cruises are perennially popular with mature passengers who want to see the world in style and sectors (part of each itinerary) are increasingly popular with those taking a sabbatical from work or embarking on the ever fashionable ‘grown up gap year’. A full world cruise is also a wonderful way to see the world without having to step foot in an airport.

“There are 95 cruise options ranging from 15 to 109-nights in duration so a world cruise is no longer just for the rich and retired. These itineraries give everyone an opportunity to see the world, from experienced cruisers to those taking a cruise holiday for the very first time or simply those who want to experience the ‘must-see’ cities or go off the beaten track to smaller exotic ports of call.”

Adonia, the newest and smallest ship in the fleet, will embark on an 87-night adventure with a full circumnavigation of South America via the Caribbean and returning via the Panama Canal. Adonia will visit 37 ports in 17 countries, including three new destinations Georgetown, Guyana; Salaverry, Peru and Chacabuco, Chile. Highlights include:

· Overnight stays in Manaus, Amazon; Buenos Aires; and New Orleans
· Scenic cruising in the Amazon, Cape Horn, Beagle Channel, Amalia Glacier, PIO X Glacier and through the Panama Canal.
· 17 shorter cruises including a 17-night cruise holiday from New Orleans to Southampton. Six ports of call including Key West, Florida; Port Everglades, Florida and Half Moon Cay, Bahamas. Prices start from £1,829*
· Prices for full cruise start from £7,999*

Arcadia will be embarking on an east-west 109-night world cruise visiting the Far East and Australasia, and returning via South Africa. Arcadia will visit 41 ports in 24 countries. Highlights include:

· Two overnights in Cape Town, South Africa with the option of an overland safari
· Beijing and Great Wall of China
· Visit to Aqaba, Jordan for visit to Petra
· 25 shorter cruises including a 17-night cruise holiday from Sydney to Singapore with five ports of call including Melbourne, Australia; Fremantle, Australia and Bali. Prices start from £1,399*
· Prices for full cruise start from £9,449*

Aurora will be departing on a 98-night westabout full world circumnavigation cruise taking in the United States, Far East and Australasia via the Panama Canal and the Caribbean and then returning via Dubai and the Suez Canal. Aurora will visit 38 ports in 23 countries including a new destination for P&O Cruises, Abu Dhabi. Highlights include:

· Four cruise holidays departing from Sydney to the Far East
· Overnight stays in San Francisco, Dubai and Istanbul
· 19 shorter cruises including San Francisco to Sydney 22-night cruise holiday with eight ports of call including Honolulu, Pago Pago and Auckland. Prices start from £2,049*
· Prices for full cruise start from £8,199*

Oriana will be taking the opposite direction from Aurora on a 97-night eastabout full world circumnavigation cruise and will be taking in different ports of call. This cruise will visit the Far East via the Suez Canal, before taking in Australasia and the United States returning home via the Panama Canal and the Caribbean. Oriana will visit 32 ports in 20 countries including both north and south islands of New Zealand. Highlights include:

· Overnights in Sydney and San Francisco
· Four Australian ports - Sydney, Darwin, Brisbane and the Whitsunday Islands.
· Calls to Tahiti, French Polynesia and Hong Kong
· 21 shorter cruises including Dubai to Hong Kong 17-night cruise holiday with ports of call including Mumbai, India; Singapore and Phu My, Vietnam. Prices start from £1,444*
· Prices for full cruise start from £7,999*

P&O Cruises will sail to Alaska for the first time in over 40 years with a 72-night Grand Alaska Adventure departing April 12, 2011.

The only Alaskan cruise departing from the UK, Arcadia offers nine holiday options including a full 72-night cruise departing from and returning to Southampton, a 44-night cruise holiday from Southampton to Los Angeles and a 45-night cruise from San Francisco to Southampton. Arcadia will visit 34 ports in 13 countries. Highlights include:

· The only no fly cruise to Alaska from the UK
· Visits to ‘classic’ Alaskan ports as well as some lesser known ports for passengers to explore
· Calls to some of the most exciting and vibrant cities in the world – New York, LA, San Francisco and Vancouver.
· This cruise is currently available to book

For more information or to request a copy of the brochure visit www.pocruises.co.uk
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P O Cruises Arcadia Emerges From Refit

P&O Cruises Arcadia is recently completed a multi-million pound refurbishment, during which a total of 34 new staterooms will be added. The refit which was done at the Lloydwerft shipyard in Bremerhaven, Germany. Arcadia arrived in the yard on 26 November, 2008 and returned to Southampton on 20 December 2008.

P&O Cruises managing director, Nigel Esdale, said: “This is Arcadia’s first major refurbishment since she joined the fleet in April 2005 and we are taking the opportunity to enhance and improve the features of this already very successful child free ship.“The work that we are undertaking will add to Arcadia’s contemporary charm and she will emerge with even more facilities to surprise and delight her passengers.”

A new section of staterooms with private balconies will be added to the aft end of the ship. This will result in the creation of an enlarged deck area around the already popular Aquarius Pool. To further enhance this area, a larger and more stylish, new bar has been created.

A further new feature for passengers will be a 30-seat boutique cinema, creating a dedicated space for showing films on board. The cinema will be added in place of the existing Cyb@Study - wireless internet access will continue to be offered on board.

The photo gallery is to be revamped with more space and privacy given for portrait sittings and the addition of equipment for passengers to download images from their own cameras to be printed directly on board.

Further refurbishment is taking place throughout the ship, with new carpets, soft furnishings and upholstery added in areas including the Spinnaker Bar, Neptune Pool and passenger cabins. New teak furniture will enhance open deck space and a sprung wooden floor in the gym will improve delivery of exercise classes.