P&O Cruises, newly published, 2009 brochure features holidays to 182 destinations in 60 countries. It has also had a full redesign in response to customer research and is now destination led as opposed to ship led, therefore making it easier for customers to use when looking for a cruise holiday.

P&O Cruises managing director, Nigel Esdale, said: “Cruise holidays paid for in sterling have always offered excellent value for money but, with the current exchange rate, cruises are now one of the most cost effective ways to visit Europe. Real savings can be made by families, and couples, as all the little extras, which turn out to be not so little, in hotels and resorts, like entertainment, supervised children’s clubs and night nursery are all included in the cost of a cruise.

“Our 2009 programme is our biggest yet, with the first full year of operation for Ventura. We have more ships, more ports and an even greater breadth of appeal.”

The fleet of six ships will be sailing to all of the classic cruise ports across the Mediterranean, Baltic, Norwegian fjords, Canary Islands and the Caribbean, as well as calls into the USA, Mexico and South America.

New ports of call include Antwerp in Belgium, the island of Hvar in Croatia and La Spezia in Italy.

Ventura, the largest and newest superliner built exclusively for the British market, will sail her first full year programme, with 19 departures from Southampton and 10 fly-cruise holidays from Barbados within the 2009 brochure.

Early booking incentives are available for bookings made before 31 August 2008, including up to 45 per cent Pricebreakers discount.

Highlights of the brochure include:

Party Cruise, Ventura (N920) two nights 30 August – 1 September 2009. Southampton, Bruges (from Zeebrugge), Southampton. Starting from £299.

Cruise Break, Oceana (E913) seven nights 30 May – 6 June 2009. Southampton, Falmouth, Dublin, Bilbao, La Rochelle (from La Pallice), Brest, Southampton. Starting from £619.

North America, Aurora (R911) 24 nights 30 August – 23 September 2009. Southampton, Wilmington for Philadelphia, New York (two full days in port), Newport, Boston (full day and evening in port), Portland, Bar Harbor, Halifax, Quebec (day and a half in port), St. John’s, Southampton. Starting from £2,619.

Mediterranean, Oriana (X915) 14 nights 30 August – 13 September 2009. Southampton, Gibraltar, Palau, Rome (from Civitavecchia), La Spezia, Monte Carlo, Barcelona, Palma, Southampton. Starting from £1,419.