A new superliner for the British market, free child places and two new round Britain cruises featuring several destination ‘firsts’, are just a few highlights of the new 2010 programme from P&O Cruises.
Details are contained within the 2010 preview brochure, which features a total of 153 cruise holidays between March 2010 and March 2011, visiting 210 destinations. The programme goes on sale on Tuesday 21 April.
P&O Cruises, managing director Nigel Esdale said, “No other cruise line has such a broad collection of cruises from the UK and with seven ships sailing from Southampton we are able to offer an unprecedented amount of choice, flexibility, value for money and ease of travel.”
Highlights of the programme include:
• Cruise holidays on Azura – the newest superliner to be built for the British market
• Two new round Britain cruises
• Six new ports of call
• Expanded Caribbean and Panama Canal season with six ships sailing to these destinations and three ships offering a fly cruise programme
• Increase in Canada and New England voyages with two September sailings and the inaugural visit for Arcadia
• Enhanced value for money– Early Bird savings, on board credit, free car parking and free adult and child places throughout the season
• Choice of holiday experience – ships catering for everyone from newcomers, families, empty-nesters, baby-boomers and die-hard cruisers
• Lead in prices from £599 for a seven night cruise or just £75 per person per day for a 14 night cruise*
• Charter flights from 15 regional airports
“For those who want to stay closer to home and explore the beauty of the UK, we have round Britain cruises. For those who want to explore further afield and experience different cultures, we have extended three or four week Eastern Mediterranean, Black Sea, Caribbean and USA and Canada and New England voyages. And for those who have yet to try cruising we have a range of short breaks of seven nights and less, the perfect amount of time to see the quality of experience and value for money that cruising has to offer.”
New ports of call in the brochure are Newcastle, Stornoway in the Outer Hebrides, Milford Haven and Belfast – featuring on one of the two round Britain cruises; Oriana departing 30 June 2010 and Artemis on 16 August 2010. Also visited for the first time by P&O Cruises in 2010 is Trabzon in Turkey and Greencastle in Ireland.
The brochure includes cruises on board Azura, the newest P&O Cruises ship, which will join the fleet in April 2010. Azura’s maiden season will feature cruises to the Mediterranean, the Baltic, the Norwegian Fjords, the Canary Islands and the Caribbean.
“For Azura we’ve gone ‘back to the future’,” said Esdale. “We’re looking back at how travelling at sea really should be; sophisticated, relaxing, indulgent and exciting, whilst we are also looking forward at the same time with some cutting edge innovations and on board ‘firsts’ for P&O Cruises – including an outdoor cinematic experience, an exclusive al fresco spa “retreat” and single staterooms.”
Azura will feature an Indian fine dining restaurant, Sindhu. The creation of celebrated Michelin starred chef Atul Kochhar, Sindhu will offer a fusion of fine British and Indian cuisine and dishes such as pan-fried lobster tail in coconut milk and tamarind sauce will tempt passengers through the doors of this – just one of 11 – dining venue.
TV wine expert Olly Smith has also been enlisted to help create a new wine bar and restaurant concept – The Glass House. A must for wine lovers, The Glass House menu will feature different wines recommended with each course, all served by the glass and expertly matched by Olly. The Saturday Kitchen star will act as consultant in the creation of the wine and cocktail lists for Azura’s other bars and restaurants and will travel throughout the year to host light hearted tasting sessions in his own irreverent style.
