Dame Shirley Bassey named as Godmother to Britain’s latest cruise ship

Legendary singer to take centre stage at naming ceremony for Adonia

Britain’s greatest and best loved female performer, Dame Shirley Bassey DBE, is to be Godmother to Adonia, the latest addition to the P&O Cruises fleet.

Dame Shirley will name the stylish ship in a glittering ceremony in Southampton on Saturday May 21, 2011.

Adonia is considerably smaller than the larger ships of today. Carrying just 710 passengers, the ship will be able to reach off the beaten track ports of call, yet is big enough to provide an extensive range of on board facilities. Exclusively for adults, Adonia will offer an atmosphere that is intimate and refined – and the on board excellence for which the company is renowned.

“I have had the most exciting career imaginable, but to be invited to be Godmother to a cruise ship is something very special and very personal,” said Dame Shirley.

“Dame Shirley is Britain’s most successful female artiste ever, a national treasure who defines the word ‘superstar’. We are Britain's favourite and most successful cruise line and can trace our British history back longer than any other line. It’s a perfect match and I am sure on our naming day she will need no excuse to “get the party started!“ said P&O Cruises managing director, Carol Marlow.

During a career that has included 135 million record sales, Dame Shirley Bassey has had many incredible highlights, including being the only singer to record three James Bond movie theme songs & most recently releasing The Performance – an album which she describes simply as “The performance of my life” . Dame Shirley has received numerous awards and accolades including being named a DBE [Dame of the British Empire] in 1999.

“Adonia will be the jewel in the P&O Cruises crown and will celebrate all those things our regular passengers love about cruising with us – a classic dance floor, Crow’s Nest observation lounge, formal nights, classical music recitals, guest speakers, silver service dining and a dedicated card room. Loyal cruisers and those new to cruising alike will be charmed by the refined P&O Cruises experience Adonia will offer, and entertainment will form a vital part of that, so it is entirely fitting for Dame Shirley to give Adonia the best possible start to her life with P&O Cruises,” continued Carol Marlow.

Over 500 invited guests will witness the naming ceremony on Adonia’s top deck in Southampton Docks on Saturday, May 21, prior to the vessel’s maiden voyage the following day, a 16 night cruise to the Western Mediterranean, which includes calls to Alghero in Sardinia; Portofino in Italy; Sete in France; Port Mahon and Barcelona in Spain.

Adonia facts

Built in 2001, Adonia has all the facilities you would expect of a modern ship, with a classic and refined interior style.

Adonia’s main restaurant will be the Pacific Restaurant and there will be two further Select dining venues, Italian ‘Sorrento’ and a steakhouse and grill. There will also be a buffet restaurant, with some al fresco dining and a barbecue area out on the Lido deck.

For entertainment, Adonia will have eight bars, including P&O Cruises signature ‘Crow’s Nest’ observation lounge; Andersons, the familiar club-style lounge bar; and Raffles, which will also offer a coffee shop menu throughout the day with pastries, chocolates, hot drinks and afternoon tea. There is also a traditional library with fireplace and views on three sides.

Adonia will also feature The Curzon Lounge, where passengers can enjoy a drink with a sea view during the day, and by night enjoy a performance by the Headliners theatre company, concerts, dancing, or after dinner speakers.

There will be the signature Oasis Spa, offering a range of treatments and therapies such as hot stone massages and body scrubs, Aromatherapy, and reflexology. There is also a well equipped gym with panoramic sea views.

Adonia’s well appointed cabins will feature Egyptian cotton linen, tea and coffee making facilities so popular with British passengers, and over 75% of the cabins will have a private balcony.

P&O Cruises shows world-class customer service in UK poll

P&O Cruises has achieved a place in the top 10 best performing companies in the Institute of Customer Service (ICS) UK Customer Satisfaction Index (UKCSI).

As the only cruise line in the top 10; a score of 84/100 puts the line over the threshold for providing ‘world-class service’.

P&O Cruises managing director, Carol Marlow, said: “We are delighted to see such a positive result from this survey and it is testimony to the hard work that our teams put in both on shore and on board.

“We place great emphasis on having fantastic customer service and making sure that the customer journey is a smooth one, right from the booking through to the end of the holiday.

“This is one of the reasons why we have such a high number of repeat bookings. Our customers have a fantastic experience with us and we provide them with the holiday of a lifetime every time they travel.”

Institute of Customer Service chief executive, Jo Causon, said: “P&O Cruises are to be congratulated on their high level of customer satisfaction. Our research tells us that highly competitive sectors produce the highest levels of consumer satisfaction as companies battle to attract and retain customers. The fact that tourism is the second-highest scoring sector in the Index bears this out.”

P&O Cruises is Britain’s favourite cruise line and can trace its roots back to 1837 and today, as trusted cruise experts, has a fleet of seven ships offering holidays tailored to British tastes combining genuine service, a sense of occasion and attention to detail, ensuring passengers have the holiday of a lifetime, every time.

Azura was launched in April 2010 – officially named by Godmother Darcey Bussell CBE and small ship Adonia will be added to the fleet in May 2011.

Grand Princess to Undergo Dramatic Transformation During Spring Drydock

Makeover Will Include Piazza Atrium, Tea Lounge, Pizzeria and Nightclub

The most significant transformation ever of a Princess Cruises ship will occur this spring aboard UK dedicated ship, Grand Princess. During a 24-day makeover the ship, which was the prototype for the line’s “Grand Class” vessels, will undergo a remarkable renovation to receive many of Princess’s trademark features introduced since the ship’s 1998 debut, including the signature Piazza atrium. Several new features will be also be added including a unique tea lounge and library called “Leaves”; and “Alfredo’s,” a full-service pizzeria showcasing this renowned Princess dish.

A brand new nightclub called One5, inspired by its deck location, will be created on the top deck of the ship, replacing its iconic Skywalker Nightclub, which has given the ship its distinctive profile. Skywalkers will be removed from its 18^th deck perch, with its replacement located on deck 15. This change will significantly improve the operational performance of the ship, including greater fuel efficiency.

“This is the largest makeover we’ve ever undertaken for any of our ships,” said Pieter van der Schee, head of brand marketing Princess Cruises UK. “Grand Princess was the most innovative cruise ship when she was launched and is already very popular in Britain. With the latest innovations from her recent sister ships added she will be an even greater attraction for British cruisers looking for a pampering, relaxing holiday.”

The changes will be made during a drydock from April 11 to May 4 at the Grand Bahama Shipyard in Freeport, Bahamas ahead of Grand Princess’s return to Southampton for a programme of summer cruises. Highlights of the dramatic makeover include:

· Crown Grill – A classic steakhouse with rich wood surroundings, this specialty restaurant features an open, theatre-style kitchen where chefs custom-prepare premium aged beef and fresh seafood items, including live lobsters.

· Leaves Tea Lounge and Library – A fusion of tea lounge and library, the new Leaves offers a distinctive opportunity for passengers to custom-blend a variety of base teas with herbs, fruits and spices to create a personalised tea blend. Created in partnership with Mighty Leaf Tea Company, one of the world’s premier makers of artisan teas, Leaves will give passengers an impressive choice of up to 500 different tea blends to suit their palates. A trained tea sommelier will assist passengers in blending a personalized tea creation, which they can enjoy in the midst of the library and a good book.

· Alfredo’s Pizzeria – Known for serving the best pizza at sea, Princess will introduce Alfredo’s, a new sit-down pizzeria with an enticing menu of freshly-prepared individual-size pizzas. Named for the line’s master executive chef, Alfredo Marzi, the pizzeria will feature an open kitchen where passengers can watch chefs create the pizzas they’ll enjoy with a glass of wine or other beverage.

· One5 Lounge – The new One5 lounge will replace Skywalkers as the place to be for nighttime dancing and relaxing. The new lounge on deck 15 (hence its name) takes its inspiration from the chicest urban nightclubs, and will offer a cool vibe, contemporary seating and lighting, and a dramatic back-lit bar.

· Crown Grill – A classic steakhouse with rich wood surroundings, this specialty restaurant features an open, theatre-style kitchen where chefs custom-prepare premium aged beef and fresh seafood items, including live lobsters.

Also part of the renovation will be 10 new suites; remodelled casino, boutiques and art gallery; enhancements to the Horizon Court, Lotus Spa, and wedding chapel; and the addition of Crooner’s Martini Lounge.

The newly renovated Grand Princess will debut in Southampton on 21 May with new itineraries to offer more choice to past passengers, as well as a 3-night Weekend Sampler to offer new customers an opportunity to try out the brand. In addition to her popular 14-night Mediterranean cruises and 7-night short-breaks Grand Princess will sail two 17-night cruises from the UK to the central Med, including Venice, an 11-night cruise to the Canary Islands and Madeira, and a 14-night cruise to Norway and Spitsbergen.

Spring selection from P&O Cruises

Free car parking, free coach travel, free flights, savings of up to £880 and free on board spending money of almost £1,000 per couple is being offered in this Spring’s promotion from P&O Cruises.

The P&O Cruises spring selection includes a range of holidays from two night party cruises to 34 night no fly Caribbean & USA cruises. Destinations include the Mediterranean, Baltic, Norwegian Fjords and the Caribbean.

The P&O Cruises Spring selection applies to holidays booked before Thursday March 31 2011, offers include:

· Free flights and transfers on Adonia Mediterranean fly cruises
· Free car parking on selected cruises, saving up to £284 per car (based on cruise R118)
· Free coach travel on selected cruises, saving up to £120 per person (based on travel between Glasgow and Southampton)
· Up to £960 per couple free on boarding spending money (based on cabin R118)
· Savings of up to £880 per couple (based on cruise E131)

P&O Cruises managing director, Carol Marlow, said: “As the evenings are getting lighter and Christmas seems a distant memory, people are starting to think more about their holidays. These Spring selection offers give our passengers even more value from a cruise holiday.

“Free flights on Adonia fly-cruises mean that passengers can start their holiday at the heart of the destination, whilst getting to cruise on board the latest addition to the P&O Cruises fleet, and free car parking/coach travel makes cruising from Southampton easier than ever before.”

Lead in fares for The P&O Cruises Spring selection savers are:

· Seven nights from £699 including a £50 per person discount. Departing from and returning to Southampton and calling in La Coruna, Bilbao, La Rochelle and Brest. Based on Ventura’s April 22, 2011 departure (N110). Plus up to £120 per person on board spending money.· 10 night Mediterranean fly-cruise from £799 including a £150 per person discount. Departing from Naples and calling at Civitavecchia, Palma, Valencia, Almeria, Cadiz, Lisbon and Southampton. Based on Adonia’s January 3, 2012 departure (D201).· 14 night Mediterranean holiday from £1,249 including a £200 per person discount. Departing from and returning to Southampton and calling in Oporto, Lisbon, Civitavecchia, Livorno, Villefranche, Barcelona and Gibraltar. Based on March 21, 2012 departure (E204)

All prices are per person and based on two adults sharing an inside twin cabin on a full board basis, including all main meals, accommodation and most facilities.

For more information or to request a brochure call TRAVEL ADVISORS ON 01246 555777