‘Awe inspiring adventures’ as Azura embarks on maiden world cruise in 2013

The newest P&O Cruises ship and the largest ever in the fleet to embark upon a world cruise will depart in spring 2013. The maiden Azura Grand Odyssey is 110 nights and takes in 32 ports in 19 countries.

The cruise is one of a wide selection in the 2013 World Cruise brochure, which also includes itineraries on board Arcadia, Aurora and Adonia – the latest and smallest ship to have been added to the fleet. At just 710 passengers, Adonia sits at the opposite end of the scale to Azura, which can carry 3,100 passengers.

This is the largest ever P&O Cruises world programme, with the four ships visiting 94 destinations in 52 different countries and collectively covering 131,824 nautical miles. The four ships represent a 23% increase in world cruise capacity compared to 2012.

A video news release highlighting the popularity and growth of world cruises is available on the P&O Cruises YouTube channel and Facebook page. It can be downloaded for hosting on independent sites from www.youtube.com/pandocruises.

P&O Cruises managing director, Carol Marlow, said: “P&O Cruises knows ocean travel like no other. With every passing year more passengers are attracted to our world cruises, seeing a world cruise as the perfect opportunity to travel the world in comfort and style, choosing a luxury cabin and unlimited luggage over youth hostels and a backpack.

”In 2013 we are offering a selection of awe inspiring adventures, with cruises on some very special ships. These are the ultimate cruises, exploring different parts of the world and providing the holiday of a lifetime always with the ‘P&Oness for which we are renowned.”

The world cruise programme offers the best ever value with Early Booking savings and free on board spending money, which increases per person depending on the grade of cabin booked, available for bookings made before November 30, 2011. In addition, an extra 10% discount is available for bookings made by August 31, 2011.

Passengers booking the 110 night Azura Grand Odyssey before August 31, 2011, will receive Early Booking savings of between £800 to £2,000 per person, plus the additional 10% discount, and free on board spending money of between £220 to £1,100 per person (an inside cabin compared with a suite).

In addition to the four full world cruises, 18 line voyages are available on Aurora, Arcadia and Azura. The line voyages go to or from Australia and New Zealand and range from 40 to 69 nights in duration.

Prices are from £3,059 (cruise only) for a 41 night Southampton to Perth (from Fremantle) cruise on Azura, including Early Booking savings of £300 and free on board spending money of £90 per person. The cruise calls in Barcelona, Athens (from Piraeus), Cairo / Giza (from Port Said), transit Suez Canal, Safaga, Dubai, Mumbai, Colombo, Langkawi, Bangkok (from Laem Chabang), Singapore, Bali and Perth (from Fremantle).

Holiday Package Add-ons including flights, transfers and overnight hotel stays where necessary, are available for purchase from £600 per person for the above Southampton to Perth (from Fremantle) package on Azura. Alternatively prices are ‘cruise only’ so that passengers can arrange their own flights and pre or post cruise holiday extensions.

Pre and post cruise city stays are offered in Auckland, Perth, Sydney and Brisbane, priced from £79 per person per night (SkyCity Hotel, Auckland).

The 2013 World Cruise brochure also offers two ‘Boomerang’ cruises – offering a circumnavigation of the globe on two different ships (sail out on one, return with a different) with extended free time in Sydney. The first Boomerang cruise sails from Southampton on Aurora and returns on Azura, after three or four nights in Sydney.

The second Boomerang cruise sails from Southampton on Azura and returns on Arcadia, after two or three nights Sydney.

The Azura Grand Odyssey departs on January 7, 2013, highlights are:

· 110 nights
· 32 destinations in 19 countries
· 36,999 nautical miles
· Cruises via the Middle East, India, Australia, the Far East and South Africa
· Highlight ports of call include Bangkok, Singapore, Bali, Melbourne, Sydney, Kuala Lumpur, Mauritius and Cape Town
· Extended two day calls in Dubai, Singapore (two separate calls), Sydney, Shanghai, Hong Kong and Cape Town
· Prices for the 110 night Grand Odyssey are from £8,099 after Early Booking savings plus 10% discount, and includes £220 free on board spending money

“Azura’s maiden world cruise visits many ports of call for the first time – including those in Australia – the home of her Godmother, prima ballerina Darcey Bussell. Her maiden call into Sydney will be celebrated in true P&O Cruises style when we hope to reunite Darcey with her ship for the first time since performing her Godmother duties in April 2010,” continued Marlow.

“This is a classic itinerary featuring some of the most exciting and cultural destinations around the world. The ship itself takes inspiration from around the globe, with an Indian fine dining restaurant, Sindhu, Italian inspired casual restaurants Verona and Venezia, and wines from all over the world selected and served by the glass in The Glass House wine bar.

“These features combined with her variety of bars, restaurants, dance floors, spa, gym, shops, theatre and library make Azura the perfect ship for travelling the world and many of our passengers will be excited to hear that she will be offering her maiden world cruise so soon after entering service.”

The smallest ship in the fleet, Adonia, has her second world cruise in 2013, an 85 night port-rich exploration of South America. Departing on January 8, 2013, highlights are:

· 85 nights
· 35 destinations in 17 countries
· 22,802 nautical miles
· Highlight ports of call include Manaus, Salvador, Rio de Janeiro, Buenos Aires, Santiago, Coquimbo (Chile) and Lima
· Cruises through the Beagle Channel and the Panama Canal
· Sails by Cape Horn, Amalia Glacier and PIO X Glacier
· Return sail to UK via the Caribbean, calling at smaller islands not visited by other ships in the fleet, St. Barts and Virgin Gorda
· Prices for the 85 night South American Odyssey are from £7,649 after Early Booking savings plus 10% discount, and includes £200 free on board spending money

The Aurora World Circumnavigation departs on January 7, 2013, highlights are:

· 106 nights
· 39 destinations in 25 countries
· 37,243 nautical miles
· Cruises via the Caribbean, North America, New Zealand and Australia, Japan, China, India and the Middle East
· Highlight ports of call include San Francisco, Honolulu, Bora Bora, Auckland, Wellington, Sydney, Osaka, Xingang, Shanghai, Ko Samui, Mumbai, Safaga and Haifa
· Includes new port of call, Sokhna in Egypt
· Transits the Panama Canal and Suez Canal and features extended two day calls in San Francisco, Hong Kong and Dubai
· Prices for the 107 night World Circumnavigation are from £8,549 after Early Booking savings plus 10% discount, and includes £220 free on board spending money

The Arcadia South America and Pacific Adventure departs on January 5, 2013, highlights are:

· 99 nights
· 32 destinations in 20 countries
· 34,780 nautical miles
· Highlight ports of call include Rio de Janeiro, Buenos Aires, Santiago, Papeete, Bora Bora, Suva, Sydney, Auckland, Pago Pago, Honolulu and San Francisco
· Sails by Cape Horn, Amalia Glacier, PIO X Glacier, Easter Island and Pitcairn Island
· Cruises through the Beagle Channel, Milford Sound and Panama Canal
· Prices for the 99 night South America and Pacific Adventure are from £8,099 after Early Booking savings plus 10% discount, and includes £200 free on board spending money

The World Cruises 2013 can be booked from July 14, 2011. To request a copy of the brochure call 01246 555777

Shorter cruise sectors are also available and can be found in the Winter Holidays brochure, on sale July 15, 2011.

A taste of the exotic with new winter holidays from P&O Cruises

P&O Cruises is offering a new collection of exotic fly-cruise holidays on four ships in early 2013. 50 new holidays are on offer on Adonia, Arcadia, Aurora and Azura.

These exotic cruises are presented in a new Winter Holidays brochure, combined with cruises on the other three ships in the P&O Cruises fleet – Oceana, Oriana and Ventura – offering holidays throughout the winter to the Caribbean, Canary Islands and Mediterranean.

All cruises in the Winter Holidays brochure can be viewed online at www.pocruises.co.uk. Cruises on Oceana, Oriana and Ventura are on sale now and the new exotic cruises can be booked from July 15, 2011.

The new exotic fly-cruise holidays combine iconic, far-flung destinations and start from just 13 nights in duration and £989 per person, based on Azura’s Mumbai to Singapore, calling in Colombo, Langkawi, Bangkok (from Laem Chabang) and Singapore.

Free on board spending money, which increases per person depending on the grade of cabin booked, and Early Booking savings are available for bookings made before November 30, 2011. In addition, an extra 10% discount is available for bookings made by August 31, 2011.

A video news release highlighting the popularity and growth of exotic holidays is available on the P&O Cruises YouTube channel and Facebook page. It can be downloaded for hosting on independent sites from www.youtube.com/pandocruises.

P&O Cruises managing director, Carol Marlow, said: “These exotic fly-cruise holidays are perfect for those who unfortunately can’t be away for more than a few weeks but want to explore a particular part of the world, on a cruise that is tailor made to combine some of the world’s most exciting destinations.

“No other kind of holiday offers the chance to visit destinations such as Singapore, Bali, Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney in little more than two weeks without having to live out of a backpack or take several long flights. Passengers simply wake up in all these different destinations and the days in between are spent relaxing at sea. It is a leisurely way to explore the world and one that more and more people are enjoying each year.

“Time of year is a key factor when choosing a holiday and with more people taking a winter holiday it was a logical step for us to introduce this new brochure which contains all our winter programme between October to April 2012/13.”

Highlights of the exotic holidays available on each ship are:

Adonia

· Three cruises from 20 to 33 nights in duration
· Cruises available are Southampton to Rio de Janeiro (32 nights), Rio de Janeiro to Valparaiso (20 nights) and Valparaiso to Southampton (33 nights)
· Prices from £2,024 for the 20 night cruise to £3,329 for the 33 night cruise
· Free on board spending money available of between £50 per person for an inside cabin and £220 for a suite on a 20 night holiday

Arcadia

· Seven cruises from 18 to 35 nights in duration
· Cruises available include Southampton to Buenos Aires (18 nights), Valparaiso to Sydney (22 nights) and Brisbane to San Francisco (27 nights)
· Prices from £1,529 for an 18 night cruise (Southampton to Buenos Aires) to £2,924 for a 35 night cruise (Buenos Aires to Sydney)
· Free on board spending money available of between £40 per person for an inside cabin and £190 for a suite on an 18 night holiday

Aurora

· 17 cruises from 13 to 45 nights in duration
· Cruises available include San Francisco to Auckland (17 nights), Sydney to Hong Kong (23 nights) and Singapore to Southampton (30 nights)
· Prices from £1,124 for a 13 night cruise (Bangkok to Dubai) to £3,599 for a 45 night cruise (San Francisco to Hong Kong)
· Free on board spending money available of between £30 per person for an inside cabin and £150 for a suite on a 13 night holiday

Azura

· 23 cruises ranging from 13 to 42 nights in duration
· Cruises available include Dubai to Singapore (17 nights), Mumbai to Sydney (28 nights) and Hong Kong to Cape Town (21 nights)
· Prices from £989 for a 13 night cruise (Dubai to Bangkok or Mumbai to Sydney) to £3,149 for a 42 night cruise (Sydney to Cape Town).
· Free on board spending money available of between £30 per person for an inside cabin and £150 for a suite on a 13 night holiday

All prices are per person based on two sharing the lowest grade cabin and include Early Booking savings and the additional 10% discount available for bookings made before August 31, 2011.

Holiday Package Add-ons including flights, transfers and overnight hotel stays where necessary, are available for purchase from £750 per person* for a 14 night Dubai to Bangkok cruise on board Azura. Flights are from London, regional connections are available and priced from £139 per person (Glasgow, Edinburgh, Manchester or Newcastle).

The Winter Holidays brochure also contains no-fly cruises from Southampton, such as:

· 23 night Caribbean cruise on board Arcadia, departing November 25, 2012. Priced from £1,759
· 24 night Eastern Mediterranean cruise on board Oriana departing January 6, 2013. Priced from £1,829
· 35 night Caribbean cruise on board Oceana, departing January 2, 2013. Priced from £2,789

To request a copy of the brochure call 01246 555777

Details of full world cruises, longer line voyages and Boomerang cruises, which offer circumnavigations of the globe on a combination of two ships, can be found in the 2013 World Cruise brochure, on sale July 14, 2011.

P&O and Cunard 2013 World Cruise Itineraries and Prices released

P&O Cruises offers the greatest choice of ex-UK World Cruises with 4 sailings from Southampton in 2013 - visiting 94 unique destinations in 52 different countries and covering 131, 824 nautical miles. There are great savings to be made for those who book early (by 31st August 2011). Not only is there Early Booking Savings, with savings up to £4,000 per couple for Azura‟s 110- night Grand Odyssey voyage (based on A grade Suites) to take advantage of, but an additional Saving of 10%. Plus there‟s onboard spending money from £160 per couple up to £2,200 per couple.

Cunard is delighted to announce the 2013 World & Exotic Discoveries programme: between January and April 2013, the youngest fleet in the world will trace three epic routes to an array of enticing destinations. The 2013 programme offers opportunity to join their elegant ships on an array of different sections of their grand adventures, from 8 to 106 nights

Queen Victoria will follow the curve of the world to the west in 105 nights, weaving around North and Central America, the Panama Canal, Pacific Isles, Australia and New Zealand, Asia, the Arabian Peninsula, Suez Canal and the Mediterranean. Her programme will feature overnight stays in Shanghai, Hong Kong, Sydney and Dubai.
Queen Mary 2 will set off east, across four continents in 106 nights, through the Mediterranean and Red Sea, Arabia, Asia’s southern shore, Australia and looping round New Zealand before returning via southern Africa. Her programme will feature overnight stays in Dubai, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Cape Town.
Queen Elizabeth will follow her own extended route to Oceania and home again. In 91 nights she will cross the Atlantic and the Caribbean, transits the Panama Canal, visit Central America, Pacific isles before exploring four calls in New Zealand ahead of her journey home.
Although intriguingly different, these three itineraries have a common thread, each ventures to Australasia and home again thereby offering the tantalizing possibility to glide Down Under aboard one elegant Cunarder, and return home in the company of another.

To obtain full details and pricing please contact Travel Advisors UK Ltd on 01246 555777 and pre register with us prior to going on sale on 13th July for P&O and 14th July for Cunard (Gold Tier members only on the 13th+14th)

P&O Cruises ‘Getaway’ fares offered on small ship, Adonia

P&O Cruises is now offering ‘Getaway’ prices and inclusive flights on selected Adonia Mediterranean fly cruises.

The ‘Fly Med Getaway’ promotion applies to cruises from ten to 14 nights in duration that depart between October 29, 2011 and January 3, 2012. Prices are inclusive of flights and fuel supplement. Bookings must be made within June and July.

P&O Cruises managing director, Carol Marlow, said: “Adonia is our latest ship and has been received exceptionally well. Celebrating her addition to our fleet, these Getaway fares enable even more people to try her. Adonia offers our only Mediterranean fly cruises and these are a fantastic holiday choice for those seeking winter sunshine and the chance to visit up to 13 different places in 14 days.”

Named last month by global singing star, Dame Shirley Basey, Adonia is exclusively for adults and carries just 710 passengers. On board there are eight bars including P&O Cruises signature ‘Crow’s Nest’, a library, Oasis Spa and gym, classic dining room and two specialty restaurants: Sorrento Italian and Ocean Grill by Marco Pierre White.

Sample Cruise:
D114. 3 -13 January 2012, seven nights.
Ports of call include Trieste, Venice, Koper, Hvar, Bari, Katakolon, Nauplia, Istanbul, Mytilene, Ephesus (from Kusadasi), Rhodes, Santorini, and Athens (from Piraeus).

‘Getaway’ fares from £1,452. Based on two adults sharing an inside cabin. This includes return flights, all accommodation, main meals and entertainment.

Bookings must be made before July 31, 2011. To book call 01246 555777.

All bookings made in the Fly Med Getaway promotion must be paid in full at the time of booking, are not combinable with any other offers and are applicable to new bookings only. Specific cabins cannot be booked - only cabin grade - with cabin numbers being allocated no less than 14 days before departure.

P&O CRUISES ANNOUNCES NEW 141,000-TONNE SHIP TO ENTER SERVICE IN MARCH 2015.

LARGEST EVER CRUISE SHIP BUILT FOR BRITAIN WILL BE A “MODERN CLASSIC”

P&O Cruises today announced that it will expand its fleet with a 141,000-tonne cruise ship, built by Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri, scheduled to enter service in March 2015.

The as-yet-unnamed 3,611-passenger vessel will be the largest in the P&O Cruises fleet, as well as the largest cruise ship built specifically for the British market.
To be built at Fincantieri’s Monfalcone yard, the all-in cost is approximately €155,000 per lower berth. Ushering in an exciting era for P&O Cruises, the ship will offer a stylish and innovative new design and an unprecedented number of passenger facilities, along with many of the brand’s classic and iconic features. Specifications and new product innovations will be announced at a later date.

Commented Micky Arison, Carnival Corporation & plc’s chairman and CEO, “P&O Cruises is Britain’s number one cruise operator, and is synonymous with high quality holidays that celebrate its rich British heritage. The UK continues to be a key growth market and innovative vessels such as this new P&O Cruises ship – targeted specifically to British clientele – underscore our commitment to leading the expansion of this important cruise region. With a progression of highly successful new ships introduced over the last 15 years, P&O Cruises is uniquely experienced in designing vessels to meet the specific needs and aspirations of British passengers. This newly ordered ship will underline P&O Cruises’ position as Britain’s favourite cruise line.”

P&O Cruises Managing Director Carol Marlow said, “This next-generation ship will deliver the ultimate P&O Cruises experience, with ‘sophisticated wows’ and new features to attract thousands of newcomers to our brand, and equally to resonate with existing P&O Cruises passengers by giving them the ‘P&O-ness’ they recognise and love. She will offer ‘the best of the best,’ combining the favourite classic features of Oriana and Aurora, the choice and variety of Azura and Ventura, and a host of new ideas and concepts which together will deliver to our passengers the holiday of a lifetime, every time they travel with us.”


About P&O Cruises

P&O Cruises can trace its roots back to 1837 when the Peninsular Steam Navigation Company was awarded the lucrative Admiralty contract to carry mail to the Iberian Peninsula and beyond. Today, as trusted cruise experts, P&O Cruises 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 they travel. Azura was launched in April 2010, officially named by Darcey Bussell CBE and small ship Adonia was added to the fleet in May 2011, named by Dame Shirley Bassey, DBE.

P&O Cruises Fleet:
Ship Named Godmother Passengers

Oriana 1995 Her Majesty The Queen 1,828
Aurora 2000 HRH Princess Anne 1,870
Oceana 2003 HRH Princess Anne 2,016
Arcadia 2005 Dame Kelly Holmes DBE 2,016
Ventura 2008 Dame Helen Mirren DBE 3,078
Azura 2010 Darcey Bussell CBE 3,100
Adonia 2011 Dame Shirley Bassey DBE 710
Newbuild 2015 to be confirmed 3,611