P&O Cruises, the UK focused contemporary market unit in the Carnival Corporation& plc group, has published its 2017-18 programme, which includes basing the 77,441 gross ton Oceana at Malta.
“Offering more adventure and greater choice, it features new and inspiring destinations, more ex-UK cruising, more discovery cruise options, a 2018 world cruise collection, scenic cruising, special event cruises, new seven- and 14-night Mediterranean fly-cruises from Malta on Oceana and a choice of Greek island ventures,” the company said in a statement. Up till now, Oceana has been based in Savona and Venice for its fly cruises.
Pre-registration opens on March 21 and the programme will go on sale to Top Tier Peninsular Club members from March 31 and on general sale from April 4. 2017 prices start from £599 per person for a seven-night cruise from Southampton. In addition, anyone booking a Select Price 2017/2018 holiday by May 31, 2016 will receive a 5% past guest discount or 10% discount on Captain’s Choice cruises. There is an additional 5% discount on Peninsular Club cruises up until departure.
Due to popular demand P&O Cruises is expanding its discovery cruises programme. These longer cruises, ranging from 12-19 nights on board mid-sized ships Oriana, Arcadia and Aurora, are tailored to include lesser-frequented ports packed with local charm. In 2017, there will be an even greater choice with 13 discovery cruises, primarily based in the Western and Central Mediterranean, with further options of an Iberia & Canary Islands cruise and a Baltic cruise. Oriana will offer nine cruises while Arcadia and Aurora will each offer two.
P&O Cruises offers more departures out of Southampton than any other cruise line, year round. Guests in pursuit of sunshine can cruise to the Mediterranean, Canaries and Caribbean; those wanting breathtaking scenery and a taste of the Nordic way of life should choose itineraries to the Norwegian Fjords, Baltic and Iceland; for city breakers there is a range of short breaks and Iberian cruises; those in search of the American dream and stunning autumn colour can take the Canada & New England cruises; or, for something a little closer to home, there are British Isles cruises.
An exciting range of itineraries will depart weekly from Malta and visit a wealth of Western, Eastern and Central Mediterranean ports. Highlights include Venice and Dubrovnik and a selection of Greek islands for Eastern Mediterranean seven-night cruises, including Rhodes, Crete and Santorini. One Eastern Mediterranean cruise will include an overnight in Istanbul and a call in Villefranche, France, to take in the drama of the Monaco Grand Prix in glamorous Monte Carlo.
P&O Cruises has responded to demand for new itineraries and more destinations with an exciting 2018 world cruise collection. Arcadia will set off on a 99-night western circumnavigation; Aurora will take in Cape Horn to celebrate South America for 65 nights; and Oriana will lap up the Caribbean and American sunshine with a 50-night Discovery cruise.
For 2017, P&O Cruises will continue to offer itineraries that take in a selection of exhilarating festivals and events to appeal to those guests with special interests. Themes include music and dance, sport food and drink, fireworks and flowers.
P&O Cruises is introducing even more scenic cruising including a partial transit of the Panama Canal, cruising past south Cornwall; into New York past the Statue of Liberty, Staten Island and Brooklyn Bridge; along the St Lawrence River into Quebec; through the Messina Strait; past Sognefjord, Geirangerfjord, Auralsfjord, Innvikfjorden, Lustrafjorden, Nordfjord, Romsdalsfjord, Storfjorden, Sunnylsvfjorden; and through the Oslo Fjord and the second largest archipelago in the Baltic into Stockholm,’ the company stated.
