Med fly-cruise first for P&O Cruises
Saturday, 15 Mar, 2010
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An early launch of P&O Cruises’ programme for 2011/12 sees the line introduce Mediterranean fly-cruises and year-round sailings from the UK.
New small ship Adonia will be based in the Mediterranean from October 2011 to run six Central and Eastern Mediterranean fly-cruises.
Departures will be from Savona, Athens, Trieste and Naples, with the company offering “open jaw” flight options and cruise-only pricing.
Fly-cruises on adults-only Adonia start at £1,498 for 14 nights between Trieste and Athens in December 2011.
Oceana will sail ex-UK cruises all year round, departing from Southampton between October 2011 and April 2012 to the Western and Eastern Mediterranean, Atlantic Islands and the Caribbean and US.
US rival Royal Caribbean International has already committed Independence of the Seas to year-round sailings from Southampton.
P&O Cruises’ managing director Carol Marlow dismissed concerns over poor weather during the winter departures.
Oceana will be undertaking longer voyages, rather than sailing from the UK port every week or fortnight as it might in the summer
Sample winter itineraries include 35 nights to the Caribbean, 24 nights to the eastern Mediterranean and 12 or 14-nights to the Canary Islands.
Oceana will operate 31 ex-UK cruises from March next year to March 2012.
“Some people don’t want to fly for various reasons, so with Azura in the Caribbean in winter we had the opportunity to try ex-UK cruises year round,” said Marlow. “It gives us the option to offer more variety for people.”
The line’s largest ever sailing programme sees the first full year of cruising for 3,100-passenger ship Azura, which is to be launched next month. Azura will run 17 ex-UK cruises from April to October 2011 and 11 Caribbean fly cruises from October 2011 to March 2012.
Azura cruises range from a four night cruise break to an inaugural 15-night Icelandic cruise.
The ship will also make overnight calls in Venice and St Petersburg.
Adults-only Adonia – a replacement for Artemis – will initially offer ex-Southampton cruises between May and October next year, from seven to 26 nights in duration to the Mediterranean and Northern Europe.
Smaller and off the beaten track ports of call as well as “must see” destinations feature. Overnight calls in Athens and St. Petersburg are included as well as a round Britain cruise.
Marlow said: “This is our biggest ever programme launch, with 156 cruise holidays to 270 destinations in 90 countries. More people will spend more time with us next year than ever before.
“The introduction of Mediterranean fly-cruising is an exciting step forward for P&O Cruises, and one that we know will make many of our existing passengers very happy. We listen to our customers and always try to give them what they want.
“At the same time, we hope this will attract new customers who have previously chosen a holiday in a Mediterranean resort.”
Early bookings discounts of up to £800 per couple for a 14-night cruise apply before June 30. Free car parking is offered on all Southampton departures of seven nights or more. On board spending money of between £50 and £250 per cabin is available for cruises of four nights or more.
Agents are being given downloadable PDFs of the new brochure, a dedicated Adonia training module and a webinar on the programme launch. Point of sale material is also being dispatched.
The company is also introducing ‘Spotlight’ – a series of daytime events for passengers wanting to learn a skill, develop their knowledge or find hobbies.
Talks and interactive workshops will be offered on subjects as such as history, current affairs, the natural world, dance, art and gastronomy. All are delivered by experts in their field, some including TV personalities.
The programme goes on sale on April 27.
New ports of call in 2011/12 are:
· Bourgas, Bulgaria (Adonia)
· Flekkefjord, Norway (Adonia)
· Foynes, Ireland (Adonia)
· Jersey, UK (Adonia)
· Koper, Slovenia (Adonia, Oriana)
· Liverpool, UK (Arcadia)
· Sassnitz, Germany (Adonia)
· Savona, Italy (Adonia)
· Zadar, Croatia (Adonia)
by Phil Davies
Phil Davies
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