P&O Cruises’ Pacific Sun has been affected by the severe weather conditions

P&O Cruises’ Pacific Sun has been affected by the severe weather conditions that have swept across the region.

The ship, which was about 600km north of Auckland, was experiencing 7 metre swells and 50 knot winds when it rolled sharply just before 8 pm last night.

As a result of the ship’s sudden movement, approximately 40 passengers were seen and treated by the onboard medical staff. Pacific Sun has two doctors and three nurses onboard who are highly trained.

“I would like to assure the friends and families of our passengers that they are in good care onboard the ship,” a P&O Cruises spokesperson said.

The ship, which was due to return to Auckland this morning, has been delayed by at least 24 hours due to the bad weather.

The ship is carrying 1732 passengers and 671 crew. She was on her return from an eight day cruise in the South Pacific.

Official Press Release from P&O Cruises Australia.

P&O Cruises introduces once in a lifetime shore excursions

P&O Cruises is offering a new collection of shore excursions for holidaymakers setting sail in 2008/09.

Designed to meet and exceed the needs of new and more adventurous cruise passengers, the programme offers a range of ‘must do’ activities and experiences on land, sea and in the air.

P&O Cruises managing director, Nigel Esdale, said: “We are now attracting more new to cruise passengers than ever before and these holidaymakers are looking for something a little different to do on shore than a guided coach tour.

“We can now offer them experiences that simply would not be possible on any other type of holiday. In a two week Mediterranean cruise they could charter a private yacht, go zip-wiring, learn to cook an authentic Italian specialities and make their very own fragrance.

“It is this breadth of choice that sets our holidays apart from any other.”

Highlights of the Mediterranean shore excursion programme are:

• Driving a red Ferrari F430 for the day through the streets of Italy, from the port of Livorno.
• Creating a personal fragrance with master perfumers in The Galimard Studio in Grasse, from port of Cannes (from 2009).
• Learning how to make fresh Tuscan specialties in a farmhouse overlooking the Alps, from the port of Livorno.

In the Caribbean, highlights include:

• Zip wiring through the rainforest, in Jamaica
• Racing a private Beneteau 40 yacht, in Antigua.

Highlights in the Baltic / Northern Europe are:

• Exploring glaciers and ice-fields on a snow truck, from Reykjavik.
• Floating downstream on the River Suldalslågen, for a 2km ‘Salmon Safari’, from Stavanger.

Official P&O Cruises press release Posted 31 Jul 08

P&O Cruises Ban Smoking

P&O Cruises is to go smoke free in all inside areas on board three of the ships in the fleet.

As of October this year two family-friendly ships, Oceana & Ventura, and adult-only Artemis will be no smoking in all inside spaces. There will be allocated outside smoking areas on all ships and passengers will be able to smoke on their cabin balconies.

P&O Cruises managing director, Nigel Esdale, said: “Since Britain went smoke free in July 2007 the British public has become accustomed to being in a smoke free environment with 76 per cent of the general public supporting the ban*. We hope that becoming smoke free will give all our passengers, especially children, a cleaner and more pleasant environment in which at enjoy their holiday on board.

“Cruise ships already provide so many ways to have a fun and healthy holiday, such as spas and fitness centres, and this is another step towards an even healthier holiday experience for all. Ventura and Oceana are both child friendly, and between them could have over 1000 children on board at any one time, therefore we want to ensure they are breathing clean air on board as well as clean ocean air out on open deck.”

Official P&O Cruises press release Posted 25 Jun 08

Expanded cruise programme for 2009 from P&O Cruises

Official P&O Cruises press release Posted 25 Jun 08

P&O Cruises, newly published, 2009 brochure features holidays to 182 destinations in 60 countries. It has also had a full redesign in response to customer research and is now destination led as opposed to ship led, therefore making it easier for customers to use when looking for a cruise holiday.

P&O Cruises managing director, Nigel Esdale, said: “Cruise holidays paid for in sterling have always offered excellent value for money but, with the current exchange rate, cruises are now one of the most cost effective ways to visit Europe. Real savings can be made by families, and couples, as all the little extras, which turn out to be not so little, in hotels and resorts, like entertainment, supervised children’s clubs and night nursery are all included in the cost of a cruise.

“Our 2009 programme is our biggest yet, with the first full year of operation for Ventura. We have more ships, more ports and an even greater breadth of appeal.”

The fleet of six ships will be sailing to all of the classic cruise ports across the Mediterranean, Baltic, Norwegian fjords, Canary Islands and the Caribbean, as well as calls into the USA, Mexico and South America.

New ports of call include Antwerp in Belgium, the island of Hvar in Croatia and La Spezia in Italy.

Ventura, the largest and newest superliner built exclusively for the British market, will sail her first full year programme, with 19 departures from Southampton and 10 fly-cruise holidays from Barbados within the 2009 brochure.

Early booking incentives are available for bookings made before 31 August 2008, including up to 45 per cent Pricebreakers discount.

Highlights of the brochure include:

· Party Cruise, Ventura (N920) two nights 30 August – 1 September 2009. Southampton, Bruges (from Zeebrugge), Southampton. Starting from £299.

· Cruise Break, Oceana (E913) seven nights 30 May – 6 June 2009. Southampton, Falmouth, Dublin, Bilbao, La Rochelle (from La Pallice), Brest, Southampton. Starting from £619.

· North America, Aurora (R911) 24 nights 30 August – 23 September 2009. Southampton, Wilmington for Philadelphia, New York (two full days in port), Newport, Boston (full day and evening in port), Portland, Bar Harbor, Halifax, Quebec (day and a half in port), St. John’s, Southampton. Starting from £2,619.

· Mediterranean, Oriana (X915) 14 nights 30 August – 13 September 2009. Southampton, Gibraltar, Palau, Rome (from Civitavecchia), La Spezia, Monte Carlo, Barcelona, Palma, Southampton. Starting from £1,419.

P&O Cruises Announce Changes to Smoking Policy

P&O Cruises have announced a change to their smoking policy and each ship will have one dedicated internal public space for smoking.

They will still allow in cabins and balconies on Arcadia , Artemis, Aurora and Oriana, while smoking is not permitted in any cabins onboard Oceana or Ventura, but is allowed on the balconies.

P&O Cruises New Golf Programme

Official P&O Cruises press release Posted 29 Apr 08

Golfing fans on board P&O Cruises ships this season will be able to perfect their swing and fine-tune their putting. The P&O Cruises Golf Programme is now available on board, and ashore, Arcadia, Aurora, Oceana and Ventura for 2008-9.

In partnership with Elite Golf Cruises, the P&O Cruises golf pros will operate a full programme including lessons, seminars, merchandise, club rental and golfing excursions ashore on specific cruises throughout the summer and winter. On Aurora and Oceana the lessons take place in the golf simulator, and on Arcadia and Ventura they operate in the golf nets in the sports area.

P&O Cruises head of brand marketing, Philip Price said: “The new, and improved, golf programme is just one of the ways that P&O Cruises is enhancing the on board experience for passengers.

“From beginners to wannabe pros the golf programme gives golfers the opportunity to learn, practice and play some of the best courses in the world such as Royal, St.Kitts and PGA at Catalunya, Barcelona.”

P&O Cruises Around Britain Cruise

Official P&O Cruises press release Posted 23 Apr 08

P&O Cruises has published its 2009 Preview Edition brochure. The brochure features cruise holidays to 235 destinations in 82 countries and the first round Britain cruise for the line.

Ventura, the largest and newest superliner built exclusively for the British market, will sail her first full year programme, with 19 departures from Southampton and 10 fly-cruise holidays from Barbados within the 2009 brochure.

P&O Cruises managing director, Nigel Esdale, said: “Our 2009 programme is our biggest yet, offering a 30% increase in capacity for our brand with the first full year of Ventura. We have more ships, more UK departures and more breadth of appeal than any other cruise line.”

Departing on 5 July 2009, Artemis will offer an 11-night debut tour of the British Isles. Ports of call are Leith for Edinburgh, Invergordon, Kirkwall in the Orkney Islands, Moville for Londonderry, Greenock for Glasgow, Dublin, Falmouth and St Peter Port. Prices for the cruise start from £1,099.

“For a brand that has brought the world to the door of British passengers for almost 170 years, it is perhaps long overdue and fitting for us to visit the British Isles.”

Other new ports of call a little further afield include Antwerp in Belgium, the island of Hvar in Croatia and La Spezia in Italy.

“Cruise holidays are becoming an increasingly popular choice for younger couples and families and we have two ships within the fleet dedicated to serving this market in terms of length of holiday, destination, on board entertainment, facilities and dining, and pricing.

“Shorter cruises on Ventura and Oceana are the perfect choice for people who are new to cruising and want to see if it’s for them without being away for two weeks. In 2009 we are offering 16 such itineraries of either two or seven nights – this is double the amount we offered in 2008.”

Early booking incentives are available before 30 June 2008, including up to 45 per cent Pricebreakers discount and free car parking on all Southampton roundtrip itineraries within the brochure, offering passengers up to an additional £115 saving on an average two week cruise.

Highlights of the brochure include:

· Party Cruise, Ventura (N920) two nights 30 August – 1 September 2009. Southampton, Bruges (from Zeebrugge), Southampton. Starting from £249.

· Cruise Break, Oceana (E913) seven nights 30 May – 6 June 2009. Southampton, Falmouth, Dublin, Bilbao, La Rochelle (from La Pallice), Brest, Southampton. Starting from £599.

· North America, Aurora (R911) 24 nights 30 August – 23 September 2009. Southampton, Wilmington for Philadelphia, New York (two full days in port), Newport, Boston (full day and evening in port), Portland, Bar Harbor, Halifax, Quebec (day and a half in port), St. John’s, Southampton. Starting from £2,599.

· Mediterranean, Oriana (X915) 14 nights 30 August – 13 September 2009. Southampton, Gibraltar, Palau, Rome (from Civitavecchia), La Spezia, Monte Carlo, Barcelona, Palma, Southampton. Starting from £1,399.

Continuing the successful partnership started on Ventura, in 2009 Oceana will also be joined by Tate Modern and the remaining four ships in the fleet by Tate Britain, to present ‘Tate Talks’, an enriching programme of talks, interviews and creative workships which bring the world of modern art to life.
All four family friendly ships in the fleet – Ventura, Oceana, Aurora and Oriana will have re-branded children’s clubs by summer 2008. Both Noddy and Mr. Bump will also be on board popular family itineraries throughout the year, to entertain the two to four and five to seven year olds.

P&O Cruises Ventura Christened in Southampton

Official P&O Cruises press release Posted 21 Apr 08

British icon and Oscar-winning actress Dame Helen Mirren has named the largest superliner designed exclusively for Britain, Ventura the latest addition to the P&O Cruises fleet. The spectacular celebrity evening naming ceremony, with Dame Helen as the ship’s Godmother, took place last night (April 16), prior to Ventura’s maiden cruise to the Mediterranean on Friday.

But in a break with tradition, instead of Dame Helen simply pressing a button to send a cradled Taittinger champagne bottle towards the ship, she commanded a crack team of Royal Marine Commandos to assist her in naming Ventura in a dramatic abseil.

Dame Helen Mirren said, “It is the first time I have ever named a ship, let alone one of the size of P&O Cruises Ventura and am really looking forward to being Godmother.”

Royal Marines display team commanding officer, Lt Colonel Steve Richards, “This is a rather unusual assignment for our lads, but well within their capabilities. They are very keen to assist Dame Helen with the launch - they will not let her down.”

P&O Cruises managing director, Nigel Esdale said: “Dame Helen Mirren embodies glamour, vitality and Britishness, which are all values that will be a feature of Ventura. We are honoured that she has agreed to become Godmother. The arrival of Ventura is set to usher in a new era for the British cruise industry and will accelerate the rate of progress of an already fast growing market. We are delighted that Dame Helen is to be associated with her. At the same time, we are determined to get the bottle-smashing right, and are grateful for the military coordinated assistance of the Royal Marines.”

In keeping with Ventura’s contemporary and innovative values, her naming ceremony was a departure from tradition. As well as Dame Helen’s customary champagne naming, the celebration encompassed an exciting show with dramatic surprises.

On board, were 1,500 guests including Ventura’s consultant celebrity chef, Marco Pierre White, Hugh Bonneville, Kate Ford, Imelda Staunton and Nicholas Lyndhurst. The occasion benefited three children’s charities supported by Dame Helen and P&O Cruises - Barnardos, Kid’s Company and Naomi House.

Ventura Sails for Southampton

Extract from an Official P&O Cruises press release Posted 31 Mar 08

Ventura, the largest superliner built exclusively for British holidaymakers has set sail for her homeport, Southampton, after being officially ‘handed over’ to P&O Cruises by the Fincantieri shipyard, Monfalcone, Italy.

Dame Helen Mirren was recently announced as the godmother of Ventura, and will perform the official naming of the ship in a glamorous and dramatic ceremony on Wednesday 16 April.

Ventura will arrive into Southampton on Sunday 6 April, passing sister ship Aurora in the Solent and arriving into the Mayflower Cruise Terminal at approximately 11am. Visit www.pocruises.co.uk for information on the best viewing points along the way.

The maiden cruise will set sail from Southampton to the Mediterranean on Friday 18 April, to a fanfare of fireworks from nearby Stokes Bay.

Noddy and Mr. Bump take to the sea

None other than Mr. Bump is to take to the seas along with Noddy this summer. While Noddy will be joining the two to four year olds, the four to seven year olds will have the chance to meet the one and only Mr. Bump from the timeless classic, The Mr. Men Show, which is making a come back on Channel 5 this month.

The already popular on board children’s clubs on the P&O Cruises family friendly ships Aurora, Oceana, Oriana and Ventura, have been given a new identity and one unified brand across all ships. Around an ocean theme ‘The Reef’ will be the friendly and familiar base for all children and teenagers for the duration of their P&O Cruises holiday.

Those aged 2 to 4 years old will be able to enjoy fun and games whilst being known as ‘Splashers’, 5 to 8 year olds will be playing around as ‘Scubas’, 9 to 12 year olds will be able to act out their radical side as ‘Surfers’ and uber-cool 13 to 17 year olds will enjoy the sophistication and independence of being part of H2O.

P&O Cruises head of brand marketing, Philip Price said, “Younger passengers have always been eager to join in all the fun that clubs have to offer but this will be even more evident now that they have their own dedicated group names and some well known faces to join them. Mr. Bump and Noddy will be on board playing games and joining families for breakfast.

“We know that our mini cruisers will be delighted with their new clubs and we are sure that they will look forward to progressing through the groups as they return to our ships on their next holiday.“

Children and teenagers will be able to experience distinctive new identities as soon as Ventura sets off on her maiden cruise and if travelling on board any of P&O Cruises family friendly ships they will be able to take on their new personas from July.

Noddy will be on board Ventura from April and will join the other family friendly ships, along with Mr. Bump, in July.

Official P&O Cruises press release Posted 03 Mar 08

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