P&O Cruises first cruise round Britain in 2009

P&O Cruises has released its new 2009 Preview Edition brochure. The Preview Edition brochure features cruise holidays to 235 destinations in 82 countries with the first cruise around Britain for P&O Cruises.

After Ventura’s exciting launch party this month she will be sailing her first full year programme in 2009, with 19 departures from Southampton and 10 fly-cruise holidays from Barbados. Ventura is the largest and newest superliner built exclusively for Britain and her godmother is Dame Helen Mirren, who recently christened her in a fabulous glitzy ceremony.

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.”

P&O Cruises Artemis will be departing on the 5 July 2009 on 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.

“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 a field 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.”

For those of you looking to book your cruise holiday soon there are early booking incentives available if you book before 30 June 2008, including up to 45 per cent Pricebreakers discount and free car parking on all Southampton roundtrip itineraries within the brochure. This will offer passengers up to an additional £115 saving on an average two week cruise.