P&O Cruises
offers Ultimate Escape UK holidays this summer and announces
details of Iona's "very special" new maiden cruise to namesake
island
MIAMI, March 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- P&O Cruises is
offering a series of short breaks on flagship Britannia this summer
and week-long cruises on new ship Iona. These cruises will
depart from Southampton between
June and September, sailing around the UK coast, "where the sun
shines brightest."
P&O Cruises president Paul
Ludlow said: "Given recent announcements we have every hope
that our guests will be able to enjoy a holiday this summer. After
the stresses and challenges of the past year everyone certainly
deserves a treat and this series of cruises will provide memorable
and much needed UK getaways. Whilst there is still uncertainty
about holidays abroad this summer, we are delighted to be able to
offer our guests the ultimate escape here in the UK with the
reassurance that we will take care of everything. Also, we really
will look at the weather forecast each cruise and aim to take our
ships where it is warm and sunny.
"As the start of Iona's very special maiden season, the new
Ultimate Escape series of holidays includes a memorable seven night
maiden voyage sailing around the Scottish islands. Iona will anchor
off Iona, the island after which she was named, with a celebratory
extended stay until sunset for magical views of the historic
shores."
Setting sail from Southampton
guests will be able to enjoy the ultimate British break on
Britannia and Iona – gourmet dining and poolside bites; cocktails
and coffees; shopping, spas, shows and endless sea views.
Britannia will offer three and four night breaks and one six
night holiday running from June 27,
2021 through to September 19,
2021. Iona offers seven night itineraries running from
August 7, 2021 to September 18, 2021. Prices start from £449 per
person for a three night break on Britannia. Iona's seven night
maiden voyage starts from £1,199 per person.
Given the advanced progress of the UK vaccination programme, and
strong expressed preference on the part of our guests for this
limited series of UK coastal cruises, these sailings on Britannia
and Iona will be for UK resident Covid-19 vaccinated* guests
only.
All guests and crew will be required to follow enhanced health
and wellbeing measures to protect everyone on board on these
cruises. These have been developed with guidance from our global
medical and public health experts and scientists and in close
coordination with UK government agencies. These protocols include
enhanced sanitation measures, appropriate social distancing and the
wearing of masks in certain areas of the ship. Crew will also
undergo a strict testing and quarantine regime as well as regular
testing during their time on board. Our protocols are subject to
change, as we will continue to work with our experts and with
government bodies to ensure all of our practices evolve in line
with latest advice, with our primary focus always being to protect
the health and wellbeing of our crew and guests and the communities
we visit. Travel insurance will also be mandatory for all
guests.**
Ludlow added: "As we have spent the majority of the last year at
home, to be able to have a restorative and relaxing break, sit on
deck with a sea view in the summer sunshine and then enjoy an
indulgent dinner and show – it's certainly what we all need this
year and we cannot wait to have our guests back on board."
Example Ultimate Escape
itineraries:
Prices for a balcony cabin and subject to availability
Three night cruise on Britannia, from £449
The price includes full board meals and entertainment on board.
Departing from Southampton and
returning to Southampton with
coastal cruising along the south coast of England.
Four night cruise on Britannia, from £499
The price includes full board meals and entertainment on board.
Departing from Southampton and
returning to Southampton with
coastal cruising along the south coast of England.
Iona Maiden - Scottish Islands, 7
nights, from £1,199
Seven night cruise on Iona (G126N) from £1,199 per person.
Departing August 7, 2021 the price
includes full board meals and entertainment on board. Departing
from Southampton and returning to
Southampton with coastal cruising
to Scotland including the Inner
Hebrides and the island of Iona.
Voyage to the sun, 7 nights, from £779
Seven night cruise on Iona from £779 per person. The price includes
full board meals and entertainment on board. Departing from
Southampton and returning to
Southampton with coastal cruising
past the Channel Islands and along
the coast of France.
The cruises go on sale on Monday March 22, 2021 at 8.30am and will be available to book online on
www.pocruises.com or telephone 03453 555 111 or through a travel
agent.
Dining
Foodies are spoilt for choice on both Britannia and Iona. The Glass
House boasts 40 wines handpicked by wine expert Olly Smith and paired with a delicious
small-bites menu. There's fine dining in beautiful surroundings at
Epicurean, and authentic Indian food with a British twist at Sindhu
as well as Britannia's Marco Pierre White Cookery Club. The Market
Café on Britannia is full of sweet treats by master pâtissier Eric
Lanlard (and Epicurean offers his decadent afternoon tea), while
The Beach House is a laid-back spot offering comfort-food
favourites.
On Iona, good food is an art form. With 30 different places to
eat, there are many exciting new dining concepts including The
Quays, piazza-style dining with a lively atmosphere and choices
including American diner, Mediterranean classics, Asian favourites
or traditional fish and chips. The Keel and Cow is a British
gastropub serving speciality aged steaks and for a lighter bite the
global dishes at Taste 360 offer an exciting new on-deck dining
experience which will include authentic dishes from Spanish chef
Jose Pizarro.
Entertainment
Guests can enjoy a variety of entertainment from movies to
full-scale production shows, live music to impromptu aerial
acrobatics. Iona's entertainment will reach new heights in SkyDome
and its retractable stage presenting top acts, live shows and
late-night dancing. In the Grand Atrium there will be aerialists
and pop-up performances while Headliners theatre will present
contemporary shows mixing song, dance and showbiz glamour.
Music-lovers will enjoy The 710 Club catching live sets from
renowned music and singing talent. Ocean Studios is the place to be
for new releases and classic movies.
Note to editors
*Vaccine policy
Given the advanced progress of the UK vaccination programme and
strong expressed preference on the part of our guests for this
limited series of UK coastal cruises, these sailings on Britannia
and Iona will be for UK resident, Covid-19 vaccinated guests
only.
For these cruises the definition of "vaccinated" is a minimum of
seven days following the second dose of the currently approved
Covid-19 vaccines being administered. Proof of vaccination and the
dates given will be required (approved forms of evidence will be
confirmed closer to time of departure) and this will be required to
be shown at the terminal prior to boarding. Failure to provide this
evidence will result in denial of boarding. There is no age
restriction on this series of UK coastal cruises but all guests of
all ages must meet the requirements of the Covid-19 vaccination
policy.
All other P&O Cruises holidays currently on sale do not
require guests to be vaccinated.
**Travel insurance
As part of our health and wellbeing protocols it is mandatory for
all UK guests to have suitable travel insurance cover in order to
cruise with us. Travel insurance ensures that our guests can relax
and enjoy their holiday with peace of mind that they are covered
for most eventualities. This includes unforeseen incidents before
their holiday, while travelling or while they are away. Typically,
travel insurance covers cancellation of your holiday, stolen
belongings and medical treatment. Insurance documents will be
checked at the terminal and boarding will be denied, at guests' own
expense, for anyone without appropriate cover. We have partnered
with Holiday Extras to offer cruise-specific cover for our
holidays. When travelling with us, insurance must include medical
and repatriation cover of £2 million minimum that includes cover
for emergency evacuations and medical expenses related to Covid-19.
To find out more, visit www.holidayextras.com/pocruises or phone
0800 093 3070 and quote PAOHX.
Enhanced protocols
All guests and crew will be required to follow enhanced health and
wellbeing measures to protect everyone on board on these cruises.
These have been developed with guidance from our global medical and
public health experts and scientists, and in close coordination
with UK Government agencies.
In line with our requirement that crew wear face masks on board,
guests will also be required to wear a face mask in certain public
areas of the ship. Enhanced sanitation measures and social
distancing will also be in place. Crew will undergo a strict
testing and quarantine regime as well as regular testing during
their time on board. These protocols are subject to change, as we
will continue to work with our experts and with government bodies
to ensure all of our policies evolve in line with latest advice,
with our primary focus always being to protect the health and
wellbeing of our crew and guests and the communities we visit.
Sail with confidence with P&O
Cruises free flexible transfers, vaccination policy and enhanced
well-being protocols
Guests can transfer their holiday as many times as they like
before balance due date. The balance is due 30 days prior to the
departure date of the cruise. Options include:
- Transfer the booking to any P&O Cruises holiday currently
on sale
- Transfer the booking to a cruise of higher or lower value
- Transfer the booking an unlimited number of times
- Transfer the booking free of charge.
With P&O Cruises flexible free transfers guests can sail
with confidence. Bookings may be changed as many times as they
like, free of charge up to 30 days before the holiday departs.
About P&O Cruises
P&O Cruises is Britain's
favourite cruise line, welcoming guests to experience holidays with
a blend of discovery, choice, relaxation and exceptional service
catered towards British tastes. P&O Cruises fleet of
premium ships combine genuine service, a sense of occasion and
attention to detail.
In 2021, P&O Cruises will launch Iona its first Excel class
ship. The new LNG-powered ship, with 5,200-guest capacity, will be
the largest ship built to serve the UK market. Iona will feature
enhancements to already successful brand signature venues from the
existing fleet, as well as features newly developed for Iona.
P&O Cruises second LNG-powered Excel class ship and sister
ship to Iona is named Arvia, meaning from the seashore, and will
join the fleet in December 2022.
Arvia is an innovative and future-focused ship and will offer
outstanding, varied and contemporary holidays. Arvia has been
designed to travel to the sun all year-round and to maximise views
of the ocean and the seashore from everywhere on board.
With over 200 destinations worldwide, P&O Cruises
itineraries are carefully curated to inspire discovery, and are
varied to suit newcomers and experienced guests alike. With a wide
choice of holidays from two days to three months there is something
for everyone. P&O Cruises sails to Australia & New
Zealand, Baltic, the British Isles, Canada, the Spain, Portugal & the Canary Islands, the
Caribbean, Central America, the Far East &
Asia, the Indian Ocean, the
Mediterranean, Scandinavia, South
America, the South Pacific, the
United States and Western
Europe.
The company is part of Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE:
CCL; NYSE:CUK).
NOTE TO EDITORS: For further images visit:
www.pocruisespresspictures.com
CONTACT: Michele Andjel,
michele.andjel@carnivalukgroup.com 023 8065 6653 / 07730 732
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