Arcadia to sail from UK to Alaska

Porters at Southampton’s cruise terminal had better start getting into training – they’ll be doing some particularly heavy lifting come April 2011 when P&O’s Arcadia sets out on a 72-night voyage to Alaska and back.
With ports of call as far apart as New York and Los Angeles, and as diverse as St Lucia and Skagway, passengers making the full round-trip will need to pack a double wardrobe of clothes each – and that means a whole lot of suitcases.
The grand voyage will be the first time since 1970 that it has been possible to sail from the UK to Alaska by cruise ship. The ice-bound wilderness is a popular cruise destination, but getting there usually involves a flight to Vancouver or Seattle, and it does not normally take in the chance to see a Broadway show or go shopping on Rodeo Drive.
Carol Marlow, P&O’s managing director, said today: “Alaska is one of life’s ‘must see’ destinations and Arcadia will not only be visiting the classic Alaskan ports but also some lesser known ports for our passengers to explore.
“P&O Cruises is the only cruise line offering Alaska as an ex UK option and combining it with the East and West coasts of the US makes a contrasting and enticing itinerary.”
The voyage begins on April 12, 2011 and the full 72-night cruise is available from £6,999 per person in an inside cabin. A 44-night cruise sailing from Southampton to Los Angeles costs from £4,399 per person, and a 45-night cruise from Francisco to Southampton is available for £4,599. The voyages will go on sail on December 1.
FULL ITINERARY:
April 12: Southampton
April 15: Madeira
April 21: Antigua
April 22: Tortola
April 23: St. Maarten
April 24: St. Lucia
April 25: Barbados
April 27: Aruba
April 29: Transit Panama Canal
May 1: Puntarenas
May 3: Huatulco
May 4: Acapulco
May 8: San Francisco (two full days)
May 11: Vancouver (full day and evening)
May 12: Victoria
May 14: Juneau
May 15: Skagway
May 16: Yakutat Bay
May 17: College Fjord
May 18: Whittier
May 20: Tracy Arm
May 21: Ketchikan
May 23: Seattle
May 26: Los Angeles
June 2: Transit Panama Canal
June 3: Limon
June 5: Roatan
June 6: Cozumel
June 8: Port Everglades
June 9: Port Canaveral
June 10: Charleston
June 12: New York
June 14: Newport
June 15: Boston
June 20: Ponta Delgada, Azores
June 23: Southampton