Top deals on P&O cruises

Just two weeks from today, ballerina Darcey Bussell will be on Champagne-smashing duty at the launch of P&O’s new super-liner, Azura, in Southampton.
And this week, P&O announced details of the cruises planned for the first season of Adonia, the next ship to join their fleet, from May next year.
The two ships are at opposite ends of the market.
Azura will carry more than 3,000 passengers and the ship will feature a restaurant masterminded by Michelin-starred chef Atul Kochhar, and a wine bar with a list selected by TV’s Olly Smith.
Adonia, currently sailing as Royal Princess – and which was for a short time Minerva II – will be re-branded as P&O’s “pathfinder” ship. Carrying just 700 passengers, its small size will allow it to visit smaller ports of call off the beaten track, such as Flekkefjord in Norway, Foynes in Ireland, and Zadar in Croatia.
There are some great deals on P&O cruises during the next few weeks in today’s offers. All of them start and finish in Southampton, so there is no flying involved.
Two agencies are offering a 14-night voyage to the Mediterranean on board Azura’s sister ship, Ventura, for the remarkable price of £699. That’s less than £50 a day, and all meals are included. The ship departs on April 10 and visits Lisbon, Palma, Barcelona, Cannes, Livorno, Civitavecchia and Gibraltar before returning to the UK. Go to www.gillscruise.com or call 08456 58 23; or book through Virgin Cruises and their free luggage chauffeur service will collect your luggage (one case per passenger) and deliver it direct to your cabin. Go to www.virginholidayscruises.co.uk or call 0871 781 9893. Both deals are based on two adults sharing an inside cabin.
A seven-night Northern Europe cruise on board P&O’s Oriana leaves on April 11 and visits Dublin, Cobh – the port in southern Ireland where Titanic called before setting out across the Atlantic – Bilbao in Spain, and Brest in northern France. Fares from £549. Go to www.cruise118.com or call 0800 280 2614.
On April 15 Arcadia embarks on a 24-night voyage to the Caribbean, visiting Madeira en route, and then Antigua, Tortola, St Maarten, St Kitts, St Lucia, and Barbados before returning across the Atlantic via the Azores. Fares for two sharing an inside cabin from £1,399. Go to www.gillscruise.com or call 08456 58 23 23.
Oceana sails on April 17 for a 14-night cruise to Gibraltar, Cartagena, Civitavecchia, Livorno, Monte Carlo, Barcelona and Cadiz. Fares from £699 for two sharing an inside cabin. Go to www.gillscruise.com or call 08456 58 23 23.
Artemis, the ship which will be replaced by Adonia, sets out on a seven-night cruise to Vigo, Lisbon, Bilbao and Brest on April 19. Fares for two sharing a balcony cabin (the ship has no inside cabins) start at £599, and include the luggage chauffeur service. Go to www.virginholidayscruises.co.uk or call 0871 781 9893.