Updates on exceptional cruise deals and last-minute offers

P&O friends can win a cruise

The success of Facebook has seen founder Mark Zuckerberg adding Time magazine's "Person of the Year" title to all the other acclamation that has come his way, not to mention a $1.5 billion investment from Goldman Sachs. The popularity - and profitability - of the social network stems as much from its adoption by big business as it does from users sharing their holiday pictures and gossip. And today, P&O Cruises announced a giveaway designed to increase the number of people - currently standing at almost 18,000 - following their Facebook pages. A 20-night cruise for two, from Hong Kong [...]

By John Honeywell| 2017-06-15T16:00:13+00:00 5 January 2011|Cruise Deals, Cruise News|0 Comments

Around the world in a box ship

Cruise ships will be queuing for berths in Southampton next week as they load up with passengers and provisions ready to set out on marathon world voyages. On Wednesday alone no fewer than six ships will be jostling for space - Cunard's Queen Elizabeth making her maiden World Voyage and a tandem transatlantic crossing with sister ship Queen Victoria; Fred Olsen's Balmoral and Black Watch, P&O's Arcadia and the venerable Saga Ruby It will be well into April before some of them return after spending more than 100 days at sea. Sailing by cruise ship is not the only way [...]

By John Honeywell| 2017-06-15T16:00:13+00:00 1 January 2011|Cruise Deals, Cruise Destinations|0 Comments

A world of difference for P&O

There's a subtle change of tack in the next advertising campaign from P&O, hitting UK television screens two days after Christmas. Targeting customers who may well be heading for the shops and the January sales, a 40-second commercial will urge them to "discover a different world" instead of pushing the line "There's a world out there." Philip Price, head of brand marketing, says: "We can trace our roots back to 1837, and our passengers are the latest in a long line of explorers who have discovered a different world with P&O Cruises, so we felt it fitting to create our [...]

By John Honeywell| 2010-12-22T06:35:34+00:00 22 December 2010|Cruise Deals, Cruise News|0 Comments

Cheers! All-in drinks for just £49

Christmas really is a magical time of year, isn't it? How else can you explain the generous offers cruise lines are desperate to make in order to get us to book holidays with them next summer? Royal Caribbean has been giving away free flights to whisk you to their ships in the Mediterranean, and although I might have my reservations about the reference to tips in P&O's promotion, there's no doubting the bargain fares on offer. Other lines all have their different tricks to distract us from the Christmas shopping and peeling the sprouts and to think instead about lazy [...]

By John Honeywell| 2017-06-15T16:00:13+00:00 21 December 2010|Cruise Deals, Cruise News|1 Comment

Confusion over tipping the crew

It's all very well for P&O to promote the value for money they say their cruises provide, but should they be doing it at the expense of their crew? Even without the savings on offer in the company's winter sale, the all-inclusive experience on board - including meals and entertainment - represents a holiday bargain. Throw in discounts of up to £2,500 and on-board credit of up to £1,000 per couple and it's almost irresistible. Who would disagree with MD Carol Marlow when she says: "Today's consumer expects to get excellent value for money, and this is especially pertinent when [...]

By John Honeywell| 2017-06-15T16:00:13+00:00 21 December 2010|Cruise Deals|4 Comments

Beat these cruise fares for value

If you still think cruising is expensive or exclusive, think again. Look at these prices per night for voyages early next year, and see if you could match them at a land-based hotel, resort, or apartment complex. And don't forget the figures include all-inclusive accommodation with as many meals per day as you can eat, entertainment, and flights (where necessary). £50 No-fly cruise from Southampton to the Mediterranean on board Royal Caribbean's Independence of the Seas, the largest cruise ship sailing from the UK. Itinerary includes Portugal, Mallorca, Barcelona, Florence, Rome, Naples, Cagliari, Gibraltar and Seville. Fares for the January [...]

By John Honeywell| 2017-06-15T16:00:14+00:00 18 December 2010|Cruise Deals|0 Comments

Top cruise deals for Christmas

Looking for a good deal? Here's this week's TOP CRUISES column from the travel pages of the Daily Mirror. Christmas under control? Presents all bought and wrapped, the turkey ordered from Tesco? Time to take it easy, then - and it's not too late to take a cruise before Santa pays a visit. Get into the festive spirit with a seven-night cruise on board P&O's Artemis from Southampton to Oslo, Copenhagen, Amsterdam and Bruges, departing on Tuesday, December 14. You'll be home in plenty of time to start peeling the potatoes and the sprouts. Fares start at £502 per person [...]

By John Honeywell| 2017-06-15T16:00:14+00:00 11 December 2010|Cruise Deals|1 Comment

Top deals in the cruise sales

Cunard and P&O, the UK's top two cruise lines, are cutting each other's throats to capture passengers planning to travel next year. Both launched sales this week with cut-price fares and offers of on-board spending money. If you're not too busy baking the Christmas pud or shopping this weekend, check out these deals. Seven nights from £699 including a £50 per person discount. Departing from and returning to Southampton and calling in La Coruna, Bilbao, La Rochelle and Brest. Based on Ventura's April 22, 2011 departure. A 14 night cruise to the Mediterranean from £1,199 including a £200 per [...]

By John Honeywell| 2017-06-15T16:00:14+00:00 4 December 2010|Cruise Deals|0 Comments

Free flights to join your cruise

Why pay for flights when embarking on a cruise? If you sail from the UK, then there's no need to fly to join your ship, but if you don't have time for the voyage to the sun - or you are worried about a stormy crossing of the Bay of Biscay - there are still ways to get aboard without paying for air. Many cruise deals now come with free flights included. Check out some of these offers: Spend 15 nights in the Caribbean sailing on Sea Princess from Barbados to Trinidad, Grenada, Bonaire, Aruba, Grand Cayman, Jamaica, Tortola, Antigua, [...]

By John Honeywell| 2017-06-15T16:00:15+00:00 20 November 2010|Cruise Deals|0 Comments

Battle of the beards?

Captain Greybeard is obviously proud of his facial hair, but he can't compete with eco-warrior David Bellamy (left), who will be escorting a group of UK passengers on a week-long cruise to Costa Rica and Nicaragua in December 2011. The cruise, on the 170-passenger tall ship Star Flyer, will visit some of the world's most pristine rainforest and beautiful beaches. The week-long voyage from Puerto Caldera along the Pacific costs of Nicaragua and Costa Rica calls at the surf resort of San Juan del Sur; the half-moon bay of Playas del Coco, with spectacular wildlife; National Park Santa Rosa, famed [...]