Matt Sparks
P&O Cruises Digital Executive

It's that time of the year when the famous P&O Cruises world cruise itineraries go on sale, much to the excitement of cruise passengers up-and-down the country. Perhaps you're eyeing-up Arcadia's World Circumnavigation? Maybe Aurora's South America & Pacific Adventure offers some interesting ports you may not have seen before? Or you may have decided that a full world cruise is simply too long or expensive, and you might fancy an exotic fly-cruise instead? Whichever option you're considering, you can be sure there is a world cruise experience for everyone and you can discover yours in our new World Cruises & Cruises to Australasia 2015 brochure. To celebrate the new itineraries, we caught up with a few P&O Cruises experts and talked about their best world cruise moments. Take a look at what they had to say below...

Timothy Corthorn

Timothy Corthorn, Second Officer

The combination of locks, a canal and crocodiles means only one place in the world....the Panama Canal and the best way of seeing them is from the comfort of a cruise ship.

I have been fortunate enough to transit the canal on several occasions and each time was different. My first time was from the Pacific to the Atlantic Ocean. I will always remember how tight the locks were for Arcadia, there was literally only a few metres to spare. As a young naive cadet I was told to have carrots ready for the mules, little did I know that the ‘mules’ were actually mule locomotives hauling the ship into position within the Miraflores Locks. It was amazing to watch as the locks raised the ship a total of 26m above sea level into the Culebra Cut. It is here where you will appreciate the amount of work it took to construct such a marvellous feat of engineering. The cut is also the best place to spot those legendary crocodiles. Once clearing the cut you enter the Gatun Lake where you’ll see what appear to be lots of little islands around the main channel. These are in fact the tops of hills from a time before the canal was built and the area was flooded. Once through the lake and the last set of locks, we arrived in the Atlantic Ocean. I then had the opportunity to see the canal from a different perspective by travelling along its length in the opposite direction on board the Panama Railroad, offered as one of the many shore excursions for our passengers.

Neil Turnbull

Neil Turnbull, Captain

After 30 years before the mast, the single port that still takes my breath away is without doubt Sydney, Australia.

As the ship passes from the Tasman Sea and through The Heads, the magnificent natural harbour and its iconic landmarks seemingly appear from nowhere. Be it dawn, dusk, twilight, night or day, the sight that meets you is truly spectacular and never fails to soften the hardest landlubber’s heart. From that first ‘wow’ as you enter the harbour, the experience just gets better as we manoeuvre the ship past the spectacular Opera House into Circular Quay – immediately adjacent to Sydney Harbour Bridge and affectionately nicknamed The Coathanger. While nowadays I rarely wander ashore in the ports we visit, I always make an exception for Sydney – a stroll through The Rocks, a walk over the bridge, a trip up Sydney Tower, a meal on one of the many harbour boats – and even taking in a performance at The Opera House.

Daniel Camenzuli

Daniel Camenzuli, Shore Excursions Manager

Between setting off from Valparaiso in Chile and arriving at Papeete in Tahiti, we sailed by two of the most remote and isolated islands in the world, Easter and Pitcairn Island.

These two special islands are many miles out in the South Pacific Ocean making it a difficult feat to get there, but on Arcadia’s South America and Pacific Adventure in 2013 we had the opportunity to get a once in a lifetime sight of these unique and mysterious islands.

As we sailed by Easter Island we stood on Arcadia’s open decks to see the tremendous Moai statues strewn around the island. Cameras were working overtime as passengers took shots of the enormous stone heads. A few days later as we approached Pitcairn Island, we were amazed how green the island appeared with a few scattered homes for the 60 inhabitants that live there.

Sarah C Breton

Sarah C Breton, Captain

My favourite place has to be out at sea, in the middle of the ocean, with nothing around the ship. It’s why I chose a career at sea – to simply be at sea.

A 360-degree clear horizon. A place where you can take time to watch the sun rise and set. Where, on a clear night, you get the best ever view of the stars and planets, completely free from any light pollution. There’s nothing like standing out on deck at night, just the sound of water hissing and fizzing along the side of the ship having been broken by the ship’s bow; the crisp fresh breeze; the ocean surface alive with the moonlight. It’s just so peaceful and one of those moments where you can look out to the horizon, take stock and realise how insignificant we all really are in the big scheme of things!

During the day you can look out to that same ocean and see such a wonderful array of marine and birdlife. You might even see dolphins playing in the ship’s wake or whales rising from the deep ocean. The ship also comes alive with a hive of activities, it’s such good fun.

Michael Lobban

Michael Lobban, Executive Purser

What a fascinating river! Narrower than the Amazon, the Orinoco holds for me great images of life on a river.

I remember standing on the bridge of the ship talking to the Captain as dusk was creeping in and darkness started to engulf the jungle. We were quite amazed at the small civilisations along the banks of the river and at every bend there was another house or a small group of houses on stilts, some with generators gently humming in the background and the light from televisions flickering in the small single-room abodes. We found this to be a sign of modern times, but then, when we started to pass wooden dug-out canoes heading in the same direction as us, I jokingly said, “they’ll all be heading to the local disco!” Chuckling away we turned another bend and there on the starboard side was a small clearing with a sawmill, football pitch and a large bar, supported on stilts, all lit up with coloured lights and disco music playing loudly across the river. On seeing us the locals all turned and started waving cheerfully to us with bottles of beer in hand. We continued past the bar only to be met with the dug-out canoe traffic heading towards us as they too converged on the Friday-night disco scene!

Lucy Guy

Lucy Guy, Campaign Planner

The first thing you hear as soon as you step off the ship is the sound of steel drums and Caribbean music coming from the beautiful port of Philipsburg.

The buzz and excitement are electric, and instantly get you into the relaxed and easy going way of life that the Caribbean is so well known for. As you walk through the port you are greeted by beaming smiles from the friendly locals welcoming you to the island, and you cannot help but be excited. The short trip on the water taxi gives you the best view of the bay; the water is a magnificent blue colour and is so clear you can almost see to the bottom. The sandy beach is so inviting and as you paddle along in the water you can see the bright colours of the restaurants, bars and shops. There is an endless choice of places to sit with a cocktail and enjoy watch the world go by.



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James Mealey
Shore Excursions Media Co-ordinator

“Trust me, you’ll love Óbidos. It’s beautiful” my Portuguese driver Marco reassured me, switching the engine off and reclining his seat for an hour of rest. Peering through the rain-spattered windscreen at the muddy grey fortress walls which encase Óbidos - and up at an even greyer October sky - I was going to take some convincing.

I was in Portugal to oversee a shore excursions video shoot from Lisbon. The weather had been pretty dire that week and as a result we’d fallen behind a tight schedule, so I was on the verge of axing Óbidos from our itinerary to make up for lost time. But Marco was adamant. Don’t miss Óbidos!

Stepping into the heart of the village, I instantly realised why. Well and truly hidden behind those grey fortress walls, Óbidos is an enchanting hideaway village of old whitewashed houses, mazelike cobblestoned streets, and striking colours. Window boxes and hanging baskets overflow with geraniums; delicately painted tiles and ceramics hang outside craft shops; and each whitewashed house is accentuated with vibrant borders of red, yellow or blue paint.



I couldn’t help but compare Óbidos to Oia, the whitewashed village in Santorini, Greece, famed for its pristine blue domed churches and sunsets. The difference is Óbidos feels like a well kept secret.... or better still, a surprise gift waiting to be unwrapped. Don’t worry, I haven’t gone all poetic on you. Óbidos is actually nicknamed ‘the wedding present town’ because in 1282 Portugal’s King Dinis gave the entire village to his bride Queen Isabel as a wedding gift. It’s a fitting nickname. You really do need to rip off the wrapping paper before you can discover Óbidos’ romantic beauty – those huge exterior walls give nothing away.

Here, you can see part of the fortress wall

With the rain clearing and the brolly’s away, we could really start to explore the nooks and crannies of Óbidos.  There’s just one main street here – Rua Direita.  I say ‘main street,’ but it’s more like a cosy alleyway - with arms outstretched, you can nearly touch both sides.   This lends it a bustling feel, as tourists duck in and out of quirky art galleries, browse colourful craft shop creations, or snap up souvenir bottles of the locally produced cherry liqueur, ‘Ginjinha.’

Ceramics and hand-painted tiles decorate the streets

Step off Rua Direita though, and you’ll glimpse Óbidos’ local life – the washing line and clothes pegs hanging from a window, the cat stretching out on a doorstep, or the old lady carrying her groceries home over the cobblestones. The sleepy side streets were deserted, and it seems that most visitors to Óbidos are quite content to stick to the main drag. So if you want to experience a real slice of Portuguese village life, just wander a few steps away from Rua Direita. You can’t stray too far… remember the entire village is encased by huge walls.  And if you do get lost, just look for Óbidos’ stunning centrepiece – a 12th century medieval castle which sits high above the village.

Óbidos’ photogenic doorways

Óbidos medieval castle

It wasn’t long before the rain started pelting down again, and with enough footage captured, we retreated back to the car.  Ironically, the weather was a blessing in disguise for our filming schedule that day.   We could’ve easily spent hours and hours uncovering Óbidos’ secret staircases, trickling fountains and peeling paint doorways.  Believe me, if you’re into photography - or even if you’re not - you won’t be able to put your camera down.  Óbidos is a surprise you’ll want to keep unwrapping.

Get me there– The Charming Óbidos shore excursion from Lisbon is the easiest way to explore Óbidos, whisking you from the ship straight into the Portuguese countryside.  Arriving at Óbidos a short walking tour will help you get your bearings, before you’ll have plenty of free time to explore the atmospheric and picturesque streets.

Carol Marlow
Managing Director of P&O Cruises


Well, it’s time for me to sign off from P&O Cruises for the last time, so what better way than a final blog. After 16 years with the company – working with P&O Cruises and our sister brands - Swan Hellenic, Princess Cruises, Seabourn and Cunard Line, it certainly seems as though a lot has happened.

When I joined in 1997, after being interviewed by the then Managing Director Gwyn Hughes and Chairman Lord Sterling (amongst others!), P&O Cruises had Oriana and Victoria (Sea Princess), and Canberra was just about to leave the fleet. Arcadia (Star Princess) was just joining.... I was very lucky to go on board Canberra to have a look around before she left, and was very glad I did, as I have had so many conversations with our passengers about her in subsequent years. What a great ship!

Beautiful Canberra in Ponta Delgada

Aurora was the first new ship I helped introduce back in 2000, choosing interior designs and planning the spaces and their finishes – it was very enjoyable. And we certainly had a memorable Naming Ceremony, with HRH The Princess Royal, and some extremely dramatic fireworks...which whilst looking fabulous, were extremely powerful, and as well as making very loud ‘bangs’, managed to shatter some windows on the Isle of Wight – so we were very much in the news that day! (We sorted out speedy repairs for the windows, of course.)

Aurora in the fjords

Other memorable naming events I was involved with include Azura’s and Adonia’s, with Godmothers Darcey Bussell and Dame Shirley Bassey, respectively. They were both wonderful occasions, with our Godmothers delightful to work with. Darcey brought her whole family, and has since travelled on Azura on holiday with them, with the children particularly loving The Reef children’s club. Dame Shirley treated us to an impromptu performance up on deck after dinner – she really does have the most wonderful voice!

Darcey Bussell celebrates Azura's naming ceremony

Dame Shirley Bassey; Adonia's godmother at her naming ceremony

One of the best parts of my role has been travelling on our ships and meeting our passengers - spending time with them, as well as seeing our officers and crew in action. Having worked with P&O Cruises for two spells within the 16 years, my first trip of my current tenure was on board Artemis, boarding in Bergen, for part of a fjords cruise. I met with some very regular passengers, which was excellent, and I experienced the true camaraderie and service that was offered by that small ship. One of my first jobs was also to announce that Artemis would be leaving the fleet, which I knew would be difficult, but having listened to the likes and needs of many of our passengers, I was then able to help secure Adonia, our ‘replacement’ small ship, which I’m pleased to say is becoming very popular with our small ship loving passengers - her new small ship Caribbean programme in 2015 is enjoying particular interest.

Adonia; the smallest member of the P&O Cruises fleet

On the larger side, I have seen Ventura and Azura settle into the fleet, offering those who like larger ships so much choice. The preparations, over the last year or so, for our new ship Britannia, which will join the fleet in 2015, have also been exciting. She is going to be a stunning vessel, and I can’t wait to see her when she finally arrives, and travel on her as a passenger!

Britannia; the largest cruise ship ever created for Britain

And of course a real highlight of my time at P&O Cruises was to help the team organise our 175 Celebrations, with HRH The Princess Royal and all our seven ships together for the very first time, processing down Southampton Water to a Royal Fleet Review on 3rd July last year.

David Dingle, Darcey Bussell and myself cut the 175 cake!

What a day! It was such a great time for our teams both in Southampton and on our ships, and we hope all our 15,000 passengers on board enjoyed the spectacle. Roll on the next celebration!

All seven members of the P&O Cruises fleet sail out in procession

And finally, I’d like to thank all those who have supported P&O Cruises and our sister companies over the last 16 years. The way I look at it, we are guiding some of the most prestigious British brands for just a short time in their long histories, and it is a big responsibility that we don’t take lightly, so playing a part in giving our passengers memorable holidays and exceeding their expectations is very important to me.

On board Adonia with passengers

I would also say a big thank you to the teams working with me to deliver those memorable holidays during that time – they are certainly a dedicated and professional group of people, each making their own valuable and unique contribution, both on and off the ships, and I wish them well in their future endeavours, as they strive to offer the best they can for our passengers.

Spending some time with Adonia's excellent crew

So I trust you all continue to enjoy smooth sailing and wonderful discoveries, and hope to see many of you on board our ships in future years, as we explore the world together!

With kind regards
Carol Marlow

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Christopher Edgington
Director, P&O Cruises



Hello everyone, my name is Christopher Edgington and I am the luckiest person in the world right now because I have been given the incredible honour of helping to look after P&O Cruises, during what will be an extraordinary chapter in this company’s history. Please allow me to give you a few lines of introduction and a brief insight into the sort of things that really matter to me.

First and foremost I am a family man with a wonderful wife (Victoria) and two beautiful daughters (Emily and Annabelle) and we all love two things, the first is our magnificent country, Great Britain, and the second is a holiday! I spent many years as I was growing up messing about on boats around the Channel Islands (Sark is my favourite place on the planet) and so to now be looking at, and working with our magnificent ships is a dream come true. So the sea and everything that it offers is really important to me.

Aside from sun, sea and Sark, one of my other great loves is people. I love being around people, chatting with them and discovering what makes them tick. One of the great privileges of my job will be the opportunity to get on board and meet as many of our passengers as possible, and I look forward to gaining an understanding of exactly what we can do to make your precious holidays even better.

Britannia; the largest cruise ship ever created for Britain

On this blog we’ll keep you informed of all the latest developments within P&O Cruises, through featuring guest blogs from staff and passengers that will really give you a flavour of what it means to work for, and travel with this marvellous company. Exciting times lie ahead as we welcome Britannia, the newest addition to our fleet, in 2015. As the largest cruise ship ever built for the British market, excitement is already building, and it’s wonderful to be a part of this next episode in our storied history.

I firmly believe that even the most resolute of landlubbers will find something to enjoy with a P&O Cruises holiday, and I look forward to welcoming both new and veteran cruisers on board our fantastic ships in the future. In the meantime, please don’t hesitate to get in touch and let me know what I can do to make your P&O Cruises holiday truly memorable.

I look forward to hearing from you.

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Matt Sparks
P&O Cruises Digital Team

Unless you have been out of the country or in hiding, you're sure to have heard that we've recently announced the name of our new ship; Britannia. We're so excited and can’t wait for the next landmark in our long and illustrious history. At 1,082ft long and with a gross tonnage of 141,000, she's not small! In fact, Britannia's going to be the largest cruise ship ever built for the British market. She will be a true modern-classic, taking the "best of the best" P&O Cruises experiences that our loyal passengers have told us they love, and combining them with new and innovative features. We can't wait until she arrives in 2015. For such an impressive ship, being the Captain is going to be a hugely challenging and exciting task. So how does it feel to be at the helm of Britain's largest cruise ship? We spoke to the man who knows; her master; Captain Paul Brown...

Captain Brown announces the name of our newest vessel

Captain Brown was born in Kingston-upon-Hull, but moved to West Sussex in 2007. When he’s not spending time at home or at sea, he likes to enjoy the sun at his property in Javea, on the Costa Blanca in Spain. Living near Hull, a major sea port, Captain Brown was interested in all things maritime from a young age.

“The thought of working at sea was always a school boy dream. Seeing ships arrive from all over the world before sailing off to new destinations always intrigued me.”

It’s fair to say that this passion was the catalyst to Captain Brown attending the Hull Trinity House Navigation at the tender age of thirteen, which in turn led him to joining the Merchant Navy in 1972. As a cadet, Captain Brown was part of the BP Oil Tanker company but he later joined the Royal Fleet Auxiliary in 1986 as a Third Officer. After that, Captain Brown joined P&O Cruises as an officer, but it wasn’t until 2007 that he was appointed Master to Aurora.

“It was a fantastic experience and one I relished in. I also went on to become the Master to Artemis, Oriana, Ventura and finally Azura since her introduction in 2010.”

It’s no secret that Captain Brown enjoys the larger ships in the fleet, so he was naturally very excited following the announcement of Britannia.

“To be appointed as Captain of P&O Cruises biggest and best ship is a real honour.”

Having previously been appointed as Captain of Azura, Captain Brown knows exactly what it’s like to take to the helm of a brand new ship.

“I am sure our passengers will agree there is nothing to rival the prestige and glamour to sailing off on a brand new ship, especially one as sophisticated and awe-inspiring as Britannia.”

We can’t wait!

An artist's impression of what she could look like when finished

At 141,000 tons, Britannia will be the biggest in the fleet, and of course the newest, which brings about a few challenges.

“She is the biggest ship in the fleet and technically she is quite complex. It will certainly take some time to fully familiarise myself with all the systems before she enters service.”

Britannia is a modern classic; elegant and sophisticated; with many of the signature features that our passengers have come to know and love... but she will also include a whole host of brand new features as well.

“For a newcomer to cruising there can be few things more exciting than stepping on board Britannia to experience the most exciting and contemporary addition to the P&O Cruises fleet. This glamorous ship will offer a real 'wow factor' and I cannot think of a better introduction to modern British cruising than Britannia.”

Frazer Reid
Ventura Tours Manager

For most P&O Cruises passengers, calling at Civitavecchia typically means a busy day exploring the ancient and awe-inspiring sights of Rome. However, this summer many of you opted to try a far more serene Italian experience… a spot of wine tasting in the gorgeous Italian countryside on a tour called  ‘Wine Tasting and Marta.’  This brand new tour is exclusive to P&O Cruises– handpicked by our shore excursions team in Southampton - and it’s been receiving some glowing feedback from our passengers… possibly due to the free-flowing wine on offer at the winery!



We asked Ventura’s Tours Manager Frazer Reid to tell us all about this charming new tour...

“After a very picturesque coach journey through what can only be described as 'typical Italian countryside' of rustic farms and hazy fields, a gentle stroll along the promenade in Marta was the perfect way to start the day. This quiet little village has an enviable location on the shores of Lake Bolsena.  The views are idyllic, and the glass-like lake is simply jaw-dropping.




And of course, what morning wouldn't be complete without a fresh Italian cappuccino from one of the towns little cafes!




I saw many passengers relaxing with a morning coffee and soaking up the surroundings alongside the locals.  You get a real sense of local life in Marta – it’s truly off the beaten track, a million miles away from the jam-packed streets of Rome.

Continuing on towards the town of Montefiascone, we arrived at the family owned winery for a tour of the candlelit cellars before entering the tasting room for a sample of some of the wines produces on site… and the chance to indulge in some of the generous selection of local cheeses, meats and other products from the area. Delicious!




The owner is only happy if her guests are happy, so you’ll experience that famous Mediterranean hospitality here where nothing is too much trouble.





This tour is a great option for anyone who enjoys, like myself, sampling local food and drink from different countries, or who has maybe been to Rome before and is looking for something new and different to do in Civitavecchia.  Everyone enjoyed the tour, with one or two even bringing home a few bottles to remember their day.  A lovely new experience for our passengers.”

Christopher Edgington
Director, P&O Cruises

Hello everyone!

Around two weeks ago you may remember I invited you all to ask me any question via a live Q&A session on our Facebook page. I answered as many questions as I could in the time available, however I was overwhelmed by the amazing response and barely scratched the surface. Since then, my team has been busily sifting through every question asked during the Q&A. They have segmented them and rounded them up into topics, before selecting some of the most commonly-asked questions in each category and sending them over to me to answer. I’ve answered the first batch of questions and you can find them below. Another batch will be coming next week on the blog, so please keep your eyes peeled.

I’d like to thank each and every one of you for putting your queries forward and I hope you’ll find my answers satisfactory.

Best regards,
Christopher Edgington

Pricing and fares

Alan Vaughan
If I make an early booking to ensure I get the cabin I want, an "upgrade" does not really interest me, what I want is to be sure I have the best deal! How can I be sure that booking early is a good idea?

Dear Alan,

I do understand your frustration which is why we have decided to introduce a new pricing policy, in order to make prices fairer for early bookers.  These prices came into effect for new bookings made after 4th November 2013, on cruises departing on 24th March 2014 and beyond.  There are two price points; the Select Price or the Early Saver Price. If you’d like to find out more on these, click here.  We will offer promotions and added extras from time to time, so it is worth looking out in our mailings and advertisements. I’m afraid to say that admittedly, we never know how well a cruise will sell, therefore we can never guarantee that further incentives to book a cruise will not be offered. I’d recommend that you should only ever complete a booking when you are completely satisfied with the holiday package being offered.


Lynette Taylor
Hi Mr Edgington, I just wondered whether the getaway fares will be available to families in July/August next year.  As a school teacher and a mother of a 2 year old I have limited times that I can go.  We cruise as a family (my husband, son and I) every chance we get, half terms etc. but the cost is so great in the 6 weeks that it can be unmanageable. Thanks x

Dear Lynette,

Getaway fares will soon be a thing of the past, as our new prices are now in full effect. These apply to all bookings on cruises departing from March 24th 2014 and onwards. We’re happy to say that all passengers (including families!) will be able to benefit from the value that the new prices offer, which include the Select Price and the Early Saver. You can find out more by clicking here. I hope that helps.



Stephen Birch
I would like to know why I was told that booking my cruise early I would be getting a great fare! I am traveling on azura on Saturday, and for an outside cabin that I booked on the vantage fare I could now have had a superior balcony for less! I feel miss Lead, not a great start to my holiday! And feel let down by P&o. Vantage fare (disadvantage fare in my case)

Dear Stephen,

I am very sorry to hear of your frustration. The Vantage Fare came packaged with many benefits, one of them being the Price Promise Protection. This means that if the Vantage fare was reduced after you made your booking, you would have received an added-extra from us at P&O Cruises. It sounds like what you saw was a Getaway fare, which unfortunately wasn’t covered by the Price Promise. We have addressed this issue by introducing our new pricing policy which has been in effect since 4th November 2014 – click here to find out more. Thank you.


Louise Price
We were conned in the summer, book our 3rd cruise for 16 people on the vantage fairs, told if the price came down we would have the difference refunded or an up grade!!! But P&O bring out cheaper fair on another price plan to so they don't have to pay out or up grade. That's not fair!!!! I love P&O but don't like how much they cost. Come on P&O look after your customers.

Dear Louise,

I’m sorry to hear of your frustration here. The Vantage Fare policy was originally introduced to offer our passengers peace of mind when booking early. We would of course rather not have to reduce fares for any of our cruise holidays but, ultimately, we want to ensure that all cabins are sold on each and every cruise. Therefore sometimes we needed to introduce new promotions such as the Getaway Fare to attract new bookings on any given sailing. I think these Getaway prices will have been the ones that you saw.

I hope you will agree that there are benefits in booking early, not least because you can choose the perfect cabins for your party and can confirm your ideal dining arrangements.

Our Getaway Fares were extremely restricted. Passengers were required to pay in full, without any cabin choice, complimentary car parking or on board credit. Furthermore the fee to cancel a Getaway booking for any reason would have been 100% from the point of booking.

We have introduced a new fare policy including the Select Price and the Early Saver Price, which came into play on 4th November 2013.  This means that the Getaway Fares and the Vantage Fares ceased to exist for any new bookings on cruises departing on or after 24th March 2014. If you’d like to read more about these fares, visit our website here.

On board service

Jacqueline Arnold
I recent years there seem to be so many cut backs  can we expect to see more in the future?

Jacqueline Arnold
here here...no band on the quay side at sail away... One biscuit in the cabin, poor quality shower products...bring back Molton Brown...or similar. We first cruised in 1995 so many changes since then...keep fit classes now have a charge...craft classes only now on longer sea day cruises....lunch time deck BBQs no more...even Oriana deck lunch time shows don't seem to happen now... Morning coffee and chat hosted by an officer no longer happens.... Many day time activities seem to have been dropped. Food nowhere like it once was although I'm looking forward to plated meals...and hope those heralds improvements... Cabin stewards now have far more cabins to clean so frequently your cabin isn't serviced until lunch time !  Long queues getting on and off with the new large ships...this is never managed well ....shorter time in port this adds to the crush of people getting off only to have to queue early to get back again my lunch time. I could go on....but your staff will know what's been cut and why...

Dear Jacqueline,

The on-board experience is a very important part of a holiday with P&O Cruises. We want to offer our customers an amazing experience and, just 3 months into this job I’m concerned to read that you feel this way. I’d like to thank you for your comments – I will be going through each and every point with the team at P&O Cruises and making positive changes where and when I can.



Sue Lush
Having been a P&O customer for 17 years we were very disappointed with a 9 week cruise that we did on Arcadia at the start of this year.  I wrote to Southampton to raise various issues with them and was given no incentive to re-book.  We have recently done a cruise with another cruise line and the found them to be far superior to what is now offered by P&O.  The food and level of service on their ship was far superior to and made us realise how your standards have fallen since being taken over by Carnival.  Do you have any plans to restore previous standards?

Dear Sue,

Of course I’m sorry to hear that you were disappointed by your recent cruise on Arcadia. If you have any outstanding issues that you’d like to raise with us, I’d encourage you to contact our team on community@pocruises.com and your query will be dealt with swiftly. My first impressions are that Carnival (as our owner) has been extremely supportive of the positive changes that we wish to make here at P&O Cruises. I know that we will need to work extremely hard to persuade you to consider us again.


Eddie Roberts
Why do ships spend less time in port. Is this a cost saving measure.

Dear Eddie,

Our itineraries are arranged up to 2 years in advance of the sailing date in co-operation with the relevant independent Port Authorities. We want to provide our passengers with the best itineraries and ports-of-call available. On rare occasions, it is necessary to make port amendments due to previously unforeseen operational or navigational reasons. These can be anything from tide schedules and sea conditions to Port Authority operations, over which we have no control. On the whole however, I am pleased to say our ports-of-call run to schedule as advertised.

We absolutely understand that our passengers sometimes feel let down but the lack of port time and are addressing this issue. As we plan 2015’s 200+ cruises we are building in extra port time which provides some contingency to allow for the issues above.  

Tipping

Anna Maria Craig
Please scrap automatic tipping I hate it, the service although still very good, has dropped since automatic tipping was brought it.

Dear Anna,

I’m sorry to hear that you don’t like the automatic tipping scheme. We introduced this over a year ago in order to bring more clarity to tipping arrangements. We believe auto-tipping removes any awkwardness and confusion whilst ensuring that passengers are still able to recognise fantastic service.

You are completely entitled to opt-out of auto-tipping and you can do this by speaking to the Purser’s desk on board.



Lauren Williams
Why does P&O encourage tipping? They should pay their staff more and ban it. Tipping is not British culture. they need to stop following the Carnizal-American side.

Dear Lauren,

I’m sorry you feel this way. Any tips paid to our crew are over and above the salaries they earn to do their jobs. It is not unusual to reward restaurant waiters with a tip in the UK for good service, and a majority of our passengers choose to reward good service from our on-board crew in the same way. You are able to opt-out of auto-tipping by contacting the purser’s desk on board if you so wish.

Families

Ian Softy Williams
Why don't you provide family cabins on family friendly ships?

Dear Ian,

We absolutely do provide family cabins on our family-friendly ships. On Azura and Ventura, a maximum of six people can occupy our family suites.  When making a booking, our team will offer you a cabin that is suitable for your requirements. We also offer discounts for passengers occupying the 3rd and 4th berths, so feel free to call us on 0843 374 0111 and our team will be happy to explain all the available options to you.


Ros Johnstone
Can you please make children's fares easier to see online. The only way I can see the total fare including adults and children is to start a booking and have to enter all the dates of births.

Dear Ros,

Thank you for your comments. We are always looking to improve our website’s functionality, so I’ll forward your comments onto our web team to review. Should you need to clarify a child fare in the meantime, please do not hesitate to contact our Customer Contact Centre on 0843 374 0111.



Jason Howells
You advertise your "new" pricing structure and make a big play on "early saver" fares, yet you almost ignore your future market by not offering these deals on your biggest "family friendly" ship (Azura) in the school holidays, and at the same time make children pay very nearly the same as an adult for sharing a pull down bed in a cabin. When are you going to realise that your future passengers are such people and not those that are already retired? How can you say you are a family friendly cruise line when your pricing structure discriminates against the very families you say you are appealing to?

Dear Jason,

I am sorry you are disappointed with our prices during the school holidays. Part of the way we structure our prices is based on historical data as well as supply and demand, in line with the travel industry as a whole. As such, our prices may increase during school holidays when demand for holidays is high. We do offer discounts on children’s fares, so I’d urge you to get in touch with our team on 0843 374 0111 who will be able to offer you the best deals.


Mairead Brophy
Why are families penalised with the getaway fares? We tried to book with a travel cot for our little boy and were told the fare wasn't available as there were 3 of us travelling? Surely it would make more business sense for you to accept 3 paying passengers at getaway price rather than lose sales and alienate a large number of travellers?

Dear Mairead,

The Getaway Fare promotion was made available to families from 1st September 2013. Since then, we have introduced our new fares policy which brings an end to Getaway Fares and Vantage Fares.  If you haven’t checked our latest fares and offers recently, you can do so by clicking here.

Entertainment

Elaine Holland
On every survey I always put this question ,why do regular cruisers have to put up with the same headliner shows time after time ,it's enough to make people go to another cruise line ,I've seen the shows at least 6 times now ?

Dear Elaine,
As you know there is a variety of entertainment available on board from West End Style Production Shows to Cabaret Performers, Classical Concerts, guest speakers and much, much more. We feel our entertainment is some of the best at sea, so I’m sorry to hear that you feel it has been repetitive. We do swap our shows around to different ships to ensure a good variety for passengers and we renew our Headline acts more frequently than any other cruise line. I will look further into this for you and thanks for your comments.



Ian Clack
could we have more pop/rock bands on the main stage.

Dear Ian,

We are always looking at ways to improve our entertainment and I agree that some rock would be great! I will work with entertainments team on this.

Upgrades

Karen Walker
Why don't returning passengers and those that book early get free upgrades or on board spending money instead of those booking last minute totally unfair

Dear Karen,

Our new pricing structure ensures that early bookers are first in line for complimentary upgrades. You can find out more information on this by clicking here.


Elaine Rosewarne Mellor
Why do you throw upgrades to new travellers and forget your loyal passengers???  Too many times I've heard 'oh yes we had a free upgrade' or 'we've had double on board credit because we're first timers' .. P & O Need to remember their other customers too .. as more than likely they've recommended new travellers to you in the first place!!!!!!  Think on!!!

Dear Elaine,

I’m sorry to hear of your frustration. I think you’ll be pleased to hear of our new pricing structure which includes our new Select Prices and Early Saver Prices. In the future, early bookers will be the first to receive any complimentary benefits. You can read more by clicking this link.

WiFi

John Wallace
is there any chance of free wifi  in the near future please

Dear John,

Free WiFi is a popular topic amongst passengers and I assure you that you are not alone in thinking this. Unlike most hotels ashore we cannot connect to a local network provider to access the Internet.  In order to provide Internet at sea we must use a VSAT connection. According to our technical team “This connects the ship to a series of satellites in geostationary orbit around the globe. The signal is beamed up to those satellites and then back to a receiving station on earth, before being connected to the normal cable network that services the World Wide Web”. As you can imagine, it is quite a feat to achieve this and there is a considerable cost associated with it, which accounts for our on-board charges. On average the cost of bandwidth for a ship is approximately 7,200 times more per megabyte than you would pay for a service at home. We have no plans to offer free WiFi at this time, but technology is always advancing so it’s something I can’t rule out in the future. I am sorry to get somewhat over technical but thought it was worth explaining in some detail.

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Christopher Edgington
Director, P&O Cruises

Hello everyone,

Welcome back to the Discover P&O Cruises blog for the second and final part of my Q&A session. This initially started on our Facebook page via a live session a few weeks back, but as I was unable to answer all the questions during the Q&A I wanted to continue helping as much as I could, by answering more questions on the blog.

I’d like to thank each and every one of you for sending me your questions. I'll be back in the new year to conduct another live Q&A session on Facebook, so be sure to keep your eyes peeled for that.

I hope you have a very happy Christmas.

Christopher Edgington

Dining

Jane Larnder-Cox
Just want to say that one of the highlights of cruising with P&O is the silver service dining. Just been on Independence of the Seas and was most disappointed with the dining experience. Please dont stop the silver service!

Dear Jane,

I'm sorry you feel that way. However, we really think that the new service will offer a vastly improved dining experience. Each dish will now be presented and served with the vegetables and accompaniments, rather than the more conventional silver service approach. The benefits are not only more aesthetically pleasing, you will also enjoy more complementary flavours and textures. Our waiters can ensure the dish gets to you at the temperature the chef intended, without the need to serve every vegetable. This also frees up our waiters’ time to get to know you better, so they can deliver a more friendly and efficient service than ever before. If you require any extras to your meal, our waiters will be more than happy to assist you. We hope that once you’ve tried our new dining service, you’ll agree that it is better. We are always open to your feedback however, and filling out our Customer Survey Questionnaire at the end of your cruise is a great way to provide this.


Sue Stronach
I don't see how customers are telling you it's an improvement, as you are only just introducing it....... Food arrives hot anyway......you are now standardising the portion sizes and men and women do not eat the same quantity....... I can't see how losing silver service would be a benefit.....I assume in a few years the number of courses will be reduced......obviously you will be promoting this as another positive to help by telling us it's to ensure more free time to go to entertainment .....when in fact it's another cost cutting. I have always promote p and o, but after paying early and finding out the cruise was half price just before sale date.....and now this..... P and o seem to be lowering the standards....I think you will soon turn into a cheaper version, mass marketing, and losing he ethos of cruising being a special treat. Your customer service form does not allow enough room for comments and I feel you are only being polite here, just to show that yo are engaging with your customers.  What I would like you to do, is to take on board the comments here as these are honest feedback from your current or past customers.....that could be your future ones

Dear Sue,

Plated service has been in place on Ventura since 11th October 2013, and the feedback we’ve had from customers so far has been positive. If you have any extra requirements or would like to order more food, our waiter staff will be more than happy to accommodate any reasonable requests. The changes we’ve made are designed to offer an improved dining experience and are not a cost-cutting measure. We are constantly striving to improve our service and on-board experience.

I am very sorry to hear of your frustration around our pricing. You may have seen that we have introduced a new pricing policy that came into effect on 4th November, for all cruises departing on 24th March 2014 and onwards. The two price points of the Select Price and Early Saver are designed to make it fairer on early bookers – click here to find out more.

Passenger feedback is very important to me and if you feel that there is not enough space on the Customer Survey Questionnaire for all your comments, you can speak to one of our fantastic crew members who will be happy to help resolve any issues in situ.  If your problem is not fully resolved to your satisfaction on board, you can write to us and our Customer Services team will investigate. You can find full details here. All comments are read and actioned, so please do not hesitate to provide your feedback.



Carolyn Moon
We have heard you are doing away with club dining - that is what we like about cruising - eating with the same people each night and talking about the days adventures - why is this happening?

Dear Carolyn,

There are no plans to do away with Club Dining at present, and on all ships we offer a choice of dining options.

Club dining is available on all ships. It’s a fixed seating plan operating on two sittings; first sitting is at 6.30pm and second sitting is at 8.30pm. You can request to choose the size of your table and your table companions. We ask that you notify us of any of these requirements at the time of booking. You will be sat at the same table, with the same waiters and fellow diners for the duration of your cruise.

Freedom dining is available on Azura, Oceana and Ventura (plus Arcadia from 15th December 2013, Oriana from 18th May 2014 and Aurora from 19th December 2014). Many passengers find that this option gives them more flexibility, as you are free to come to the restaurant whenever you are ready. There are also other dining areas which provide 24 hour service ranging from buffet food courts, pizzerias and daytime grills. In all instances, the cost of your meal is included in your fare.

In addition to these, Select dining in a specialty restaurant gives you even more choice, many of which are inspired by Michelin-starred chefs such as Marco Pierre White and Atul Kochhar. A small cover charge applies in these restaurants.

You can also take advantage of room service for light bites and full meals. It’s available 24 hours a day – it’s mostly free but some items incur a small charge. A room service menu will be available to you in your cabin.
Regardless of which option you choose, you are still welcome to use the Select dining or buffet restaurants at any point during your cruise.

Single travelers

Kate Thomas
As a lone passenger, why am I penalised for that, ie, why do I have to pay hundreds more for being in a single cabin??

Dear Kate,

I can understand your frustration here. However, I am pleased to tell you that Azura, Aurora, Oriana and Ventura have single cabins. Arcadia will also have single cabins available from 10th January 2014.

There will normally be a single supplement to pay but on a positive note, we may offer promotions on the single supplement from time to time so it is always worth keeping an eye on mailings and advertisements for the best deals for single travelers.


Sue Owen
Would love to see more availability for singles. I am a widow who has cruised with you in the past with my late husband. I would love to cruise with you again BUT I dont want to be shut away in an inside cabin !!

Dear Sue,

I have some good news for you; not all of our single cabins are inside ones. However, they are limited in number - we have 28 outside single cabins in total, with 2 single balconies coming on Arcadia on the 10th January - so I’d certainly advise booking early.


Glennis Jennings
Are there ever any special offers for single travellers?

Dear Glennis,

We will almost certainly be offering promotions on single supplements from time-to-time. It would definitely be worth keeping an eye out on our communications so you can be aware of the best deals for single travelers as they become available. Why not join our mailing list? Click here and hit "Sign up now" to do just that.



Sheila Richardson
why do we have to pay a single suppliment for a single cabin which cannot take a double bed

Dear Sheila,

Single travelers are coming to us more and more for their holidays, which is why we have recently introduced more single cabins on a number of our ships. Our selling policy is such that the single cabins will fetch a higher fare compared to the fare per person for the double occupancy cabin. This is partly due to the popularity of the single cabins as well as the position and size of the single cabins on board.  They generally take up more than half of the space of a double occupancy cabin, and as I am sure you will appreciate, space on board is unfortunately at a premium.

Mobility

Sheila Casson
scooter owners in most cases are NOT disabled. My daughter has learning difficulties and two badly injured knees. We need a wet room - we could manage in an ordinary cabin if there was a few wet rooms around the ship. We have tried showering her in an ordinary cabin on a special chair and she fell off it and I was in the cabin above 1 hour before I could contact anyone. We tried to book for Sept 2014 but was told there were no adapted cabins available. On most cruises now we have been unable to get off the ship if there was no disabled transport. The tours are for one disabled person and one helper. My elderly sister usually travels with us but she cannot go on the tours with us. Getting back to scooter owners  - we have witnessed many of them getting out of the scooter and literally running round the buffet at lunchtime - even having a head waiter going round with them and then when they wanted "seconds" they ran themselves. We have travelled with P & O 23 times now. Who decided to come up with this ruling re scooters - why can't you find an area on the ship somewhere where they can be parked. We also have to have a cabin with a sofa bed so the three of us a together. We have just had a balcony cabin - super deluxe - yes it was very nice but people are getting on the ship at the last minute and paying ridiculously low prices. By the way we were on the Azura in October this year. We were on Aurora last Sept. to America. Please consider the needs of disabled passengers rather than scooter owners who use them like cars. thank you.


Dear Sheila,

We feel that our new scooter policy is a fair way of adhering to health and safety regulations and maritime law, whilst providing a suitable service for passengers who need to use and store a mobility scooter on board our ships. All our policies and procedures comply with all applicable disability legislation and as I am sure you will appreciate, our top priority is the safety of our ships and everyone sailing on them.  Whilst we are happy to accept mobility scooters on board, it is necessary for us to restrict their numbers in order to meet the high safety standards we are known for.

Our policy means that if you are bringing a mobility scooter on board you will need to make a booking in a selected suite, mini-suite or a wheelchair accessible cabin, which are available in a selection of cabin categories across our fleet.  This is so that passengers can store their mobility aid in a safe manner and not cause injury to themselves or others by leaving the mobility aid in the corridors. In the event of an emergency it is also imperative that the corridors are kept as open as possible. I regret that we do not have any spare space to accommodate mobility scooters anywhere else on board.

Whilst we would like to be able to accept scooters and other mobility aids on our tour vehicles, in a lot of destinations the types of vehicles used are similar to small minibuses which have very little storage for a scooter (even the small collapsible ones). Shuttle buses with tail-lifts or ramps are available in some ports. However this does very much depend on the port facilities, availability and necessity. We will always use a shuttle bus with a tail-lift where they are available.

I’d like to point out that we want to provide the best possible service for all of our passengers; able-bodied and disabled alike. Our policies are about striking a fair balance so that everyone on board can enjoy the cruise. It is something that is always under review, so I’d like to thank you for your feedback on this matter.

Loyalty Club

Neil Cassidy
when are p&o going to honour the  close knit tie it has with princess and give princess passengers the points back at full value instead of half and none now , princess honours p&o cruisers days done with in their loyalty programme , it pushes some passengers who would sail on both away

Dear Neil,

We wanted to keep the Peninsular Club specifically about rewarding P&O Cruises passengers for taking holidays with P&O Cruises, rather than other cruise lines. As you rightly mention, since the launch of the P&O Cruises Peninsular Club in April 2012 we no longer award points for cruises taken with Princess Cruises for the reason mentioned above.


Derek Skingle
Hi Christopher, when are you going to change the loyalty structure? Not much difference between Caribbean and Ligaurian levels? Cunard offer free wifi and drinks to their loyal customers?

Dear Derek,

There are many benefits of becoming a Baltic and Ligurian member as detailed on the P&O Cruises website here. I very much appreciate your feedback however, and will certainly be looking at this in more detail in the future. We are always open to suggestions of how to improve our loyalty club.


Marilyn Alldred
Having managed to be in the {gold,carribean} tier for a few years I think its sad that you have done away  with the little gifts on board and to replace it with a calendar  {which we used to receive yearly anyway}Obviously a cost cutting cause. Shows that like everything else money comes before customer service nowadays with businesses.

Dear Marilyn,

I am very sorry to read your opinion of us. Naturally I couldn’t disagree more. The number one priority for me is our passengers; their safety and on-board experience is of paramount importance. We are always open to suggestions of how to improve our loyalty scheme, so your feedback will certainly be noted.


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The Shore Excursions Team
P&O Cruises

It’s that time of year where we’re all bustling through hectic shopping malls and supermarkets, desperately hunting for gifts and stocking up on more food than it’s humanly possible to eat. Those hazy summer days suddenly feel like a long time ago don’t they?

We all need to stop and relax for a few minutes, so what better remedy than to reminisce about our favourite travel experiences of the past year? Maybe you came face to face with an iceberg in Norway, snorkelled with sea turtles in Barbados, or sipped wine in a rustic Italian village. One thing’s for sure, the experiences you have on holiday will turn into memories for life.

As our destination experts at P&O Cruises, we asked the Shore Excursions team to share some of their favourite travel memories of the past year… the places or experiences that their mind keeps wandering back to.

Celebrity chefs and Caribbean cuisine 

Marian Weldon
Shore Excursion Manager, Adonia.

Marco Pierre-White hosts a special excursion in St Lucia

My favourite travel memory of the past year? It has to be my recent day ashore in St Lucia with none other than celebrity chef Marco Pierre-White, during an extra special shore excursion.

Together with just 7 passengers we set off to discover the delights of Caribbean cuisine and local produce. We visited a local bakery; the warm yeasty aroma of freshly-baked bread really got our gastric juices going! The highlight of the tour was a cookery demonstration by Marco and local celebrity chef Orlando Satchell. We were entertained by the friendly banter and rivalry between the two chefs as we watched them peel, chop and mash; creating delicious island-style fish cakes. They were just one of the mouth-watering five courses that made up our lunch that day. In this intimate setting we ‘oohed’ and ‘aahhed’ at the melt-in-the-mouth seared tuna on grilled watermelon with cajun spices, and finished with a 'to-die-for' chocolate mousse made with island cocoa, served in cocoa pods to remind us of its humble beginning.

Meanwhile, Marco delighted us with tales of his career, other famous chefs he had worked for, and all whilst graciously answering all of our questions. A very special day that I think both Marco and I enjoyed every bit as much as the passengers.

The allure of the French Riviera

James Mealey
Shore Excursions Media Co-ordinator

Nice bay in the glorious French sunshine

For me, it was visiting the French Riviera for the first time. In particular, the city of Nice really blew me away. The thing that sticks in my mind the most is the colours. Maybe it was the early summer sunshine saturating the city, but everything seemed so vibrant here; the yellow and pink pastel houses of the Old Town, the  fruit and flowers of the market and the cocktail blue of the Cote d’Azur sea.

I loved wandering aimlessly around the Old Town with my camera. It’s a postcard-pretty warren of twisting alleyways and tall Italianate houses and it’s almost mandatory to get well and truly lost here. Sadly my photos couldn’t capture the fusion of tantalising aromas that wafted through the air; sweet sizzling crepes with a dollop of gelato, warm baguettes pulled from the oven, succulent steaks, and seafood so fresh it was swimming in the Med that morning. Perhaps someone should invent a device that can capture smells!

My taste buds continued to be tickled at the Cours Saleya flower and food market, where stalls strain under the weight of enormous lemons and oranges - jumbo-sized and juicily delicious thanks to hours of endless Mediterranean sunshine. The punnets of ripe-red strawberries proved too tempting, so luckily it was just a pebble’s throw to the famous Promenade des Anglais - Nice’s prime spot for picnics, people-watching, and photographing the sparkling blue hues of the Cote d’Azur.

Book this tour: Nice and Cannes On Your Own (Monte Carlo)

Watching fiery Flamenco in Cadiz

Alison Webster
Port Presenter

Let the sizzling Spanish flamenco dancers entertain you in Cadiz

The smile on the faces of the onlookers was a picture. The volume of cheers at the end of the first set was immense. But it was the hushed silence in between that really sticks in my mind.... every single person in that audience was hooked... completely and utterly hooked!

We sat mesmerised - almost trance like - as we witnessed what was surely the most authentic performance of Flamenco possible. We were transported to another world, the world of the gypsies from Andalusia. We felt and heard emotion from start to finish, generated by the haunting sounds of the guitarist and the singer. But it was through the energy of the dancers that we were lost, as their shoes made contact with the wooden floor the sounds grew from little more than a whisper, to a complete and utter frenzy. The speed at which they moved was incredible, as was the passion that they portrayed, and before too long we were on our feet too, clapping and shouting ‘Ole’ to spur them on...

At no point did it feel as though this was a performance that was staged for the benefit of tourists. We left the venue feeling as though we’d truly experienced what Flamenco was all about. Fantastic.

Book this tour: Picturesque Cadiz and Flamenco (Cadiz)

Discovering the secret Cies Islands in Spain

Dani Whitelam
Shore Excursion Operation Planner

The Cies Islands; Spain's secret paradise

My top travel experience of the year was discovering one of Spain’s secret paradises - the Cies Islands - during a shore excursion from Vigo.

After a wonderfully relaxing boat ride off the Galician coastline, we arrived at the idyllic archipelago of islands. The first thing that struck me was how crystal-clear the water was - it was as if the boat was bobbing on glass. You could see right down to the bottom of the seabed.

Stepping onto the gorgeous powder-soft Rodas beach, it was easy to see why this is regarded as one of the best beaches in the world. Children were busy building sandcastles and running in and out of the sparkling sea; while Mums and Dads enjoyed a spot of Spanish sun worship.

We decided to follow the nature trail up to the highest point of the island; Alto do Principe. It was amazing. The easy-going pathways wind up into the cliffs, offering far reaching views across the archipelago. If you want to go right to the top there is a slightly steeper and more challenging climb over a few rocks and boulders. However it is totally worth it for that ‘on top of the world’ feeling, with an endless blue below and birds flying in and out of their nests in the cliffs crevices.

Unspoilt and truly off the beaten track, the Cies Islands were an unforgettable travel highlight of the year for me.

Book this tour: Cies Island Nature Reserve (Vigo)

Sleeping in a Norwegian Igloo 

Natasha Harris
Shore Excursions Executive

The ice hotel in Alta, Norway

One surreal experience I’ll never forget was spending the night in a hotel made entirely of ice and snow in Alta. It must be one of the only hotels in the world that has to be rebuilt each year! It has 27 ice bedrooms, a bar, a chapel, and some incredible ice sculptures and artwork. I was lucky enough to be given the stylish honeymoon suite for the night. Wrapped up in thermals and a woolly hat, the hotel supplied me with two arctic sleeping bags to make my night cosy and comfortable.

With temperature inside the hotel kept at -5c, it felt like I was sleeping in a giant ice cube. But surprisingly it was one of the best sleeps I’ve had, which I put down to the crisp, clean arctic air. Definitely a once in a lifetime experience!

Book this tour:Overnight at the Igloo Hotel (Alta)

Sailing on a glass-like lake

Andrea Suwalska
Shore Excursions Mobility Co-ordinator

Beautifully still waters in Norway

Lovatnet Lake… this has to be one of the most beautiful places in Norway.

With every new piece of scenery you are utterly gobsmacked at the tranquil beauty of the place. There is a photo opportunity at every corner in Norway. But in my opinion, none quite as incredible as Lovatnet Lake. The deep, turquoise waters produce stunning reflections in the sunlight, creating a mirror-effect of the awe-inspiring landscapes. It's certainly a place you would not want to run out of camera memory!

This is what every Norweigian postcard should look like. After you've been once, you will almost certainly want to go back!

Book this tour: Kjenndalen Glacier and Lovatnet Lake (Olden)

Matt Sparks
P&O Cruises - Digital Team

As we move deeper into the festive period and closer to the new year, it’s getting to the time when we think and reflect on the year gone by. Thinking back to those holiday memories, family birthdays, events and more, it’s certainly a nostalgic time. For others however, it’s an opportunity to look forward to the year ahead. Perhaps time to think about next year’s holiday, start planning for that big move or maybe even re-evaluate things like your career.

Here at P&O Cruises, the turn of a new year is certainly exciting time, especially considering what lies ahead in 2014. Our famous world cruises will be departing in January, taking some of our ships as far afield as South America, The Far East, and Australia. We’ve also got our brand new Fly-Med programme beginning in March, where Ventura will be stationed in the Mediterranean for the duration of the summer. With so many brand new things happening, we’ve created an all-new TV ad to help spread the message. It begins hitting screens on 26th December, and in case you haven’t seen it yet, you can watch it below…




It’s certainly a departure in style from our previous ads, but what better way to enter a new year than with a brand new outlook? We caught up with the ad’s Director; Joanna Bailey for a chat, to find out a bit more about how the ad was created. With over 20 years experience in film and production, Joanna brings a wealth of expertise on set. Originally cutting her teeth on filming documentaries, she moved into advertisements around 10 years ago before joining Bare Films 4 years afterwards.

“I love so many things about my job. Being on set shooting, working with the crew. It’s fast-paced, intense, and somewhat insecure; you never know where your next job will come from. But I love it.”

Fast-paced barely begins to cover it. The ad was written a mere day before it was presented to Joanna in November, and now it’s finished and on TV screens nationwide.

“There are 40-50 people in the crew, including the cast, wardrobe, production, designers, editors… there are lots of people with amazing talents and they’ve done all done an amazing job producing this piece.”

Despite Joanna’s extensive expertise in this field, producing ads for a wide range of brands, the new P&O Cruises piece is the first cruise ad she’s ever created.

“Whilst every ad’s creative approach is different, the process and production aspect is very similar. We had a small cast for this ad, which I really liked” explained Joanna.

“Finding good actors was crucial to the success of the piece. We needed to make sure they really had chemistry, and looking back on the piece I hope we succeeded with this”




Being new to the world of cruising, Joanna had never previously experienced what it’s like to be on holiday at sea. We really wanted to know what excited her most about the prospect of going on a cruise…

“Honestly? It didn’t excite me. I had a bit of a pre-conception about what a cruise would be like. I tend to think about my Aunt now; she’s a sophisticated woman with great taste and loves a cruise. There are some ads she would find patronising, and that’s exactly what I wanted to avoid in this piece”

Getting the messaging right is crucial in any ad, and it’s safe to say that our new one presented a few challenges to Joanna and the team.

“One of the most challenging aspects of this project was to make sure the cast didn’t look ‘naff’. You don’t suddenly lose your taste when you hit 50, so we wanted to reflect that by making the cast cool and charismatic. We wanted to convey people who go on cruises as interesting, compelling people, so it was really important that we captured that chemistry on screen.”

As a creative spirit at heart, Joanna is just bursting with ideas. Not all of them make it through to the final edit however, and we asked Joanna about the difficulties that can bring with it.

“The process is a collaborative one. The agency and I will have a vision and the brand will have theirs, so the final product is a culmination of that. It’s all about keeping the creative balance between me, the agency and the brand. I loved the script and the creative on this ad from the beginning, so I’m pleased to say that the team at P&O Cruises and I were definitely aligned.”

We wanted to know what is was like working with us, and we’re pleased to say the feedback was good!

“I enjoyed working with Christopher Edgington, very much so. I do feel he's brave, bold and a very good client. Which is ultimately the only way of making a good ad. The experience overall was a very good one. Christopher and the team proved to be great to work with.”




Music selection is an important part of any ad. We asked Joanna what she thought about the music for this one.

“I really like the music selection, it gives it real attitude. It’s cheeky and vibrant and really reflects the style of the visuals.”

With any ad, it’s important to connect with the audience and that they enjoy watching it. Joanna explained what she hopes potential cruisers would love most about the piece.

“I love the anarchy of it. The couple peeling off the drive way in their sports car, the Mum painting and getting everything messy, the Dad doing archery in the back garden. It touches on some universal truths, mixed in with a dose of dark humour. Hopefully potential passengers find something they can relate to in the ad.”

Finally and for a bit of fun, we wanted to learn a bit more about Joanna herself. We asked her to tell us what her favourite biscuit is…

“Biscuits!? I’d rather have chocolate! It’s Cadbury’s for me!”

We can certainly level with that!

Keep an eye out for our brand new TV ad, on screens from the 26th December onward. Have you seen it yet? We’d love to read your thoughts, so leave us a comment below…

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David George

Guest blogger David George decides that it was the people he met as much as the ports he visited that made his recent cruise on Arcadia so memorable.










The prospect of cruising the Mediterranean in November was a bit of a worry. Would it be sunny enough to use the pool? What chance would there be of catching up on some reading out on the Prom deck? In short, would the weather be kind?

Beautiful Arcadia

Walking along the Cadiz sea front in warm sunshine provided an early answer and temperatures in the mid-20s when we reached Israel finally confirmed that my worries had been groundless. I even had a swim before breakfast a couple of times! Okay, there were cloudy days and rain had the nerve to fall on occasion but this was mainly on sea days when there was plenty going on indoors - from quizzes, guest speakers and crew talent shows to art classes, piano recitals and great music from duo Amethyst.

Cadiz Catherdral

Our visits to Capernaum and Nazareth just a month before Christmas were the cruise highlights for me, a special moment when RE lessons at school came to life. I won’t forget our stop on the banks of the River Jordan either. Despite the presence of other tourists, there remained a sense of tranquility which added greatly to the experience. Shoals of fish darted through crystal-clear waters and it came as no surprise to see some of our party taking the unique opportunity of paddling in this holy river: no shouting, simply a time for quiet reflection.

The River Jordan

The Church of the Multiplication of the Loaves and Fishes at Tabgha

The port of Haifa was only an hour away and we were back on board in plenty of time for dinner. Over a delicious fillet of sea bass we discussed the day ashore, the waiters adding to our memories thanks to crew coaches allowing a lucky few to visit the places we had seen.

The relationship between passengers and the officers and crew is such an important aspect of cruising and, for me, friendships forged on P&O Cruises ships are one of the chief reasons for my cruise addiction. I had not met my waiters in Lower Meridian before but their style and good humour provided a perfect accompaniment to the food and soon everybody on the table was engaging with them. Amol Dombivili joined P&O Cruises seven years ago as a dishwasher, before training as a waiter in the crew mess. From there he began work in the Meridian restaurant. With such a background maybe it was no wonder he proved to be so professional. But that was only half the story. Amol went on to tell me that in his previous career he had worked in Mumbai’s 5-star Hotel Marine Plaza.

Amol and Godfrey, part of the waiting team on board Arcadia

His assistant, Godfrey Borivli (pictured right), was a more recent recruit. Having secured his degree in Hotel Management, he worked in a 5-star hotel as well before joining Arcadia as an assistant waiter. “When I told my Mum that I’d been offered the job, her first reaction was ‘You don’t go!’ but I think she’s got used to it now and I’m hoping to see her and the rest of my family when we visit Mumbai on the world cruise.”

Back in my cabin on E deck where my ‘obstructed’ view was far from fully obstructed, steward Kiran Patil was busy tidying and cleaning. I have yet to find a bad steward on any cruise and Kiran was amongst the best. He too had a professional background, working in 5-star hotels in Mumbai following a course in hotel management. His ambition had long been to work for P&O Cruises but it took him five applications to secure the dream.

Kiran, Cabin Steward on board Arcadia

“When the boss is happy and my passengers are happy then I am happy also,” he told me. But there is one event that makes him happier still and that is “the day I go home at the end of each conract because then I see my family again and my two lovely daughters.”

If you haven’t cruised then you might be surprised at the number of officers and crew you meet in the course of a day and it always amazes me just how many of them remember our names. With around 1750 passengers on the ship, this is no mean feat. Most of us will head to Reception in the atrium from time to time, to check accounts or maybe arrange to post cards home. And yes, from time there may be a minor gripe. But the team on the desk is superb and from their smiles and laughter, it’s a good bet they enjoy what they do. Nitin Khubdikar is a senior passenger services assistant and the proud winner of seven runner-up achievement awards, presented to him as a result of the many passengers who completed an Extra Mile nomination form. These forms are part of P&O Cruises commitment towards recognising exceptional service and my advice would be to use them whenever they’re deserved because they mean a lot to the crew.

Nitin, Senior Passenger Services Assistant

Nitin’s background is in customer care. “I enjoy meeting people and job satisfaction comes from resolving issues quickly so that passengers can concentrate on enjoying themselves. I remember a honeymoon couple who were so upset that they’d forgotten to bring their camera. That problem was soon sorted out – I lent them mine for the duration of the cruise!”

One man who reckons his quietest times are sea days is Tours Manager, Daniel Camenzuli. These are the days when he can catch up on paperwork and liaise with shoreside agencies about his excursions’ programme. As soon as the ship reaches port, however, Daniel doesn’t have time to sit back because he and his team are busy co-ordinating every departure and working to ensure each tour runs like clockwork. He escorts tours himself, of course, not only to check quality but also to enjoy himself.

“I’ve been doing this for seven years and I still get a real buzz from some of the places we visit. I have to pinch myself sometimes – am I really here?!” For Daniel, as for so many, Jerusalem and Bethlehem fell into this category. “From a management point of view, the days in Israel were a logistical challenge, to put it mildly. 1300 passengers went on tours each day, along with about 300 crew members, but we’d planned things to the last detail both here on the ship and on shore through the coach company and tour guides, and at the end of the day we had lots of positive feedback from our passengers.”

Some of the crew are never seen. Their work goes on out of sight of passengers, like the people who work in the galleys preparing thousands of meals and mountains of cakes and pastries. We enjoyed spectacular Asian fusion meals in The Orchid (the supplement for dining here is £10), fantastic fillet steaks in the Ocean Grill and the freshest fish and chips I’ve tasted in a long while at the pool-side Neptune Grill. Although I breakfasted in the Belvedere self-service restaurant and had some memorable themed evenings there as well (the spicy mulligatawny soup at the tandoori evening, for instance, is not to be missed), I took lunch and dinner in Lower Meridian. Under his eagle eye, restaurant manager Dominic d’Costa delivered service that was always attentive and efficient, and the menus offered a wide choice from British favourites to international dishes. Not surprisingly the curries were mouthwatering but so were the fish courses. Whether it was lobster, rainbow trout, Atlantic cod or poached salmon, the fish was always flaky, moist and full of flavour.

We probably take for granted the fresh towels and clean sheets in our cabins but there is a team in the laundry who work hard seven days a week to deliver the service. To give you some idea of the work rate, a thousand bath towels are cleaned daily and there are passenger and crew demands to meet as well, eg 500 shirts are delivered to the laundry every single day. The man in charge of the operation is Parker and he has has been with P&O Cruises for 15 years, following 14 years at the Taj Mahal hotel in Mumbai.

Parker, Laundry Manager

“I have a team of twenty,” he explained, “plus a seamstress. During linen changes we deal with something like 2500 sheets and 4500 pillowcases – plus the duvet covers, of course!” Parker was born in Mozambique and I asked him where he lives now. “In Ratnagiri, Mumbai,” he said. So Ratnagiri is close to Mumbai? “Oh yes, very close.” How close exactly? Parker smiled: “Only 250km and you must believe me, in India that is just down the road!”

The days flew by and all too soon we were sailing into Southampton Water. Our final port was Palma, the cosmopolitan capital of Majorca. The sun shone and temperatures rose to around 20c, perfect for exploring the narrow streets and visiting the impressive cathedral on the waterfront.

Palma, Majorca

When passengers had finally disembarked, Arcadia let go her lines and headed to Germany. No, not on another cruise but for a multi-million pound refit in Bremerhaven. I can’t imagine what she will look like when the work is completed but one thing’s for sure, I will definitely return to see the facelift at first hand.

Arcadia is a wonderful ship, one of my favourites, and I say this not simply because of her spacious facilities, quiet corners and overall sense of style. It is because the entire Ship’s Company works so hard to deliver a memorable cruise experience. On Arcadia people matter and for the many passengers who shared their opinions, that level of commitment shines through from the moment you step aboard.

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James Mealey
P&O Cruises - Shore Excursions Media Co-ordinator
I'm just back from my first ever trip to Florence, and I'm pretty sure I have Stendhal Syndrome.  Never heard of it?  Then clearly you've never been to Florence.  It's a medical phenomenon named after French author Stendhal who, upon visiting Florence for the first time became so overwhelmed by the city's awe-inspiring art that he started experiencing dizziness and hallucinations (though perhaps poor old Stendhal just had one too many glasses of Chianti at lunchtime).

If you're sailing into the port of Livorno this summer, lucky you!  Florence (and Stendhal Syndrome) is just a shore excursion booking away.  Read on for my ten reasons why you shouldn't miss the opportunity to visit this famous city with P&O Cruises...

It's one of the most beautiful cities in the world

In a country boasting more beautiful cities than is fair, you might wonder what makes Florence extra special. Well, other than obviously good looks (she's aged well) Florence has an intimate, cosy atmosphere that takes newcomers by surprise. In fact, this major city feels more like a small town; traffic is minimal, tourists mooch rather than pace, and the laid-back mood is infectious. Sit down at a café for a quick thirst quencher, and don't be surprised if you find yourself nestled there for an hour or more, contentedly watching the world amble by. It's that kind of city. Bellissimo!

The Ponte Vecchio

The bridge so beautiful that even Hitler couldn't bring himself to destroy it (or so the story goes). It's a cliché, but no visit to Florence is complete without stopping to gaze at the enchanting Ponte Vecchio and the coffee-coloured River Arno rolling beneath it.

Designed way back in 1345, the bridge famously doubles up as a classy shopping street, with expensive jewellery traders lining each side. It wasn't always this way. Originally it was full of rowdy butchers and fishmongers, but in 1593, grand duke Ferdinand 1st grew so sick of them throwing their rotten leftovers into the Arno that he banned them, decreeing only goldsmiths and jewelers be allowed to trade on the bridge.

Do walk across the bridge if you get the chance, but don't feel short-changed if not – like many iconic landmarks, it's really best appreciated from the outside.

You can explore it on foot

Rarely in a major city can you stroll on foot between the must see sites. But Florence is surprisingly small. It's just a quick hop between the Duomo, Signoria Square and the Ponte Vecchio, so you shouldn't suffer from major leg ache after a day of exploring. Having said that, Florence consists of a tangle of narrow streets, so without a decent map or expert guide, there's still a chance you'll get lost between the sights. Which leads me neatly on to…

Hidden Florence

Step off the tourist trails and you're sure to stumble across some sleepier parts of this city. Tiny tucked away piazzas, churches with faded facades, artisan workshops, old book shops, and dusty old Fiat 500's all give you a real taste of Italy. For a flavour of Florentine local life, seek out the Mercato Centrale. It's a lively, noisy covered food market where shoppers and vendors barter and banter. The atmosphere is exciting and captivating, and well worth exploring if you love mingling with the locals.

Discover the Duomo

It dominates the skyline and it'll take your breath away when you first catch a glimpse of it... the Duomo is Florence's masterpiece cathedral. It's the 4th largest Cathedral in the world, and if you're up for the challenge, you can actually climb to the tip of the red tiled Dome.

It's not for the faint hearted - a series of steep, narrow and dimly lit staircases wind their way skywards inside the Duomo walls (approx 460 steps in total). Pausing for much needed breath along the way, you'll catch Polaroid-sized glimpses of Florence through tiny windows in the walls. Then comes the first wow moment; all of a sudden you find yourself on a walkway a couple of hundred feet up in the air, within touching distance of the dome's 16th Century fresco -  a haunting Sistine Chapel-esque masterpiece. Unlike Rome's Sistine Chapel however, you're physically close enough to see the brushstrokes and cracks in the paintwork. You start to imagine the fearless artists at work hundreds of years ago, precariously high up, dedicating years and years to this masterpiece.

You could spend hours admiring it, but push on for the last leg of the climb. Emerging outside in the fresh air, you've finally reached the peak of Florence's tallest building. Your reward? An uninterrupted bird's eye panorama of the stunning city.

The views from Piazzale Michelangelo

Thankfully you don't have to clamber up the Duomo's 460 steps to get an incredible view of Florence. Just head to Piazzale Michaelangelo, a spacious hillside square with famously romantic views. This is where those dreamy, sunset photos of the Ponte Vecchio are taken, but even if you find yourself there on a wet Wednesday, it's near impossible to take a bad photo from this vantage point.

It's the birthplace of the Renaissance

Not fussed about art?  Don't know your Da Vinci's from your Donatello's?  Well wait, don't scroll down the page just yet. In Florence, you'll feel like an art connoisseur. Trust me - you can't fail to be gobsmacked by Signoria Square and its line up of truly epic statues.

It's essentially an open air gallery in the heart of the city, where you can freely walk amongst a number of antique and Renaissance period statues including the colossal Fountain of Neptune, and a replica of Michelangelo's David – and to do so feels like a real privilege whether art is your cup of tea or not. But if you ARE an art lover... my word, you'll be in your element in Florence. The Uffizi Gallery and Accademia are the big galleries vying for your attention, both packed full of priceless art treasures. The Uffizi got my vote, home to a superstar selection of famous works by the likes of Michelangelo, Da Vinci, Botticelli, and Caravaggio. If you plan to visit yourself, be aware that waiting times in the height of summer have been known to reach FIVE hours. So you might want to consider booking your tickets in advance.

Gelato!

Tucked in between Florence's abundant designer fashion shops, you'll find a number of tempting Gelateria's, serving up scoops of ice cream in all kinds of flavours and colours. In fact, gelato is something of a Florentine speciality, since it was apparently right here that ice cream was invented. Visit Florence during May and there's a good chance you'll stumble upon the ten day, 'Firenze Gelato Festival'– an indulgent celebration of all things gelato. So it's safe to say that when you eventually cave in (and you will cave in when you see the foot-high heaps of ice cream in the Gelateria windows) you'll be tucking into some of the world's tastiest ice cream.

The Florentine steak

Not got a sweet tooth? Then how about sinking your teeth into a local favourite, Bistecca alla Fiorentina.  Essentially this is a huge 1kg slab of chargrilled T-Bone steak, traditionally served rare. No side dishes or sauces – just a hunk of meat. You might start panicking when the waiter slams this down on the table - flashbacks to episodes of 'Man vs Food' perhaps - but this steak is so succulent and juicy that you'll have no problems finishing it for lunch (you just might want to skip your seven course dinner that evening though.)

The weather

It's well known that in the height of summer Florence gets hot, sticky and busy. So what better excuse to park yourself under the welcome parasol shade of a piazza-side bar for a couple of hours; order a cool Moretti or Nastro Azzuri beer, kick back, and watch the world wander by. With weather this good, the galleries and museums can always wait.

Take me there:
There are a number of different tour options to Florence from Livorno, but if you prefer to do things at your own pace, tailoring the day to suit your interests, I'd highly recommend choosing the Florence On Your Own shore excursion.

James Mealey
P&O Cruises - Media Co-ordinator

If you’re jetting off to join Ventura this summer, you’ll have the opportunity to discover the crème de la crème of the Mediterranean. Imagine sipping wine in Portofino one day, strolling majestic Florence the next, and experiencing the thrilling Amalfi Drive after that; it’s literally one amazing place after another. But there’s your dilemma. There’s just so much to do! Thankfully, assistance is at hand to help you decide. In this new series of blogs, we chat with members of the shore excursions team. These are P&O Cruises own destination experts and they'll be giving you their top tips and recommendations for each port of call. To get us started, Alison Moore gives us the lowdown on Dubrovnik…



Hi Alison, tell us a little bit about what you do at P&O Cruises...
I’m a Shore Excursions Executive in head office, which means I plan the tour programme for a number of countries, including Croatia. Recently I’ve been busy handpicking shore excursions for Ventura’s Fly-Med season. Before that, I spent five years sailing the globe with Cunard in the Tours Office, completing four World Cruises, and seeing the most amazing places in the world.



So let’s talk about Dubrovnik. How many times have you been there yourself?
Around seven times, mostly when I worked on board, but last year I spent four days in Dubrovnik seeking out brand new experiences for our passengers. That’s a crucial but exciting part of my job, making sure we continually evolve our selection of tours to keep it fresh and exciting.

You’re a bit of an expert on Dubrovnik then. What do you LOVE about Dubrovnik? And is there anything you DON’T love about it?
What’s not to love? It’s such a unique destination. Beautiful marbled streets, a fascinating history, wonderful views, and it’s always a favourite port of call for our passengers.
Hmm what don’t I love about it? Well the streets can get very hot and crowded in the summer, especially if there’s more than one cruise ship in. So if that’s not your cup of tea then it’s worth taking a trip out of town, where you’ll find it’s far more peaceful.

There will be lots of first-time cruisers heading to Dubrovnik this summer. What do you suggest they should see? And can you recommend any ideal tours for newcomers?
They’ll definitely want to explore Dubrovnik’s Old Town, it’s spectacular. It’s surrounded by huge city walls, and there are lots of narrow cobblestoned streets and squares to explore. It’s also got its fair share of sights to photograph, including Europe’s oldest working pharmacy! I recommend the ‘Best of Dubrovnik’ excursion for newcomers as it does exactly what it says on the tin! It’s mostly a walking tour, so you get right into the heart of the Old Town and amongst all its landmarks.



And I also really recommend the cable car, which is one of Dubrovnik’s top tourist attractions.  You need a head for heights, but you get some incredible views of Dubrovnik and the sparkling blue sea.



And what do you recommend for repeat visitors? Anywhere out of town to explore?
I really love Cavtat.  It’s a pretty little waterfront town about 25 minutes from Dubrovnik, with emerald coloured sea, boats and yachts bobbing off shore. It’s full of waterfront cafes, and the whole place is just very photogenic. When I went I just mooched around, stopped for an ice-cream, explored the little church…. it’s that kind of place. Very chilled out, and very pretty.



For passengers who prefer to explore independently, any advice?
If you like to just have a wander around the town at your own leisure, then it’s straightforward enough to do that in Dubrovnik. A popular activity is to walk on top of the city walls.  They’re very tall, so you get some brilliant photos of the city’s terracotta rooftops.  Afterwards, the best way to cool off is with an ice-cream, it’s delicious in Dubrovnik! One important thing to bear in mind is that the main currency in Dubrovnik is the Kuna. Euros are accepted in some places, but in many shops, cafés and attractions – the city walls and the cable car for instance - you’ll find that they only accept the Kuna. So it’s definitely worth taking some with you.

Tell us about some of the brand new excursions you’ve been working on in Dubrovnik...
I’m excited about the ‘Elaphite Island Hopping’ tour. They’re a cluster of islands off the Croatian coastline that are untouched and very very sleepy. You take a boat to three of the islands, where you can go for a swim, laze on a beach, or take a wander to glimpse island life. It’s a relaxing tour with a laidback ‘holiday feel’ to it, which I think will be really popular with the sun seekers this summer.



Another watery-themed tour is ‘Snorkel Adventure,’ which is good fun if you love searching for sea life.  The Adriatic Sea is so crystal clear, and very refreshing!

Any tips for families travelling with kids?
Both the Elaphite Island Hopping and Snorkel Adventure tours are brilliant options for families, and if any families are interested in booking these tours, I’d recommend that you look out for the specially packaged ‘Family Ticket’ tour on Cruise Personaliser as you’ll make some savings on the ticket cost.
Another fun option is called ‘Kayak around the City Walls,’ which I anticipate adventure-seekers to snap up this summer. You literally paddle alongside Dubrovnik’s massive medieval walls and into hidden coves. Where else can you do that?



Any expert tips we should know about?
Choose your footwear wisely!  The streets in the Old Town are shiny marble, and can be quite slippery underfoot.  And Dubrovnik can get very hot because of the big walls that surround it.  When I was there last July it was 40 degrees!   So if heat is a problem for you, I’d definitely recommend heading away from the Old Town, perhaps take an air conditioned coach ride into the countryside, or enjoy the sea breeze on a boat trip. Another top tip is that most of the shore excursions in Dubrovnik only last half a day or less, which means you can have the best of both worlds – see a bit more of Croatia in the morning on a tour, with free time to yourself in Dubrovnik afterwards.

What’s your favourite ever Dubrovnik memory?
There’s a viewpoint on the road out of Dubrovnik, which gives the most perfect view of the city.    And the first time I saw that... jaw dropping!



Finally, just for fun, describe Dubrovnik in 5 words
Beautiful, dramatic, small, sparkling, scorching!

James Mealey
P&O Cruises - Media Co-ordinator

Around 2 weeks ago, we kicked off our brand new series of "Destination Expert" blog articles where Alison Moore gave us some of her top tips for visiting Dubrovnik. Today, we continue the series with Sara Ciliberto; our resident expert on all things Venice...



Hi Sara, tell us a little bit about your job at P&O Cruises...
I’m a Shore Excursions Executive at P&O Cruises head office in Southampton, which means I’m responsible for planning tours in 90-odd ports of call, including all the Italian ports. Previous to this, I worked at sea as a Shore Excursions Manager on board our ships, so you may well have seen me running up and down the quayside with a clipboard over the years!




Let’s talk about Venice. How many times have you been there yourself? 
I’m not one to boast but over the 10 years working for P&O Cruises, probably between 30 to 40 times. I’ve been very lucky!


Wow, so you must’ve seen it all! Tell us about your favourite ever Venice memory...
My first sail in, which I think was on Oriana. Venice is one of the best sail ins (and outs) in the world, and there’s nothing like arriving in a port and seeing the locals look up at the ship in awe. It’s a wonderful feeling. I remember having to pinch myself and thinking ‘am I really here?’. So my top tip is to get up early for the incredible sail in to Venice. But don’t worry if you oversleep, as the sail away in the evening can be just as magical.




What do you love about Venice? And what DON’T you love about it?
I love the atmosphere, the noise, and believe it or not, the smell... yes really! It has that kind of exciting holiday smell that you get when you first step off a plane or ship, full of anticipation and excitement for discovering a new place. I really love the quirky shops tucked away down quiet streets, selling Venetian masks and glass. And I also love the art - I have a lovely pastel original at home which I bought from a street artist in 2010.



What don't I love? It can be a pricey city, especially if you sit down for a coffee in St Marks Square (though it’s still a wonderful experience). Also some of the gondoliers can appear aloof and moody - but don’t be offended - it’s just the way they are.


For passengers heading to Venice for the first time this summer, what do you suggest they see?
There are lots of wonderful sights to see! Venice is known for its bridges so don’t miss the Rialto Bridge, which spans the Grand Canal. You also can’t visit Venice without strolling through St Marks Square, home to St Marks Basilica and the Doges Palace. They’re all essential sights for first time visitors.


And of course top of many people’s lists will be a ride in a gondola, it’s the quintessential Venetian experience! If that is on your list then I’d definitely consider booking the ‘Gondola Ride’ shore excursion, which saves you having to haggle with the gondoliers yourself.


For those passengers who have already been to Venice, where do you recommend?
Murano and Burano are really charming little islands in the Venetian Lagoon. Murano is where they make all that famous glass, and you can actually see the talented glassmakers at work in the factory. Burano is best known for its colourful fisherman houses, so you can get some excellent photos here. Both islands are far quieter than Venice, and have a much more ‘local’ feel to them.



We also offer a tour to the city of Verona, where Shakespeare’s star-crossed lovers Romeo and Juliet fell in love! It’s a stunning Italian city with a Roman amphitheatre and open air market, and you can even visit Juliet’s famous balcony.The reason I’d recommend Verona is because it’s somewhere you might not necessarily visit otherwise, so it’s a really good opportunity to see it while you’re nearby.



Tell us about the brand new wine tasting excursion you’ve planned for passengers in Venice this summer.
Oh yes, ‘A Taste of Prosecco’. It’s a good alternative to sightseeing if you want to experience something different. You venture deep into the rolling countryside by coach, where you visit the Prosecco cellars of Villa Sandi and sample some of the sparkling fizz. Definitely one for those who enjoy a splash of culture… and wine!


For passengers who prefer to explore independently, any advice?
P&O Cruises run a chargeable shuttle service from the pier directly to St Marks Square, from where the centre of the city is all pretty walk-able. There are lots of shops and cafes in the centre of Venice, and it’s all very bustling. Vaporettos are the local water buses to help you get around, though these can be standing room only in the summer. And you must make sure you validate your ticket before you travel on a Vaporetto, as they dish out hefty 60 Euro fines to those who don’t.


Any tips for those families travelling with kids?
A gondola ride followed by a gelato would be something they would enjoy for sure! Or chasing the pigeons in St Marks Square… great fun! Venice is such a unique, quirky city that I’m sure they’ll be as wide-eyed as their parents.



Any expert advice we should know about?  
As I mentioned earlier, gondola rides are the ultimate way to see Venice, and great fun too. But if you choose to do this on your own, be aware that the starting price for negotiations is 80 Euros for a 40 minute ride. It’s not cheap, and if you want your gondolier to serenade you, you’ll pay even more for the privilege. So a far more convenient option is to book a gondola shore excursion with P&O Cruises, which means you’ll know exactly what you’re paying up front, with no unexpected costs or negotiations.


Describe your perfect day in Venice...
That’s easy! I’d begin with a morning stroll through St Marks Square, then wander around some of the quieter backstreets. Later, i'd maybe take a gentle gondola ride, then sit in a cafe with a delicious scoop of gelato and watch the world go by.



Finally, just for fun, sum up Venice in 5 words!
Like nowhere else on Earth!

David George

Guest blogger David George realises his dream of going Down Under as a passenger on board Arcadia for her 2014 world cruise.









On an early winter evening and with a military band filling the air with marches and patriotic songs, Arcadia slipped her lines and gently edged into Southampton Water. This was was my first taste of the high life that is world cruising and things got even better when the skies erupted into a spectacular fireworks display. On and on it went, each barrage of bangs accompanied by multi-coloured starbursts bigger and better than the last. If this is what the residents of Southampton enjoy every time a ship leaves on a circumnavigation, I may just consider moving home and heading south!


My cases were waiting after muster stations but I was in no mood for unpacking. Since my last cruise, Arcadia had undergone a £45 million refit and I wanted to see how the money had been spent.


The Crows Nest has long been a favourite venue and the makeover has created an even more sophisticated meeting place, a lounge that retains all the virtues of its fine location overlooking the bows but now with an emphasis on clusters of tables and armchairs. The result is increased comfort and style; no wonder it’s such a popular venue at sailaways or before dinner. Just imagine looking out across Sydney Harbour Bridge from here! The colour scheme - teal and cream predominating – emphasises the new elegance.

Other changes are equally impressive. The shopping arcade is bigger and brighter, more akin to an airport Duty Free, and enclosing the Globe with glass doors means activities there need no longer be interrupted by the chatter of passengers outside.

The casino has been downsized. It always struck me as being out of proportion to the needs of Arcadia and I think the refit has just about got it right. The range of gaming machines seems the same and the roulette wheel still takes pride of place. As I explored further, I realised that some of the changes are subtler. Across the ship, from cabins to corridors and from restaurants to relaxing lounges, the carpets have been replaced, the deep pile opulence underlining Arcadia's renaissance.

From the outside, the biggest change (and noticeable to all loyal Arcadians on the transfer coach when we approached check-in at Mayfair Terminal) is the addition of new cabins on the Sun deck. These include inside, single, double, and balcony staterooms, and they underscore the extent of Arcadia’s changes. Occupants of these cabins told me how pleased they were, especially as the rooms are located so near the Crows Nest.

In addition to Arcadia’s upgrades and extra facilities, the entire P&O Cruises fleet will be given a new look in the coming months. Nobody can deny that the P&O Cruises beige funnels are a bit dull when compared with the livery of other cruise companies and so I’m pleased that, starting with Aurora, all the ships will in future sport blue funnels with illuminated rising suns. More dramatically, new designs on the bows will incorporate a stylised version of the British flag so that in one fell swoop P&O Cruises will better project British values around the world.


But back to the present and passengers may now opt for Freedom Dining in Upper Meridian restaurant. My friends and I decided, however, to remain loyal to traditional Club Dining in Lower Meridian and we quickly made new friends with our table companions. During the cruise I talked to Arcadia’s Executive Purser, Peter Thomas (below). He is one of the fleet’s most experienced hotel managers, joining P&O Cruises in 1980 and initially working on SS Uganda at the front desk. As a result he has seen many changes down the years but few as ambitious as Arcadia’s refit.


“The enhancements have been superb,” Peter told me, “and feedback from our passengers has been overwhelmingly positive.  We’ve been asked to introduce Freedom Dining for a long time and it is definitely proving to be a success, with passengers enjoying the flexibility to choose the time they eat. We also have more tables for two to meet increased demand.”  Dinner commences at six o’clock in Upper Meridian, a popular time for many, but nevertheless queuing was minimal and those who dined later told me there was no waiting at all.

The Screening Room, Arcadia’s cinema, has new deep pile carpets but no extra seating. “It is, however, better managed,” Peter explained. “Passengers are now able to book seats 24 hours in advance which means fewer disappointments before each showing.” I tried the system and it works. Many of the films screened are new releases and sometimes the Screening Room just cannot cope. Peter recognises the problem. “In these cases our Cruise Director will always try to offer a bigger venue or repeat the film on another day, as he did recently when we showed ‘Philomena’.”

With each passing day the weather became sunnier. How satisfying to realise that not only would we be escaping most of winter back home but also saving on energy bills as well!  It seemed no time at all before we were in Barbados with temperatures around 30c.


Sunbathing on Carlisle Beach I realised another bonus in doing the entire circumnavigation. Until now the Caribbean has always been the end of the line for me, this being the point when the ship sets sail for her return to Southampton.  But not this time! From Barbados we would be continuing westwards until eventually - via the United States, the Pacific, New Zealand and Australia - we would commence the second half of our grand voyage to places I had only dreamed of visiting . . . Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Mumbai, Dubai, Muscat and onwards to the Mediterranean.

The transit of the Panama Canal, one hundred years old this year, was fascinating with only inches to spare either side of us and in the company of other ships. For P&O Cruises it was also expensive. The fare was a whopping $399,000 and even at this price the mules towing us through managed to scrape the paint along a starboard stretch of Arcadia. Two ports later, I’m pleased to say we were pristine again after deckhands had wielded their paintbrushes with great speed and skill.


With the South American rainforests to port and frigate birds overhead, we progressed our way and were treated at the far side of Gatun Lake to the sight of crocodiles resting in the shade of overhanging trees. From the Bridge, a commentary kept everyone informed and from where I was – on the aft decks – it seemed as though every single passenger was outside enjoying our transit from the Caribbean Sea to the Pacific Ocean.

Crossing the Equator was just as eventful. King Neptune (looking astonishingly like the manager of the Whitewall Gallery) presided over the traditional ceremony, with officers and crew competing in hard-fought battles that often involved an early bath in the swimming pool. Great fun, and with the officers winning, we were finally granted our right to a safe passage into the southern hemisphere.


On into the Pacific, the tiny island of Bora Bora and the Bay of Islands, New Zealand, were tranquil but marred by showery weather. However, the optional tours revealed their hidden beauty and we learned much about island life. On Bora Bora we stopped at Bloody Mary’s, a beach bar, for a drink and for me the discovery that this is where ‘South Pacific’ was filmed. How naïve of me to think it was set in Bali!

I knew a major highlight would be Sydney and the city didn’t disappoint.


Cosmopolitan, colourful and with a most amazing skyline, we had two days to explore. Arcadia berthed in Circular Quay close by the famous bridge and just 200 metres across the water from the Opera House, a stunning setting and an ideal base.  We used our time to see the main sights but included one or two that were different. On the second morning we took a bus (£3.50 return) out to Bondi Beach, 20 minutes away, to watch the surfers and walk the cliff paths. Beneath a blue sky and with temperatures in the low 30s, the image more than lived up to my expectations for Australia.


On our return to the city, we joined locals at Paddy’s Market. For those like me who were in desperate need of a didgeridoo, this was the place to buy them; prices were much cheaper than in stores nearer the ship. It was in Sydney that we had one of the biggest changeovers of passengers. Hundreds disembarked and a similar number, mainly Australians, came on board. As one of the 400 or so who was doing the full circumnavigation, it felt as if we were hosting arrivals at a large party. We bid farewell to our table companion James Wilson, a passenger who grew up in Scotland but is now a proud Aussie.  He was returning to his home in Ulladulla about 230 miles south of Sydney and was as sorry to go, as we were to see him leave. “I’ve loved every minute,” he said. “I always use P&O Cruises and this time things were even better because the Captain (Aseem Hashmi) was such a friendly guy. He kept us up to date with his daily announcements and more than that, he was always to be seen around the ship, happy to answer questions and have a chat.”

Entertainment in the evenings was of a high standard and the Headliners were amongst some of the best I’ve seen. ‘Another Opening, Another Show’ is a favourite of mine probably because it includes that wonderful song from Les Miserables, ‘Master of the House’. I caught up with the cast after one of the shows and their enthusiasm shone through. Welshman Matthew Jones (below), one of the vocalists and rarely to be seen around the ship without a cheery smile, was on his third contract and loving every minute. “We do our shows three times a day every other day, so it’s hectic – but what a way to gain stage experience!”


Tiffany Jones (above), on the other hand, was on her first contract having completed her training at the London School of Musical Theatre. She told me about the selection process when a thousand hopefuls went through their paces before the lucky (and talented!) few secured contracts. “It was nerve-racking,” she admitted, “but I’m so pleased to be here. I love dancing and I love travelling, so this is perfect!”

Throughout the days and evenings there was other entertainment to enjoy.  Steve Brookes, the gardening expert from BBC Gardeners’ World, gave a series of talks and fielded an array of questions; West End star Brian Conley was brilliant; but my favourite was poet and comedian Pam Ayres. Her gentle humour and enormous memory made each show special and I was thrilled when she joined one of our art classes, not only to paint but also to have a natter. Her watercolour, by the way, was later auctioned and raised more than £600 for MacMillan Cancer Support. Of the stage acts, the Elvis tribute went down well and for originality I enjoyed John Udry’s comedy juggling.

The man with the responsibility for constructing this jigsaw of activities was Cruise Director Dom Hones (below). He joined P&O Cruises in 2005 and this was his first world cruise as Director. ”My first ship was Arcadia and so it’s good to be back,” he told me over the first of two special lunches for those doing the complete circumnavigation.


Dom leads a team of six entertainment officers and on both sea days and port days they deliver a range of events. “We not only co-ordinate the programmes of talks, classes, shows and films but also lead many of them ourselves. There’s quoits and table tennis, iPad seminars for beginners, quizzes, bridge clubs, get-togethers for those travelling on their own – you name it, we do it! But my own favourite is Name That Tune, probably because I present it!” I can see why the quiz is so popular. I went along to the Rising Sun to join in and the contest’s pace and humour was infectious, highlighting Dom’s skills in whipping up a competitive atmosphere. Another popular event and one that he has helped develop across the fleet is the Sailaway Party. “We used to do just a Great British Sailaway when we were leaving Southampton but they’re very popular and now we hold them when we leave other ports as well.”

But back to the itinerary. I’d heard so much about Singapore – its cleanliness, its architecture, its weather – and I wondered if it would live up to its billing. Well it did, and we found the city easy to explore independently, both on foot and via the underground. Some of the buildings were beyond belief. One of the city’s premier hotels comprises three tower blocks linked by a ‘cruise ship’ across the roofs. No wonder it boasts a staff of 30,000! Yet by the riverside, Old Singapore continues to thrive and the contrast between colonial clapboard bars and skyscraper offices summed up the city’s uniqueness perfectly.



Of all the places we visited, Mumbai will be my most vivid memory. You might think that the colour and chaos of its noisy streets filled with buses, cars, battered taxis, bicycles and cattle would prepare you for glimpses of great wealth and appalling squalor, but not a bit of it. There is simply too much to take in. Mumbai is unlike anything I have ever seen: a city teeming with people (the Central Station alone handles two million passengers a day), filled with history, and a sense that it is on the brink of great prosperity. We were as fascinated by the open-air laundry at Dhobi Ghat as we were with the opulence of the Taj Hotel, but whatever you decide to do you won’t forget the experience.

However, take a tip from me. Select a blue and white official taxi if you plan to explore independently because these are the ones with air conditioning. And whatever you do, don’t wait for a gap in the traffic before crossing a road; if you do, you’ll still be there when the ship sails! Instead only cross at the traffic lights . . . you should be safe there. Alternatively, perhaps this is a port to take one of the ship’s organised tours?

On a world cruise, the variety of ports and different cultures is massive. If Mumbai was thrilling, Muscat was sedate and squeaky clean. En route to Oman we were at sea for a few days, plenty of time to practise our piracy drills. The threat of Somali pirates is not as great as it was even a few years ago but P&O Cruises rightly takes no chances. Former Royal Marines came on board to help the ship’s security team patrol the decks 24 hours a day and fire hoses were set up along the Prom deck to help repel boarders. Up on the Bridge a senior naval officer was on hand to offer the Captain advice and, with every precaution taken, Arcadia duly crossed the Indian Ocean without incident.

Eating well (and eating often) is central to the success of any cruise and we were lucky to have a team of chefs on Arcadia who prepared some wonderful meals. At breakfast I tried to eat sensibly – three cheers for the breakfast porridge which was always hot and never lumpy – and at lunch I restricted myself (sometimes) to fresh fruit with perhaps one of the Belvedere trifles which surely can’t have that many calories, but by afternoon tea I was more than ready for a salmon sandwich and freshly-baked scones.

And so to dinner. Our waiters in Lower Meridian were Rajkashor and Girish and they were superb, as was our wine waiter, Desmond. He chased round the tables to ensure that orders were met promptly and introduced me to a very acceptable wine, an Australian Mullygrubber. At £15.25 it was good value. I enjoyed the lamb shank and the sea bass on more than one occasion; both choices were brilliant and so was a new addition – a luxury Welsh rarebit, a simple meal but a tasty one after so many dinnertime feasts.  Although meals now come to the table ready-plated, the servings are good and it is still possible to order additions. For me this too often meant declining more vegetables and instead opting for a dollop of ice cream with the dessert.

After dinner and before a show, I enjoyed visiting the Whitewall Gallery to look at some of the original paintings and limited editions that are on sale. Back home I feel on edge about walking into a gallery for fear that I might be pressured into buying or simply being made to feel ignorant, but on board the atmosphere is informal. Gallery manager Michael Aveiro (below) is as happy to leave you to look as he is to engage in discussion and answer questions.



“We carry around 400 pieces of artwork and so the pictures and sculptures on display are always changing,” Michael told me. “These days art is one of the top three alternative investments and that’s borne out by the number of passengers who drop by on the way to a quiz or a show.” He and his colleague, Lindsay Pownall (above), gave talks about different artists and about investment potential and they were always well attended.

Because the paintings were displayed 24 hours a day, I could opt to walk by when there wasn’t a soul about or lose myself in the crowd when Michael organised a special activity. At one such event Captain Hashmi unveiled the Gallery’s most expensive picture, a £33,500 Fabian Perez, an Argentinian artist who is establishing himself as the next Jack Vettriano. But there are bargains to be had as well. I couldn’t resist one of the oil paintings and know it will bring back some good memories of this memorable cruise whenever I look at it.

Three months of enjoying Arcadia’s hospitality and first class service as we cruised the world passed all too quickly. No sooner had we transited the Suez Canal (where the charges made the Panama Canal’s look small by comparison) than we were heading through the Med and towards our Farewell Cocktail Party. Email addresses and contact numbers were exchanged and pledges made to meet again on another cruise. But how can anything top a world circumnavigation? It won’t be easy but I intend trying.

Jean and Roy Thompson from Bury were on their first world cruise as well and Jean has the last word. “For me,” she reflected one evening over her after-dinner chocolates, “it’s been like living in a secure bubble. You go to bed having enjoyed all the comforts and activities on board and when you wake you’ve been safely delivered to another unforgettable port . . . magical. I’ve loved every minute!”
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James Mealey
P&O Cruises - Media Co-ordinator

Our series of destination expert blog posts continues today as we delve deeper into some of the most spectacular destinations the Mediterranean has to offer.



Hi Ali, tell us a little bit about what you do at P&O Cruises...
My current job title is Port Presenter, Shoreside - which means I research and produce informative port presentations for those cruises that don’t have a Port Presenter on board. So I’ve constantly got my nose in a guidebook or travel website, researching all about our wonderful ports of call. Occasionally I’ll travel on-board myself to deliver live port talks in the theatre. Before my current role in head office, I worked at sea for six years, both as a Port Presenter and in Future Cruise Sales.



Let’s talk Livorno. It’s the gateway port into beautiful Tuscany! How many times have you been to the region yourself?
I’d say about half a dozen times. There’s so much diversity in this region that I reckon you could easily spend a couple of weeks exploring Tuscany and still not see anywhere near it all!

What do you LOVE about Tuscany? And is there anything you DON’T love about it?
I love the art and architecture of Florence, the peacefulness of the rural villages and the endless gorgeousness of the Tuscan countryside – think rolling hills dotted with vineyards, olive trees and old stone houses (it’s a cliché I know but it really is gorgeous).

Actually I love most things Italian - especially the vibrancy of the people and the tasty local food and drink!
What I don’t love quite as much is the intensity of the summer heat and the Italian traffic!



There will be lots of new cruisers calling at Livorno this summer. What do you suggest they should see? And can you recommend any ideal tours for people on their first cruise?
First and foremost, my advice to newcomers is that Livorno really is intended as a gateway port into Tuscany. Sure, you can linger in Livorno for the day if you wish, but believe me, come sailaway time you’ll be so envious of all those passengers buzzing about their day in beautiful Tuscany.

Of course, the iconic cities of Florence and Pisa are absolutely unmissable, and for that reason many newcomers are bound to want to see both, which is perfectly possible in a day if you take a shore excursion, so I’d recommend the ‘Florence and Pisa’ shore excursion.




And what do you recommend for repeat visitors?
If you’ve done Florence and Pisa, then I’d really recommend exploring some of the Tuscan countryside and towns, like Lucca for example. It’s a leafy medieval city that’s surrounded by these huge walls which you can walk on, though getting around by bike is the best way to blend in here. There’s also an idyllic piazza, which is like a scene from an old Italian postcard. Gorgeous.

There are also lots of other great tours into Tuscany, including walks in the countryside, winery visits and even the chance to visit a family run pasta factory (and believe me, their pasta is delicious!). So my advice is to think beyond the hot spots of Florence and Pisa, as there are some real gems to discover in this region.



For passengers who prefer to go ashore independently, any advice?
Yes loads!

Firstly it is possible to reach Florence, Pisa or Lucca by train from Livorno, but in all honesty it’s a bit of a hassle. You will need to take the shuttle into Livorno, take a bus or taxi to the station, buy and validate your ticket and then take the train to your destination. And then do the same on the return! Feedback from past passengers has indicated that they spent so much time worrying about the return journey that they didn’t really have time to enjoy the destination.  It’s far more convenient to pay a bit more and take an organised transfer directly from (and back to) the quayside.

Secondly taxis on the quayside tend to want to take you touring rather than on a short journey into town. They also tend to be the larger taxi vans, so you pay for the size of the vehicle regardless of how many people are in your party. For example in April this year they were quoting 240 euro for a taxi tour to Lucca and Pisa!

Any tips for families travelling with kids?
The obvious choice is a trip to Viareggio beach. It’s an attractive resort that comes complete with a swimming ‘lido’, an elegant promenade and shops, cafes and restaurants galore - so there’s plenty to amuse the whole family, even if you tire of the beach.
Alternatively there’s a lot of family fun to be had posing for photos in Pisa!



Any expert advice we should know about?
If you have concerns about your levels of mobility then choose your tours with care. In both Florence and Pisa it’s necessary to walk quite some distance from the coach to the main sights. The ‘Easy Pisa’ tour is (as its title indicates) a little easier, as a trolley train transports you from the coach park.  

Also be prepared for the price of the ice-cream in Florence. Recently I had a conversation with a passenger who adored the city, but was still reeling from the shock of paying 20 euro for 2 ice-creams!

Lastly expect heat, crowds and crazy traffic in high season – this is Italy after all!

What’s your favourite ever Tuscany memory?
My most recent one!  I was lucky enough to join the Taste of Tuscany excursion in April this year, visiting a Tuscan farmhouse to indulge in wine-tasting and pasta eating!  It was absolutely delicious – the real deal!  We also visited the world famous ‘Martelli’ pasta factory, which is completely family-run.  We all couldn’t believe that such a place could still exist in this modern world.
 
Everyone had a fantastic time on this tour – one couple even commenting to me that it was the best tour they’ve ever done.  And I loved it so much that I’m going to write a blog about this experience soon, so keep an eye out for that!




Describe your perfect day in Tuscany...
Hmm that’s a tricky one, as any day in Tuscany could be perfect.  I love the ambience, art and architecture of Florence and would love to go back to explore the museums and then take some incredible photographs around the city.

Based on my most recent experience though, I’d have to say that wherever I ended up my perfect day would have to involve eating and drinking some of the local produce – well it would be rude not too!

Finally, just for fun, describe Tuscany in 5 words
Cities, countryside and coast = choice!

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China Town

Gardens by the Bay, Singapore

Rio

On selected holidays sailing between 1 September 2014 and 30 June 2015, we're giving you free spending money when you book our Select Price. To celebrate, we are pleased to bring you The Great Sail Away Photo Competition!

P&O Cruises wants to see your best #SailAwaySelfie. Our favourite picture will win a Short Break to Bruges for 2 adults in a balcony cabin – not bad for just sending us a photo!

To enter, visit our competition page here: http://bit.ly/1na06Tu. All you need to do is take a picture relating to a P&O Cruises sail away. This could be a #SailAwaySelfie of you and your friends, a shot of a sail away party or even a picture of a ship sailing off into the sunset. As long as it's related to a P&O Cruises sail away, it's fit for the contest! Once you've got your picture, upload it to our competition app. All valid entries will then appear at the bottom of the app where our fans will vote for their favourite snaps.

The contest will close on Friday 25th July at 5pm B.S.T. It'll be down to you to share the link with your friends and get them to vote for your entry – so start spreading that link! A panel of P&O Cruises judges will select the winner (taking the votes into account) who will be notified by email after the closing date. Happy snapping!

Terms and Conditions

Prize details

The prize is a two night mini cruise to Bruges for two adults with P&O Cruises. The cruise includes a balcony cabin for two, full board meals, daily afternoon tea and entertainment on board.

The ship calls at Zeebrugge for trips to Bruges with its pretty market squares, cobbled streets, medieval gables, criss-crossing canals and of course plenty of chocolate shops!

Terms & conditions

1.Once a winner has been selected their details will be passed to Carnival plc, trading as P&O Cruises, who will contact the winner with details of how to arrange their cruise. P&O Cruises will offer a choice of seven mini cruises to the prize winner for travel between October 2014 and April 2015, subject to availability. These include:
Departing 7 Oct X422 http://www.pocruises.com/X422
Departing 13 Oct A426N http://www.pocruises.com/A426N
Departing 16 Nov R422 http://www.pocruises.com/R422
Departing 22 Nov X428 http://www.pocruises.com/X428
Departing 19 Dec R426 http://www.pocruises.com/R426
Departing 7 Mar E505N http://www.pocruises.com/E505N
Departing 10 Apr N508 http://www.pocruises.com/N508

2.The prize is a two night P&O Cruises mini cruise for two adults aged 18 or over, sharing a balcony cabin and sailing between October 2014 and April 2015. The cruise is on a full board basis, including on-board main meals (excluding specialty restaurants – in which a cover charge will apply), entertainment and most on board facilities.

3.P&O Cruises accept no responsibility for any costs associated with the prize that are not expressly included in the prize. In particular, entrants should note that the prize does not include: travel to or from Southampton, travel insurance, shore excursions, or any other personal expenses such as for drinks, spa treatments, or gratuities, or the cost of any travel documentation or visa. Adequate travel insurance and valid travel documentation are conditions of travel and the winner and their guest must arrange these themselves.

4.The winner will be bound by P&O Cruises’ booking conditions; for details see the P&O Cruises Second Edition March 2014 – April 2015 brochure.

5.The prize is non-exchangeable, non-transferable and not redeemable for cash or any other prize.

6.P&O Cruises reserves the right to offer an alternative prize of equal or greater value if the prize offered is not available.

7.If a winner does not respond to P&O Cruises within 60 days of being notified of their win, the winner’s prize will be forfeited and P&O Cruises shall be entitled to select another winner in accordance with the process described above (and that winner will have to respond to notification of their win within 60 days or else they will also forfeit their prize).  If a winner rejects their prize, the entry is invalid or in breach of these terms, or if the winner is unable to claim their prize for any other reason, the winner’s prize will be forfeited and P&O Cruises shall be entitled to select another winner.

8.By entering the draw, you agree to the collection, retention, usage and distribution of your personal information in order to process and contact you about your entry.

9.The prize has been provided by Carnival plc trading as P&O Cruises, Carnival House, 100 Harbour Parade, Southampton, SO15 1ST.

Matt Sparks
P&O Cruises - Digital Team

Each and every month on board our ships, we recognise members of our staff and crew who have performed above-and-beyond the call of duty in what we call our CRUISE Awards. This could be an outstanding piece of customer service, someone that goes that extra mile for our customers or perhaps those who have helped their colleagues in some way. There are many things taken into account when senior officers decide who will win the award, such as customer questionnaires, ad-hoc feedback from other members of staff and more. Recently, we've had a number of our customers ask who is winning the awards each month. As such, we thought it would be great to communicate to you all, and what better place to do that than our blog!

We do operate a couple of months behind with this, but please find below the winners of May's CRUISE awards. Each month we'll be updating the blog with the latest winners, so keep checking back for future updates. Find May's winners below. Do you recognise any of these people? Let us know in the comments at the bottom of this page...

Adonia

Dominic Homes - Cruise Director


"An outstanding professional performance. Always goes the extra mile. A credit to P&O Cruises, Dominic is always helpful. Friendly personality and always sociable to fellow cruisers. Once again Dom has made our cruise so enjoyable. He is a truly outstanding Cruise Director. Dominic exercised exactly the correct amount of friendliness and enthusiasm. He was funny without being silly or patronising. Not over the top and professional. When I felt ill he dealt with the situation and recognised me later to ask if I was ok. Among a hard working crew, Dom has been head and shoulders above everyone else. He has been extremely visible, always approachable and cheerful, a man who obviously enjoys his work. Dom has really made this cruise enjoyable and memorable. His enthusiasm and good humour are contagious and he just gets stuck in with the rest of his team. From previous experience Cruise Directors are sometimes in the background. Dom is a real credit to Adonia. Gave us a good laugh and was one of the gang not afraid to make a fool of himself. Dom was really friendly, he worked so hard and P&O Cruises should be proud of him. Best Cruise Director we have come across. Great fun. Improved the cruise experience for us by 100%. At the awards ceremony Dominic kindly donated his prize money to the British Red Cross Balkans Flood Appeal."

Oceana

Lorena Torres - 2nd Commis Chef


"Lorena has received over 20 comment cards per cruise for the Excellent food she is providing for the Filipino crew in the Crew Mess some of the comments she has received were "Lorena cooks with Love I feel like I am at home“, "Its the best food for Filipino's on any cruise ship“, “Lorena is very hard working and always gives 100% her food is excellent." Technical Team, Accommodation , Galley, Bars & Restaurant have all filled out comment cards for her. Very Well Done Lorena!"

Arcadia

Karen Newstead - Assistant Administration Manager

Oriana

Ian Federico - Accommodation Assistant


"Ian gratefully assisted the Safety Officer in a safety critical task outside of his normal role for 3 days and always being helpful and upbeat."

Ventura

Ruben Hosea Adams - Junior Chef De Partie


"Mr. Adams assisted me to get back to my wife after I lost myself on the vessel & became disoriented. His calm, reassuring voice and attitude helped me greatly to find my wife eliminating the panic. I was feeling after this adventure, at any other times he saw me, he ensured that I returned to my wife safely. I feel his performance and attitude are absolutely outstanding"

Azura

Alastair Smith & Julius Cortez - 1st Engineering Officer & Hotel Fitter


"For going the extra mile in installing the new partition in the Crew Office at such short notice. This was for he HMS Preparation. GREAT JOB DONE!"

Aurora

Shantanu Prabhakar Sonpatki - Passenger Services Assistant

"A passenger’s dinner jacket was badly stained when a member of his table group accidentally spilled port wine on it. Shaan took a great deal of trouble and tried to locate a dry cleaning service on shore, he even telephoned ahead of ports of call to see if that could be done. He was unsuccessful but his efforts were exemplary and was well appreciated. Early in the cruise a passenger and his wife received the grievous news that a very close relative had died. The kindness consideration and thoughtfulness shown by Shaan was quite exceptional."

Alison Webster
P&O Cruises - Port Presenter

• Are you calling into Livorno this summer?
• Have you been to Florence and Pisa before?
• Would you rather avoid the masses and go off the main tourist track?

If you can answer "yes" to these questions, I can highly recommend an alternative trip into the countryside for a real taste of Tuscany...





I was lucky enough to join this fantastic excursion in April 2014, and here’s my account of what myself and 48 passengers saw, heard and tasted along the way...

'Mamma Mia' Moments

 
Our local guide Luca really got us into the Italian mood before we left the quayside. We were greeted with a rather loud exclamation of ‘Mamma Mia!’ (best read in an Italian accent) as he approached our group. The expression translates literally as ‘my Mother’ but he explained that despite all regions of Italy having their own dialect, ‘Mamma Mia’ is universally recognized throughout the country's cultures. Luca told us that it's akin to saying "oh my gosh" in English. Now I don't know about you, but I can't really remember the last time I spoke those precise words.
However, Luca used the expression quite a lot - much to the amusement of the (largely British) tour party! The Urban Dictionary definition of "Mamma Mia" reads "an Italian expression, denoting various kinds of emotions: surprise, fear, rejection, joy". With that in mind, Luca's outburts began to make much more sense! Soon enough though we left the huge, sprawling port and were passing through the glorious Tuscan countryside.

Despite a few morning clouds the views from the coach window were gorgeously green, and en route to our first stop we were educated, informed and entertained about what we could expect from the day ahead.

Lovely Lari

 
Tucked away in the Tuscan countryside - somewhere near Pisa - is the small, ancient hamlet of Lari. It's a medieval town. famous for being the home of the Martelli family and their ‘Artisan Pasta’ business. And incidentally ‘Artisan’ means ‘a person or company that makes a high quality or distinctive product in small quantities, usually by hand or using traditional methods’- and that’s true enough here!





The town is very small and quaint - think peaceful, rural and almost empty...

I had a quick look round and found that the local cafe doubles up as the local shop. There’s also a little theatre, a small church, a huge fort and a number of wonderful viewpoints...





And asides from those of us on the Taste of Tuscany tour, there was barely a soul to be seen. I spotted a couple of locals going about their daily business, but not another tourist in sight.
It’s the sort of place that features on the TV programme ‘A place in the sun’- and the sort of place where you dream of having a holiday home...

Perfect Pasta

 



The real purpose of our visit to Lari though was to visit the local pasta factory, which has been in operation since 1926. The current workforce stands at just seven employees, and all are part of the Martelli Family. Each and every one of them can do any of the jobs required and they work long, 12 hour shifts every day. There are just two rooms to view at the factory - one where the pasta is created and another where it’s dried. There's no "exit through the gift shop" here.

The Martelli pasta factory is a small, rustic operation that harks back to traditional values and techniques. It’s almost hard to believe that such a place still exists and manages to survive in this modern day
world, but it's certainly impressive.

They produce just five types of pasta here; spaghetti, spaghettini (a skinny version of spaghetti) fusili, maccheroni and penne. But what is it that makes their produce so special? Well unlike the mass produced stuff that you might find lining the shelves of your local supermarket (which we learnt is typically dried in about five minutes by huge blasts of furnace hot air), Martelli pasta is carefully hung out to dry strand by strand. It hangs, like washing, for an average of 50 hours in a carefully controlled temperature. There are racks and racks of it everywhere and it's testament to just how much careful thought and precision goes into the making of this pasta.




One of the family members, Luca, explained (with the help of an interpreter) the painstaking process that creates their perfect pasta. Firstly, they take the finest durum wheat, grind it into semolina, and then knead it with cold water. But the key to perfecting their pasta lies in a bronze disc, through which the dough is hand fed to create the perfect shape and texture. And it’s the texture that makes this pasta different, resulting in a far superior product. Rather than being smooth, to the point that your bolognaise, ragu or sauce of choice slides off the pasta when you twirl it with your fork, it’s actually quite rough to the touch. Pushing the pasta through the magical bronze disc makes it porous, and that means that the sauce will stick rather than slide, as it absorbs into the pasta.




After 30 minutes or so at the factory most passengers headed back to the only shop at the village to make their purchases. Among them, I heard murmurs of determination - never to buy cheap pasta again! Many decided to stock up on the excellent Martelli pasta and at 4 euros per kilogram, it's hard not to.

Wine o’clock

 
 A 20 minute drive took us to our next stop;  the estate of Torre A Cenaia, a local vineyard, farm and agriturismo site in the countryside of the Valdera hills. Once owned by the noble Pitti family who explored and exploited the potential of wine production - which they did pretty well -  it’s still the Pitti family’s coat of arms that adorns the bottles here.





A quick tour of the cellars, with its stainless steel vats and oak wood barrels, was followed by the tasting session. On this occasion we sat in a lovely spacious room indoors. You can also opt to sit outside in the Tuscan sun, however. First a cool glass of white, followed by a red, and another blended red, and then a sweet desert wine – it has to be said that our hosts were more than generous, much to the delight (hic!) of their guests.

However a taste of the Tuscan wines wouldn’t be complete without copious amounts of tasty local produce too...

Buon Appetito

 
A long table was laid out with plenty of plates of cold meat cuts. Including delicious local salamis, Italian cheeses, and a variety of bruschetta and crostini drizzled in different oils. Delicious! Suddenly however, roughly cut slabs of rustic style pizza made an appearance, followed by large steaming bowls of the much anticipated (and now famous) Martelli Pasta. On our visit we tried fusili in a white ragu sauce and macaroni with vegetables. There was ample opportunity to try whatever took our fancy, with the chance to go back for seconds or even thirds if we had room.




 
Sadly we did have to leave. But not before the chance to purchase some wine, which was reasonably priced and made for a fantastic souvenir.

O Sole Mio

 



Back on the coach and travelling back through the gorgeous countryside (which was now basking in glorious Tuscan sunlight) there were a few more ‘Mamma Mia’ moments from our guide. As we trundled along he pointed out the signs to Lajatico, which is the home town of the world famous Opera star Andrea Bocelli. We learnt that Mr Boccelli will be performing in Madison Square Garden, New York later this year. If his concert in his home town was anything to go by in July of this year, it'll be a sell-out affair! By co-incidence (or was it?) our coach driver had a copy of one of his CD’s. So our journey back to Livorno was spent soaking up some wonderful views, with the relaxing sounds of Signor Bocelli serenading us in the background.

Fall in love with Tuscany

 
Bocelli’s new album (due for release in October 2014) is entitled ‘Love in Portofino’, but in April 2014 it was a ‘Taste of Tuscany’ that a coach load of P&O Cruises passengers fell in love with. Aided (of course) by our young, fun and gregarious guide, who helped us appreciate his homeland, and adopt the Italian expression ‘Mamma Mia’!

Each sight, sound, smell and taste that we experienced could be good enough reason to enjoy this trip alone. But combine them all together and it creates an absolutely fantastic experience that would be difficult to recreate independently. So if you’re visiting the industrial Port of Livorno this season but want to avoid the more obvious tourist hotspots of the Tuscan cities - then maybe you should try and fall in love with a Taste of Tuscany instead.

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