P&O Cruises Unveils Biggest Ever World Cruise Program

MEDIA RELEASE

June 22, 2011

P&O Cruises Unveils Biggest Ever World Cruise Program

P&O Cruises World Cruising has announced the biggest world cruise program on record, with four ships cruising the globe in 2013, including the impressive 3,100-passenger Azura.

Setting sail on her maiden world voyage, the 115,000-tonne Azura will be the largest ship the cruise line has sent on a world cruise and will visit Australia in February 2013.

Her sister ships Arcadia and Aurora will visit New Zealand as well as Australia during their world cruises, while the smaller Adonia will sail on a South American exploration.

Announcing details of the 2013 world program today, P&O Cruises Managing Director Carol Marlow said it would be the largest yet for the cruise line, with the four ships visiting 94 destinations in 52 different countries and covering more than 130,000 nautical miles. The program represents a 23 per cent increase in world cruise capacity compared to 2012.

Ms Marlow said Arcadia and Aurora would call at eight New Zealand ports during their world cruises with Arcadia visiting Auckland, Napier, Wellington, Lyttleton and Dunedin, and sailing through Milford Sound, while Aurora will sail to Auckland, Napier and Wellington.

“New Zealand is always a major attraction on our cruise schedules and we’re pleased to be calling at so many beautiful destinations on the North and South Island in 2013.

“We also hope to welcome many New Zealanders as guests on Aurora and Arcadia, as well as Azura, which we think will be quite a drawcard.”

Ms Marlow said Azura’s maiden world voyage was a classic itinerary featuring some of the most exciting and cultural destinations around the world.

“The ship itself takes inspiration from around the globe, with an Indian fine dining restaurant, Sindhu, Italian inspired casual restaurants Verona and Venezia, and wines from all over the world selected and served by the glass in The Glass House wine bar.

“These features combined with her variety of bars, restaurants, dance floors, spa, gym, shops, theatre and library make Azura the perfect ship for travelling the world and many of our passengers will be excited to hear that she will be offering her maiden world cruise so soon after entering service.”

In addition to the four full world cruises, 18 line voyages between the UK and Australia or New Zealand are also available on Aurora, Arcadia and Azura.

Fares on the world voyages start from:

• $2,499* for 13 nights cruising on Azura from Singapore to Melbourne, departing February 10, 2013. The sector is part of Azura’s 110-night Grand Odyssey which sails from Southampton on January 7, 2013 and visits the Middle East, India, Australia and South Africa.

• $3,499* for 17 nights cruising on Aurora from San Francisco to Auckland, departing January 30, 2013. The cruise comes during Aurora’s 106-night World Circumnavigation departing the UK on January 7, 2013 and visiting the US, Hawaii, Tahiti, New Zealand, Australia, Thailand, Egypt and India.

• $3,589* for 16 nights cruising from Auckland to San Francisco on Arcadia, departing March 8, 2013. The sector is part of Arcadia’s 99-night South America and Pacific Adventure departing Southampton on January 5 2013 and visiting South America, Tahiti, Fiji, New Zealand and Australia while sailing by Cape Horn, Easter Island and transiting the Panama Canal.

• $4,889* for a 20-night cruise on Adonia from Rio de Janiero to Valparaiso, departing March 1, 2013. The cruise is part of the ship’s 85-night night exploration of South America visiting 17 countries with calls to exotics ports such as Salvador, Buenos Aires, Santiago and Lima as well as the Caribbean.

Ms Marlow said the 2013 program offered great launch deals with early booking discounts of 10 per cent and onboard spending money of up to £2200 per couple available for those who book by December 31, 2011.

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