P&O launches UK ‘cruises to nowhere’
| 25th March 2021
This sounds an epic voyage! P&O Cruises announces maiden voyage for Iona and other good news for UK cruisers.
Dust of your deck shoes and find your sea legs as P&O is making sure cruise-lovers can enjoy life on the ocean waves with new UK-based getaways announced this week.
P&O Cruises president Paul Ludlow told VIVA Lifestyle Magazine: “After the stresses and challenges of the past year everyone certainly deserves a treat and this series of cruises will provide memorable and much needed UK getaways.”
“Whilst there is still uncertainty about holidays abroad this summer, we are delighted to be able to offer our guests the ultimate escape here in the UK with the reassurance that we will take care of everything. Also, we really will look at the weather forecast each cruise and aim to take our ships where it is warm and sunny.”
P&O Cruises: Iona
“As the start of Iona’s very special maiden season, the new Ultimate Escape series of holidays includes a memorable seven-night maiden voyage sailing around the Scottish islands. Iona will anchor off Iona, the island after which she was named, with a celebratory extended stay until sunset for magical views of the historic shores.”
Setting sail from Southampton guests will be able to enjoy the ultimate British break on the good ship Britannia and Iona – with gourmet dining and poolside bites; cocktails and coffees; shopping, spas, shows and endless sea views.
Prices start from £449 per person, with cruises from the end of June until September and P&O say because of the strong feedback from customers, these will be for UK resident Covid-19 vaccinated guests only. No vaccination, no voyage!
P&O Cruises Suite
Food for thought
Foodies are spoilt for choice. On Britannia, The Glass House boasts 40 wines handpicked by wine expert Olly Smith and paired with a delicious small-bites menu. There’s fine dining in beautiful surroundings at Epicurean, and authentic Indian food with a British twist at Sindhu as well as Britannia’s Marco Pierre White Cookery Club. The Market Café on Britannia is full of sweet treats by master pâtissier Eric Lanlard (and Epicurean offers his decadent afternoon tea), while The Beach House is a laid-back spot offering comfort-food favourites.
On Iona, good food is an art form. With 30 different places to eat, there are many exciting new dining concepts including The Quays, piazza-style dining with a lively atmosphere and choices including American diner, Mediterranean classics, Asian favourites or traditional fish and chips. The Keel and Cow is a British gastropub serving speciality aged steaks and for a lighter bite the global dishes at Taste 360 offer an exciting new on-deck dining experience which will include authentic dishes from Spanish chef Jose Pizarro.
All washed down with a healthy dose of great entertainment as guests can enjoy a variety of entertainment from movies to full-scale production shows, live music to impromptu aerial acrobatics. Iona’s entertainment will reach new heights in SkyDome and its retractable stage presenting top acts, live shows and late-night dancing. In the Grand Atrium there will be aerialists and pop-up performances while Headliners’ theatre will present contemporary shows mixing song, dance and showbiz glamour. Music-lovers will enjoy The 710 Club catching live sets from renowned music and singing talent. Ocean Studios is the place to be for new releases and classic movies.
Sounds like music to VIVA’s ears!