P&O started life as a humble mail steamer in 1837, but has since grown into the largest British cruise line operator, with a fleet of six cruise ships operating out of Southampton, going to 225 destinations in 90 countries, and offering a range of cruises from ones that are reserved for adults, to family-friendly cruises.
The six P&O cruise liners are Arcadia, Artemis, Aurora, Oceana, Oriana and Ventura, but they are soon to be joined by a new addition, namely Azura – this ultra-modern ship being currently under construction. Arcadia and Artemis are for the adult-only cruises, while the others welcome families with children. The ships are fantastically equipped with everything from celebrity-chef restaurants, swimming pools, gyms, spas, and even have impressive modern art collections. Ventura, P&O’s largest cruise liner, offers an innovative rock school for teenagers, a Scalextric Formula One race track and, amazingly, even a circus school.
Arcadia has such wonders as over 3,000 British art works displayed around the decks, exterior glass lifts with give a fantastic view over the sea, and a three tier theatre.
Artemis is the smallest ship in the fleet, and good for the quieter holiday. Being small can have its advantages as she can get into the more unusual ports.
The Azura, which will make its maiden cruise in April 2010, will feature Indian-style restaurant Sindhu, created by Atul Kochhar, The Retreat, a spa where you can have treatments outdoors as well as indoors, and a gym with a view out over the sea.
The P&O cruise ships sail to the popular holiday spots such as the Caribbean, the Mediterranean, the Atlantic Islands and South America, as well as sailing to varied destinations such as the Baltic ports, such as Stockholm and Helsinki, the Norwegian fjords, Sydney, Cape Town and even Cambodia. Cruises offered by P&O range from two-day breaks to European cities, to complete round the world trips with varied itineraries. They also do plenty of two week cruises which prove popular.
