I see that Planet Cruise had a P&O Ventura exclusive offer in the Daily Mail Cruises section this week. The great thing about it is the £150 on board spend that comes with it. Not only a Cheap Cruise, but a great value cruise to boot.
Planet Cruise often do Daily Mail Cruises; they also work with a number of other national newspapers.
P&O Cruises’ Ventura rescued an injured yachtsman whilst on a Mediterranean cruise at the weekend. Ventura the newest addition to P&O’s fleet responded to an urgent call from a French man who had fallen and broken his hip. The cruise ship changed course when traveling to Malaga and rescued the man, he was treated onboard by medical staff before being taken ashore when Ventura docked in Malaga.
The cruise ship then continued its 16 night Mediterranean cruise as planned.
P&O Cruises has announced that it will go smoke free in all inside areas on board three of the cruise ships in its fleet. This will come into place in October where there will be allocated smoking areas put into place. Passengers will also be able to smoke on their cabin balconies. The three cruise ships this will affect are Oceana, Ventura and Artemis.
P&O Cruises managing director, Nigel Esdale, said: “Since Britain went smoke free in July 2007 the British public has become accustomed to being in a smoke free environment with 76 per cent of the general public supporting the ban. We hope that becoming smoke free will give all our passengers, especially children, a cleaner and more pleasant environment in which at enjoy their holiday on board. Cruise ships already provide so many ways to have a fun and healthy holiday, such as spas and fitness centres, and this is another step towards an even healthier holiday experience for all. Ventura and Oceana are both child friendly, and between them could have over 1000 children on board at any one time, therefore we want to ensure they are breathing clean air on board as well as clean ocean air out on open deck.”
P&O Cruises have now published their 2009 Preview Edition brochure which features their 2009 cruise holidays. Their cruises cover 235 destinations in 82 different countries as well as a cruise around Britain, the first of its kind for P&O Cruises.
Ventura will depart from Southampton 19 times in her first full year of sailing. This cruise ship is the first purpose-built ship for the British market and will also do 10 fly-cruise holidays from Barbados in her first full year.
Artemis will offer an 11 night debut tour of the British Isles calling at the likes of Greenock, Dublin and Falmouth.
P&O Cruise’s managing director, Nigel Esdale, said: “Our 2009 programme is our biggest yet, offering a 30% increase in capacity for our brand with the first full year of Ventura. We have more ships, more UK departures and more breadth of appeal than any other cruise line.”
“For a brand that has brought the world to the door of British passengers for almost 170 years, it is perhaps long overdue and fitting for us to visit the British Isles.”
“Cruise holidays are becoming an increasingly popular choice for younger couples and families and we have two ships within the fleet dedicated to serving this market in terms of length of holiday, destination, on board entertainment, facilities and dining, and pricing.
“Shorter cruises on Ventura and Oceana are the perfect choice for people who are new to cruising and want to see if it’s for them without being away for two weeks. In 2009 we are offering 16 such itineraries of either two or seven nights – this is double the amount we offered in 2008.”
P&O Cruise’s Ventura has officially been named by award-winning actress Dame Helen Mirren on April 16th. She was joined onboard by 1,500 guests including celebrity chef Marco Pierre White, Kate Ford and Hugh Bonneville.
Dame Helen Mirren was over the moon to be fronting the spectacular ceremony and said:
“It is the first time I have ever named a ship, let alone one of the size of P&O Cruises Ventura and am really looking forward to being Godmother.”
P&O Cruise’s managing director was just as pleased to have Dame Helen Mirren onboard as she was to be there. P&O cruises managing director, Nigel Esdale said:
“Dame Helen Mirren embodies glamour, vitality and Britishness, which are all values that will be a feature of Ventura. We are honoured that she has agreed to become Godmother. The arrival of Ventura is set to usher in a new era for the British cruise industry and will accelerate the rate of progress of an already fast growing market. We are delighted that Dame Helen is to be associated with her. At the same time, we are determined to get the bottle-smashing right, and are grateful for the military coordinated assistance of the Royal Marines.”
Ventura is due to cruise to the Mediterranean on Friday on her maiden cruise.
P&O Cruise’s Ventura has set sail for her homeport of Southampton after being officially handed over to P&O Cruises in Italy.
Ventura, the largest superliner that has been built exclusively for British holidaymakers will undergo an official naming ceremony in April. The ceremony will be performed by Dame Helen Mirren and is due to take place on Wednesday 16th April.
The cruise ship will arrive back in Southampton on Sunday 6th April after passing her sister ship Aurora in the Solent.
Ventura’s maiden cruise will be a Mediterranean cruise taking place from Southampton on Friday 18th April.
Dame Helen Mirren, with a little help from a team of Royal Marine Commandos, will name the latest addition to the P&O Cruises fleet, Ventura, in Southampton on 16 April 2008.
Dame Helen Mirren said, “It is the first time I have ever named a ship, let alone one of the size of P&O Cruises Ventura and am really looking forward to being Godmother.”
Dame Helen’s job of pressing the button to send the champagne winging its way towards the ship will be a fairly simple job compared to that of the Commandos who will assist the naming of Ventura with a spectacular abseil.
P&O Cruises are reportedly delighted that Dame Helen Mirren will be Ventura’s Godmother and feel it will be the start of an exciting new era for the cruise industry in Britain.
On what should be a magnificent day, P&O Cruise’s celebrity chef consultant, Marco Pierre White, and kid’s favourite, Noddy, will join the 1500 guests on board Ventura for the naming extravaganza.
The Azamara Quest Cruise Ship is adrift off the Philippines after suffering engine failure caused by a fire on Friday. Thankfully there are only a handful of injuries; five brave crew members who were attending to stop the blaze. On-board …