P&O Cruises is offering a series of short breaks on flagship Britannia this summer and week-long cruises on the new ship Iona.
These cruises will depart from Southampton between June and September, sailing around the UK coast. Guests will be able to enjoy the ultimate British break on Britannia and Iona, with gourmet dining and poolside bites; cocktails and coffees; shopping, spas, live shows and endless sea views.
Britannia will offer three and four night breaks, and one six-night holiday, running from June 27, 2021 through to September 19, 2021, with prices starting from ?449 per person for a three night break; and Iona will offer seven night itineraries, running from August 7, 2021 to September 18, 2021. Iona?s seven night maiden voyage starts from ?1,199 per person.
The cruises will go on sale on March 22 at 8.30am and will be available to book online. These limited series of UK coastal cruises on Britannia and Iona are available only for UK residents who have been vaccinated against COVID-19.
Vaccine policy
For these cruises, the definition of ?vaccinated? is a minimum of seven days following the second dose of the currently approved COVID-19 vaccines. Proof of vaccination and the dates on which it was given, will be required (approved forms of evidence will be confirmed closer to time of departure), and this will be required to be shown at the terminal prior to boarding. Failure to provide this evidence will result in denial of boarding. Other P&O Cruises holidays currently on sale do not require guests to be vaccinated.
In addition, all guests and crew will be required to follow enhanced health and wellbeing measures to protect everyone on board during these cruises. The protocols include enhanced sanitation measures, appropriate social distancing and the wearing of masks in certain areas of the ship. Travel insurance will be mandatory for all guests.
Itineraries include:
Three and four night cruises on Britannia, with prices starting from ?449 per person. The price includes full board meals and entertainment on board, for roundtrips sailings departing from Southampton, and coastal cruising along the south coast of England.
Seven nights on Iona?s maiden trip, ?Scottish Islands?, is priced at ?1,199 per person, based on a August 7, 2021 departure date. The price includes full board meals and entertainment for roundtrip sailings from Southampton, with coastal cruising around Scotland, including the Inner Hebrides and the island of Iona.
A seven night cruise on Iona, on the ?Voyage to the sun? trip, starts from ?779 per person. The price includes full board meals and entertainment on board, for roundtrip sailings from Southampton, with coastal cruising past the Channel Islands, and along the coast of France.
Dining
Both the ships will have plenty of dining choices for food and wine connoisseurs. The Glass House on Britannia features 40 wines handpicked by wine expert Olly Smith, and are paired with a delicious small-bites menu. The ship will also feature the fine dining restaurant Epicurean and an Indian restaurant called Sindhu, which offers authentic Indian food with a British twist. In addition, there will be Britannia?s Marco Pierre White Cookery Club and The Market Caf?, which is full of sweet treats by master p?tissier Eric Lanlard, as well as The Beach House, a laid-back spot that offers comfort-food favourites.
On Iona, there will be 30 different places to eat, including The Quays, a piazza-style dining with a lively atmosphere and choices including an American diner, Mediterranean classics, Asian favourites or traditional fish and chips. The Keel and Cow is a British gastropub, serving speciality aged steaks. The global dishes at Taste 360 offer an exciting new on-deck dining experience, which will include authentic dishes from Spanish chef Jose Pizarro.
Entertainment
Guests can enjoy a variety of entertainment, from movies to full-scale production shows, live music as well as impromptu aerial acrobatics. Iona?s entertainment will reach new heights in the SkyDome, which has a 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. Music-lovers will enjoy The 710 Club viewing live sets from renowned musicians.
Travel insurance
It is mandatory for all UK guests to have suitable travel insurance cover in order to cruise with P&O Cruises. Travel insurance covers cancellation of holidays, stolen belongings and medical treatment. Insurance documents will be checked at the terminal, and boarding will be denied for anyone without appropriate cover. P&O Cruises has partnered with Holiday Extras to offer cruise-specific cover for holidays. The insurance must include medical and repatriation cover of at least ?2 million that includes cover for emergency evacuations, and medical expenses related to COVID-19. To find out more about the insurance cover with Holiday Extras, visit www.holidayextras.com/pocruises
Guests can also transfer their holiday as many times as they like, 30 days prior to the departure date of the cruise, when the balance is due. Guests, who wish to transfer their booking, can opt for any P&O Cruises holiday currently on sale, or transfer it to a cruise of a higher or lower value, as many times as they want, free of charge.
For more information, visit: www.pocruises.com
Image credit: Herman IJsseling (P&O Cruises)
