P&O Adonia sails new seas

News this week is that P&O have announced Adonia will be leaving the fleet and rebranded as ” Fathom” and she will be the first ‘ voluntourism ‘ cruise ship ……….. she will make weekly cruises from April 2016 to Amber Cove in the Dominican Republic where passengers will do volunteer projects.

Prices start at £1,004 ($1,540) per person excluding flights , the itinerary will include three days in the country’s northern Puerto Plata region where activities range from helping to teach English in local schools and constructing and delivering water filters, to working with women’s co-operatives to make artisan chocolates.
During the one-and-a-half-day sailing to the country, passengers can prepare for the tasks ahead with orientation sessions, conversational Spanish language lessons, workshops and training.

The last cruise for Adonia sailing in its current form will be a 14-night Amazon cruise ending on March 18, 2016. Passengers have been unable to make bookings beyond this date for some time, and just one cruise will be affected — the return to Southampton, U.K. After this, she will go into drydock where she will be refurbished and rebranded and will also no longer be adults only: “The fathom travel experience will be available to all, including families with children over eight years old,” the line said on its website.

P&O Cruises marketing director Christopher Edgington said: “P&O Cruises is excited that Adonia is at the forefront of fathom. It is a global first to be offering sustained, immersive impact travel on this scale. Social impact travel has grown hugely popular in recent years with people really seeking the opportunity to get stuck in and help local communities by making a lasting contribution to a worthwhile cause. Adonia’s intimate atmosphere provides a perfect meeting place for like minded travellers.”