P&O Cruises stems from the original steamship company founded in 1837, whose principal routes served the British Empire from India to New Zealand. In 1974, P&O Cruises purchased Princess Cruises, and through it had a big impact on modern cruising, particularly on the U.S. West Coast market.
The introduction of the Oriana in 1995, P&O Cruises’ first brand-new ship in more than two decades, signaled the start of a modern era for the cruise line, replacing her old ships and building new ships designed primarily for British passengers.
Oriana’s sister, Aurora, was delivered in 2000 with even more new features. In 2003, the Oceana, formerly the Ocean Princess of Princess Cruises, joined the fleet. In 2005, the line added Arcadia as well as Artemis (formerly Royal Princess). In 2003, P&O Cruises, along with Princess Cruises and the company’s other cruise lines, were bought by Carnival Corporation after an intensive bidding war with Royal Caribbean Cruises.
P&O has under construction the 115,000-ton Ventura, which will be Britain’s largest cruise ship when she enters service in April 2008, and her near sister, a 116,000-ton ship planned for spring 2010, at an estimated cost of 535 million euros. P&O Cruises offers moderately priced, classic cruises sailing on worldwide itineraries. P&O Cruises defines them as three different styles of cruise experience: original and authentic cruising on Aurora and Oriana; contemporary and innovative cruising on Arcadia and Oceana; and traditional and intimate cruising on Artemis. The line’s new multimillion-dollar Elevation program of refinements to its onboard experience was introduced in early 2007 and will be rolled out fleetwide over the next two years. It encompasses dining, accommodations, entertainment, shore excursions, and the booking process.
The ships’ British style cannot be overemphasized; it’s what P&O passengers want. The atmosphere is very social, helped by friendly British officers who mingle with passengers and host tables at dinner, a popular feature. The ships are well organized, aboard and ashore, with excellent programs that include outstanding lecturers on port history and culture, classical pianists, afternoon teas, Sunday religious services (Anglican) with a passenger-staff choir, and varied evening entertainment. The dress code tends to be dressier than on similar ships catering to Americans. Men wear jacket and tie on most nights at sea and on formal evenings they wear tuxedos or dinner jackets, and women don cocktail and long dresses.
P&O focuses generally on three programs: cruises departing from Southampton, those based in the Caribbean in winter, and annual around the world voyages. Most passengers are British, of all ages and incomes. Americans, Australians, and New Zealanders are a sizable minority on around-the-world voyages. Once-in-a- lifetime shore excursions were among the 196 new shore excursions launched across the fleet in 2007. These include such adventures as an evening concert and after-hours evening visit of the Hermitage in St. Petersburg, Russia, or a Turkish bath experience in Istanbul. There are tours designed for families and other for teens, and gourmet tours such as wine tasting in Provence or a Greek gastronomy class in Corfu.
P&O Cruises changed the registry on the Arcadia, Oceana, Oriana, and Artemis from British to Bermudian to allow weddings at sea with a traditional ceremony conducted by the captain. (Weddings are not recognised aboard U.K.-registered vessels.)
Copyright 2007 by Kay Showker, The Unnoficial Guide to Cruises 10th Edition, John Wiley & Sons, reproduced with permission
Unofficial Guide © 2009
