Is it time to slow down yet? NOPE!!

Normally at this time of year, I sit at my desk getting my affairs in order, booking any outstanding elements for forthcoming tailor-made trips, such as transfers and hotels. This is an essential part of the way I work, so I can have a clean slate ready for the madness that is January in this industry. These plans have been quashed so far with business not slowing down and us continuing to be manic! In 15 years, I have never been so frantic in November and I am solely blaming P&O! (I joke)

Well, partially joke. The launch of their summer 2021 and winter 2022 programmes, which do not normally happen at the same time, we both released at the end of October, and as always with P&O launches, everyone goes bananas for them. It means currently you can book a cruise in 4 different years! Bonkers!

The dust will settle and normality will resume, I am sure, and I can get back to getting prepared for ‘busy season’ but for now, it’s peddle to the metal stuff and working 6 day weeks.

So, what makes P&O’s launches such a popular time to book? When other’s launch, there is never quite the same buzz, nothing even close, to be honest. There are a number of reasons in my opinion.
1. 10% off for past passengers.
2. 5% low deposit.
3. Great pricing.
4. Choice.

There were a few surprises this year too, with Azura offering fly-cruises in the Med for the summer of 2021, I can see this being a big hit with families by offering a larger, more modern ship than the Oceana and still doing the great itineraries to Greece and the Eastern Mediterranean. There was also a surprise with them placing the Aurora on World Cruise duties. The Iona, their new largest ship, will be continuing the exclusively do the fjords in the summer, which I was a little surprised at.