Today is the day when P&O release their new programme for winter 2020 into 2021. This will be different because they have their new ship Iona on sale for the first time during a winter programme.
All the usual things are there , Britannia & Azura doing 7 and 14 night Caribbean fly cruise itineraries. Ventura does her usual Caribbean no fly cruises from Southampton, Oceana is back in the Middle East, Aurora sails to South America and Arcadia is the only ship doing a World Cruise. Before Christmas Arcadia and Aurora will go sail to Norway in search of the Northern Lights.
So what about Iona? Big, new modern ship that would seem very well suited to the Caribbean but no she`s staying closer to home. After her summer season in Norway she will spend the winter in the Canary Islands and Spanish Peninsular, along with short breaks to Northern Europe.
Her winter programme starts with a 14 nights cruise on 31st October to Vigo, Malaga, Alicante, Barcelona and Seville. Slightly different though is she will stay on Barcelona for 2 full days and Seville for a day and a half. This is followed by a 14 nights Canary Islands sailing on 14th November visiting Madeira, Tenerife, Lanzarote, Gran Canaria, Seville and 2 days in Lisbon. There are also 4 Northern Europe ” City Escapes ” visiting Rotterdam, Zeebrugge and Hamburg.
There are some amazing prices on Iona`s winter programme, starting as low as £ 899 per person for the first 14 nights Iberia cruise in October. I suspect there will be some bargains to be had on this lovely new ship if anyone can wait and be really flexible on departure date. The Canary Islands are traditionally a winter sunshine destination but it really isn`t the Caribbean.
Trying to make the cruises a bit different from the usual, P&O are coming up with a varied and adventurous shore excursion programme. Take a look at the brochure which is now arriving and see if you can bag a bargain for Christmas 2020.