Tag Archives: P&O Cruise

Cruise sailings could restart on 17 May

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A government minister has raised hopes that domestic cruise sailings could restart on 17 May.

According to a report in The Independent, maritime minister Robert Courts announced the news at an All-Party Parliamentary Maritime and Group (APPMPG) meeting on 8 March.

In a tweet, the APPMPG said: “**NEWS** Maritime Minister Robert Courts announces the reopening of the domestic #cruise market in England on 17 May at tonight’s @APPMPG meeting.”

It added: “From repatriation procedures and risk mitigations to CV-19 protocols and the domestic vaccination program, a great @APPMPG session w/ @robertcourts who delivered some much-appreciated news. A pathway to the domestic cruise market re-opening on 17 May.”

A Department for Transport spokesperson also told The Independent: “We are committed to restarting cruise travel when it is safe to do so, and we are working closely with the sector to prepare for a safe and successful restart.

“The restart of domestic cruises in England will be aligned with the wider resumption of the domestic tourism and indoor hospitality sectors. As set out in the prime minister’s roadmap, the earliest possible date for this step is 17 May.”

Industry ‘welcomes’ news

In recent weeks, cruise lines have altered their schedules to prepare for shorter UK sailings later this summer.

Princess Cruises said it was “clear that holidays in the UK will be the first to restart before the gradual return of international travel”, while P&O Cruises has confirmed a range of sailings that will depart Southampton and sail around UK coastal waters.

CLIA and the UK Chamber of Shipping said in a joint statement: “We strongly welcome the announcement that cruise will be included alongside the restart of other domestic tourism in the UK.

“The industry has been working with the government over the last year on health protocols which put the safety of our passengers and crew first. Many of these protocols have already been tested successfully where cruise has been able to operate elsewhere in Europe.

“The industry has long planned a phased restart for the cruise, with domestic cruises representing the first stage of this plan. We look forward to continuing to work collaboratively with the government, including through the Global Travel Taskforce in order to ensure the safe restart of the international cruise in time for the summer season.”

P&O Cruises president Paul Ludlow added: “We are delighted that the government has acknowledged that UK domestic cruise holidays can begin from May 17.

P&O Cruises Names New Ship Arvia

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P&O Cruises has revealed the name of its second LNG-powered Excel class ship. The ship, which will join the P&O Cruises UK six-ship fleet in December 2022, will be named Arvia.

According to a press release, the name means “from the seashore”

“The Arvia will join the Iona as an innovative and future-focused ship offering an outstanding, varied and contemporary holiday. The Arvia has been designed to travel to the sun year-round and to maximize views of the ocean and the seashore from everywhere on board, so it seemed a very fitting name and one which will reflect the experience for guests on board,” said P&O Cruises President Paul Ludlow.

“The seashore is known for its relaxing properties and tranquillity and a holiday on the Arvia will, indeed, celebrate this and have relaxation at its heart. The rejuvenating and restorative qualities of a walk on the beach and invigorating sea air will be reflected in the experiences both onboard and onshore as well as the vast space onboard which has enabled us to include a number of new and extraordinary features,” he added.

The name of the 5,200-passenger ship was unveiled through a video reveal made up of outlining the letters in the name in various different locations, all relating to the beach and the seashore.

Holidays on the Arvia will go on sale in March and further details of the ship, its design and experiences onboard will be released over the coming months, P&O Cruises said.

Cruise lines will need agents “more than ever”

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Cruise lines will need agents “more than ever” as the sector emerges from the Covid-19 pandemic over the next year.

Martin Alcock, director at Travel Trade Consultancy, said that cruise “would take a bit longer to bounce back” from the crisis than other parts of the travel industry.

But he added there was significant growth potential as cruise still represents just a “small portion” of the overall holiday market.

“It’s always been a complicated product to sell and cruise lines will need agents more than ever,” said Alcock during Barclays’ Travel Industry State of the Nation online event. “There will be more commission and more in the way of overrides.”

Alcock said that one of the “upsides” to this year’s crisis was that it had “accelerated” the retirement of older vessels which would reduce worldwide cruise capacity by 8%-10% in 2021. Fleets will also be more efficient and sustainable as they comprise more modern ships.

“The 10% reduction in capacity will help from a price perspective,” he added. “There’s plenty of opportunities to grow.”

Alcock said that while the cruise industry’s core demographic had been “more affected” by the pandemic than other age groups, they were also likely to be “inoculated more quickly than other demographics”.


“Cruise has unfairly had a disproportionate share of bad press but I don’t think it’s terrible news. It’s not a total disaster,” he added.

Alistair Pritchard, travel and aviation lead partner at Deloitte, said the extra complexities created by a combination of Covid and Brexit would lead to more consumers looking to the trade for advice and support.

“They [agents] will need to help support customers across the whole journey – not just when booking,” he added. “They [customers] want advice just before travelling and whilst they are abroad. That’s where the consumer wants to support.”