Arcadia Marks the Return of the Entire P&O Cruises Fleet

Posted on 5 July, 2022 by Spacejunkie2

Another cruise line is completing its restart plan today as Arcadia resumes service for P&O Cruises in England.

Returning after a three-month operational pause, the 2005-built vessel is welcoming guests in Southampton for a cruise to Iceland, Norway and Ireland.

The 14-night itinerary visits six different ports, such as Reykjavik, Akureyri, Alesund and Belfast.

Continuing its restart program, the Arcadia is set to offer different itineraries departing from Southampton, with cruises visiting the British Islands, the Baltic, Western Europe and more.

In September, the 83,000-ton vessel is also sailing a special 30-night voyage to the United States and Canada. The roundtrip itinerary features visits to New York City, Boston, Halifax, Corner Brook, Bar Harbor and more.

After being taken out of service due to the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020, Arcadia is returning to guest operations for the second time.

The ship previously resumed service in March 2022, offering a few scheduled cruises before entering another operational pause due to crew shortages.

At the time, P&O cancelled seven additional departures on board the ship, which offers an adults-only product.

Built in Italy, the Arcadia originally entered service in April 2005 and has a capacity for 1,968 passengers in double occupancy.

In 2018, the vessel was subjected to a major refit, which, according to P&O, improved the onboard experience with a fresher and more contemporary feel.

Following guests’ feedback, the company updated several parts of the ship, including cabins, suites, public areas, bars, main dining restaurants and speciality dining venues.

With the Arcadia now sailing again, P&O Cruises’ entire fleet is once again in service.

After a 14-month gap, the UK-based company first welcomed guests back in mid-2021, with a series of domestic cruises onboard the Britannia and the new Iona.

The Carnival-owned brand later returned to more destinations, gradually adding the rest of the fleet back into service.

Posted on 22 May, 2022 by Spacejunkie2

Gary Barlow will play two charity gigs onboard P&O Cruises’ Iona later this year

The singer is the music director of Iona’s 710 Club

Barlow will appear on P&O’s Spain and Portugal cruise departing Southampton on 29 October and its Spain, Portugal and Canary Islands sailing, also departing Southampton, on 12 November.

All proceeds from ticket sales for the shows will be donated to Child Bereavement UK and the Teenage Cancer Trust.

Barlow is a P&O Cruises brand ambassador and the music director of Iona’s 710 Club.

“One thing I love is making memories,” said Barlow. “I think music does that extremely well. I look forward to joining guests onboard Iona later this year to create some truly special holiday memories.”

P&O Cruises president Paul Ludlow added: “It is a real delight to welcome Gary back on Iona for what will be extraordinary performances.

“His love of music which has taken him on so many journeys and adventures will provide guests on board with a unique night of world-class entertainment fused with an amazing travel experience.”

Fred Olsen Cruise Lines has removed the requirement for guests to wear a face-covering onboard its vessels.

Posted on 20 May, 2022 by Spacejunkie2

It comes as part of a phased relaxation in the line’s Covid-19 protocols. Pre-embarkation testing, as well as the requirement to be fully vaccinated, remain in place.

Guests will still be asked to pack a face mask, as some destinations still require their use and crew members will continue to wear the coverings for the time being.

Balmoral is the first of Fred Olsen’s fleet to sail without a face mask requirement, having departed Newcastle under the new measures on Wednesday (18 May). The new guidance will apply to Bolette’s next departure from Southampton on 22 May and Borealis’s departure from Liverpool on 25 May.

Peter Deer, managing director of Fred Olsen Cruise Lines, said: “We have been regularly reviewing our onboard procedures, and know this move will be well received among our guests. Of course, we understand that some guests may prefer to continue wearing a face mask as they move around the ship, and this will be entirely at their discretion.

“The health and wellbeing of our guests and crew remain our utmost priority, and as such we will be operating a phased reduction in our onboard protocols. These measures help us to ensure our ships remain a safe and enjoyable way to explore the world.”