(4:15 p.m. BST) -- P&O Cruises has released its summer 2021 and winter 2021/2022 programmes, featuring more than 400 sailings in destinations including New Orleans, the Amazon and overnight in New York.
P&O has redeployed some of its fleet -- with Azura replacing Oceana to homeport in Malta for the summer -- to offer a mix of popular itineraries and “Discovery” cruises that will see the line visit more lesser-known ports.
The line has confirmed Oceana will return to the Arabian Gulf for the winter 2021/2022 programme, after the line cancelled its forthcoming Dubai season amid concerns for British-flagged vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.
The line's newest ship, Iona, which debuts in May 2020, will repeat its inaugural programme, with seven-night Norwegian Fjords itineraries during the summer and Spain, Portugal, the Canary Islands and Northern Europe sailings during the winter.
Azura will spend April to October operating seven- and 14-night Central, Eastern and Western Mediterranean fly cruises from Malta. During the winter, Azura will be based in Barbados offering 14-night Northern and Eastern Caribbean roundtrip sailings.
Ventura will take over from Azura and offer alternating 14-night Western Mediterranean and Baltic cruises between May and October, while the ship’s winter season will focus on Spain and Portugal; Spain, Portugal and Canary Islands and Caribbean sailings from the UK, including a brand-new cruise to New Orleans.
Oceana will switch with Ventura to offer a mix of 12-night Spain, Portugal and Canary Islands; seven-night “Southern Cruise Breaks” and two-night short cruises from Southampton before repositioning to Dubai.
Britannia will start the summer 2021 season by offering a mix of sailings, including a mini cruise, a Northern European and a Spain and Portugal itinerary. The ship will then spend from May to October 2021 offering Western Mediterranean cruises before returning to the Caribbean to offer 14-night fly-cruises from Barbados and seven-night sailings from St Lucia.
Aurora will spend summer 2021 offering a mix of Northern Europe and Baltic cruises, including a 30-night Discovery itinerary to Canada, overnight in Boston and two nights/three days in New York.
The line’s 2022 world cruise takes place on Aurora for the first time since 2017. The ship departs from Southampton on a 99-night western circumnavigation on January 3 2022, with calls to Barbados, Panama Canal, San Francisco, Honolulu, Auckland, Sydney, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Singapore, Colombo, Dubai, Muscat and Malta.
Arcadia’s summer 2021 programme includes a 23-night cruise to Iceland and Norway, including an overnight in Reykjavik, scenic cruising of the North Cape and calls in Honningsvaag, Tromso, Leknes and Narvik. The ship will also offer a 14-night sailing to Iceland with an overnight in Reykjavik followed by a 24-night voyage to Canada, with an overnight call to Quebec.
Arcadia also sails a brand-new 55-night Grand Tour, including its first ever transit of the Amazon River, as well as Caribbean and Central American calls, departing Southampton on January 7, 2022.