P&O CRUISES has cut the prices of its winter 2001 world cruises and voyages to Australia or New Zealand by 10%, compared with this winter’s rates.
The company plans two world cruises in 2001 – one westbound on its new ship Aurora, due to be launched in spring 2000, and one eastbound on Oriana.
Aurora departs Southampton on a 90-night voyage on January 6 and Oriana departs on a 92-night trip on January 5. Fares for both cruises start from £8,677 per person. Meanwhile, a 42-night cruise from Southampton to Sydney on Aurora starts from £4,253.
Sales and planning director Nigel Esdale said: “The economies of scale presented by two ships making world cruises enables us to reduce fares by 10%. We are looking to reward those who choose the longer winter cruise holidays.”
The other two ships in P&O’s fleet, Victoria and Arcadia, will both be based in the Caribbean in winter 2001.
P&O has just published its Winter Cruises October 2000-May 2001 brochure. Normally, it would not be available until March. Esdale claimed the move to an earlier publication date was intended to take advantage of the early new year peak selling period.