REG-Carnival PLC: P&O Cruises offers Ultimate UK Escape

CarnivalAnnouncement

17/03/2021 07:05

P&O Cruises offers Ultimate Escape UK holidays this summer and announces
details of Iona's "very special" new maiden cruise to namesake island

MIAMI, March 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- P&O Cruises is offering a series of
short breaks on flagship Britannia this summer and week-long cruises on new
ship Iona. These cruises will depart from Southampton between June and
September, sailing around the UK coast, "where the sun shines brightest." 

P&O Cruises president Paul Ludlow said: "Given recent announcements we have
every hope that our guests will be able to enjoy a holiday this summer. After
the stresses and challenges of the past year everyone certainly deserves a
treat and this series of cruises will provide memorable and much needed UK
getaways. Whilst there is still uncertainty about holidays abroad this summer,
we are delighted to be able to offer our guests the ultimate escape here in
the UK with the reassurance that we will take care of everything. Also, we
really will look at the weather forecast each cruise and aim to take our ships
where it is warm and sunny.

"As the start of Iona's very special maiden season, the new Ultimate Escape
series of holidays includes a memorable seven night maiden voyage sailing
around the Scottish islands. Iona will anchor off Iona, the island after which
she was named, with a celebratory extended stay until sunset for magical views
of the historic shores."

Setting sail from Southampton guests will be able to enjoy the ultimate
British break on Britannia and Iona – gourmet dining and poolside bites;
cocktails and coffees; shopping, spas, shows and endless sea views.

Britannia will offer three and four night breaks and one six night holiday
running from June 27, 2021 through to September 19, 2021. Iona offers seven
night itineraries running from August 7, 2021 to September 18, 2021. Prices
start from £449 per person for a three night break on Britannia. Iona's seven
night maiden voyage starts from £1,199 per person.

Given the advanced progress of the UK vaccination programme, and strong
expressed preference on the part of our guests for this limited series of UK
coastal cruises, these sailings on Britannia and Iona will be for UK resident
Covid-19 vaccinated* guests only.

All guests and crew will be required to follow enhanced health and wellbeing
measures to protect everyone on board on these cruises. These have been
developed with guidance from our global medical and public health experts and
scientists and in close coordination with UK government agencies. These
protocols include enhanced sanitation measures, appropriate social distancing
and the wearing of masks in certain areas of the ship. Crew will also undergo
a strict testing and quarantine regime as well as regular testing during their
time on board. Our protocols are subject to change, as we will continue to
work with our experts and with government bodies to ensure all of our
practices evolve in line with latest advice, with our primary focus always
being to protect the health and wellbeing of our crew and guests and the
communities we visit.  Travel insurance will also be mandatory for all
guests.**

Ludlow added: "As we have spent the majority of the last year at home, to be
able to have a restorative and relaxing break, sit on deck with a sea view in
the summer sunshine and then enjoy an indulgent dinner and show – it's
certainly what we all need this year and we cannot wait to have our guests
back on board."

Example Ultimate Escape itineraries:

Prices for a balcony cabin and subject to availability

Three night cruise on Britannia, from £449
The price includes full board meals and entertainment on board. Departing from
Southampton and returning to Southampton with coastal cruising along the south
coast of England.

Four night cruise on Britannia, from £499
The price includes full board meals and entertainment on board. Departing from
Southampton and returning to Southampton with coastal cruising along the south
coast of England.

Iona Maiden - Scottish Islands, 7 nights, from £1,199
Seven night cruise on Iona (G126N) from £1,199 per person. Departing August
7, 2021 the price includes full board meals and entertainment on board.
Departing from Southampton and returning to Southampton with coastal cruising
to Scotland including the Inner Hebrides and the island of Iona.

Voyage to the sun, 7 nights, from £779
Seven night cruise on Iona from £779 per person. The price includes full
board meals and entertainment on board. Departing from Southampton and
returning to Southampton with coastal cruising past the Channel Islands and
along the coast of France.

The cruises go on sale on Monday March 22, 2021 at 8.30am and will be
available to book online on www.pocruises.com or telephone 03453 555 111 or
through a travel agent.

Dining
Foodies are spoilt for choice on both Britannia and Iona. The Glass House
boasts 40 wines handpicked by wine expert Olly Smith and paired with a
delicious small-bites menu. There's fine dining in beautiful surroundings at
Epicurean, and authentic Indian food with a British twist at Sindhu as well as
Britannia's Marco Pierre White Cookery Club. The Market Café on Britannia is
full of sweet treats by master pâtissier Eric Lanlard (and Epicurean offers
his decadent afternoon tea), while The Beach House is a laid-back spot
offering comfort-food favourites.

On Iona, good food is an art form. With 30 different places to eat, there are
many exciting new dining concepts including The Quays, piazza-style dining
with a lively atmosphere and choices including American diner, Mediterranean
classics, Asian favourites or traditional fish and chips. The Keel and Cow is
a British gastropub serving speciality aged steaks and for a lighter bite the
global dishes at Taste 360 offer an exciting new on-deck dining experience
which will include authentic dishes from Spanish chef Jose Pizarro.

Entertainment
Guests can enjoy a variety of entertainment from movies to full-scale
production shows, live music to impromptu aerial acrobatics. Iona's
entertainment will reach new heights in SkyDome and its retractable stage
presenting top acts, live shows and late-night dancing. In the Grand Atrium
there will be aerialists and pop-up performances while Headliners theatre will
present contemporary shows mixing song, dance and showbiz glamour.
Music-lovers will enjoy The 710 Club catching live sets from renowned music
and singing talent. Ocean Studios is the place to be for new releases and
classic movies.

Note to editors

*Vaccine policy
Given the advanced progress of the UK vaccination programme and strong
expressed preference on the part of our guests for this limited series of UK
coastal cruises, these sailings on Britannia and Iona will be for UK resident,
Covid-19 vaccinated guests only.

For these cruises the definition of "vaccinated" is a minimum of seven days
following the second dose of the currently approved Covid-19 vaccines being
administered. Proof of vaccination and the dates given will be required
(approved forms of evidence will be confirmed closer to time of departure) and
this will be required to be shown at the terminal prior to boarding. Failure
to provide this evidence will result in denial of boarding. There is no age
restriction on this series of UK coastal cruises but all guests of all ages
must meet the requirements of the Covid-19 vaccination policy.

All other P&O Cruises holidays currently on sale do not require guests to be
vaccinated. 

**Travel insurance
As part of our health and wellbeing protocols it is mandatory for all UK
guests to have suitable travel insurance cover in order to cruise with us.
Travel insurance ensures that our guests can relax and enjoy their holiday
with peace of mind that they are covered for most eventualities. This includes
unforeseen incidents before their holiday, while travelling or while they are
away. Typically, travel insurance covers cancellation of your holiday, stolen
belongings and medical treatment. Insurance documents will be checked at the
terminal and boarding will be denied, at guests' own expense, for anyone
without appropriate cover. We have partnered with Holiday Extras to offer
cruise-specific cover for our holidays. When travelling with us, insurance
must include medical and repatriation cover of £2 million minimum that
includes cover for emergency evacuations and medical expenses related to
Covid-19. To find out more, visit www.holidayextras.com/pocruises or phone
0800 093 3070 and quote PAOHX.

Enhanced protocols
All guests and crew will be required to follow enhanced health and wellbeing
measures to protect everyone on board on these cruises. These have been
developed with guidance from our global medical and public health experts and
scientists, and in close coordination with UK Government agencies.

In line with our requirement that crew wear face masks on board, guests will
also be required to wear a face mask in certain public areas of the ship.
Enhanced sanitation measures and social distancing will also be in place. Crew
will undergo a strict testing and quarantine regime as well as regular testing
during their time on board. These protocols are subject to change, as we will
continue to work with our experts and with government bodies to ensure all of
our policies evolve in line with latest advice, with our primary focus always
being to protect the health and wellbeing of our crew and guests and the
communities we visit.

Sail with confidence with P&O Cruises free flexible transfers, vaccination
policy and enhanced well-being protocols

Guests can transfer their holiday as many times as they like before balance
due date. The balance is due 30 days prior to the departure date of the
cruise. Options include:
* Transfer the booking to any P&O Cruises holiday currently on sale
* Transfer the booking to a cruise of higher or lower value
* Transfer the booking an unlimited number of times
* Transfer the booking free of charge.
With P&O Cruises flexible free transfers guests can sail with confidence.
Bookings may be changed as many times as they like, free of charge up to 30
days before the holiday departs.

About P&O Cruises 
P&O Cruises is Britain's favourite cruise line, welcoming guests to experience
holidays with a blend of discovery, choice, relaxation and exceptional service
catered towards British tastes.  P&O Cruises fleet of premium ships combine
genuine service, a sense of occasion and attention to detail.

In 2021, P&O Cruises will launch Iona its first Excel class ship. The new
LNG-powered ship, with 5,200-guest capacity, will be the largest ship built to
serve the UK market. Iona will feature enhancements to already successful
brand signature venues from the existing fleet, as well as features newly
developed for Iona.

P&O Cruises second LNG-powered Excel class ship and sister ship to Iona is
named Arvia, meaning from the seashore, and will join the fleet in December
2022. Arvia is an innovative and future-focused ship and will offer
outstanding, varied and contemporary holidays. Arvia has been designed to
travel to the sun all year-round and to maximise views of the ocean and the
seashore from everywhere on board.

With over 200 destinations worldwide, P&O Cruises itineraries are carefully
curated to inspire discovery, and are varied to suit newcomers and experienced
guests alike. With a wide choice of holidays from two days to three months
there is something for everyone. P&O Cruises sails to Australia & New Zealand,
Baltic, the British Isles, Canada, the Spain, Portugal & the Canary Islands,
the Caribbean, Central America, the Far East & Asia, the Indian Ocean, the
Mediterranean, Scandinavia, South America, the South Pacific, the United
States and Western Europe.

The company is part of Carnival Corporation & plc (NYSE/LSE: CCL;
NYSE:CUK).  

NOTE TO EDITORS: For further images visit: www.pocruisespresspictures.com

CONTACT: Michele Andjel, michele.andjel@carnivalukgroup.com 023 8065 6653 /
07730 732 072



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