P&O Cruises Reports 'Overwhelming' Demand for UK Coastal Sailings

P&O Cruises has said that it has received an 'overwhelming' number of bookings for its summer season of coastal cruises as they went on sale yesterday morning (22 March).

The three, four and seven-night cruises, on the line's flagship Britannia and new ship Iona, will set sail from Southampton between June and September.

P&O Cruises president Paul Ludlow said: 'It is very demonstrable evidence that a holiday at sea, with all that it has to offer, is a popular and much longed-for option this summer.

'We always hoped that these domestic cruises would be popular, given the uncertainty around holidays abroad, but we have never before seen such significant and immediate demand and it certainly shows the effects of lockdown and everyone's need for a holiday.

'Many thousands of guests have already made bookings and Iona's maiden voyage to the Scottish islands is already very well sold and will be a very special cruise.

'Where else but by sailing with us on Iona can you taste Spanish speciality tapas from Jose Pizarro, fine wines chosen by Olly Smith, Marco Pierre White’s beef Wellington and award-winning Snowflake gelato?

'And that’s before you choose from a new movie release in the boutique cinema or catch a show in SkyDome or a music set in the 710 Club. There’s certainly no other domestic holiday this year which can compete.

'We have spent so long working towards this point and we all just can’t wait to see our ships sailing once again, it’s been a very long year.'

P&O Cruises confirmed that UK guests will have needed to have received both doses of the Covid-19 vaccine to join its UK coastal sailings this summer.

Visit pocruises.com for more information.