FREE places, discounts, a new ship and more ports of call are the headlines as P&O Cruises today launches its 2023 programme.

The cruise giant is looking to the future as it builds on the line’s recovery from the pandemic and seeks to woo passengers old and new.

Summer 2023 and winter 2023/24 holidays include new ship Arvia’s maiden summer season, her first full winter season in the Caribbean and new “island vibe” summer itineraries on Britannia.

There’ll be special cruises in search of the Northern Lights, one of them over the Christmas period, and ships will visit lesser frequented ports of call such as Grundafjordur in Iceland, Palermo in Sicily and Klaipeda in Lithuania.

Prices start from as little as £54 a night, with a 14-night Spain, Portugal and Canary Islands cruise on Iona from £749 per person, including full board meals, entertainment on board and Kids’ clubs.

All holidays include a range of launch booking offers. Third and fourth guests – both adults and children – in the same cabin can travel for free on selected cruises.

Meanwhile, past guests can take advantage of a 10% booking discount and a 5% discount will apply for newcomers.

Arvia’s first summer sailings from Southampton will be 14-night holidays featuring up to six of the most popular ports in Italy, Spain and France, including La Spezia (for Florence and Pisa) and overnight visits to Barcelona.

From October 2023 Arvia will then sail its first full season of Caribbean fly/cruise holidays from home port Barbados until the end of March 2024.

Here’s where the ships will be sailing.

ARVIA

Summer: 14-night holidays to La Coruna; Marseille; Seville (from Cadiz) and Barcelona. Others include Palma; Florence and Pisa (from La Spezia); Valencia or Alicante.

Winter: Seven and 14-night Caribbean fly/cruises from Barbados.

IONA

Summer: seven-night holidays to the Norwegian fjords on a round trip from Southampton.

Winter: Holidays to Spain, Portugal and the Canary Islands on round trips from Southampton.

BRITANNIA

Summer: Seven-night Norwegian fjords, 14-night Baltic cruises, including two-day calls at St Petersburg, plus 14-night western Med islands, including an overnight call in Palma or Ibiza.

Winter: 14-night Caribbean fly/cruises from Barbados.

AZURA

Picture: Christopher Ison

Summer: Seven or 14-night Med fly/cruise holidays from Malta to the Western Med including Rome (from Civitavecchia); Ajaccio in Corsica and Villefranche – or to Greece and its islands including Mykonos and Corfu.

Winter: Canary Islands fly/cruises from Tenerife, with two alternating seven-night cruises which can also be combined for a 14-night holiday.

VENTURA

Summer: Atlantic Coast and Canary Islands holidays as well as short breaks to Amsterdam.

Winter: Spain, Portugal and the Canaries, as well as Caribbean cruises with some itineraries visiting New Orleans. There’ll also be a New Year 2024 celebration five-nighter to Amsterdam and Bruges.

ARCADIA

Summer: Iceland and North Cape cruise including an overnight call to Reykjavik and scenic cruising of the North Cape. 

Winter: Full 99-night world cruise departing January 6, 2024, with ports including Sydney, Auckland, Hong Kong and Singapore. Overnight visits include Singapore, Honolulu, Sydney, Hong Kong and Dubai.

AURORA

Summer: Holidays include a 30-night Canada and USA cruise with overnight calls in both Boston and New York.

Winter: Itineraries include 12-night ‘in search of the Northern Lights’ cruises, one of them over Christmas 2023. There’ll also be a 65-night USA, Caribbean and Central America cruise with an overnight call in New Orleans plus a partial transit of the Panama Canal.

P&O Cruises president Paul Ludlow says: “This series of new cruise holidays is an exciting one, with our new ship Arvia, new destinations and new itineraries.

“Our guests have told us that anticipation and planning is a vital part of the booking process and we certainly hope we can give them something to look forward to within these new holidays.

“Each itinerary is carefully designed to provide the best sight-seeing, beach and culture on shore whilst maximising time on board.

“New to cruise guests will also find appeal in our line-up and we are sure that Britannia’s new summer holidays to Ibiza, Palma and Sardinia will be very popular as well as Iona’s season in the magnificent Norwegian fjords.”

Pre-registration for summer 2023 and winter 2023/24 holidays opens today. See www.pocruises.com.