P&O Cruises staff raise £25k for Macmillan healing garden

By Phil Davies 

Charity fundraising by P&O Cruises has helped support the opening of a healing garden for people affected by cancer.

Staff raised £25,000 to rebuild the garden and create a space for people visiting the Macmillan Cancer Information Centre at Southampton General Hospital.

Funds were raised by activities such as a 65-mile walk around the Isle of Wight and coffee mornings throughout 2014.

The line’s staff, crew and passengers have raised more than £964,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support over two years.

Rachel Gascoigne, partnership manager at Macmillan, said, “Cancer treatment can be an exhausting and overwhelming time. Thanks to P&O Cruises this garden has been transformed and is now a tranquil place where people can come to take time out and relax together.

“A huge thanks to everyone at P&O Cruises for making this transformation possible, and for helping Macmillan to ensure that no one has to face cancer alone”.

P&O Cruises’ marketing director, Christopher Edgington, who officially opened the garden, said: “I’m immensely proud on behalf of everyone at P&O Cruises who helped to make this healing garden a reality.

“I’m delighted that the money we raised has contributed to services right here in our local community, which is a truly fantastic legacy for everyone involved in our partnership.”

Propeller problems halt P&O cruise

Propeller problems halt P&O cruise

Technical problems force P&O cruise to return home three days early

A P&O cruise vessel is having to return to port in the UK early after a technical issue with a propeller slowed its progress on a holiday to Madeira, the Spanish Islands and Portugal.

The Oriana will return to Southampton Port three days early, and passengers will have the option to disembark when they arrive or remain until the planned arrival date.

They have also been offered a refund consisting of 40 per cent of the original ticket price in cash or 100 per cent in credit to use on a future occasion.

P&O Cruises' director Christopher Edgington was quick to apologise, saying: "Our decision to bring back the ship early has not been taken lightly and I am sorry that our customers' holiday plans have been impacted."

He added that although the repairs were required urgently, passenger lives were never in any danger and they were kept fully informed of the situation at all times

P&O floats out Britannia in Italy

By Jane Archer 

P&O Cruises took more pre-registrations in one day last week for new ship Britannia than in a whole week for Azura before it launched in 2010.

Marketing director Christopher Edgington said pre-registrations, targeted at past passengers only, allowed clients to put their name down for specific cruises but not cabins.

The maiden voyage, a 14-night Mediterranean cruise departing March 14 2015, was in high demand, as was a 12-night round-Britain cruise in July. They open for sale on March 27.

Speaking at Britannia’s float out - the moment when the dry-dock is flooded and water hits the hull for the first time – Edgington said: “Our past passengers are really excited about Britannia. We have created a ship that is right for them and for people who have never cruised by enhancing our signature features and adding exciting new ones.”

They include a new cookery school devised by TV chef James Martin, the Limelight dining and cabaret club, and a Mediterranean-style Market Café serving charcuterie and sweet treats from TV’s Cake Boy Eric Lanlard.

Michelin-starred chef Atul Kochhar and wine expert Olly Smith, who have venues on other P&O ships, are also part of Britannia’s culinary line-up. Instead of a restaurant, Marco Pierre White is creating dishes for gala nights in the dining rooms,

Hebden Bridge-based agent Louise Hunt, who works for Travel Councillors, won a P&O competition to be Madrina, or godmother, for the float out, at the Fincantieri shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy. A bank worker until last year, Hunt admitted she was both nervous and excited. She said: “This is quite surreal, quite incredible.”