Cruise the World in style

Cruise the World in style

The world's most remote and southernmost inhabited places will feature in P&O Cruises' exotic new 2005 world cruising programme.

Popular British superliners Aurora and Oriana return to Auckland next February as part of their 2005 world cruises, which will see the globe-sailing duo set course for 48 destinations between them.

These include a voyage past the world's most remote inhabited place, Easter Island, more than 3,200km from the nearest population centre. The new itineraries also include Port Stanley in the Falkland Islands, Patagonia and Cape Horn in South America and Midway Island, the site of one of World War 2's most vicious and decisive battles.

Savings of up to 45 per cent are available for New Zealanders who book sectors on P&O Cruises' world voyages of between 32 and 103 nights before June 30, 2004. Onboard spending credits of up to £375 per person (around NZD$1,000) are available for passengers who indulge in the glamour of classic cruising for longer than 35 days.

"A holiday of a lifetime is what we're offering New Zealanders aboard Oriana and Aurora in 2005," says P&O Cruises' New Zealand business development manager, Shannon Currie.

"Nothing can beat seeing the world from the decks of a big white ocean liner and in 2005, our superliners will be taking passengers to exotic and remote locations most people have only dreamed of visiting. A world cruise is all about style, romance and elegance. And because P&O Cruises is the world's oldest cruise line, our passengers know we are experts at pampering them on the high seas."

Aurora embarks on an epic 103-day voyage in early January 2005, visiting Auckland as part of an itinerary that almost circles the Pacific Ocean and rounds Cape Horn. At the same time, Oriana circumnavigates the world in 80 days using both the Panama and Suez canals. She also visits Auckland before heading to Sydney, Brisbane and the Whitsundays.

Fares for world cruise sectors - including all main meals and entertainment and a 45 per cent discount for bookings before June 30, 2004 - are available from:

• NZD$8,135 per person in a twin cabin on Aurora for 32 nights from Buenos Aires to Sydney via the Falklands, Patagonia, Cape Horn, Easter Island, Tahiti and New Zealand.

• NZD$8,710 per person on Aurora for 35 nights from Sydney to San Francisco via Vietnam, Hong Kong, Japan, Midway and Hawaii. Onboard spending credit of £125 per person also applies.

• NZD$9,090 per person on Oriana for 34 nights on a line voyage from Southampton to Auckland via the Caribbean, Mexico, USA, Hawaii and Tonga. Onboard spending credit of £125 per person also applies.

Shorter sectors on both ships will be open for bookings later this year, subject to availability.

Bookings or a copy of P&O Cruises new 2005 World Cruising brochure are available through travel agents or P&O Cruises on toll-free 0800 44 17 66 or visit http://www.pocruises.com.au/

© Scoop Media