Summer is the ideal time to book your winter voyage

The school summer holidays may only just have begun but if you are a cruise fan, now is the time to start thinking about Christmas.

The cruise companies are already tempting passengers with a range of special deals – whether you prefer a blast of December sunshine in the Caribbean or have time for a longer voyage.

The family-focused Ventura sails from Barbados for 14 nights on December 21. Father Christmas will abseil down the funnel on December 25. The fare is from £2,779 per person, including flights from Birmingham, Manchester or Gatwick, with P&O (0843 3740111, www.pocruises.co.uk).

If you love theme parks, start your holiday with three nights at a hotel in Orlando, Florida, before joining Royal Caribbean's Independence of the Seas for an eight-night cruise from Fort Lauderdale. Departure is on December 21 and the fly-stay-cruise package costs from £1,929pp with Virgin Holidays (0844 5734398, www.virginholidayscruises.co.uk).

You could also be sea-kayaking and snorkelling from a beach in Roatan, Honduras, on Christmas Day, or viewing the reef in a semi-submarine. Those are just two of 55 free excursions available on a ten-night cruise aboard Seven Seas Navigator (02380 682280, www.rssc.com), sailing from Miami on December 18. The ship sails to Key West and the Caribbean coasts of Honduras, Mexico, Guatemala and Belize. The all-inclusive price, from £3,809pp, covers flights and open bars.

Further afield, an adults-only Mysteries Of The Indian Ocean cruise with Swan Hellenic (0844 8220679, www.swanhellenic.com), sailing from Sri Lanka to Singapore, will spend Christmas Day at sea between the Andaman Islands and Rangoon. The 16-night cruise, leaving on December 19, costs from £2,010pp including flights and excursions.

Why not spend Christmas heading round Cape Horn from the Atlantic to the Pacific? A 17-night cruise on Oceania's Marina sails from Rio de Janeiro on December 10, heading down the coast of Argentina and up the coast of Chile with Christmas Day at sea. The cost is from £2,792pp including flights (0845 5051920, www.oceaniacruises.com).

You can even get in on the act if you like a walk at Christmas, with a no-fly, two-week Ramblers 'cruise and walk' holiday aboard Fred Olsen's Balmoral. It leaves on a round trip to the Canary Islands from Southampton on December 22. After three days at sea with a traditional Christmas on board, your first guided walk is on Madeira and there are hikes on La Palma, Tenerife and Gran Canaria, and in Lisbon and Oporto. The cost is from £1,849pp (01707 386767, www.cruiseandwalk.co.uk).

For a bit more glitz, head to the Med on Divina, MSC's newest ship, launched this year. The 11-night cruise, a round trip from Genoa, calls at Barcelona, Casablanca, Madeira and Tenerife. On Christmas morning you'll wake up in Malaga. The cost is from £849pp including flights (0844 561 1955,

Looking for the latest FABCruise offers on a wide range of cruise holidays let FABTHINGS2do help you.

P&O Cruises announces the Godmother for Ventura

DAME HELEN MIRREN TO NAME BRITAIN'S LARGEST SUPERLINER

- with a little champagne bottle-breaking help from the Royal Marines

British icon and Oscar-winning actress Dame Helen Mirren is to name the largest superliner designed exclusively for Britain, Ventura the latest addition to P&O Cruises fleet. The spectacular evening naming ceremony, with Dame Helen as the ship's Godmother, will take place in Southampton on April 16, prior to Ventura's maiden cruise to the Mediterranean.



But in a break with tradition, instead of Dame Helen simply pressing a button to send a cradled Tattinger champagne bottle towards the ship, she will command a crack team of Royal Marine Commandos to assist her in naming Ventura in a dramatic fashion.

In keeping with Ventura's contemporary and innovative values, her naming ceremony will be a departure from tradition. As well as Dame Helen's customary champagne naming, the celebration will encompass an exciting show with dramatic surprises.



On board, 1,500 guests will be invited including Ventura's consultant chef, Marco Pierre White, and children's favourite, Noddy. The occasion will benefit three children's charities supported by Dame Helen and P&O Cruises - Barnardos, Kid's Comapny and Naomi House.

Find out more about the Ventura with Hays Travel Cruise

Countdown Ventura - 94 days to go

Ventura’s rooms will be contemporary and stylish, providing you with the ultimate retreat.


Featuring contemporary art on canvas, fashionable bed linen and those all-important designer touches, Ventura’s accommodation will have a boutique hotel feel.

You will find Ventura’s architects and designers have thought of every detail. An in-cabin entertainment system will come complete with a flat panel television. In cabin pamper packs will add to the sense of luxury. While teak balcony furniture will afford a timeless elegance to her 880 balcony cabins.

Even better, your cabin will always be spick and span. Your friendly, yet discreet cabin steward will be on hand to make the bed, keep your private bathroom gleaming and attend to any room service or laundry requests.

Find out more about the Ventura with Hays Travel Cruise - The Cruise Experts.

Countdown Ventura - 101 days to go

Bungee Trampoline & Flying Trapeze Onboard P&O Cruises Superliner Ventura

Passengers on Britain’s largest & newest superliner Ventura will be able to fly high above sea level at Cirque Ventura – the first circus school at sea.

Located high up on deck 19, highly skilled performers will run workshops with a host of exciting activities on offer including tight wire, acrobalance, clowning, break-dancing, juggling and stilt walking. In addition, the area will be equipped with two thrilling centrepieces – four bungee trampolines, which will enable passengers to soar 60 metres above sea level, and a flying trapeze.

Find out more about the Ventura with Hays Travel Cruise - The Cruise Experts.

Countdown Ventura - 102 days to go

There's an exciting new silhouette on the horizon. Come April 2008, Britain's newest superliner will emerge, ready to sail the world's oceans. Unique, imaginative and stylish, Ventura will show you just how inspiring your time away can be.

If you have a sense of wanderlust that is never satisfied, you’ll be pleased to know that Ventura can always offer somewhere new and exciting. But we’re sure you will find plenty of places you will want to return to along the way. The historic cities of Europe and the Mediterranean offering a myriad of attractions. From rolling countryside to beautiful cities bustling with activity and bursting with culture, there is something for everyone here.

Then there’s the sunshine and scenic delights of the Atlantic Isles. The palaces, gilded churches and imperial treasures of the Baltic. The majesty and serenity of the fjords, or the paradise islands of the Caribbean.

Holiday with Ventura and the world’s your oyster. With so many holidays available direct from the UK, you will find cruising with Ventura is the ultimate in relaxation. After all, there is something very appealing about gliding to your next destination without a care in the world.

Plus, with regional flights available on all Ventura fly cruises, it’s never been easier to fly straight for the sunshine. As you arrive relaxed and refreshed on new shores, you will find your feet itching to explore. Each island, bustling city and chic resort brings with it intriguing opportunities and Ventura's optional shore excursions will help you capture the essence of each and every port of call.

Find out more about the Ventura with Hays Travel Cruise - The Cruise Experts.

2008 - The Year of Ventura

2008 is going to be a very exciting year for P&O Cruises as we welcome Ventura, the superliner designed for Britain and the countdown is now on!

There are now only 103 days remaining until she is named in Southampton and embarks on her maiden cruise to the Mediterranean.

During her naming festivities in April The Ventura will be welcoming many potential customers on board for a special preview of her innovative features.

Find out more about cruises on the Ventura with Hays Travel Cruise - The Cruise Experts.

Carnival Announce new cruise terminal in Southampton

A fourth cruise terminal is to be constructed at the Port of Southampton after ABP and Carnival UK signed a major, 20-year contract.

The new terminal, which will be built at Ocean Dock opposite the site of the old Ocean Terminal. As Ocean Terminal was once home to many of the great transatlantic liners of the last century, when the port was first known as the ‘Gateway to the World,’ the new terminal will stand both as testimony to Southampton’s ocean-liner history and as a symbol of the modern cruising age.

The agreement will also give Carnival UK – the world’s leading cruise company, whose cruise brands include Cunard, Ocean Village, P&O Cruises and Princess Cruises – priority use of the port’s Queen Elizabeth II and Mayflower Terminals, further strengthening the group’s relationship with the port.

This announcement comes at a historic time for Southampton’s cruise business. Cunard’s Queen Victoria has, this Month (Dec 07), sailed into the port for the first time, and next year (2008) will see the arrival of P&O’s Ventura, the largest cruise ship ever to be built for the UK market. Both of these vessels will then be based at the port.

Check out the Latest offers on Cruises departing from Southhampton with Hays Travel Cruise - The Cruise Experts.

Ventura Successfully Completes Sea Trials

The largest superliner being built exclusively for the British market has successfully completed her official sea trials.



Ventura’s trials took place over a period of two weeks and included testing of the navigation system and propulsion motors. Her maximum speed was tested and confirmed as 22.9 knots.

The completion of her sea trials signify that Ventura is well on the way to completion, and will soon be sailing for UK waters prior to her launch in Southampton in April 2008.

The next few months will be a busy time at the shipyard, as the innovative concepts and designs for Ventura come to life in the final stages of her development.

Hays Travel Cruise are very much looking forward to Ventura joining the P&O fleet and embarking on her maiden season as the most family friendly superliner built for the British market.”

The build of Ventura started with the laying of the keel in August 2006. Since then more than 3,000 workers at the Italian Fincantieri shipyard have worked to complete the project, and the final few months will be dedicated to creating and outfitting her contemporary, innovative and family friendly public spaces and cabins.

Check out the latest offers on the Ventura whith Hays Travel Cruise

Hell's Kitchen star teams up with P&O Cruises

Great British Chef to delight diners across the P&O Cruises fleet

Hell’s Kitchen star Marco Pierre White and P&O Cruises have announced that in addition to a fine dining restaurant on board Ventura, the world-renowned chef will also be creating two new exciting dining experiences on board P&O Cruises superliners Aurora and Oceana.

Aurora’s Café Bordeaux will have a unique French bistro style menu created by the triple Michelin-starred chef. Classic French dishes will be given the Marco treatment especially for passengers on board.

Oceana’s Café Jardin will be offering a Frankie’s Bar & Grill style menu serving Italian inspired dishes such as antipasti, gnocci sorrentina, glazed belly pork marco polo and ribeye alla rosmarino. Café Jardin’s galley and restaurant will be upgraded during Oceana’s refit in March 2008.

“The two new restaurants on Aurora and Oceana will offer passengers completely different dining experiences and both will encompass the best possible ingredients cooked in my unique way.”

Check out the latest offers on P&O Cruises with Hays Travel the Cruise Experts.

New Spa comapny for the Ventura

P&O Cruises announces new on board spa company

P&O Cruises has formed a new partnership with The On Board Spa Company (TOSC) to operate the Oasis Spa on its new superliner, Ventura.

The Oasis Spa has also introduced a new product range, to replace current product houses, Thalgo and Guinot. The extensive treatment menu and product range will provide a tailor made solution for all contemporary skin conditions and types.

Passengers can also continue the treatments in their own cabins, or at home, with the advanced home care range.

The Oasis spa on board offers numerous ways to revitalise and invigorate the body and soul, including an endless pool and a thermal suite.

Check out the latest offers on P&O Cruises with Hays Travel Cruise