P&O Cruises UK has expanded its travel options for passengers booking voyages aboard MS Arvia ship, introducing additional departures from Cardiff and Glasgow airports.
These supplemental regional flights cater to three 14-night Caribbean voyages scheduled for winter 2024-2025 and were unveiled alongside enticing consumer offers and a trade incentive during the wave period.
Rob Scott (the company's VP for Brand, Marketing, and Sales) attributed the decision to include these departures to feedback received from travel agents, including major agencies like Hays Travel and Barrhead Travel. He emphasized that P&O is attentive to agents' suggestions, particularly regarding regional opportunities.
While the UK-based company typically transports passengers to Southampton via coaches as part of Select Fares, the introduction of regional flights aims to maximize fly-cruise options and provide local support to travel agents. Scott expressed optimism about the regional flights, hoping they will establish a precedent for other areas as the cruise line plans for 2024.
Gatwick serves as the departure point for most fly-cruise holidays, with selected cruises departing from regional airports, including Heathrow, Stansted, Manchester, Newcastle, Glasgow, Birmingham, East Midlands, Bristol, Bournemouth, Edinburgh, Cardiff, and Belfast.
One of the newly added return service flights from Cardiff is scheduled for January 17, 2025, with cruise prices starting from GBP 1,529 for an inside cabin. The itinerary, departing from Bridgetown, Barbados, includes visits to Martinique, Saint Kitts, British Virgin Islands, Saint Maarten, Antigua, Grenada, and Saint Lucia.
Additional services from Glasgow are available on November 22, 2024, and February 14, 2025, with cruise prices starting from GBP 1,349 and GBP 1,549, respectively. These cruises, also departing from Bridgetown, Barbados, cover the same ports of call. P&O Cruises aims to enhance accessibility and convenience for passengers while fostering regional support from travel agents.