Exotic Odyssey with a Greek Goddess

Visits to six New Zealand ports over the New Year period by the new-look P&O Cruises liner Artemis has sparked interest in the child-free ship’s new 80-night ‘African and Asian Odyssey’ next Christmas. 

The smallest of P&O Cruises’ five British liners, the 1,200-passenger Artemis visits the Milford Sounds (December 29), Port Chalmers (December 30), Lyttelton (December 31), Marlborough Sounds (January 1), Wellington (January 2) and Auckland (January 3) as part of a 110-night world voyage. 

Able to visit smaller, lesser-known ports because of her size, the 45,000-tonne liner embarks on an 80-night African and Asian Odyssey late next year across the Atlantic and Indian Oceans as well as the Mediterranean. 

Artemis sails from Southampton in the UK on December 2, 2006, bound for 35 ports in 21 countries including Namibia, Seychelles, Maldives, Cape Verde Islands, Comoros Islands, Brunei, Sri Lanka, Oman, India, Vietnam, Singapore, Tunisia and Egypt. 

The exotic voyage can also be split in half, enabling New Zealanders to fly to Singapore and cruise to England or sail from the UK to Singapore and then fly home. 

Originally christened Royal Princess by the late Princess Diana, the ship was renamed Artemis in June 2005 after the ‘fiercely independent’ Greek goddess Artemis which is also the Greek word for Diana. 

Artemis is a child-free ship offering a classic and more intimate cruise experience. Her features include broad teak decks, a new glass-domed atrium, a large health and beauty spa, three pools, seven bars, regular classical concerts and a New Horizons program offering self-improvement courses such as literature, craft, photography, dancing and computers.

One of the few cruise ships in the world to have ocean views from every cabin, Artemis is one of two UK-based P&O Cruises liners to visit New Zealand this summer. Big sister Aurora visits Auckland on February 11 as part of her annual world cruise. 

P&O Cruises is offering discounts of up to 45 per cent for bookings on Artemis’ African and Asian Odyssey made before June 30, 2006. Onboard spending credits of up to £250 per person are also available for sectors longer than 35 nights. 

Fares are available from $NZ11,946 per person for 41 nights from Singapore to Southampton and from $NZ23,271 per person for the full 80-night voyage.  Air and hotel packages are also available. 

For more information, see a travel agent, call P&O Cruises on 0800 900 112 or visit www.pocruises.co.nz