P&O Cruises launches dedicated Ventura brochure

P&O Cruises is to publish a dedicated brochure for its £300 million new superliner Ventura, being launched in April 2008.

Ventura will be based in Southampton from April to October, offering cruises of between two and 16 nights in the Mediterranean, Baltic and Atlantic Isles.

The new 3,096-passenger vessel will be competing against Royal Caribbean International’s mega ship Independence of the Seas as they will both be offering cruises from Southampton in summer 2008.

From October 2008 to March 2009, Ventura will offer 14-night Caribbean fly-cruise holidays from Barbados.

P&O Cruises commercial director Nigel Esdale said: “Travel agents need to understand what makes Ventura so different; her identifiable British appeal, her family focus, the attractions we have to enrich the holiday experience and of course the itineraries developed to appeal to newcomers.

“There is a choice of regional UK departure airports and passengers can even choose their day of departure – on either a Friday or Saturday – to tailor-make their holiday. And unlike most Caribbean cruise holidays, ours are varied 14 night itineraries, not repeated seven night itineraries.”

Two of Ventura’s three main restaurants will be dedicated to ‘Freedom Dining’ and two have been created by celebrity chef Marco Pierre White.

For families, the ship will also have a 3D cinema, Scalextric at sea – a giant six car digital race track with Grand-Prix events, Cirque Ventura – a contemporary circus skills school – and Rock School – where teenagers can perform and record their own songs.

“Agent training will be a fundamental part of Ventura’s success,” continued Esdale.

“We know how important product knowledge will be. All cruise lines have big white ships with lots to do, but it is the software in the form of service, attention to detail and on board experience that will differentiate Ventura.

“We want to provide agents with as much support as we can and so have developed an extensive training pack containing information on the ship and what makes her different from others.”

The Ventura training pack contains an educational DVD, A1 size cutaway poster, A3 size window poster, flip chart desk training piece, pens, post-it notes and a PC presenter.

For every Ventura booking made between April 2 and June 30, 2007 agents will be entered into a competition to win cabins on Ventura during her maiden season, places at the inaugural events, tables at Marco Pierre White’s London restaurant chain – Frankie’s – and signed copies of Marco’s latest book.

Marco Pierre White will travel on four itineraries in the 2008 season: 14-night Canaries Discovery departing 9 May, 14-night Magical Mediterranean departing 18 July, 12-night Atlantic Isle Adventure departing 31 August and 15-night Caribbean Paradise Isles departing 22 November.

Meanwhile, Toyland character, Noddy, will be on board every itinerary.

The programme goes on sale on April 2.

By Bev Fearis