Summer 26

[Selbourne]

Well I’ve had the email from our specialist TA (the one that many of us use) and none of the links work 😡

 

In reality, I think we will struggle to convince ourselves to book 2 years in advance. Chances are that my wife’s disability will have worsened by then, and also we made 2 late bookings last year that were cheaper than launch prices - and that was for accessible balcony cabins - so I’m struggling to see the benefit of booking this far in advance. 

[pete14]

After a 10 minute wait earlier this morning, we have pre registered our ‘total eclipse’ cruise. Arcadia to Iceland which is scheduled to be in the total eclipse path. All we need now is some cloud dispersant on the afternoon of 12th August 2026 and everything will be fine.

[sandancer]

We have pre registered for the 21 night Britannia in June. We need an adapted cabin and it’s a big birthday cruise so we will be very happy if our TA comes up with the goods. 

[happy v]

46 minutes ago, pete14 said:

After a 10 minute wait earlier this morning, we have pre registered our ‘total eclipse’ cruise. Arcadia to Iceland which is scheduled to be in the total eclipse path. All we need now is some cloud dispersant on the afternoon of 12th August 2026 and everything will be fine.

We did a total eclipse and Northern lights cruise on Oriana. It was breathtaking, awesome, and a bit magical. Definitely one of my most memorable moments.

[pete14]

14 minutes ago, happy v said:

We did a total eclipse and Northern lights cruise on Oriana. It was breathtaking, awesome, and a bit magical. Definitely one of my most memorable moments.

Thanks for that. Being August, it is unlikely we will see the Northern Lights but you never know. At least we saw them last year and I agree they were awesome and magical.

[Presto2]

Have only looked at a few so far, but from what we've seen it looks an ok list of cruises, with more new ports than of late (I think). There also seem to be more 7 night cruises from Southampton to Spain and France outside of school holidays - which can only be a good thing.

Off to look at my brochure now ....

[happy v]

23 minutes ago, Presto2 said:

Have only looked at a few so far, but from what we've seen it looks an ok list of cruises, with more new ports than of late (I think). There also seem to be more 7 night cruises from Southampton to Spain and France outside of school holidays - which can only be a good thing.

Off to look at my brochure now ....

I'm waiting for the postie

[pete14]

23 minutes ago, Presto2 said:

Have only looked at a few so far, but from what we've seen it looks an ok list of cruises, with more new ports than of late (I think). There also seem to be more 7 night cruises from Southampton to Spain and France outside of school holidays - which can only be a good thing.

Off to look at my brochure now ....

I agree that there are some new ports included in some cruises which is a good thing. Shame we can only book one of them. Our Iceland cruise has new ports and overnight in Reykjavik and Greenock for Glasgow on the way back. It also calls at Belfast and Cobh for Cork. All three UK ports are new to us which is great. So a combination of Iceland and UK cruise with the eclipse thrown in as a free attraction.

[pete14]

6 minutes ago, happy v said:

I'm waiting for the postie

They are on P&O website. Who knows when the postie is going to arrive these days?

[showingdiva]

Congratulations to everyone who has been tempted by a new itinerary or ports and registered.

 

2026 isn't that far away.  I fully understand why some cannot commit that far in advance for a number of reasons.   For me, it's a bit of carpe diem.   Something to look forward to and enjoy the thought of planning for.

 

P&O, I will come back to you at some point.  Honestly.   But MSC's Mr Paradiso does keep returning my lovely white ghost to me every summer .....   

 

 

[happy v]

1 minute ago, pete14 said:

They are on P&O website. Who knows when the postie is going to arrive these days?

Ours is afternoons this week. I have looked on the website but I find it much easier with a brochure. I will read it in the bath!🙂

[lancashire_cruisers]

We’ve pre-registered for Arvia in the Med as we haven’t been to Rome and Florence for a few years.

[Ardennais]

5 hours ago, DamianG said:

We are looking at various itineraries during the main school holidays in 2026. Yet again some of the Mediterranean cruises have very few days in port, such as this one with just five and a half days:

B618 Mediterranean (pocruises.com)

 

At least there are some new ports (for us anyway) on certain cruises, such as Gijon, El Ferrol, Santander and Cherbourg (somehow we've never been there). It's also good to see Cagliari again on some itineraries from Southampton.

 

Finally, I don't recall seeing an itinerary like this one before, with a combination of the Mediterranean plus a call to Madeira:

N619 Spain And Portugal (pocruises.com)

 

At first glance the cruises all looked a bit "same old" but after some research I think there are some more interesting itineraries (for us) than we've seen for a while.

 

Best regards

 

Damian

 

 

From my quick look this morning, you’re right about some cruises having few days in port. Seems to be mainly Iona and Arvia which is a shame. 

Edited April 16 by Ardennais

[daiB]

Well we have pre booked for 4 cruises, 3 on Iona and 1 on Aurora. The prices ate getting cheaper. The Iona cruises are £57pppn cheaper than our first cruise in 2001 on Aurora in a better cabin, even Aurora is £30pppn cheaper.

Happy days.

 

Gan Canny

 

Dai

[zap99]

4 hours ago, Selbourne said:

Well I’ve had the email from our specialist TA (the one that many of us use) and none of the links work 😡

 

In reality, I think we will struggle to convince ourselves to book 2 years in advance. Chances are that my wife’s disability will have worsened by then, and also we made 2 late bookings last year that were cheaper than launch prices - and that was for accessible balcony cabins - so I’m struggling to see the benefit of booking this far in advance. 

We had a TA blurb today. Some of the prices seem good, but we haven't thought about 2025 yet. Lots can happen in 2 years.

Edited April 16 by zap99

[terrierjohn]

4 hours ago, Selbourne said:

Well I’ve had the email from our specialist TA (the one that many of us use) and none of the links work 😡

 

In reality, I think we will struggle to convince ourselves to book 2 years in advance. Chances are that my wife’s disability will have worsened by then, and also we made 2 late bookings last year that were cheaper than launch prices - and that was for accessible balcony cabins - so I’m struggling to see the benefit of booking this far in advance. 

We are thinking the same @Selbourne, and P&O have not made it any easier by doubling the launch deposit to 10%. We have also noticed this last weekend that our Iona Caribbean cruise in January is being offered at a £600 pp discount to the launch price we paid for a GC balcony in 2021.

[Bin man]

Why do p and o let you see prices for prebooking but only allow you to see location I.e.aft ,mid aft, etc and not see cabin no .Why would I pre book via p and o .I know if I book via my TA I can give her say 6 cabin numbers in order of preference and she will come up trumps 99% of the time .so for example if I want a mid aft cabin I cannot even state deck position so why would I use P and O site?----q

[Presto2]

26 minutes ago, Bin man said:

Why do p and o let you see prices for prebooking but only allow you to see location I.e.aft ,mid aft, etc and not see cabin no .Why would I pre book via p and o .I know if I book via my TA I can give her say 6 cabin numbers in order of preference and she will come up trumps 99% of the time .so for example if I want a mid aft cabin I cannot even state deck position so why would I use P and O site?----q

Thats what puts me off booking early. I like to know the cabin I am booking so wait until bookings open.

Have to say have seen a nice 14 nights on Azura from 4th June and a similar itinerary 30th April.

What has been fun this time is looking at all cruises and picking the itineraries we want and not having to keep to school holidays. We have been liberated.. yeah 

[Selbourne]

2 hours ago, terrierjohn said:

We are thinking the same @Selbourne, and P&O have not made it any easier by doubling the launch deposit to 10%. We have also noticed this last weekend that our Iona Caribbean cruise in January is being offered at a £600 pp discount to the launch price we paid for a GC balcony in 2021.

Interesting. As a number of us how now worked out, the days of launch prices never being beaten are long gone.

 

I’ve looked through all the itineraries for Aurora, Arcadia, Ventura and Britannia. We aren’t interested in Iona or Arvia and Azura is fly cruises only. There are a few cruises that we’d be interested in but, with the exception of a couple of cruises on Britannia, they are well over our maximum price that we will now pay for P&O (£100 pppn balcony cabin). We shall wait until balance due date and see if we can snap up a bargain for well below launch prices, as we did twice last year. 

 

 

Edited April 16 by Selbourne

[Peanut006]

15 minutes ago, Presto2 said:

Thats what puts me off booking early. I like to know the cabin I am booking so wait until bookings open.

Have to say have seen a nice 14 nights on Azura from 4th June and a similar itinerary 30th April.

What has been fun this time is looking at all cruises and picking the itineraries we want and not having to keep to school holidays. We have been liberated.. yeah 

I think the 4 June 2026 on Azura looks a good one too, just a bit nervous about booking so far out

 

Michelle 

 

[Presto2]

Just now, Peanut006 said:

I think the 4 June 2026 on Azura looks a good one too, just a bit nervous about booking so far out

 

Michelle 

 

Same here. I want to see the actual cost as well ! Not too keen on the 10% deposit time.

[jh1809]

I couldn't resist booking Aurora's 24-day Med cruise in Sep-Oct 2026. Quite a few intriguing ports that I've not been to before. 

[Clodia]

On 4/16/2024 at 10:10 AM, pete14 said:

After a 10 minute wait earlier this morning, we have pre registered our ‘total eclipse’ cruise. Arcadia to Iceland which is scheduled to be in the total eclipse path. All we need now is some cloud dispersant on the afternoon of 12th August 2026 and everything will be fine.

Pre registered for that one this morning,  not easy from Fuerteventura. Couldn't resist as it'll be a one time experience. 

[pete14]

12 minutes ago, Clodia said:

Pre registered for that one this morning,  not easy from Fuerteventura. Couldn't resist as it'll be a one time experience. 

Welcome along! I suspect we are not alone.

Edited April 17 by pete14

[happy v]

1 hour ago, pete14 said:

Welcome along! I suspect we are not alone.

I must admit I am "mulling"😉