From the biggest superliners built for British cruisers to more intimate and traditional ships. P&O Cruises flies the flag around the world. With six ships, and a seventh joining the fleet next year, P&O Cruises is the undisputed UK market leader.

The arrival next April of Azura, sister vessel to 3,100-passenger Ventura, gives the company two exceptional 115,000-ton superliners sailing from Southampton. Although a sister ship to family-friendly Ventura, Azura has been designed to appeal to “heartland” P&O Cruises’ passengers who have taken an average of more than five cruises with the company in the past.

P&O Cruises has dubbed Azura the ‘foodie-friendly ship’ due to its emphasis on contemporary dining across 11 dining venues. These include an Indian restaurant called Sindu overseen by Michelin-starred chef Atul Kochar, three main dining rooms, a fine dining restaurant called Seventeen, and a wine bar and restaurant called the Glass House with wines recommended by TV expert Olly Smith.

An exclusive open air spa terrace called The Retreat, part of an extensive relaxation and exercise area, will carry a fee per half day of use. Another new addition for P&O Cruises is an open air SeaScreen cinema, similar to the Movies under the Stars concept pioneered by US sister company Princess Cruises, which will show blockbuster movies.

Azura will carry a range of spa cabins where passengers can buy an optional spa package costing between £498 and £798 depending on the length of cruise. This will allow the user access to The Retreat, facials and massages, unlimited access to fitness classes, a welcome event, spa tour and a number of other extras. A number of cabins specifically for single passengers will be available for the first time on a P&O Cruises’ ship.

Azura’s itineraries range from a three-night break to Bruges and Le Harve in October 2010 to a 29-day Christmas and New Year fly-cruise taking in 17 ports in the US and Caribbean, including Port Canaveral for Orlando, Port Everglades for Miami, Key West, two days in New Orleans and full days in a string of islands ranging from Antigua to Grenada.

There are a total of 16 European summer sailings from Southampton, including the maiden voyage on April 12, 2010 to the Eastern Mediterranean. Next summer will see the ship travel to destinations including the Baltic Sea and the Canary Islands on itineraries ranging from seven to 16 nights in duration.

Also available will be two seven-night sailings to Ireland, Spain and France and a seven-night Norwegian fjords departure. Between October 2010 and March 2011, Azura will reposition to offer 15-night fly-cruise holidays from Barbados. The current six ships in the P&O Cruises’ fleet – Arcadia, Artemis and family-friendly Aurora, Oceana, Oriana and Ventura – offer extensive spa facilities.

Other on board facilities include theatres, nightclubs/discos, casinos, swimming pools, libraries, shops, cinemas, internet cafés, Jacuzzis, sporting equipment for golf, tennis, cricket, basketball and football, and an array of relaxation areas.

Renowned celebrity chefs oversee gourmet restaurants on board a number of the vessels, emphasising quality and attention to detail. Marco Pierre White has expanded his involvement from Ventura by opening new restaurants on board Aurora and Oceana. Gary Rhodes’ restaurants feature modern British fare on both Arcadia and Oriana.

Ventura’s family facilities include digital Scalextric, a 3D cinema, circus skills training, children’s characters Noddy and Mr Bump and a Rock School for teenagers.

P&O Cruises’ covers 180 destinations in the Caribbean, South America, Scandinavia, Mediterranean, Atlantic islands and round the world voyages. New for early 2010 are two Caribbean sailings from Southampton, each of five weeks in duration. Meanwhile, adults-only Arcadia will embark on its first 94-night world cruise in January 2010, with Aurora running a 104-night Grand Voyage to Australia and back to the UK via South Africa.

Oriana departs from Southampton on September 23, 2010, on an 84-night world voyage, returning on December 17. Arcadia, Artemis and Aurora also embark on long voyages of up to 98 nights in duration from Southampton in January 2011. All of these voyages can be broken down into smaller segments such as UK to Hong Kong or UK to Sydney.