Your October 2025 Update from Michael Wilson

Hello and welcome to my October 2025 update!

The past few weeks have been busy as we prepare for the launch of P&O Cruises’ 2027-28 winter season. Pre-bookings opened yesterday (14 October), with general reservations available next week, from 21 October. Our marketing department has produced a mini brochure showcasing all available sailings, and if you’re subscribed to our mailing list, it should already have arrived by the time you receive this update. All these new sailings are also available to view on our website.

The highlight of this new programme is that Iona will join her sister ship Arvia in the Caribbean for the first time, offering 14-night fly-cruise holidays from Barbados, Antigua and St. Kitts. Plus, Arcadia will embark on an extraordinary 124-night world cruise, departing from Southampton on 6 January 2028. P&O Cruises will be visiting several destinations for the first time in many years on the world cruise, including Male in the Maldives, and the Japanese ports of Kagoshima and Nagasaki. 

In addition to the early booking offers from P&O Cruises, we’re giving you double cashback when you book within the first two weeks of launch. New for this season, we’re also including a complimentary executive transfer up to 200 miles from Southampton when you book the full world cruise – see terms and conditions for details. With double cashback and P&O Cruises’ early booking discounts combined, now is the perfect time to secure your dream cruise and the stateroom of your choice.

On the subject of securing your preferred cruise and stateroom, as I’ve mentioned before for previous launches, our pre-booking record is industry-leading. Thanks to our bespoke launch system, our sales team can process bookings with lightning speed and precision, ensuring that almost every customer secures their first choice. This gives you, our valued customers, a significant advantage when reserving your preferred cabins and grades, especially those that always sell out first. Register your pre-booking with our sales team today and leave the rest to us. I remain confident that we are the best choice for your cruise bookings at launch time, combining outstanding technology with industry-leading personal service.

If you’re looking to travel a little sooner, I’m pleased to share some fantastic offers on selected 2025/26 P&O Cruises sailings. For a limited time, we’re offering exclusive triple Cruise Club Cashback, and selected sailings also include extra onboard spending money, giving you even more value and flexibility. There are significant savings available on cruises to the Caribbean and Canary Islands across several ships in the P&O Cruises fleet. Fares start from just £517 for a seven-night cruise to the Canary Islands on board Azura, departing 7 February 2026, which represents excellent value. You can view the full list of sailings here.

This brings me to some important updates from P&O Cruises regarding their adult-only ships, Arcadia and Aurora. From December 2026, under-18s will be permitted on selected sailings, giving families more opportunities to experience these much-loved ships during peak periods and over Christmas, while the majority of departures will continue to maintain their signature, adult-only atmosphere. It is fair to say that guest feedback on this announcement has been mixed, and please rest assured that we are sharing all comments and observations directly with P&O Cruises. Full details of the affected sailings are available on our website.

Last month, I mentioned that Ellis had joined the business as our new videographer, and I hope you’ve already seen some of his first social media posts featuring members of our team. One of these posts features my son, Oliver, sharing his thoughts on the upcoming P&O Cruises launch. If you missed it, you can watch it by following this link. I hope you’re enjoying these new videos – they’ll be appearing more frequently over the coming months, offering a great way to get to know some of our key team members even better.

In other exciting cruise news, Princess Cruises recently celebrated the maiden voyage of its newest Sphere-Class ship, Star Princess. The 177,800-tonne, 4,300-guest Star Princess features 30 distinct dining and bar venues, elevated entertainment and activity offerings, and luxurious accommodation, setting a new standard for sophistication and comfort at sea.

Star Princess will soon be making her Caribbean debut in Fort Lauderdale, where she will sail the Caribbean until spring 2026. She will then transit the Panama Canal to Seattle, where she will launch a debut season of seven-day Alaska Inside Passage cruises in summer 2026. If you would like to be among the first on board this brand-new Princess Cruises ship, speak to our Cruise Experts on 01246 819 819 who will be on hand with more information and to help you make your booking.

Another ship to keep an eye out for is Royal Caribbean’s Legend of the Seas, which is due to make its debut in summer 2026. Her inaugural season will see the ship sailing the Western Mediterranean, which presents the perfect opportunity to experience a brand-new Royal Caribbean ship close to home. We have recently received more details of the new onboard features, including exciting new family accommodation and world-class entertainment, with one of the standout features being the addition of the Hollywoodland Supper Club, an immersive dining experience with cocktail pairing and live music. You can see full details of what to expect on board by heading to our website.

In more cruise news, Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth will be returning to Southampton for a brand-new season of cruises beginning in January 2027. This marks her first return to the UK homeport since 2021, when she will embark on a variety of itineraries, including the Canary Islands, Spain and Portugal. These new sailings have already proved exceptionally popular, so if you have your eye on a particular voyage, I’d urge you to contact our Cruise Experts on 01246 819 819 to secure your booking.

We’re also excited to offer triple cashback on a fantastic range of Cunard voyages to the Norwegian Fjords. This is a highly popular destination among our Cruise Club Members, and with fares starting from £950 for a seven-night cruise, this really is a great time to book. You can see the full list of applicable sailings here – this offer is only valid until 17 November, so take a look and see if there is anything that catches your eye.

Meanwhile, Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines has unveiled its 2027 cruise programme, featuring 70 new sailings. Departures will take place from Southampton, Liverpool, Newcastle and Rosyth, with highlights including the return of scenic sailings through Greenland, and a unique itinerary visiting nine Northern European countries in just 13 nights. Guests can also choose from an expanded selection of shorter cruises of five nights or fewer, perfectly timed around UK bank holidays for a well-earned escape. This smaller-ship cruise line has gained popularity with our Cruise Club Members over the past few years, and you can see the full 2027 programme by clicking here.

There is also still time to vote for us in the ‘Best Travel Agency for Cruise Holidays’ category at this year’s British Travel Awards. The overall winner will be decided by the public, and casting your vote is quick and easy – simply follow this link and submit your details.

Everyone who votes will be automatically entered into a prize draw to win a fantastic selection of prizes, including a river cruise valued at over £4,000, travel vouchers, villa holidays and more. Winners will be chosen at random and notified by email in early November once voting has closed. We are immensely proud to have been nominated for this award, as it highlights the outstanding customer service on which our business is built. Thank you to all our valued customers for your continued trust and support. It truly means the world to us.

Finally, I’m thrilled to share a special highlight from the recent TTG Travel Industry Awards 2025 in London, an incredible evening celebrating the very best across the travel and cruise industry. We’re so proud of our Cruise Expert, Jessica, who was a finalist for Cruise Agent of the Year. Reaching the final is a remarkable achievement and a true reflection of her dedication and passion for helping our customers find their perfect cruise. Joining Jessica on the evening were our Sales Team Leader, Amber, and Product Manager, Oliver, as they celebrated what was a fantastic night for the entire Bolsover Cruise Club team.

To all those setting sail in the coming weeks, bon voyage, and may you enjoy every moment of your holiday.