Cruiseco, the operators of cruising.co.uk, has signed an exclusive partnership with P&O Cruises Australia. The new agreement offers UK travellers access to a wide range of unique itineraries throughout Australia, New Zealand and South East Asia, with P&O Cruises’ five spectacular ships.

As the first Strictly Come Dancing themed cruise in 2015 shimmies around the Med, P&O Cruises has confirmed the guest judges joining later this year will be none other than Strictly pro dancer and household favourite Anton Du Beke and former judge Arlene Phillips.

A tribal Christmas in Papua New Guinea and rocking music-themed short breaks are among the highlights of P&O Cruises’ new five-ship program which offers Australian holidaymakers the largest range of cruise itineraries and destinations in the region. With 191 departures and 38 unique itineraries being offered across the cruise line’s five-ship fleet between October 2016 and July 2017, the program continues P&O Cruises’ evolution of modern Australian cruising.

P&O Cruises’ new ship Britannia has arrived at its home port in Southampton ahead of its official naming ceremony on Tuesday, when Her Majesty The Queen, accompanied by His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh, will name the new vessel.

P&O Cruises has officially taken delivery of Britannia – the largest cruise ship ever designed specifically for the British holiday market. The handover ceremony took place in Trieste, Italy, and was attended by Carnival UK executive chairman, David Dingle, senior executives from P&O Cruises, as well as senior teams from the shipyard Fincantieri, where Britannia was built.

Baking queen Mary Berry will head a line up of the UK’s best loved chefs hosting cookery lessons onboard P&O Cruises new ship Britannia this year. Ten celebrity chefs will be on a number of Britannia’s sailings throughout the year during which they will run cookery classes, host exclusive chef’s table dinners, participate in Q&A sessions and book signings.