Dear All
Those of you who sailed with us between 20 – 31 October may have noticed that I had a special assistant with me most of the time as I toured the ship. This was the cruise when my family joined me from Wales. My son, Eddie turned ten during the cruise and it was the first time he had been on a ship since he was a one year old.
My time with Eddie allowed me to focus on the beauty of a cruise as a family holiday. Every day we had breakfast, lunch and dinner together. How often does a family get to do this for an extended period? He tasted different dishes which he would rarely see at home and he was spoilt rotten by the waiters and cabin stewards.
A cruise is one of those few occasions when you can focus completely on your family. The mundane home chores such as washing up, cooking, making the beds are all done for you. With all of these distractions taken out of the way, all you have to do is enjoy spending quality time with your loved ones.
I often speak with passengers who tell me about cruises they took on the Fairstar, Fair Princess, Oriana and many other ships which have been part of the P&O fleet over the years. It is amazing how, with so much happening in our lives, it is the relatively short periods of time that leave the lasting impressions. Some of those passenger’s strongest memories have been as children on ships with their parents, and that is why they return, as parents with their own children. Our tag line is “this is how to holday” but for many it is more than just a holiday, it is a life changing experience which starts a pattern of bringing families together for generations to come.
As for Eddie, well he is now back home in cold windy Wales, making his Christmas list and planning his next cruise. Hopefully it will not be to long until we can get the school holidays, his mother’s busy work schedule, and my tours of duty all synchronised so that he can once again experience what many only dream of.
Simon Troman, Hotel Director
