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Family cruising

The fun begins as soon as you step on board one of P&O Cruises five family-friendly ships, - Aurora, Oceana, Oriana, Ventura and Azura. All family-friendly ships have an extensive range of facilities available to make life on board as relaxing as possible for parents and entertaining for children.

All aboard
The P&O Cruises youth programme is called The Reef, and the experienced and dedicated ‘Reef Rangers’ are the key to fun cruising. With age-specific clubs open from 9am – 10.30pm and specially designed programmes of entertainment and events, little ones (or not so little ones) are guaranteed to be amused from sunrise to sunset. All ships have PlayStation 2 or 3 games consoles in the youth areas and Aurora, Ventura and Azura also have V Tech Smile for the younger age groups. There are arcade games on board all ships and Azura also has a dedicated electronic gaming room, Game On.

Age groups are:

o ‘Splashers’ for 2 – 4 year olds
o ‘Surfers’ for 5 – 8 year olds
o ‘Scubas’ for 9 – 12 year olds
o ‘h2o’ for 13 – 17 year olds

After Hours
Cabin listening facilities are available from 6pm-2am and a Night Nursery offers a babysitting service for children aged 6 months to 5 years, also from 6pm – 2am. For older children there are discos and activities on board.

Kids' Meals

Normally, children sit with their parents at breakfast and lunch, but, since even the most affectionate parents may look forward to dinner on their own, all ships lay on a special tea for children accompanied by their parents. The menu features food that children love along with healthy options, such as salads, soups, fruit and pasta. For toddlers and babies a selection of pureed and baby food is available on request.

Shore Excursions

There’s nothing more exciting than awaking to a new port and P&O Cruises offers shore excursions to suit the whole family from water parks to glass bottom boat rides, jeep safaris to snorkelling.

Family Accommodation

Cabins are well equipped for the needs of the whole family and many have additional beds. ‘Family Savers’ on Aurora, Oceana, Oriana, Ventura and Azura offer generous reductions for children up to the age of 16, and on certain holidays children even go free.

Some interconnecting cabins are available and Ventura and Azura each offer two family suites sleeping up to six people, ideal for larger families looking for a more luxurious holiday experience to share. These suites offer two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a lounge and large balcony and feature personal butler service.

Famous Friends
For a little something extra in family entertainment, P&O Cruises is also home to some well known children’s characters. Perennial children’s favourite Noddy is on hand to surprise and delight the two to four year olds, taking part in character breakfasts, movie screenings and photo sessions. Timeless classic, Mr. Bump, from the Mr. Men Show, has found his sea-legs and is around and about entertaining the four to seven year olds.

Marco Pierre White offers cooking lessons for children on board Ventura, when he travels frequently throughout the year.

Take a look at www.pocruises.com/Cruise-Experience/Family for more information.