P&O wins Best Large Cruise Line In Telegraph Travel Awards

P&O has won the Best Large Cruise Line in The Telegraph Travel Awards for 2011.

It beat off stiff competition from runners-up Cunard and Celebrity.

P&O cruises out of Southampton and a variety of other European ports for trips around the Mediterranean and the Canary Islands.

There are also magnificent cruises on offer around the Caribbean, so there is something for anyone who wishes to catch some winter sun this year.

On board any of P&O magnificent super-liners you can expect exclusive celebrity endorsed restaurants, with menu’s created by Gary Rhodes and Marco Pierre White. Or simply enjoy the ship’s many facilities and creative workshops, whilst the children are being fully entertained by Noddy, Mr Bump and the Mr Men shows.

With fantastic entertainment and facilities on board, and itineraries which include some amazing locations around the world it is easy to see why P&O was voted the Best Large Cruise Line.

To see the full run down of winners in the Travel Awards click here

Your Ideal New Orleans Cruise & Stay

New Orleans one of the world's most fascinating cities. Steeped in a history of influences from Europe, the Caribbean, Africa and beyond, it's brilliant mosaic of culture, food and music. You'll find brimming bowls of gumbo, late nights in jazz clubs, strolls through historic neighbourhoods and tantalising festivals throughout the year. Its no surprise then to find the popularity of New Orleans growing once again as tourism increases.

What better way to enjoy the hospitality of Louisiana than a 3 night stay at one of the cities many unique hotels before heading off on a 7 night Royal Caribbean Cruise. The Voyager of the Seas will take you from New Orleans through the Gulf of Mexico and onto Falmouth in Jamaica, Georgetown in Grand Cayman and Cozumel in Mexico.

And don't forget, if you happen to be there in for Mardi Gras (thats February 21st in 2012) you may well need that 7 night cruise more than anything else after joining in on that party

Your Ideal Cunard Transatlantic Crossing

There are many things that are suited to each other, fish and chips for example, Sundays and roast dinners and of course, they are both very traditionally British. Something else very British is Cunard, steeped in history from the grand days of the transatlantic crossings, Cunard still to this day offers something that little bit special and here at Ideal Cruising, we have managed to take the best of Cunard and create something a little bit more special.

How? Well, we have included not only your return flights on a 16 night transatlantic voyage from Venice to Fort Lauderdale on November 20th of this year, we have included a lagoon tour on an old merchant vessel in the Venice Lagoon while you are there. That’s not it however, but on its own would be a talking point. No we have managed to include tickets for Verdi’a opera La Traviata in Venice on your first night.

The Opera is held at the Musica a Palazzo on the Sunday night. For those of you who don’t’ know, the Musiza a Palazzo is a Venetian Palace from about the 15th Century located on the Grand Canal. With such a unique building, the acts of the Opera are held in different rooms really building the atmosphere and also creating almost a sense of involvement as you move from room to room, act to act.

Something that will last with you for your 16 night cruise and beyond, find out more here

Discover the West Coast of USA

There are so many iconic places to visit along the coast of California, many of the cities have featured in so many movies over the years that once you get there, they will seem very familiar indeed. Starting from San Francisco, famous for the Golden Gate bridge and of course Alcatraz situated in San Francisco’s Bay are two of the many highlights you can explore whilst your enjoy your first stop on this one of a kind itinerary. Choose the route that best suits you as you leave the city and head South for Los Angeles. Taking Highway 5 is the easy and quick option, however dare to take the coastal road, while slightly longer will take you along the winding road tracing the Pacific Ocean through Monterey, picking up the section known as “Big Sur” onto Santa Maria and Santa Barbara before cruising into L.A. Here you have a few days to relax and maybe do a spot of shopping in Rodeo Drive or just unwind on the beaches or Laguna or Huntingdon.

The Drive to San Diego is only a few hours and takes you through San Clemente, Oceanside and Carlsbad before heading into San Diego. Famous for the San Diego zoo and many great restaurants, and its only a short hop over the border to Mexico from here. After your 2 nights in San Diego, what better way to unwind than on the 5 star Holland America ms Oosterdam and you cruise the Mexican Rivera calling into Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan and Cabo San Lucas. Car hire is included in the package, along with 4 star hotels in San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego. For those of you who don’t fancy this amazing drive, we can arrange all of your internal flights for you so give us a call and speak with one of our cruise specialists today. Alternatively, you can find out more by clicking here.

Ideal Cruise & Stay Of The Week

There are not many cruises that involve driving, however it would seem that Ideal Cruising have found one. Although before you jump to conclusion its not just any drive. Its actually an amazing cross state drive from Los Angeles to Las Vegas. For those of you who have not experience this, its amazing, its only 4 hours away from the city of Los Angeles, yet its a world away from anything you have ever seen before, the skyline of Vegas appears in the desert like a mirage in the vast desert.

How did you end up here, well thats the cruise part. The package in question is 2 nights in Los Angeles, 7 nights on the Carnival Splendor sailing the Mexican Riviera and then 3 nights in Las Vegas. Its an amazing combination of hotel stays and cruise, Carnival Cruise Lines will pamper you and keep you entertained for a week while you sail the west coast of Mexico, stopping at places such as Cabo San Lucas and Puerto Vallarta before arriving back into LA and picking up a car ready to hit the road and head east into the desert.

Things to do in Los Angeles

Go Celeb Spotting

Hollywood celebrities are never far away in LA. To catch a glimpse of stardust, take the Hollywood Walk of Fame, where 2,000 figures from the entertainment world are immortalised in pink terrazzo with symbolic gold lettering. If you're a film buff, look out for the famous hand and footprints at Graumans Chinese Theatre. Countless premieres and galas have passed through, adding to the renowned pagoda's star quality.

Shop Rodeo Drive

Many people dream of being Julia Roberts shopping on Rodeo Drive, but few can afford to buy from the array of high-end designers seen in the film 'Pretty Woman'. So window-shopping is the order of the day. Along the $200-million ersatz European cobbled walkway Two Rodeo, browsing tourists mingle with serious spenders. A hop away is Anderson Court, which is the only shopping mall designed by Frank Lloyd Wright.

Things to do In Vegas

Bellagio Fountains

This show is a light and sound show, coupled with the fountain display. This takes place in front of the Bellagio Hotel, and is acceptable for everyone of all ages.

Las Vegas Space Flights

The zero gravity Las Vegas experience is now available for those who wish to feel weightless. A specially designed Boeing 727 will perform effects of a real space flight including flying smaller parabolas that recreate lunar gravity.

Find out more here.