P&O Cruises, which is part of the Carnival Corp & plc group, will send its 69,153 gross ton Oriana to Norway in March 2014 on what will be the first winter cruise to that country by the Southampton based company.

The 12 night cruise will start on 13 March and include calls at Bergen, Tromso, Alta and Stavanger. Excursions will include dog sledding, snowmobile safaris and visit to the Igloo Hotel. Northern Lights are an added plus that obviously cannot be guaranteed.

Such winter cruises have become increasingly popular on the UK market and this is the first time that a Carnival group brand will operate such an itinerary. Oriana will also be the largest ship that will have undertaken such a cruise.

Saga Cruises, Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines and in particular Cruise & Maritime Voyages have operated winter itineraries to Norway.