Children's Entertainment on P&O

Popular poets headline children's entertainment programme aboard P&O Cruises' ships this summer
Four of the UK's most engaging children's poets have signed up with Britain's leading cruise line to provide sessions of light-hearted entertainment and workshops for children aged between two and 12 this summer.

Poets James Carter, Paul Cookson, Diana Hendry and Roger Stevens will be travelling with P&O Cruises on popular seven-night family itineraries and providing a session each for age groups two to four, five to eight and nine to 12.

The sessions will be based on published works of the four authors, and will include poetry readings, music and help for children to start writing their own poems.

P&O Cruises head of brand marketing, Philip Price said; "We have teamed up with these popular poets because we recognize that in a growing family cruise market we need to be on the ball when it comes to entertaining this audience.
"Children can be the toughest of critics and so we make sure we open their eyes to new experiences, just as we do for their parents. Combined with a programme of age appropriate sports, games, crafts and activities, these poetry sessions will form the perfect balance in the youth crew's 'edutainment' programme."

James Carter is a prize-winning children's poet and guitarist. Not unknown for creating impromptu verses on the spur of the moment, children might find themselves the subject of conversation in one of his fun-packed and highly interactive sessions on board Oceana's night Iberian Adventure (E709) departing 15 April 2007.

Paul Cookson has been a poetry performer and coach for more than 18 years and also works as a cartoon illustrator, often introducing this as part of his workshops. Children travelling on Oceana's Iberian Interlude (E713) departing 27 May 2007 should expect to be actively involved in his readings - and should also warn any attending parents of the same!

Diana Hendry won a Whitbread Prize for her children's book Harvey Angell and has published more than thirty books for children of all ages. Her sessions are both entertaining and fun, often including musical instruments, singing and sometimes spinning plates! Children can catch Diana on Oceana's Summer Splendours itinerary (E718) departing 22 July 2007.

Roger Stevens is a poet, writer, artist and musician and when he is not writing he is visiting schools, festivals and libraries performing poetry and making people laugh. Children travelling on Oceana's Fjords Adventure (E721) departing 25 August will be no exception as he brings his poems alive with music, humour and audience participation.

Prices for a family of four start from £3,036 based on Oceana's Iberian Interlude itinerary (E713), departing from and returning to Southampton calling at Corunna and Bilbao in Spain, La Rochelle (from La Pallice) and Brest in France, and St. Peter Port in Guernsey.
(The cruise fare is on a full board basis, including all main meals, entertainment and facilities. Prices are based a family of two adults and two children aged 16 and under sharing two inside twin cabins)

All P&O cruises can be booked through Lighthouse Travel at 800-719-9917.