P&O Ferries has announced that it will be taking delivery of the hotly anticipated state-of-the-art new ship Spirit of France.

The Spirit of France will be officially handed over to P&O Ferries on Tuesday 24th January at the STX Europe shipyard in Rauma, Finland. It will then begin the long 1400 mile journey across the North Sea to Dover, where it is scheduled to arrive on Saturday 28th January.

Under the command of the senior master Captain Steve Johnson the Spirit of France will join up with its sisiter ship The Spirit of Britain. The two ships combined represent a step change in the level of service and capacity offered to cross channel ferry passengers.

At more than 43,000 tons and 213 metres in length, they are not only the largest ferries ever to work the Dover – Calais route but also the most technologically advanced.

When the Spirit of France and Spirit of Britain begin working together it will represent the realisation of the largest ever inward investment made by P&O Ferries into its shipping fleet, at a combined cost of €360 million.

The Dover – Calais route is officially the busiest shipping channel in the world with over 500 ships per day passing through its waters. The combined capacity of these two ships alone will amount to a staggering 3750 passengers between them.

After the demise of P&O Ferries’ cross-channel rival, SeaFrance, the arrival of Spirit of France represents a welcome boost for the Dover to Calais route as P&O Ferries continues to bolster the capacity of this vital link between Britain and mainland Europe.

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Utrecht has started its preparations early. Since mid-2011 Trajectum Lumen has illuminated choice parts of the historical city with aesthetic light displays created by artists in the little known field of light-art, from all across the world. Trajectum Lumen is the name given to these displays, there’ll be switched on for the public’s enjoyment until 2018, when Utrecht is given the honourable title of Cultural Centre of Europe.

The lights are on 365 days a year as soon as the sun goes down, so if you’re planning a stay in Belgium it’ll be well worth a night time jaunt through Utrecht. Trajectum Lumen makes for a novel way to see the city. You can download a map from their You can find out more about it here. and go about looking for yourself or get on one of the pre-arranged tours and get a bit of the city’s history whilst you look around. Trajectum Lumen also offers private tours for groups of up to 20 if you plan to go as part of a large party.

Over the next few years more and more works of light-art will be added to Trajectum Lumen especially next year which will bring celebrations of the 300th year anniversary of the Treaty of Utrecht.

So there’s no stress on the time factor for Trajectum Lumen, about as little stress as you’ll get on A P&O Ferries crossing to Belgium

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Still got the January blues? They say that the best way to make it through a busy/joyless/cold (delete as applicable) is to have something to look forward to.

And what better to look forward to than a little jaunt across the channel? No matter whether you want to do a spot of cheeky shopping, sample some local food or just hear another language, mainland Europe is always just a short trip away thanks to P&O Ferries.

As a sweetener for that early 2012 slump, P&O Ferries are currently offering their passengers a great little treat. On your next trip to Calais, you could receive 6 completely free bottles of quality Gallo wine (you can choose between red, white and rosé). This could go towards your overall wine haul from France, or you could save it for the warmer spring evenings.

You would also be the recipient of a ‘2 for 1’ voucher for either a Full English Breakfast or a portion of Fish & Chips in the onboard Food Court. If that won’t make for a great trip, we’re not sure what will.

These promotions are available for trips from Dover to Calais at either £19 (on Sundays, Mondays and Fridays) or £24 (other days), for a car and up to 9 people. They are valid for trips booked and embarked on before 28th February, excluding travel on 11th, 18th & 19th February. Go here to get your tickets now!

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If one of your new year’s resolutions is to get more cultured, then you should consider putting the Brussels Antiques & Fine Arts Fair on the itinerary of your next P&O Ferries trip to mainland Europe.

Don’t be put off by the name – the BRAFA might contain some of the most precious pieces of art in Europe, but that doesn’t mean non-art buyers won’t be able to appreciate the beauty and craftsmanship on display. On the contrary, it might be the gate to a more thorough appreciation of European art.

On 14 000 square metres of exhibition space in the renowned Tour & Taxis (Avenue du Port 86 C/B) complex in Brussels, current and future art fans can marvel at the hundreds of artworks showcased by exhibitors from all over the world. The French exhibitors Galerie Berger, for example, will showcase their selection of intricate 17th and 18th century furniture.

Elsewhere, Galerie Ludorff from Germany will give visitors the chance to marvel at some of their incredible artworks, which focus on German expressionism and contemporary art.

Modern paintings and sculptures, ceramics, photography as well as African and Oriental art, tapestry and jewellery will be on display from Saturday 21 to Sunday 29 January.

There will be the chance to take daily guided tours and to relax in the magnificent restaurant and bars adjacent to the art fair.

The Brussels Antiques & Fine Arts Fair takes place in the heart of Brussels, which is easily reachable from P&O Ferries port Zweebrugge (60 miles by car).

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With Brusselicious drawing all eyes to Belgium’s capital it’s very easy to forget the Port city Antwerp. This metropolis has historically been a site of world trade, its central location made it strategically important for naval operations. Whilst food lovers will be flocking to Brussels this year to be entertained as well as sample gourmet cuisine if you want to avoid crowds why not head to the coast instead and make the most of the fresh good delivered to Antwerp, it’s rich culinary history will tantalise your taste buds and you won’t have to wait as long as you would at the Brusselicious food festival. Alternatively if there is a specific event you want to attend in Brussels but the rest isn’t to your fancy then you could quieten things down afterwards and journey north to Antwerp.

We’ll start with the obvious; Belgium is famed for its chocolates, amber-hued beer and waffles that should really be a class C drug. But as a Port City since the 16th century Antwerp has seen an influx of exotic seasonings and spices, people from all across the world have brought new dishes and ways for cooking to Antwerp making it a hub of diversity with all an abundance tantalising menus so you can find whatever tickles your fancy or just go for something new.

It’s highly recommended you try out the seafood dishes; Belgium is famed for its mussels, you shouldn’t pass up the chance to try fish dishes. Belgium has its own Shrimp Fisheries so you can have them in abundance all over the country.

So don’t let your tongue suffer this January, a P&O Ferry will get you to Belgium so you can enjoy all the cuisine of a world port like Antwerp!

Image credit: belgianchocolate

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Did you know that P&O Ferries has been in service since the first year of Queen Victoria’s reign? If you’re interested in maritime history, the P&O Heritage website might be of interest to you.

P&O Ferries has an illustrious history, taking in hundreds of ships, crew and passengers since it was set up in the early 19th century. Brodie McGhie Willcox, then working as a clerk, joined forces with Arthur Anderson and Dublin ship owner Captain Richard Bourne and issued the first “Peninsular Steam Navigation Company” prospectus in 1835. Two years later, the new company won the contract to carry mail from the UK over to Spain and Portugal.

Since then, P&O Ferries has operated more than 2,000 ships across many bodies of water. Anyone interested in the P&O History can now head over to the P&O Heritage website and browse official passenger lists and crew records, search for specific ships and view photographs and paintings of ships of bygone years.

There are also online exhibitions, FAQs and a timeline for P&O aficionados to peruse. Many people might, for example, not know that during WWII, P&O group ships were used as troop and hospital ships, and were often attacked by German submarines.

Head over to the P&O Heritage website here.

Remember, you can get fantastic deals on journeys across the channel with P&O Ferries. Why not go on a minicruise to either Amsterdam, Rotterdam or Bruges?

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It may be quite a long way down to the Chapiteau de Fontvieille with a P&O Ferry dropping you off at the northerly port of Calais. In fact, you will have to then span the entire country to get down to Monaco. But the Annual Festival international du Cirque de Monte-Carlo is never a thing to miss so why not take a cultural tour through France? Timing is going to be key though – the 36th Monte-Carlo Circus Festival runs from the 19th-29th of January so you’ll have to start preparations soon.

This event is not one to miss, as the original Festival international du Cirque was the first true international circus festival in the western world. This show promises to showcase only the very best the circus community has to offer. It was traditionally presided over by the crown-prince of the Royal Family of Monaco. Since his death Princess Stéphanie now attends the Circus Festival of Monte-Carlo.

At the original event, Prince Rainier stated “This International Circus Festival was created thinking of the circus community, of this family of underestimated people, so that you, attentive spectators of their efforts and of their work, could know them better, and celebrate them better.”

In its rudiments it is a circus showcase with all the best acts outperforming each other in the hopes to win awards – so you’re guaranteed a spectacle as the artists compete for the judges’ (and yours) affection. You can pre-order tickets here.

The show this year will include motorcycle stunts, Spanish clowns, ponies, elephants and jugglers. Early in February the first ‘New Generation’ showcase will be put on display with new acts showing their talents in a competition for young circus acts.

P&O Ferries can get you to France on your journey south to one of the best circus experiences of 2012

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The Brussels Beer Tasting Tour will take you all across the city and give you a drink at each stop – what better way to see Belgium?

A lot of us get the blues in January. An entire year to wait until next Christmas, the weather is a bit naff and everybody’s joined a gym and ‘gone healthy’ as part of their short-lived New Year’s resolution. To stand apart from the healthier-and-duller-than-thou crowd why not go on a beer tour in Brussels? For £50 per head you’ll get a 3 hour professional tour and free drinks. They have children’s prices but for the life of us we can’t imagine why. Tour groups have a maximum limited of 20 people per party.

These tours have a central meeting point in Brussels so it’ll be easy to get under your way. Belgium is the beer capital of the world so you’ll have some of the finest suds available on this tour. It’ll be a real master class and an excellent chance to extend your repertoire. Have a few drinks and do something other than wait for it to stop raining this January.

The tour itself takes you around some of the most notable pubs and cafes in Belgium. There’ll be a bit of a history lesson to go along with the tasting so you can appreciate the wares just that little bit more. There will be food on the tour to keep you steady on your feet, and if you book a small group tour then a hotel drop off at the end of the day will see you back home safely. The final stop is at the Grande Place, a beautiful landmark in the heart of Brussels teeming with life even in the colder months.

All the well-known ales will be available – if you want to play it safe – as well as the lesser known pale ales. We also insist that you try the Trappist brewed bevvies, they’re favoured on a hot summers day but who’s to say a winter jar by the fire won’t go down well, too?

To get to Brussels for an excellent alternative this coming January snag a P&O Ferry over to Belgium you can take your car and fill ‘er up on all your favourites.

Bernt Rostad

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