P&O Cruises has announced Gary Barlow as its new brand ambassador. The pioneering partnership between the Take That star and the British cruise line will fuse music with amazing travel experiences for guests in 2020.
Gary Barlow’s debut role as brand ambassador for P&O Cruises will be as musical director of The 710 Club on Iona, the contemporary new P&O Cruises flagship to be launched in May this year.
As musical director of The 710 Club, Gary is set to make Iona’s intimate music bar the most exciting live music venue at sea. Showcasing an eclectic range of performances, curated to appeal to British music lovers, this atmospheric late-night music venue will offer an opportunity for up-and-coming musicians to get their break.
Gary will also perform at Iona’s naming celebration which kicks off IonaFest, the UK’s most exciting new floating festival which is a seven night cruise to the Norwegian Fjords from Southampton on July 4, 2020.
Following the announcement Gary Barlow responded on twitter: “I’m very pleased to announce that I’ll be coming aboard @pandocruises Iona this year as Musical Director!”
Gary is one of the UK’s most successful musicians and during his impressive career, he has written 15 Number One singles, won six Ivor Novello Awards, eight BRIT awards, sold over 45 million records worldwide and over eight million concert tickets.
Aside from his achievements with Take That, he has also co-written and produced music for other renowned artists including Dame Shirley Bassey, Sir Elton John and Robbie Williams. Gary has also turned his attention to the world of theatre, composing the score for the hugely successful ‘Finding Neverland’ and working alongside screenwriter Tim Firth to write the music and lyrics for musical ’The Girls’ and also more recently working alongside his bandmates Mark Owen, Howard Donald and Robbie Williams to produce ‘The Band’ a record breaking musical featuring the music of Take That.
P&O Cruises president, Paul Ludlow, said: “We are immensely proud to have someone of Gary’s stature and talent working with us as brand ambassador and we look forward to revealing more exciting details on Gary’s role very soon.”
When Iona joins the P&O Cruises fleet in May, it will become the British line’s first LNG-powered ship. Among the distinguishing characteristics of Iona will be a Grand Atrium with uninterrupted panoramic views of the sea.
Iona’s distinct “crown” will be the SkyDome, a new entertainment venue on the top two levels of the ship and capped by a glass-domed roof. SkyDome’s unique event space offers an ideal place for relaxation and informal dining during the day, transitioning into vibrant evening activities, including spectacular aerial performances, immersive shows and deck parties.
With a choice of 30 different bar and restaurant venues, Iona’s guests will enjoy the widest ever selection of places to eat and drink on a ship built exclusively for the British cruise holiday market. Innovative and flexible dining options include a “foodie” market offering cuisine from around the world, a new gastropub concept and a laid-back cocktail lounge. As part of the new approach to dining, Iona will also offer Freedom Dining in all of its main restaurants, giving guests more flexibility for dining.
Upon launch in May 2020, Iona will sail from Southampton (UK) exclusively to the Norwegian Fjords during the inaugural season with departures throughout spring and summer 2020, followed by winter sun holidays to the Canaries, Spain and Portugal.
Gary Barlow will join guests on two Iona holidays in 2020 for exclusive performances: Iona G018 departing Southampton on 29 August for the Norwegian Fjords and Iona G025 departing Southampton on 31 October for Spain and Portugal. Tickets for the performances are limited and will go on sale on a first come, first served basis prior to the holiday at a cost of £25 per person (maximum 4 tickets per holiday booking). All proceeds from ticket sales will be donated to two charities; Child Bereavement UK and Teenage Cancer Trust.