The most popular itineraries booked with the line were the Caribbean, the Western Mediterranean and the Norwegian fjords.

P&O Cruises president Paul Ludlow said these record-breaking days are "testament to the fact that a P&O Cruises holiday provides extraordinary value for money" – an aspect he described as "critical". 
 
"There are so many priorities for our hard-earned or hard-saved money in the current climate and a cruise offers an almost all-inclusive, individual holiday," he added.

Meanwhile, tall-ship line Star Clippers also reported record breaking sales for the first week in January – topping all previous years in the line’s 30-year history.

Fay McCormack, general manager of Star Clippers UK GSA, said: "We are all delighted with this news, and can feel the uncertainty and upheaval of the last few years fading further behind us.

"With more and more people seeking bucket-list experiences, we are seeing both returning passengers and new guests alike looking for the experiential, once-in-a-lifetime travel opportunities that our tall ships offer."