P&O Cruises has signed up the Pop Idol star Gareth Gates for three special performances on board their cruise liner P&O Oceana.

This will take place on a special mini cruise that leaves Southampton on the 3rd September 2011. The Footlights theatre in which Gates will perform has seating for 500 passengers.

After each show he will sign autographs and pose for pictures with the passengers.

The cruise will call at Zeebrugge and Bruges before it returns to Southampton port.

There are still a number of balcony cabins available. Prices start at £404 per person sharing a double cabin. This includes full board as well as entertainment. The Gareth Gates performance is also included.

Gates said at a press conference: "I'm really excited about performing on board Oceana. I've never been on a cruise ship before but I've always wanted to and so this is going to be a fantastic experience for me."

In other cruise related news, we can confirm that 34 of the former staff members of Gill’s Cruises will be hired by P&P Associates. This follows the company’s purchase of Gill’s assets.

Gill had a staff complement of more than 200 in its London and Cardiff offices.

The chief executive of P&P Associates, Phil Cook, commented as follows: "We wanted to re-employ people who knew the business and Gill’s Cruise Centre had a great team. However, there is no link with the previous owners.”

P&P Associates has since launched a new brand called WeCruise.