P&O- Orient Sunshine Cruising - The one holiday that has everything Circa 1960

This dazzling circa 1960 travel poster was commissioned by P&O–Orient Lines, one of the most iconic names in postwar British passenger shipping. Touting “Sunshine Cruising” as “The one holiday that has everything”, the poster perfectly captures the mid-century ideal of luxurious, cosmopolitan leisure at sea.

Rendered in bold, expressive hues and stylized forms, the composition is a masterclass in color and mood. A glamorous couple leans over the rail of a gleaming ocean liner, gazing down at vibrant rowboats bobbing in the deep cobalt waters below. To the right, a surreal sunset washes the sky in glowing magenta and orange tones, while the warm ochres of coastal hills shimmer under the fading sun. The combination of sea, sky, and distant land evokes a promise of escape, indulgence, and adventure.

This visual language is unmistakably of the jet-age era of cruising, when a holiday at sea wasn’t just a means of getting somewhere—it was the destination. The poster promotes an idealized floating world, one in which every need is met with ease and elegance, where exotic ports of call meet first-class onboard comfort.

The typography reflects this balance of class and simplicity: the upper header—P&O-ORIENT SUNSHINE CRUISING—is set in a confident sans-serif type, with the phrase “The one holiday that has everything” quietly affirming the total experience on offer. The minimal text lets the image speak volumes, allowing the viewer to be drawn into the dreamscape.

This piece was part of a wider advertising strategy used by P&O-Orient in the 1950s and 1960s, targeting a newly affluent middle class eager to travel beyond Europe and explore the Mediterranean, Middle East, Asia, and Australia by sea. At a time when the cruise ship represented both aspiration and accessibility, posters like this became essential in shaping the modern mythology of travel.

For collectors of vintage travel posters, maritime history, or mid-century graphic design, this original P&O–Orient Line poster is a rare and vibrant slice of seafaring glamour, nostalgia, and design innovation.

Shipping Company - Tourism - Boat

Printed in England

Good condition, dirt