HOLIDAYMAKERS can make huge savings on travel to the Continent in 2004 with a special early booking offer from P&O Ferries.

If you book and pay for your 2004 travel by March 1, you can save up to 35 per cent on the normal cost of a standard return crossing.

Better still, escape... has three return ferry crossings for a car and up to nine passengers to give away to three lucky readers, courtesy of P&O Ferries.

Our lucky winners will each win a standard return ticket on the Dover - Calais service. The tickets will enable the winners to stay on the Continent as long as they like.

The crossing to Calais takes 75-90 minutes.

A recent £50 million investment in the P&O Ferries' fleet, including two new ships on the Dover-Calais service, means that holidaymakers will have the very best on-board service.

Shopaholics can stock up on everything from confectionery and CDs to cuddly toys and champagne in the offshore shopping outlet.

For youngsters, fun is guaranteed in the Ultimate Megadrome games arcade and the play area. Passengers on the Dover-Calais service can also dine in a floating version of the London restaurant Langan's Brasserie, or relax in a quiet, luxurious Club Lounge (supplement payable).

There are also bars, lounges and self service restaurants to suite every taste and pocket.

P&O also operates routes to the Continent from Portsmouth and Hull.

For more details call 08705 202020 or visit www.POferries .com.

n To enter our competition unscramble the anagrams below to find the names of three on-board areas you'll find on a P&O Ferries' ship. All answers appear in this article.

Entries, to be received no later than February 14, should be sent on a postcard to P&O Ferries' Book Early Competition, South Wales Argus newsroom, Cardiff Road, Maesglas, Newport NP20 3QN.

1 UNCLOG BLUE

2 FRESH FISH GO ON POP

3 LATE GAME OR MUD TIME

RULES

Prizes cannot be extended, are only valid on the Dover-Calais route operated by P&O Ferries, and cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer. Normal height/length/width/weight rest rictions apply and prize crossings are subject to space availability.

Prizes valid until December 31, 2004. No cash or other alternatives for any of the stated prizes will be offered. The judge's decision is final and binding and no correspondence will be entered into.

Neither P&O Ferries' employees and their relatives nor Argus employees are eligible to enter.

P&O Ferries reserves the right in unforeseen circumstances beyond its control to change these rules or alter this promotion at any time without notice.

All additional travel supplements will be met by competition winners and not by P&O Ferries.

All bookings exclude Bank Holidays and are subject to restricted space and availability. Prizes are not transferable.