P&O Cruises
Premium Cruising
P&O is the sensible choice for British clients who want a proper cruise holiday without pretension. Iona and Arvia are genuinely impressive modern ships with over 30 restaurants and bars, and the food has improved enormously in recent years — the 6th Street Diner on Arvia is a real highlight. I also steer couples who want a quieter experience toward the adult-only Arcadia and Aurora, which are smaller, more traditional, and often overlooked. Just manage expectations on Wi-Fi costs and the lack of turndown service.
P&O Cruises holds the distinction of being the world’s oldest cruise company, tracing its passenger shipping heritage back to 1822. Today it operates a fleet of seven ships sailing from its Southampton homeport to the Caribbean, Mediterranean, Norwegian Fjords, Canary Islands, and beyond. As a Carnival Corporation brand, P&O benefits from significant scale and buying power, which translates into competitive pricing and a breadth of itinerary options that few British cruise lines can match.
The fleet spans a remarkable range. At one end sit Iona and Arvia, LNG-powered mega-ships carrying over 5,000 guests each with more than 30 bars and restaurants, retractable glass domes, swim-up bars, escape rooms, and entertainment venues that rival anything afloat. Arvia’s Magrodome — a 970-square-metre retractable roof over the pool deck — and her 6th Street Diner and plant-based Green & Co restaurant signal P&O’s ambition to attract a younger, more adventurous demographic. At the other end, the adult-only Arcadia and Aurora offer a quieter, more traditional cruising experience with fewer than 2,000 passengers and a pace that suits couples and retirees perfectly.
P&O has invested heavily in its food and entertainment offerings in recent years. Celebrity chef partnerships, speciality dining venues, West End-calibre shows, and the increasingly popular Conservatory Mini-Suite cabin category have all helped reposition the brand as a genuine premium option rather than simply a budget alternative. Britannia, Azura, and Ventura sit in the middle of the fleet, offering a well-rounded mix of family-friendly amenities and adult spaces that make them reliable choices for multi-generational holidays.
What keeps P&O at the heart of British cruising is its accessibility. Sailing from Southampton eliminates the need for flights, pricing remains competitive, and the onboard culture — from the afternoon tea to the relaxed dress codes — feels comfortably, unmistakably British. For many UK travellers, a P&O cruise is not just a holiday but a tradition passed down through generations.
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