Cruise line · Mainstream & family

P&O Cruises: Our Cruise Line Guide

The British way to cruise: P&O sails seven ships from Southampton, with pounds on board, British plugs, no tipping needed, two ships with many adults-only holidays, and the largest ships built for Britain, Iona and Arvia.

Plan your trip:Official website Our London guide

The back story

Fleet: Seven ships: Arvia, Iona, Britannia, Ventura, Azura, Arcadia and Aurora (pocruises.com, Oct 2026) · Largest: Arvia and Iona: 344 m long, 15 guest decks, 5,200 guests and 1,800 crew at normal operating capacity (pocruises.com) · Smallest: Aurora: 270 m, nine guest decks, 1,874 guests and 850 crew (pocruises.com) · Adults only: Arcadia and Aurora offer many holidays exclusively for adults (pocruises.com) · Home port: Southampton; fly-cruises from places such as Barbados, Valletta, Sydney, Tenerife and Dubai (pocruises.com) · Tipping: Not needed on P&O ships; you won’t be charged extra (pocruises.com)

The back story

P&O Cruises: the back story

P&O Cruises·In depth

From the world’s first leisure cruise in 1844 to Britain’s first LNG-powered cruise ship: the story of Britain’s own cruise line.

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The fleet

Who it suits. On a budget: A short break or a week from Southampton with no flights to book, eating in the included Freedom and Club restaurants and the buffet; tipping isn’t needed. Mid-range: A balcony on Arvia or Iona, with a speciality dinner at Sindhu or The Glass House and a drinks package. Luxury: A suite on Britannia or Arvia, a Celebration Night in black tie, and dinner at Epicurean or The Limelight Club.

Sailing since 2022 · 5,200 guests

Arvia

P&O Cruises·Ocean ship · Excel class·€€

P&O’s newest ship, family-friendly, with the SkyDome, a high-ropes course and home ports in Southampton, Barbados and Antigua.

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2021 · first British LNG cruise ship

Iona

P&O Cruises·Ocean ship · Excel class·€€

Britain’s first LNG-powered cruise ship, with the SkyDome, more than 30 places to eat and drink and five pools.

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Named in Southampton, 2015

Britannia

P&O Cruises·Ocean ship·€€

The family-friendly ship named by Queen Elizabeth II at Southampton in 2015.

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Family-friendly

Azura and Ventura

P&O Cruises·Ocean ships·€

Two family-friendly ships from the 2000–2010 building years; Azura was the largest ship built for the UK market in her day.

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Many adults-only holidays

Aurora and Arcadia

P&O Cruises·Ocean ships·€

P&O’s two smaller ships with many holidays exclusively for adults; Aurora is the smallest in the fleet.

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The suites

Balcony and space

P&O suites

P&O Cruises·Suites·€€

Suites and balcony cabins with your own private space to watch the world go by, and The White Company toiletries.

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Dining on board

Small extra charge

Sindhu

P&O Cruises·Indian-British · speciality·€€

Indian-British fusion dining, one of P&O’s speciality restaurants.

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Olly Smith and José Pizarro

The Glass House

P&O Cruises·Tapas and wine · speciality·€€

Tapas paired with wine: led by P&O’s wine expert Olly Smith, with a tapas menu by José Pizarro across the fleet.

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Small extra charge

Epicurean

P&O Cruises·Modern British · speciality·€€

Modern British dining in a sophisticated setting, P&O’s finest table.

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A taste of home

The Keel & Cow

P&O Cruises·Gastropub · speciality·€

An authentic gastropub at sea, for a taste of home.

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Dinner with entertainment

The Limelight Club

P&O Cruises·Dinner and show · speciality·€€

Dinner and a show together: fine food with live entertainment.

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Celebration Nights

Celebration Night menus by Marco Pierre White

P&O Cruises·Included dining·€

On Celebration Nights, P&O’s black-tie evenings, the menus are by Marco Pierre White.

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Spa and wellness

Sauna included on four ships

Oasis Spa and Salon

P&O Cruises·Spa·€€

P&O’s spa and salon, with saunas and steam rooms; the sauna is included on Arcadia, Aurora, Azura and Ventura.

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Life on board

6 months to 17 years

The Reef

P&O Cruises·Kids’ clubs

P&O’s children’s clubs by age, from a nursery for babies to a club for teens, run by Reef Rangers.

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Included

Celebration Nights and shows

P&O Cruises·Entertainment

Headliners Theatre Company shows, the band PULSE, comedy, magic, deck parties and black-tie Celebration Nights.

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Where it sails

All year

From Southampton with P&O

P&O Cruises·Where it sails

Every UK-start holiday leaves from Southampton: short breaks, Norway, the Mediterranean, the British Isles and world cruises.

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Winter sun and beyond

Fly-cruises with P&O

P&O Cruises·Where it sails

Fly to Barbados, Antigua, Valletta, Tenerife, Dubai or Sydney and join the ship there.

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What’s included and how to book

No tipping needed

What’s included with P&O Cruises

P&O Cruises·What’s included

Cabin, the Freedom and Club restaurants and buffet, pools, gym, shows and films are in the fare, and tipping isn’t needed.

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Arcadia and Aurora for adults

Adults-only and family ships at P&O

P&O Cruises·Age policy

Arcadia and Aurora offer many holidays exclusively for adults; Arvia, Iona, Britannia, Azura and Ventura are the family ships.

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Share your P&O Cruises tips

Sailed with them? Share your ships, cabins and tips with other cruisers.

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