Is P&O Cruises good with kids? Inside the children’s facilities onboard

P&O Cruises prides itself on being a family-friendly line, with a glut of school holiday cruises offered by the British brand to make sure once the term stops the fun well and truly starts.

We’ve examined what children can get up to onboard P&O Cruises ships, both with their parents and without!

Which P&O Cruises ships allow children?

P&O Cruises – available to book via cruise agent Bolsover Cruise Club – has a selection of cruise ships that welcome children of all ages – Arvia, Azura, Britannia, Iona and Ventura.

These family-friendly vessels offer a variety of exciting holiday destinations and a range of cruise lengths, whether you want a quick jaunt to northern Europe (hello Belgian chocolate!) or a longer indulgent getaway to the Mediterranean (mmm beach time).

– READ MORE: What’s a P&O cruise on Arvia really like with kids?

What ages are kids on P&O Cruises?

Children are welcome onboard P&O Cruises’ kid-friendly ships, provided they are aged six months and above. However, on selected itineraries children will need to be at least 12 months so do check what rules apply to your sailing.

Do kids go free on P&O Cruises?

P&O Cruises does charge for children – and affordably so – but sometimes it offers discounted or free child places. The latter are often found on sailings taking place during term time although baby discounts can be snapped up year-round.

In short, it’s worth keeping your eyes peeled for good deals if you want to travel for less!

Is P&O Cruises good with kids?

Thanks to the range of care and activities offered to children of all ages, P&O Cruises is a great choice for families – the line has even won awards for its familial offerings!

The Reef kids’ club – staffed by a crew of enthusiastic Reef rangers and offering a wide range of age-specific entertainment – is the hotspot for children keen to join activity programmes, play games and make friends.

Remember, pre-registration is essential!

 – READ MORE: What’s included on a P&O Cruises holiday? –

What are P&O Cruises children’s clubs like?

With age-appropriate toys and games, plus bespoke-themed Turtle Tot activities, the Nursery offers a safe environment where your children can have great fun and meet new friends. Note, children must be accompanied by a parent/guardian at all times.

Then, in the evenings, P&O Cruises’ team of dedicated staff offers a night nursery so you can enjoy all the exciting events and experiences your ship has to offer (you’ll be contacted by pager if your child wakes up). Cocktail and some live music anyone?

The Night Nursery is open from 6pm to midnight each night with an option to book Night Nursery Extra from midnight to 2am on selected evenings.

Splashers is for tinies aged two to four years old. Here they can engage in soft play, get creative with arts and crafts, play in the Lego pits or join the kid’s club’s structured activity programme, all monitored by a Youth team.

Next up, Surfers is aimed at children aged five to eight years old and a structured activity programme is also available. Alternatively, they can play freely on games consoles, Lego pits, soft play and more.

Meanwhile, Scubas caters for kids aged nine to 12. There’s all the above plus an arcade of the hottest games, the chance to learn to DJ and a wealth of outdoor games to play in the sports area.

Lastly, H2O or the Scene is the place to be if you’re a teenager. Exuding a cool, chilled-out vibe, it boasts a pool table, computer consoles and a retro arcade.

– READ MORE: 7 entertainment gems to discover on P&O Cruises’ Arvia –

Does P&O Cruises have family cabins?

P&O Cruises’ family-friendly ships all have cabins that can be configured to suit your group’s needs. In twin cabins there are extra beds (pull-down or sofa beds) which your cabin steward will stow away by day. Newest vessels Iona and Arvia even have two special family suites at the front of the ship!

If you’re travelling with tots, Azura, Britannia and Ventura have a number of cabins that can accommodate a travel cot for an infant aged over six months and under two years.

What kids’ dining is there on P&O Cruises?

There’s yummy food aplenty across P&O Cruises’ speciality and included restaurants. Particularly good for kids is the Children’s Tea served early in the buffet restaurant plating up such child-friendly classics as margarita pizzas, poached salmon, fruit jellies and ice creams.

Little ones will also like ice cream joint Sundaes, the poolside pizzeria and grill, desserts in The Market Café, burgers and more at Taste 360 and pasta dishes at The Olive Grove.

– READ MORE: Foodie highlights onboard newest P&O ship Arvia revealed –

What can children do on P&O Cruises?

There’s oodles to keep kids well-entertained onboard P&O Cruises ships. Did you know, Wallace, Gromit and Shaun the Sheep can be found on the line’s family-friendly ships? Expect a Welcome On Board party, special character appearances, photo ops, clay station workshops, dance sessions and premieres of Aardman’s latest films.

Movie viewing isn’t limited to the loveable animated duo, though. P&O Cruises’ onboard cinemas offer comfortable seating and a premium cinema experience with a range of films to choose from. What’s more, on Arvia and Azura you can even enjoy open-air cinema screenings at SeaScreen.

For live-action entertainment there’s Headliners Theatre, a two-deck auditorium hosting family-friendly shows with early evening performances. What’s more, during summer holidays and Christmas cruises there are shows, performances and specialist entertainment throughout the day, too!

For more daytime fun hit up the swimming pool. All P&O Cruises’ family-friendly ships feature a large outdoor pool for kids of all ages (plus plenty of seating). Arvia and Iona even have Splash Valley – an aqua zone with shaded areas, ocean views and open skies.

Talking of, P&O Cruises’ latest ship also has an escape room – the first ever at sea – which offers a unique immersive experience, blending an escape game with multimedia simulation and a live-action story.

Children can enjoy a family-friendly adventure suitable for all ages as they board the fictional submarine Arvia II and embark on a thrilling underwater adventure.

Just think of the travel tales they can tell their friends once school starts!

– READ MORE: Find out all about P&O Cruises’ adults-only ship –