P&O Cruises Arvia: Guide to Caribbean sailings

Launched in December 2022, Arvia is now firmly established as the largest cruise ship ever built for the UK market, sharing the record with sister P&O Cruises ship, Iona. She has a capacity of 5,200 guests and was christened by the legendary Nicole Scherzinger in Barbados on  March 16, 2023.

From Barbados to Aruba, P&O Cruises Arvia Caribbean sailings offer a great getaway for families in particular.

There are some extra-special features onboard you will never have seen before on a P&O Cruises ship. For instance, the top deck isn’t just home to swathes of sun loungers, it’s also where you will find Altitude (below).

Here, underneath the Caribbean sunshine, you can try your hand at the nine-hole Altitude Minigolf, complete with water hazards, tiki huts and hippos bringing the fun factor.

Another highlight of Deck 19 is Altitude Skywalk. The first-ever high ropes experience for P&O Cruises will bring out your competitive side – the series of rope walks scales 54 metres above sea level!

– READ MORE: From Take That to escape rooms: Inside Arvia entertainment  –

Thrills aren’t just found up on deck, though. On Arvia, P&O Cruises has introduced the first-ever escape room to one of its ships. In Mission Control (below), teams of up to 10 people complete puzzles and challenges under the guidance of the fictional Dr Melissa Ryan.

Guests can choose from two storylines – one of which is suitable for adults and the other more geared towards a family-friendly experience.

Each session lasts an hour, as you zoom past realistic 3D surroundings and explore ocean canyons and sunken cities onboard the fictional ‘Arvia II’ submarine.

By day, Arvia’s glass-domed SkyDome hosts family games and acrobatics. By night, it transforms into a high-energy venue with live DJs, laser shows and deck parties under the stars.

The 710 Club is the hangout for music lovers: curated by Gary Barlow, this intimate live music venue offers late-night performances from top-tier musicians in a sultry, speakeasy-style setting.

If you’re more of a movie buff, catch the latest blockbusters in the ship’s multi-screen boutique cinema, complete with comfy seats and popcorn.

Younger cruisers will love the Aardman-themed kids’ club (the geniuses behind Wallace & Gromit, Sean the Sheep, Chicken Run – the list goes on…), age-specific programmes, and splash areas. Dedicated teen areas include video games, movies and chill-out lounges.

Winter 2025–26 deployments see Arvia sailing idyllic 7–22‑night fly‑cruise itineraries from Bridgetown (Barbados) and St John’s (Antigua). Mostly based in the Eastern Caribbean Islands, highlights include calls in Antigua, Barbados, Curaçao, Dominican Republic, Martinique, St Kitts, St Lucia, and St Maarten

Expect classic island‑hopping routes featuring beach days, tropical hikes, rum tours, snorkelling reefs, and UNESCO‑listed colonial towns.

Why Arvia is a good choice for cruising the Caribbean

First up, the entire ship is designed deck-for-deck, for tropical cruising. Arvia’s SkyDome has a retractable roof to catch that Vitamin D, or, on occasion, shelter from a tropical storm.

Kitted out with two infinity pools plus an awesome swim-up pool, you’d be hard pressed to find a superior way to soak in the sunshine with a cocktail in hand.

First-ever at-sea rum distillery, anyone? Sample P&O Cruises’ very own rum in the Amber Lounge or cocktail bar — bringing local flavours into onboard life. When in Rome, and all that…

From the brand’s first high-ropes course to top‑deck mini‑golf, sports courts, arcade Mission Control and inventive kids’ clubs, there is no shortage of active fun to be had for all ages.

And then there’s the entertainment programme. SkyDome DJs and laser shows by day, West‑End shows from Take That’s Greatest Days, comedy, karaoke and family game evenings by night.

– READ MORE: Which is the best P&O drinks package for you? –

If you’re taking a seven-night cruise, you’ll likely fly from the UK into Bridgetown, Barbados’s capital, where you’ll embark Arvia.

Then, it’s time to commence the island hopping! This might include Antigua, St Kitts, St Lucia, Dominica, Curaçao or similar.

By the time day eight rolls round, it’s time to disembark and fly home from Bridgetown. Unless you’ve (wisely) booked a cruise & stay option, in which case you will stay for an extra few days on terra firma in a Barbados hotel, before catching a flight back to the UK.

P&O Cruises Arvia Caribbean Excursions

Whether you’re hiking through the abundant rainforests of Dominica or snorkelling shipwrecks off the coast of Barbados, Arvia’s Caribbean excursions make memories to fortify you through even the bleakest of UK winters. In St. Lucia, take a dip in the island’s famous volcanic mud baths before soaking up views of the iconic Pitons, while a guided hike to Trafalgar Falls is a great way to get out and see the island’s dramatic landscapes.

If you prefer something a little more laid-back, head to a secluded beach in Antigua or join a Caribbean cooking class where local chefs teach you to whip up island favourites like saltfish fritters. For a splash of the luxe life, there’s a catamaran cruise to a secret snorkelling spot, rum punch in hand and sea turtles gliding by…

– READ MORE: What to do during a sea day on Arvia –