If you’re proud to be a Brit, then P&O Cruises could be for you: we tell you why

With P&O you can take all your creature comforts with you. Here’s your ultimate guide to a very British cruise line

P&O is an abbreviation for the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company.

This might sound all very exotic, but that’s as far as it goes. Even though it’s part of the US-based Carnival Corporation (who also own Cunard, Carnival Cruise Line, Holland America Line, Princess and Seabourn) P&O is as British as you can get.

It even has the Union Jack emblazoned across the hulls of its entire fleet and the majority of cruises set sail from Southampton. In fact, no other cruise line serves more British holidaymakers on cruises out of the UK.

As we said, you don’t get a cruise line that’s more geared up to serving Brits. 

If you can’t bear not to start your day without a cuppa tea in bed, then don’t panic. You’ll find a kettle in your cabin with teabags and instant coffee replenished daily. 

That’s just for starters. Expect firm British favourites on the menu: fish and chips, curry and English fry-ups are staples. Even the plug sockets are the familiar three-pin plugs. And you won’t be dealing with any confusing foreign currency onboard – prices are all in Great British Pounds. 
For sport fans there’s no need to miss a Premier League match. The onboard pubs will be showing all the games - without any of that American soccer malarkey!

Entertainment comes courtesy of one of Britain’s best-loved entertainers: none other than Mr Gary Barlow (more on that later).

He’s just one the familiar famous names that P&O have partnered with. 

Former Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger is the godmother of P&O's newest ship Arvia; Marco Pierre White is one of the cruise line’s “Food Heroes”; while Wallace, Gromit and Shaun the Sheep are residents on board the family-friendly fleet bringing their unique style of British eccentricity.

If you enjoy your home comforts then this could be the cruise line for you. It won’t take you too far out of your comfort zone while you explore overseas. 

The average age of a P&O cruiser is 50, but that falls dramatically during the official school holidays as families scramble on board for their annual getaway. 

In particular, the bigger ships in the fleet are designed with families in mind, offering a host of kids clubs, activities and family facilities. 

Thanks to sofa beds and or pull-down beds, there are a number of cabins that accommodate families of four. 

Bearing in mind all the paraphernalia families need to bring with them, the fact that P&O sets sail largely from Southampton is a godsend. As long as it can all fit in your cabin then you can bring it all on board. Worth noting that babies must be at least six-months old and baby food can ordered well in advance (at least eight weeks please). 

There’s even access to bottle warmers and sterilisers, travel cots, push chairs and baby baths on-board.

Having said that, the variety on board means there really is something for everyone. Couples looking to spoil themselves may want to upgrade to a suite where they’ll have butler service. They can choose to eat in the fine-dining restaurants, hang out in the quieter, more intimate cocktail bars and indulge in lazy days in the spa. 

However, if you’re idea of a good holiday is one on which you can escape the kids, then P&O’s Arcadia and Aurora both cater to adults only, but they retain that very British feel – just quieter (and older)!  

Price wise, we’d say P&O is a good mid-range choice. It’s certainly not your five-star but it’s not your cheap-n-cheerful either. There’s very often good deals to be had and cruises can be secured with impressively low deposits.

There are seven ships in the fleet. 

Arvia is the baby of the family launched in December 2022. Having said that, it’s also the biggest, sitting alongside her sister Iona. Both these ships hold 5,200 passengers and are known as Excel-class ships. 

Arvia has 19 decks, 30 bars and restaurants, plus four swimming pools, including two infinity pools, 20 whirlpools, a sky dome with a retractable glass roof and an outdoor cinema screen. 

This ship is a great choice for families, with plenty of activities and entertainment for kids. There are age-specific children’s clubs, a Splash Valley water play area and even an adrenaline-pumping rooftop rope course (the first at sea!).

Iona is pretty similar - although you won’t find some of Arvia’s signature touches, such as the rope park, the retractable roof and escape room. 

Britannia, launched in 2014 is probably the most elegant ship in the family. She was christened by none other than Queen Elizabeth II and is still billed as P&O’s flagship vessel welcoming the highest number of repeat passengers. 

She holds 3,647 passengers and is more intimate than her far larger and younger sisters. In celebration of her 10th birthday she underwent a facelift and now boasts a fresher colour palette and more modern decor and furnishings.

Azura and Ventura are the mid-size ships having 22 and 21 restaurants on board respectively and hold about 3,100 passengers. 

Finally, Arcadia and Aurora are the cruise line’s adult-only ships. They’re both relatively small, holding 2,094 and 1,874 passengers respectively. 

In a word - fun! Particularly on Iona and Arvia where there are loads of family facilities that you won’t find on the older sisters.

Arvia has to be the most playful. Her top deck Altitude experience includes the ship’s high-rope challenge, a tropical themed mini-golf and water splash zone. There’s even a sports arena where kids can play football, basketball, short tennis or cricket.

On all the family ships there are four age appropriate kids’ clubs where children from two years old right up to 17 can safely go and be entertained or join in a schedule of activities or simply chill out playing games. Air hockey is a firm favourite among the teens. The club for 13-17 year olds is just a cool place to hang out with friends. 

Most of the action takes place around the pools during the day. With up to four pools to choose from, there’s normally space – although on ‘sea days’ you’ll need to nab a sun bed nice and early to secure your favourite spot as it can get busy. 

Having said that: you can curate your own unique experience. If you want to take part in all the organised and scheduled activities on board then it’s all laid on for you. Or, if you want to do your own thing – like that couple we mentioned above – then it’s entirely possible. Life can be exactly how you want it to be. 

Come the evening, full-scale theatre productions, live music, party nights, comedy, the latest movies, guest presenters and interactive game shows are all on the agenda to keep guests entertained. There’s never room for boredom. 

And when it’s time to chill, all the ships have spa facilities - to differing degrees. 

The Retreat is an outdoor area where guests can indulge in treatments al fresco in shaded cabanas. 

Meanwhile, the Oasis Spa and Health Club comes with a luxurious thermal suite with heated and cooling chambers; heated lounge chairs; plus a hammam and steam showers.

Be prepared - it’s a long menu. As you’d expect from a Brit-centric cruise line, the menus reflect the culinary trends in the UK. 

In the main dining rooms you’ll always find the British classic dishes serving breakfast, lunch and dinner - and everything in between. From your Sunday roasts with all the trimmings, to your steak and chips, your pizza and burgers, your kebabs, your ice creams and your chocolate fondants. 

There are numerous buffet options, poolside options, grab ‘n go options, cafe options and in-room dining options. There’s fast food and there’s slow food and the vast majority of venues are all included in the package price. 

Beyond that, the ships have a great choice of speciality restaurants – which cost extra, but are still reasonably priced.

Sindhu serves upscale Indian flavours; Keel & Cow is a gastropub serving breakfast, lunch and dinner; while Epicurean is a fine-dining experience with top notch service. 

On board Arvia you’ll find Green & Co featuring Mizuhana. Here you’ll savour plant-based dishes alongside fresh sushi plates. 

And, for an all-American diner experience, head to 6th Street Diner for everything from whoopie pie, pancake stacks, steaks, ‘freakshakes’ to cocktails.

For something entirely different, head to the Limelight Club. This is more like a supper club where you dine while being entertained by the house band or singers. It’s strictly for adults-only. 

There’s also a swanky wine bar called The Glass House, where wines have been selected by wine expert and TV presenter Olly Smith. 

Olly Smith is just one of the ‘Food Heroes’ that P&O has collaborated with to bring their culinary expertise to its Excel ships, Arvia and Iona.

Join Marco Pierre White – nicknamed ‘the godfather of British cooking’ – as he hosts live cooking demos or learn the top tips for the tastiest tapas from acclaimed Spanish chef José Pizarro in an exclusive Q&A. 

MasterChef Norway judge, Kjartan Skjelde shares his love for the wild and traditional ingredients of his homeland with his six-course tasting menu in Epicurean, while Queen of Caribbean cooking, Shivi Ramoutor, showcases her twist on dishes from her sun-kissed island home. 

The dining set up on P&O is a mix of traditional dining and ‘Freedom Dining’. 

At the time of booking, you opt for either first sitting, at 6.30 pm or second sitting, at 8.30 pm. Many people like this because they get to make friends with their fellow diners with whom they share their table. 

Alternatively you go for Freedom Dining. With Freedom Dining, you can turn up any time between 6pm and 9.30p.m. The exceptions are on Iona and Arvia, where the main dining rooms offer Freedom Dining only, with no assigned tables or sittings.

In our experience it’s best to time your dining around the evening shows. Showtimes are usually 8.45pm and 10.45pm so if you want to catch the early performance, don’t turn up at the Freedom Dining restaurant at 8pm. You need to factor in possible waiting times.

If you can’t be doing with all the queuing, then on the newer ships there’s an app-based booking system which, while you chill out in a nearby bar, the app will alert you when your preferred table is ready. Cool.

In all honesty the drinks packages on board P&O have come in for a bit of stick. 

It’s always cheaper to book your package before you board. 

The Refresh package of soft drinks starts at £9.85 per person per day. But we’d have to go for the Alcohol-free package for £22.45 per person per day because it includes Costa coffee (and we can’t go without at least two proper coffees a day). The Classic package almost doubles to £40.45 and that includes all your wines and spirits. And for £49.45 per person per day the Deluxe package includes all your swanky cocktails. 

And here’s the small print: “Drinks Packages cannot be purchased on a ‘per day’ basis and packages purchased on board are non-refundable. All adults in the same cabin must purchase the same package and all packages are limited to 15 drinks in any 24-hour period.” Nuff said. 

It’s worth saying at this stage that water, tea and coffee are free from the buffet all day. You’ll also find fruit juice during breakfast and tea and coffee in the Freedom and Club restaurants during mealtimes. 

Deciding which cabin to choose can often be a minefield. With P&O they’s kept it relatively simple. You haven’t got loads of different categories to confuse you. 

In a nutshell, you’ve got your ‘suites’, your ‘balcony’ cabins, your ‘sea view’ cabins and your ‘inside’ cabins.

If you know before you’ve even stepped on board that you’re going to be enjoying the ship facilities for 90% of the time, then opting for an inside cabin may well suffice – and they’re far cheaper. We have to say, they’re basic, but they’ve got everything you need for a great night’s sleep. 

The suites are where things get interesting. From Champagne and chocolates on arrival to complimentary bathrobes and slippers, suites come with lots of perks. Right from the start you’ll get the VIP treatment with priority check-in and an optional butler. All suites come with a lounge area, some have whirlpool baths and all have spacious balconies – perfect for enjoying dinner for two courtesy of the free room service.

Suites are available across the fleet and occupy each ship's prime real estate. Penthouse suites can be found on Aurora, Azura and Ventura. Also, family suites are available on Azura and Ventura. 

Having been named the Musical Director of Arvia and Iona’s The 710 Club, Take That frontman Gary Barlow has catapulted this venue into the spotlight. 

Gary has crafted a eclectic range of performances, plus he’s given  aspiring performers a lucky break in his 'Talent of Tomorrow' competition whereby three finalists receive one-to-one mentoring from the man himself. The winner goes on to receive a seven-night cruise during which they’ll take to stage in The 710 Club by night to entertain audiences in a series of gigs.

Gary’s been on board more than a few times and there are selected cruises on which he’ll be performing in the theatre and doing exclusive, more intimate gigs. 

But it’s in the Headliners Theatre where the big shows take place. West End musical adaptations, aerial displays, comedians, magicians, dance shows – they all unfold on stage. The resident theatre company tends to run the show, but they very often have guests popping up to add that little extra thrill. 

In addition, take to the mike in a karaoke session; hit the floor at a nightclub; test your general knowledge and luck by participating in an exciting game shows, including British favourite Deal or No Deal; or catch a movie at the onboard cinema (inside or under the stars on deck). 

On the newer ships, the SkyDome is a swimming pool with large screen showing family-friendly movies by day and a lively alternative performance space by night.

Staying true to its Norwegian heritage, unsurprisingly P&O Cruises are no stranger to Norway’s fjords. 

The seven ships in the fleet stick to some specific regions, usually moving around based on the seasons. For example, Iona spends much of the year touring the Norwegian fjords on the same seven-day itinerary, relocating to the Canary Islands for the winter season.

Arvia glides the waves of the Mediterranean but also the Caribbean, utilising the Fly-Cruise option setting sail from Barbados.

In the summer season Azura pulls out of Malta and from Barbados in the winter months. 

The two smaller ships in the fleet tend to do the longer cruises or the ones that need access to the smaller ports of call. 

For example, Arcadia is the choice for the big, long cruises, such as a 45-night cruise to Australia or a 99-night Western Circumnavigation Cruise taking in the Europe, the US, Asia, Australia and Africa.

Aurora sticks closer to home cruising the Med and also the shores of the British Isles. 

There’s a shore excursion for everyone. How about exploring Norway’s famous Briksdal Glacier? Swimming with turtles in Barbados? Jet skiing in Antigua? Witnessing the spectacle that is the Northern Lights? Explore the coast of Spain’s Stiges on a kayaking adventure? Take a cooking masterclass in Lisbon or go on a food and wine tour of Tenerife? 

No matter your age or interest there’s an excursion that is right up your street. 

Tours can be (and we advise should be) booked well in advance. You can book until three days prior to your ship lifting its anchor and pulling away. 

If you want to explore a port yourself, then look out for the digital guides that P&O sends out to all their passengers prior to departure. They're packed full of information and tips, including local cafés, bars and restaurants – saving you time researching before you go!

Everything – as long as you don’t want anything else! In other words, you could pay the package price and not have to shell out for anything else if you don’t want to. 

All your food, basic soft drinks, entertainment, shows, use of pools, Altitude activity park (on board Arvia), the Silent Discos, the quizzes and many of the classes, use of the sports deck and gym and all those visits to the cinema – they’re all included. This makes P&O Cruises a really good value option. 

However, there are numerous extras – should you want them. For example, if you want to dine in one of the speciality restaurants, then that would be added to your bill. Spa treatments and shore excursions – as you would expect – incur an additional charge.

Some activities, such taking on the challenge of the escape room or the high-ropes experience on Arvia, costs extra. The cookery club on Britannia and rolling the dice in the ships’ casinos are experiences that you’ll have to pay for. 

Access to the high-speed onboard wifi also costs extra. You can either commit to a package that covers the entire duration of your cruise or pay as you go. 

We’ve already mentioned the drinks packages – which, as a reminder, cannot be purchased day-by-day, so you’re committed.  

One thing we appreciate is that tips are all included in your initial package. So there’s no need to keep putting your hand in your pocket to show your appreciation for the crew. Many of us Brits struggle to get our head around the concept of tipping, so this is not an issue with P&O. 
A must-know before booking is the different fare classes offered on P&O Cruises. 

You’ve got three different price types: Select, Early Saver and Saver. Each has slightly different pros and cons. At the time of booking your Not Just Travel agent can advise which is the best for you.

For those looking for a slice of Britain while exploring the high seas, this could be a perfect choice. It won’t take you too far out of your comfort zone yet will allow you to travel the world and explore. 

The price is attractive and the value for money is, in our opinion, pretty good. 

With seven ships to choose from, booking via a Not Just Travel agent means you’ll board the one that’s best suited to you. They’ll also help you pinpoint the itinerary that most excites you.

And of course, they’ll help you get it for the right price, assisting you with the various price packages and added extras. 
In a nutshell, we love P&O Cruises and we think you will too. 

Give us a call and we’ll get you on board.