Caribbean Cruises Aboard P&O Arvia

Why Arvia Is P&O Cruises’ Caribbean Ship of Choice

P&O Cruises designed Arvia specifically to serve warm-weather routes, and the Caribbean is where she spends the bulk of her time. She is a large, modern ship — purpose-built for guests who want sunshine, sea days and a full programme of dining, entertainment and pool life without the need to fly to a European home port first. If you are looking at cruises in the Caribbean with a British cruise line that sails from familiar ports and keeps things in pounds sterling, Arvia is the natural starting point.

Sailings run from late autumn onward, with most itineraries departing from Barbados, Antigua or Charlestown in St. Kitts and Nevis. A small number of sailings begin in Southampton, which means some guests can reach the ship by road or rail without any flight at all — though the majority of these itineraries start in the Caribbean, where flights, transfers and pre-cruise hotels can be arranged as part of a Cruise1st Package.

Where Does Arvia Sail in the Caribbean?

The Caribbean itineraries aboard Arvia split between 2 distinct cruising areas, and understanding the difference helps you choose the sailing that suits you best.

Southern Caribbean

The majority of Arvia’s Caribbean sailings focus on the Southern Caribbean. These are longer voyages — the median is 14 nights, with some stretching to 27 — and they give you the time to explore the islands at a pace that feels genuinely relaxed rather than rushed. Barbados is the most common turnaround port, which makes it the natural base for a pre- or post-cruise stay. The island is well connected to UK airports, and our team can build the whole trip — flights from your nearest airport, a hotel in Bridgetown before you board, and transfers to the ship — as a single booking.

Antigua and Charlestown in Nevis also feature as embarkation and disembarkation points on a number of these itineraries, reflecting the depth of the Southern Caribbean routing. If your sailing ends in Antigua or Charlestown rather than Barbados, you will need a flight home — and again, we can arrange that alongside the cruise so you are not left piecing together the return leg yourself.

Caribbean

A smaller share of Arvia’s itineraries covers the broader Caribbean region. These sailings tend to complement the Southern Caribbean programme, and a handful depart from Southampton — meaning some guests can join the ship without a flight, travelling to the port by car or train instead. If you are considering one of those Southampton departures, note that cruises from Southampton are a genuine no-fly option for most of Britain, and Cruise1st can arrange parking or a hotel near the terminal if you want to make a night of the departure.

What Are the Itineraries Like — Round Trip or One Way?

Most Arvia Caribbean sailings are round-trip voyages, meaning the ship returns to the same port she left from. That makes the logistics straightforward: you fly out, board, cruise and fly home from the same place. A smaller number are one-way sailings, which means the ship starts in one port and ends in another — so you will need to plan flights at both ends. These one-way itineraries can work very well if you want to spend time at the destination before or after the cruise, and Cruise1st can book the whole arrangement — inbound flight, pre-cruise hotel, the cruise itself and the return flight — as a package.

About Arvia: P&O Cruises’ Warm-Weather Flagship

Arvia entered service with P&O Cruises as the line’s newest and largest ship, designed from the outset for warm-weather and Caribbean itineraries. She is a sister ship to Iona, but while Iona spends her seasons in Norwegian waters and the Mediterranean, Arvia is the one you will find in the Caribbean. The ship’s design reflects that: she has more outdoor deck space, more pool areas and a layout that makes the most of sunshine days at sea.

On board, Arvia carries a wide range of dining venues — from casual poolside eating to formal restaurants — alongside bars, a spa, a gym and a full entertainment programme including a large theatre with production shows. There is a SkyDome, which is a glazed atrium space that serves as a venue for live performances and events throughout the sailing. The ship is big enough that there is always something happening, but the layout is designed so that quieter corners are easy to find when you want them.

For families, the ship offers dedicated children’s clubs and youth spaces. For couples and solo travellers, there are adults-only areas and a range of cabin grades to suit different budgets and preferences. P&O Cruises also operates a broad range of shore excursions from each port, which can be booked independently or through us as part of a wider package.

What Cabin Grades Are Available on Arvia?

Arvia offers a full spread of cabin types, from interior rooms to the most spacious suites. When you are choosing, it helps to think about how much time you will spend in the cabin versus on deck — on a 14-night Caribbean sailing, many guests find they use the cabin mainly for sleeping and the balcony for early morning coffee, which shifts the calculation on what to spend. Our cruise experts can talk you through the grades and help you decide what suits your trip.

• Interior cabins — the most affordable grade, with no window. Well suited to guests who plan to spend most of their time on deck or ashore.
• Ocean-view cabins — a porthole or window brings in natural light without the balcony premium. A good middle ground on longer sailings.
• Balcony cabins — the most popular grade on a warm-weather ship like Arvia. Your own outdoor space to watch sunsets, read in the morning air or simply sit with a drink as the islands go by.
• Suites — the largest cabins on board, with additional space, priority boarding and, on some grades, dedicated suite-only areas and concierge service.

Full cabin layouts, deck-by-deck plans and size details are available on the Arvia cabins and deck plans page, which is worth consulting before you choose your grade.

What Do P&O Cruises Fares Include?

P&O Cruises operates a range of fare types, and what is included varies by the fare you choose. At the standard level, fares typically cover your cabin, main-restaurant dining and most onboard activities. Speciality dining, drinks packages, spa treatments and shore excursions are generally charged separately, though some fare types bundle in extras. Fare types such as early-saver offers and last-minute deals are available at various points in the booking cycle, and our team can advise on which fare gives you the best value for the way you like to cruise.

None of the Arvia Caribbean sailings on sale are all-inclusive, so it is worth budgeting for drinks and extras on top of the headline cabin price.

How Much Do Arvia Caribbean Cruises Cost?

Prices start from £950 pp* for an Arvia Caribbean sailing, with the cost varying by cabin grade, departure date and sailing length. Itineraries range from 14 to 27 nights, so the total cost reflects both the duration and the grade you choose. Some sailings carry reductions of up to 27% from the price previously listed for that cabin grade — though on most reduced sailings the saving is more modest, typically around 2%, and the maximum applies to a single departure rather than across the board. Our cruise experts can check current pricing across the available dates and help you find the sailing that fits your budget.

If you are sailing from Barbados, Antigua or Charlestown, remember to factor in flights and accommodation. Adding those through a Cruise1st Package means everything is on one booking, one invoice and one point of contact if anything needs changing.

Sailing from Southampton on Arvia

A small number of Arvia Caribbean sailings depart from Southampton, which makes them a genuinely no-fly option for most of Britain. Southampton is reachable by train from London in just over an hour, and by road from most of England and Wales without an overnight stop. If you are travelling from further afield, or simply want to make a relaxed start to the holiday, we can arrange a hotel near the terminal the night before and transfers to the ship the following morning.

For the full range of departures from the port — including other ships and other P&O sailings — the cruises from Southampton page covers the complete picture. If you are specifically interested in P&O sailings from the terminal, P&O Cruises from Southampton narrows it down further, and P&O Cruises 2027 from Southampton lists the departures by year if you are planning ahead.

Which Year Are You Cruising? Browse Arvia Caribbean Sailings by Departure Year

If you have a specific year in mind, it is easier to browse the sailings filtered to that window. Cruise1st carries Arvia Caribbean itineraries across multiple departure years:

• Caribbean cruises aboard Arvia departing in 2026 — sailings in the near term, departing from late 2026 onward.
• Caribbean cruises aboard Arvia departing in 2027 — the core selling season, with the widest range of departure dates and cabin grades.
• Caribbean cruises aboard Arvia departing in 2028 — early availability for guests who like to plan well ahead and lock in a preferred cabin grade.

How Does Arvia Compare to Other P&O Caribbean Ships?

Arvia is P&O Cruises’ dedicated warm-weather ship, but she is not the only P&O vessel to sail the Caribbean. Caribbean cruises aboard P&O Britannia offer an alternative for guests who want a slightly different ship profile or a different set of departure dates. Britannia is an older and somewhat smaller vessel, with a different mix of dining and entertainment, so it is worth comparing the two if you have a choice.

If you are open to other ships or cruise lines in the Caribbean, the broader Caribbean cruises page covers the full picture across all lines and ships we sell.

Arvia’s Mediterranean Programme

Arvia spends part of her year in the Mediterranean as well as the Caribbean. If you are interested in sailing with Arvia but want a Mediterranean itinerary instead, the Mediterranean cruises aboard P&O Arvia page has the full range of those sailings. Comparing the two programmes can also help if you are flexible on destination and want to find the best combination of price and cabin availability.

Why Book Your Arvia Caribbean Cruise with Cruise1st?

Cruise1st is one of the UK’s leading cruise specialists, which means our team knows P&O Cruises and Arvia in particular — not just the brochure, but the practical detail of which cabin grades work best for which type of traveller, which fares offer the best inclusions for your budget, and which departure dates tend to sell out first.

For most Arvia Caribbean sailings, the cruise starts in the Caribbean, so you will need flights and transfers. We can arrange all of that — flights from your nearest UK airport, a hotel in Barbados or Antigua before you board, transfers to the ship and accommodation after disembarkation if you want to extend the trip. Everything goes on one booking, which makes changes and questions straightforward to handle. Our cruise experts are on the phone before you book, not just after, and they will walk you through the options rather than leaving you to compare pages of fares alone.

Cruise1st holds a wide range of cruises across all the major lines, so if Arvia is not quite right — or if you want to compare her with another ship — we can help you do that too, all in one call.

We are ABTA-bonded and ATOL-protected, and we have a Trustpilot rating of 4.5/5 from more than 7,000 reviews, so you can book with confidence.

Planning a Longer Trip Around Your Caribbean Cruise

A Caribbean sailing aboard Arvia lends itself to a longer holiday. Barbados is a natural place to spend a few nights before or after the cruise — the island has beaches, restaurants and rum distilleries worth exploring at your own pace, and the flight from the UK is direct from several airports. Antigua is similarly well connected, and Charlestown in Nevis is a quieter, less-visited island that rewards an extra night or two if you want something genuinely off the beaten track.

For guests thinking about other Caribbean destinations and sailings as part of a wider trip, New York cruises from Southampton are worth considering as a way to combine a transatlantic crossing with Caribbean ambitions — the routing can work well as part of a longer North American and Caribbean itinerary.

Whatever shape of holiday you are building, our team can put it together. Flights, hotels, tours, transfers, travel insurance — all of it can be added to the cruise booking so you are not juggling multiple bookings and multiple suppliers.

Frequently Asked Questions About Arvia Caribbean Cruises

*Prices are per person based on 2 people sharing, and are subject to change. This price is not kept up to date and therefore does not reflect live pricing and availability. Prices and any discounts shown were checked on 14 October 2026.

Where a discount is shown, it is a reduction from the price previously listed for that cabin grade on that sailing, not a comparison between cabin grades or against a brochure rate. Discounts and prices shown are not kept up to date: the reduction available now may be smaller, or may have ended, and prices may have changed.