P&O Long Duration Cruises

P&O long duration cruises run from 15 nights to 75 nights, covering the Caribbean, the Mediterranean, the Canary Islands and beyond — with most departures sailing from Southampton. Whether you want three weeks in the sun or a truly extended voyage that takes in multiple regions, P&O Cruises has the sailings and Cruise1st has the expertise to make them work for you.

Where Do P&O Long Duration Cruises Go?

The destinations covered by P&O’s longer sailings reflect what British travellers actually want from an extended break: warm water, varied ports and a sense of genuine distance from home. The Caribbean and the Mediterranean share the top of the programme, with the Canary Islands close behind. Further out, you will find transatlantic crossings, world cruise voyages and sailings to Australia. Here is how the regions break down.

Southern Europe and the Mediterranean

The Mediterranean and the Canary Islands together account for a large share of P&O’s longer itineraries, and it is easy to see why. A Mediterranean sailing of three weeks or more gives you time to do the ports properly — to linger rather than rush — and a Canary Islands voyage from Southampton means no flight at all if you are travelling from most parts of mainland Britain. You board at Southampton, and the Atlantic islands take care of the rest.

The Western Mediterranean routes add further options, with Valletta, Malta and Málaga, Spain among the ports where some of these sailings end. Portugal features across a meaningful number of itineraries too, often as part of a longer Atlantic-facing route. If a sailing ends in Valletta or Málaga, you will need a flight home — something Cruise1st can organise alongside your hotels and transfers as part of a complete holiday package.

Browse Mediterranean cruises in 2027 if you want to narrow your search to that region and year.

The Caribbean and the Southern Caribbean

The Caribbean leads the wider programme by volume, with sailings that often reach the Southern Caribbean on longer itineraries. P&O’s Caribbean routes from Southampton or from Caribbean embarkation ports such as Antigua and Barbados give you a range of ways into the region.

Some of these sailings are one-way — ending in a Caribbean port rather than returning to Southampton — so a flight home will be part of the picture. Others loop back to the UK. Cruise1st can put the whole thing together: flights, any pre- or post-cruise hotels, transfers and the cruise itself on a single booking. If you are thinking about the Caribbean and fancy pairing it with a city stay, our Caribbean 2027 cruises with New York stays page is worth a look.

Transatlantic Crossings

A handful of itineraries here are transatlantic crossings — repositioning voyages that move between the UK and other parts of the world as the season changes. These are, by nature, one-way sailings: you embark in one hemisphere and disembark in another. If that appeals — the romance of a proper ocean crossing, days at sea, arriving somewhere new — it is worth factoring in a flight for the return leg. Cruise1st handles that as part of your booking.

World Cruises and Australia

At the furthest end of the duration range sit P&O’s world cruise sailings, which call at ports across multiple continents over the course of the voyage. For something scarcely less ambitious, there are also sailings reaching Australia, with disembarkation options that bring ports such as Sydney and Brisbane within reach.

If the idea of a world voyage interests you, our dedicated pages on world cruises from Southampton and world cruises in 2027 from Southampton go into much more detail, and our page on Australia cruises from the UK covers the routes heading that far south. We also have a page specifically on P&O Arcadia world cruises in 2027 if you want to look at one ship in depth. For a broader look at long-stay options across lines, the long-stay cruises hub covers the wider picture.

Where Do These Sailings Depart From?

Southampton is by far the dominant departure point for P&O long duration cruises. For most people in England, Wales and southern Scotland, Southampton is reachable by train or car without the need for a flight — you drive or take the train, walk on board, and you are away. That is a genuinely significant convenience on a longer sailing, where packing and logistics already take some planning.

A significant proportion of these itineraries also depart from ports outside the UK. Santa Cruz de Tenerife is the most common foreign embarkation point, followed by Valletta, Malta and Caribbean ports including Antigua and Barbados. Where the cruise starts abroad, you will need a flight out — which Cruise1st can book alongside the cruise, hotels and transfers as one package.

For a focused look at P&O sailings leaving specifically from England’s south coast, our P&O cruises from Southampton page and our P&O cruises from Southampton in 2027 page are the right starting point. You can also browse the full range of cruises from Southampton across all lines if you want to compare.

Are Any of These Cruises One-Way?

Yes — and it is worth knowing this before you book. Just over half of the sailings here are one-way, meaning they end in a different port from where they began. That is not a problem, but it does mean a return flight (or another cruise) will be part of your journey home. Cruise1st’s team can sort the flights, any overnight hotels and transfers at both ends, so you are not left to piece the return leg together yourself. One phone call, one booking.

The remaining sailings are round trips, returning to the port they departed from — typically Southampton. If you prefer the simplicity of boarding and disembarking in the same place, without any onward travel to arrange, the round-trip options here give you exactly that.

How Long Are P&O Long Duration Cruises?

The sailings run from 15 nights to 75 nights. The typical sailing sits around 20 nights — long enough to feel like a proper, unhurried journey rather than a fortnight’s package holiday. If you want something more substantial, sailings of 30, 40 or even 60-plus nights are available for those who want to make the most of extended time at sea. The world cruise sailings at the longer end of the range are their own category — voyages of a scale that most people attempt once, and remember for the rest of their lives.

If you are more interested in the opposite end of the spectrum — a shorter break with a bit of P&O style — our P&O mini cruises page covers sailings of just a few nights, and the 3-day mini cruises from Southampton page has short breaks if you want a taster first.

What Prices Should I Expect?

Prices start from £902 pp* for these longer P&O sailings. On some departures, you will find reductions of up to 35% from the price previously listed for that cabin grade — though that maximum applies to a single departure, and most discounted sailings are reduced by around 7%. It is worth checking individual sailings rather than assuming a page-wide sale.

Cabin grade makes a significant difference to the overall cost on a long voyage. An inside cabin is the most affordable way in; a suite with a private balcony or butler service costs considerably more but, spread across 20 or 30 nights at sea, the daily rate can feel surprisingly reasonable. Our experts can walk you through which grade suits your travel style and budget — including any fare inclusions that might change the calculation.

The P&O Ships on These Longer Sailings

Six P&O ships appear across these longer itineraries, ranging from the recently refreshed Azura to the grand, classic Aurora. Each has a distinct character, and the ship you choose will shape the holiday as much as the itinerary does. Here is what to know about each one.

Azura

Azura carries the most long-duration sailings of any ship, and in 2025 it went through a bow-to-stern refresh: new restaurants, new bars, new cabin décor and new corridor carpets throughout. It is, in effect, a significantly improved ship. On board, the 800-seat Playhouse theatre delivers West End-quality aerial acrobatics and full-scale productions — a proper night-out experience rather than background entertainment. The SeaScreen open-air cinema on deck adds another way to spend an evening. For dining, Sindhu specialises in modern Indian cuisine, while the Glass House — curated by TV wine expert Olly Smith — is the place to go if wine is part of how you enjoy a holiday.

Azura’s cabin grades run from compact insides to an impressive penthouse suite. For those exploring Azura’s cabins and deck plans in detail, here is what the main grades offer:

• Larger Inside Cabin OB — 15 m², located exclusively on Riviera Deck for easy navigation around the ship
• Sea View Cabin LB — 15 m², with natural light and an unobstructed outlook onto the water
• Superior Deluxe Balcony Cabin DA — 29 m², with a private balcony for sea air and open views
• Penthouse Suite A1 — 69 m², the largest suite on board, with a full separate lounge area

Arcadia

Arcadia is a ship with a particular following among longer-voyage passengers, and it is easy to understand why. The Palladium, its impressive 3-tier theatre, sets a standard for evening entertainment that smaller ships struggle to match. Marco Pierre White’s Ocean Grill brings genuine culinary ambition to the dining programme, and the on-board hydrotherapy pool is exactly the kind of amenity that earns its keep on a three-week sailing. Arcadia runs a meaningful number of world cruise sailings — if that is what you are after, this is one of the most established ships in that niche.

See the full Arcadia cabin grades and deck plans for exact layouts. The main grades are:

• Inside Cabin OA — 19 m², 2 m² more floor space than standard inside grades on board
• Sea View Cabin LB — 17 m², natural daylight and an unobstructed sea view
• Deluxe Balcony Cabin EA — 24 m², with a private balcony for breakfast or evening sea air
• Suite B1 — 56 m², with dedicated butler service included throughout the voyage

Arcadia’s world cruise itineraries are worth looking at in their own right — our P&O Arcadia world cruises 2027 page has the detail.

Aurora

Aurora is a mid-sized, classic ship with a distinctly British character — the kind of ship that regular P&O passengers return to again and again. It sails straight from Southampton, which means no flight, no pre-cruise hotel scramble: you arrive, you board, and within a few hours you are watching the English coastline fade behind you. For anyone who prefers a ship with a settled, unhurried atmosphere and a human scale — not a floating city — Aurora delivers it.

The Aurora cabin grades and deck plans page has the full layout. The key grades are:

• Larger Inside Cabin OA — 16 m², approximately 2 m² more floor space than the standard inside cabins
• Larger Sea View Cabin KB — 16 m², 2 m² more than standard sea-view cabins, with an unobstructed view
• Deluxe Balcony Cabin EA — 23 m², noticeably more floor space than entry-level balcony grades
• Suite B1 — 48 m², sleeping up to 3, with dedicated butler service

Arvia

Arvia launched in 2022 as the largest ship ever built specifically for the British market, christened by Nicole Scherzinger. Its signature venue is the SkyDome — a retractable performance stage beneath 970 m² of glass, above a swimming pool — a combination you will not find anywhere else at sea. When the stage is up and the glass roof is open on a warm evening, it is a genuinely striking place to spend time. With more than 30 dining and bar venues on board, including Sindhu, The Epicurean, The Glass House and the Keel & Cow gastropub, there is enough variety to keep a 20-night sailing interesting throughout. Check the Arvia cabins and deck plans for the full grade breakdown.

Iona

Iona launched in 2020 and sails year-round from Southampton as the largest ship in the P&O fleet, carrying up to 5,200 guests. Like Arvia, it features the SkyDome — the same 970 m² retractable glass dome above a swimming pool — giving both ships a centrepiece that becomes a genuine focal point during evenings at sea. With 18 venues on board, including Anderson’s gin bar, Sindhu, The Epicurean and The Chef’s Table, the ship is designed around British tastes, and the size means there is always somewhere new to explore even on a longer voyage. Browse the Iona cabins and deck plans for the full cabin range.

Britannia

Named by Queen Elizabeth II in 2015, Britannia has sailed year-round from Southampton ever since — it is, as the line itself puts it, the most quintessentially British ship afloat. On board, Marco Pierre White, Atul Kochhar and James Martin each contribute menus across 13 restaurants and cafés, giving the dining programme a depth of culinary names that is hard to match. Evening entertainment runs across the Headliners Theatre — fitted with LED immersive technology — the Limelight Club cabaret, and the Crystal Room. For the Britannia cabin grades and deck plans, the dedicated page has the full breakdown.

Ventura

Ventura completes the fleet of P&O ships sailing these longer itineraries. It is a well-established ship in the P&O programme, and its cabin grades and deck plans are worth reviewing if it appears on a sailing that catches your eye.

Which Cabin Grade Is Right for a Long Voyage?

On a shorter cruise, an inside cabin is simply where you sleep — you are off the ship for most of the day. On a 20- or 30-night sailing, the picture changes. You will spend more time in your cabin, and the difference between an inside grade and a balcony cabin — your own outdoor space, natural daylight, somewhere to sit with a coffee while the sea goes past — becomes genuinely meaningful. That said, inside and sea-view cabins are a very reasonable way to keep costs down on a longer voyage, and if you plan to spend most of your time in the ship’s public spaces, the smaller grade makes good sense.

A suite with butler service — available on both Arcadia and Aurora — is a different level of travel altogether. On a voyage of three weeks or more, having someone to take care of the details adds up, and the extra space is not a luxury on a long sailing, it is comfort. Our cruise experts are used to helping people think through this decision, and the broader cruises page is a good reference point if you want to compare options across the full programme.

What Fare Types Are Available on P&O Long Duration Cruises?

P&O Cruises offers a range of fare types on its longer sailings. These typically include early-saver options that reward booking ahead with a reduced rate, as well as select fares that come with added inclusions. Occasionally you will find fare types such as last-minute offers or promotional rates on specific cabins or departures. The inclusions and restrictions vary between fare types, and getting the right one depends on when you book, which cabin grade you want, and how much flexibility you need around dining and onboard credit.

Our team at Cruise1st can talk you through the options on a specific sailing and make sure you are not paying for inclusions you will not use — or missing out on ones that would genuinely suit you. That is the difference between booking with a specialist and booking direct.

Can I Book a P&O Long Duration Cruise as a Complete Holiday?

Yes — and for many longer voyages, particularly those ending abroad, it makes a great deal of sense. A Cruise1st Package brings together your cruise, flights, hotels, tours, transfers and insurance into a single booking. If you are sailing one-way to the Caribbean or ending in Valletta or Málaga, the last thing you want is to arrive in a foreign port with a flight home and a hotel still to sort. Cruise1st handles it all upfront.

Even if you are sailing round-trip from Southampton and need nothing more than a hotel the night before departure, we can add that too. Train tickets from wherever you are in the UK to Southampton are also something our team can include, so the journey from your front door to the gangway is covered in one conversation.

How Do P&O Long Duration Cruises Compare to Other Extended Voyages?

P&O’s longer sailings are designed for a British audience, departing primarily from Southampton, priced in pounds, and built around British tastes in dining and entertainment. That combination — familiar style, no-fly option on many departures, a fleet of well-equipped ships — makes P&O one of the more practical choices for a UK traveller thinking about an extended voyage.

If you are drawn to the idea of a world cruise but unsure where to start, our pages on world cruises in 2027 and round-the-world cruises from the UK look at the market more broadly. Cunard is the other British line with a strong world cruise tradition — our Cunard round-the-world cruises page covers those if you want to compare. The Australia circumnavigation page is also worth a look if sailing around the continent itself appeals.

What Should I Know Before Booking a Longer P&O Cruise?

A few practical points are worth having in mind before you commit to a longer sailing.

Itinerary shape matters. Check whether the sailing is round-trip or one-way before you book. A one-way itinerary means organising a return leg — something Cruise1st handles for you, but something to plan for.

Embarkation port matters too. If the cruise departs from Southampton you can travel down by road or rail. If it departs from Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Valletta or a Caribbean port, you will need a flight out. Again, this is something Cruise1st can arrange, but it changes the logistics and the total cost.

Cabin grade is a bigger decision on a longer sailing. Think about how much time you expect to spend in the cabin, whether natural light matters to you, and whether a private balcony would genuinely add to the trip. On a 15-night sailing, the answer might be different from a 40-night one.

Fare inclusions vary. What is covered by the headline fare — dining, drinks, excursions, gratuities — changes depending on the fare type and the sailing. Our team can explain exactly what is and is not included on any specific departure before you book.

Cruise1st is rated 4.5 out of 5 on Trustpilot from over 7,000 reviews, and is ABTA and ATOL protected — so your money is safe, and there is a real team of cruise experts you can speak to before, during and after booking.

Is a Longer P&O Cruise Right for You?

If you have been on shorter cruises and found yourself wishing there was more time — more time at sea, more time in each port, more time to simply settle into the rhythm of the ship — then a longer P&O sailing is the natural next step. The fleet is well-suited to extended voyages, the itineraries cover a genuinely wide range of destinations, and the no-fly option from Southampton removes one of the main complications of longer-distance travel.

For anyone who has not cruised before and is drawn to the idea of a longer holiday that takes care of meals, entertainment and logistics in one go, a 15- or 20-night P&O sailing is a manageable introduction. You get a real sense of the ocean, a range of ports, and enough time on board to feel like you actually belong there — rather than just passing through.

Browse the full range of P&O long duration cruises available through Cruise1st, or call our team for expert advice on which sailing suits you best. If you are thinking about shorter breaks, our P&O mini cruises page has the other end of the spectrum.

*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.