P&O CRUISES

P&O Cruises – take a look at the fantastic P&O fleet. P&O run most of their ships in pairs. Ioan / Arvia, Azura / Ventura, Iona / Arvia. The purpose of having two is that one will be a fly cruise, the other a no-fly cruise. That is a general rule, but it does seem to hold up. Ship passenger area tours, cabin tours, chat sites, community areas to share, restaurant films and the entertainers you love. All here – chat site banners first, then ship menu after. Just click on your favourite ship.

The Chat site for P&O IONA – share the new news – Click Here

We remind guests that the terms of booking, form a contract between parties, so it is important to look at all P&O terms and expected guest conduct.

Doris Visits cruise T-shirts

DRESS CODE: P&O say – Dressing for dinner is one of the many highlights of a cruise and guests are expected to follow our dress codes, which change from night to night. There are two dress codes that can apply, effective in the majority of public areas after 6pm. A description of each is provided below. Children under 16 years and under are not included in this policy. 

LOST PROPERTY – if you lose something on a ship. Detail the ship, date, cruise etc and send here [email protected]

Evening casual: Stylish resort or leisurewear is ideal for Evening Casual nights, for example, casual separates or dresses for ladies and open-neck polo shirts and casual trousers (not shorts) for men. Jacket and smart trousers can be worn but are not compulsory. Smart dark denim is also fine, but not trainers, football shirts or tracksuits. For a typical two-week cruise there are normally ten Evening Casual nights.

Black tie: Our Gala Evenings provide the opportunity for ladies to wear glamorous evening wear including cocktail dresses, ball gowns or smart trouser suits. For men, dinner jackets or tuxedos are the norm, but a dark lounge or business suit and tie can be worn as an alternative. You can also wear formal national dress. For a typical two-week cruise there are normally four Black Tie nights. Attire for Black Tie nights can be purchased on board (limited availability). 

Theme nights: P&O theme nights offer a great opportunity for guests to dress up in line with the theme. Themes can include the 60s, 70s, tropical, Western, and black and white nights. 

Chlldren: The dress code for children in the evening is Evening Casual, regardless of the adult dress code but they are welcome to dress to impress too. P&O do, however, ask that children don’t wear denim on Black Tie nights. When dining in premium or buffet restaurants children can be casually dressed. If children are going to be with you in the evening in the formal restaurants and theatre, then they can still dress more casually adopting our Evening Casual dress code.

Fancy dress: P&O states not to dampen anyone’s fun but as of 1 January 2018 they no longer allow fancy dress, novelty items or inappropriate personalised clothing to be worn on board. Any clothing that features inappropriate or offensive language, including novelty clothing with printed images or slogans and accessories, will not be allowed on board. P&O reserve the right to deny embarkation to guests who are inappropriately dressed.

SMOKING: Smoking is not permitted in staterooms, balconies, or public areas, but is permitted in designated areas of the open deck. Electronic cigarettes which do not emit smoke are not permitted in public areas and can only be used in designated smoking areas.

Our experience is that the sun deck is split in two, but the smoke can overpower both sides. When smoking is allowed on one side of the promenade, it then eliminates the promenade deck for walkers as an option if they do not wish to be disturbed by smoke. Check the latest policy.

NOTE – Please note that the use and even the possession of electronic cigarettes are illegal in the United Arab Emirates. If you are arriving and/or leaving the country by plane, please be advised that any electronic cigarettes will be confiscated at the airport, and you may face a penalty. If you are visiting any UAE ports as part of your cruise, please do not take electronic cigarettes ashore.

Click on the ship's name and the details will drop down. Then click on the map to reveal where it is in the world. Expand the map view of the world by using the +or- scale adjuster.

Carnival has ordered multiple LNG Excellence Class / Helios Class ships. The Iona has arrived, two are to follow for P&O. The Iona has 5200 guest capacity whereas the Helios version offers circa 6,000 guests over 20 decks.

5,206 Passengers | 1,762 Crew | 2,612 Cabins | 16 decks, 3 sun decks | 4 Swimming pool | 16 Jacuzzis | 15 Restaurants & Cafes | 13 Bars & Lounges | Babysitting | Kids Club | Kids Pool | Show Lounges/Theatre | Cinema | Fitness Centre | Spa | Culinary Theatre | Library | Sports Court | 344.5m long | 42m beam | Speed 17 knots | 184,089GT | Excellence Class | Built by Meyer Werft | Cost $-m | Launched – 2021

A liquefied natural gas (LNG) fueled ship, Iona is our greenest, largest and most innovative ship yet. With her luminous glass-roofed SkyDome, on-board gin distillery and a whole world of dining and entertainment on board. This ship does not have the swimming pool flumes or rollercoasters that other Carnival versions of this ship may have.  P&O web page for IONA

6 cruise thrillers for under £10

For our cruise followers, we offer a deal that is hard to beat. 6 CSCI cruise novels for under £10.

P&O IONA – the ultimate ship tour of this huge ship – and the My Holiday App

The My Holiday app is not just going to happen, it is here. The large ships have to be controlled by science and the apps book

Average age of guests by cruise ship – one of many factors in choosing a ship.

The facts few publish are the age of cruisers by ship – see where you fit in because choosing

Amazing Cruise Ports

Inspired by chat on the cruise chat groups, these compilations of Jean’s fun clips at amazing cruise ports are meant to excite,

CARNIVAL MARDI GRAS – the Excellence Class ship evolves.

OMG, this has a rollercoaster and water slides. If you are an IONA fan

ROLLERCOASTER at sea on the new Excellence Class ship from Carnival.

Excited? Buckle up and ride because if you are an IONA fan

P&O IONA chat group on Facebook

Cruise Chat is the greatest way to share and discover. the P&O IONA group

IONA – Current position and Ship details.

MEYER WERFT is building the RINA classified ship, sometimes referred to as Excellence and/or Helios class ships for Carnival

This looks to be similar to the Iona with one major exception, it is considerably faster than the Iona according to figures on the Meyer Weft website. It is the fly-cruise of the pair of Excellence ships that Carnival have stationed at P&O. It tends to homeport in Barbados during the Caribbean season. The Iona tends to sail from Southampton.

5,206 Passengers | 1,762 Crew | 2,612 Cabins | 16 decks, 3 sun decks | 4 Swimming pool | 16 Jacuzzis | 15 Restaurants & Cafes | 13 Bars & Lounges | Babysitting | Kids Club | Kids Pool | Show Lounges/Theatre | Cinema | Fitness Centre | Spa | Culinary Theatre | Library | Sports Court | 344.5m long | 42m beam | Speed 21.5 knots | 184,000GT | Excellence Class | Built by Meyer Werft | Cost $-m | Launched – 2022  Builder’s web page Meyer Werft

A liquefied natural gas (LNG) fueled ship, the Excellence ships are P&O’s greenest, largest and most innovative ships yet. With the luminous glass-roofed SkyDome, on-board distillery and a whole world of dining and entertainment.

P&O web page for ARVIA

6 cruise thrillers for under £10

For our cruise followers, we offer a deal that is hard to beat. 6 CSCI cruise novels for under £10.

P&O IONA – the ultimate ship tour of this huge ship – and the My Holiday App

The My Holiday app is not just going to happen, it is here. The large ships have to be controlled by science and the apps book

Average age of guests by cruise ship – one of many factors in choosing a ship.

The facts few publish are the age of cruisers by ship – see where you fit in because choosing

Amazing Cruise Ports

Inspired by chat on the cruise chat groups, these compilations of Jean’s fun clips at amazing cruise ports are meant to excite,

CARNIVAL MARDI GRAS – the Excellence Class ship evolves.

OMG, this has a rollercoaster and water slides. If you are an IONA fan

ROLLERCOASTER at sea on the new Excellence Class ship from Carnival.

Excited? Buckle up and ride because if you are an IONA fan

P&O IONA chat group on Facebook

Cruise Chat is the greatest way to share and discover. the P&O IONA group

IONA – Current position and Ship details.

MEYER WERFT is building the RINA classified ship, sometimes referred to as Excellence and/or Helios class ships for Carnival

Nine of these ships were ordered and it looks as if the last one now will go to Carnival as the Carnival Jubilee, not to the UK or the Aida German market as might have been possible. There is still time, the build has been committed so we will see what the future holds.

The Royal Class ships a Carnival ship, essentially operated by Princess Cruises. The lead ship is the Royal Princess and they have been hugely successful but it is unlikely there will be more of these as Carnival have now moved to a larger class of ship. The Excellence Class will become their main class of new family cruise ships across the brands although their are still two being built.

  • Royal Princess (2013)
  • Regal Princess (2014)
  • Britannia (2015)
  • Majestic Princess (2017)
  • Sky Princess (2019)
  • The Enchanted Princess will be in service 2020 and
  • the Final Princess in 2022

Britannia was built by Fincantieri at its shipyard in Monfalcone, Italy. They are all 330 meters long, have 15 decks and carry 3,600 guests weighing approx 143,000 GT.

3,647 Passengers | 1,762 Crew | 1,807 Cabins, 1,438 with balconies | 15 decks, 13 guest | 4 Swimming pool | 4 Jacuzzis | 13 Restaurants & Cafes | 13 Bars & Lounges | Babysitting | Kids Club | Kids Pool | Show Lounges/Theatre | Cinema | Fitness Centre | Spa | Culinary Theatre | Library | Sports Court | 330m long | 38m beam | Speed 17 knots | 143,730GT | Royal Class | Built by Fincantieri | Cost $-m | Launched – 2015

Built by Fincantieri who built the similar and only slightly smaller Grand Class ships like Azura and Ventura this ship will feel familiar. Launched in 2015, the Britannia has a cookery club, and unlike her sister ships, a nightclub on deck 5 called The Limelight. On the main promenade deck, there is a theatre at the front, a nightclub at the back and a small ballroom in the middle called the Crystal Room offering more room for conventional partnered dancing and keep fit classes. Below on deck 6, there is a casino and pub. See our film guides below. P&O web site of Britannia

The Grand class is a Princess / P&O class for Carnival. The class has developed and therefore has sub classes but they are essentially the same ship. In the main they have been built by Fincantieri in Monfalcone and Trieste, Italy.

They are essentially 290 meters long, they have 17 to 19 decks, with 13 to 15 decks as passenger decks. Capacity carries from 2,600 to  first vessel, the Grand Princess, entered service in 1998.

  • Grand Princess (1998)
  • Golden Princess (2001)
  • Star Princess (2002)
  • Diamond Princess (Gem sub class) 2004
  • Sapphire Princess (Gem sub class) 2004
  • Caribbean Princess (Caribbean sub class) 2004
  • Crown Princess (Crown sub class) 2006
  • Emerald Princess (Crown sub class) 2007
  • Ruby Princess (Crown sub class) 2008
  • Ventura (Ventura sub class) 2008
  • Azura (Ventura sub class) 2010

3,100 Passengers | 1,250 Crew | 1,557 Cabins | 14 decks | 4 Swimming pool | 6 Hot Tubs | 11 Restaurants & Cafes | 12 Bars & Lounges | Babysitting | Kids Club | Kids Pool | 2 Show Lounges | 1 Theatre | Sky Cinema at pool | Fitness Centre | Spa | Library | Sports Court | 290m long | 38m beam | Speed 17 knots | 116,000GT | Royal Class | Built by Fincantieri | Cost $-m | Launched – 2010

April 2020, Azura received an extensive multi-million-pound refit. This was inside and out. Open decks with their alfresco bars and food experiences have been updated. There is new deck furniture. And it appears she has put on a little weight! Must be the 3,616,000 cups of tea a year. We will need to do a new ship tour, but in our experience, little changes visually would mean the 2019 film is irrelevant. We will film again next time on board.

P&O web site of Azura

FIND THE CHAT GROUP FOR YOUR SPECIFIC CUISE BELOW

3,078 Passengers | 1,205 Crew | 1,556 Cabins | 19 decks, 14 guest decks | 4 Swimming pool | 6 Hot Tubs | 10 Restaurants & Cafes | 10 Bars & Lounges | Babysitting | Kids Club | Kids Pool | 2 Show Lounges | 1 Theatre | Sky Cinema at pool | Fitness Centre | Spa | Library | Sports Court | 288m long | 36m beam | Speed 23 knots | 116,117GT | Royal Class | Built by Fincantieri | Cost $-m | Launched – 2006

P&O web page of Ventura with deck plans

FIND THE CHAT GROUP FOR YOUR SPECIFIC CUISE BELOW

This was a popular class of ship built between 2001 and 2010 and comes in may forms, from the Arcadia to the Queen Victoria at Cunard. The class being lead by the H&A ship MS Zuiderdam in 2002. The Spirit and Radiance class ships are similar. What varies is the inside which the Arcadia and Queen Victoria together can show. When the Arcadia was being built it had no central ballroom, which is why is was moved away from being the Queen Victoria and another was ordered with the ballroom interior. Amazing how the same ship can be so different. They are all around 290 meters, 1850 to 2350 guests, these are Panamax cruise ships, almost liners. To confuse matters Carnival now have a new Vista Class (Carnival).

  1. 2002: MS Zuiderdam
  2. 2003: MS Oosterdam
  3. 2004: MS Westerdam
  4. 2005: MS Arcadia
  5. 2006: MS Noordam
  6. 2007: MS Queen Victoria
  7. 2008: MS Eurodam
  8. 2009: Costa Luminosa
  9. 2010: MS Queen Elizabeth
  10. 2010: MS Nieuw Amsterdam
  11. 2010: Costa Deliziosa

The fifth Vista Class ship as ordered by Holland and America, the contract was switched to Cunard. She was meant to become the Queen Victoria, but there were concerns about the ballroom design which was of huge importance. The Arcadia as she is known now, ended up with no ballroom, 83,781 tons. 2,384 guests. 866 crew and exclusively for adults. The Arcadia had a huge refurbishment in 2017. Powered by Six Wärtsilä diesel engines, she attains nearly 52kw of power and 22 knots. The Arcadia has a theatre at the front, the middle of the ship sees the art gallery in widened corridor sharing the other side with a nightclub. That is used for classical recitals on many days at around 5 pm. Marco Pierre White has his Ocean Grill on board. See our ship tour in the film section. The Arcadia is famous for its approx 99-day world cruise every year. P&O web site of ships

P&O ARCADIA Ship Tour

The Arcadia is a charming ship and we try to join it every year.

6 cruise thrillers for under £10

For our cruise followers, we offer a deal that is hard to beat. 6 CSCI cruise novels for under £10.

Average age of guests by cruise ship – one of many factors in choosing a ship.

The facts few publish are the age of cruisers by ship – see where you fit in because choosing

Amazing Cruise Ports

Inspired by chat on the cruise chat groups, these compilations of Jean’s fun clips at amazing cruise ports are meant to excite,

P&O Cabin Tour, Standard Cabin on P&O Cruise Ship AZURA

Everyone has a different cruise experience because there is so much choice

Sindhu restaurant is fine dining at sea

By week 2 of a two-week cruise, when everyone starts to venture out, the premium dining restaurants can get full to capacity.

P&O ARCADIA chat group on Facebook

Cruise Chat is the greatest way to share and discover. the P&O ARCADIA group

Great Belt Bridge – cruising under the TV star in the Midnight Sun

Great Belt Bridge – seen in Midnight Sun – Copenhagen was a great day.

FIND THE CHAT GROUP FOR YOUR SPECIFIC CRUISE BELOW

P&O ARCADIA world cruise J301, J401, J501

I have had the pleasure of joining this wonderful cruise many times and the atmosphere is always great and I dread having to leave. It is a classic, and we have a chat group for each.

Occupancy:  1874
Crew:  848
Year built:  2000
Last refit: 2019 added 28 new cabins in the previous children’s area.
Next refit: 2025 should inc technical, stage, TV, and My Holiday app improvements, as well as furnishings. TBA as we hear more rumours.
Tonnage:  76000
Length overall:  889ft (271m)
Beam:  131ft (40m)
Draught:  28ft (8.4m)
Cruising speed:  24 knots
Flag:  Bermuda
Godmother:  HRH Princess Anne

6 cruise thrillers for under £10

For our cruise followers, we offer a deal that is hard to beat. 6 CSCI cruise novels for under £10.

Average age of guests by cruise ship – one of many factors in choosing a ship.

The facts few publish are the age of cruisers by ship – see where you fit in because choosing

Aurora Tech Fair hosted by Captain Simon Love

It is hard to fit everything in on a short cruise, but the longer cruise has events like Meet the Captain or the Tech Fair.

Amazing Cruise Ports

Inspired by chat on the cruise chat groups, these compilations of Jean’s fun clips at amazing cruise ports are meant to excite,

P&O Aurora – Ship tour. Aurora is an adult only ship.

Built by Meyer Werft at their shipyard in Papenburg, Germany, this was the first P&O ship we went on,

P&O AURORA chat group on Facebook

Cruise Chat is the greatest way to share and discover. The adult uCruise AURORA + Acadia group

P&O Aurora snowed in and Northern Lights on last cruise as family ship

The Aurora’s very last cruise as a family ship saw it covered in snow with many guests staying inside.

New England YouTube Channel – inc Canada to New York to Charleston to Bermuda

What a great Playlist!

FIND THE CHAT GROUP FOR YOUR SPECIFIC CRUISE BELOW

P&O Aurora GRAND CRUISE changes from R501 to a new grand cruise R601

If P&O is your tipple then there are three choices to leer you into a longer cruise. They repeat each year.