7 Things I Loved About My P&O Arvia Caribbean Cruise
I (Rosie) have sailed onboard P&O Arvia twice around the Caribbean, and I can honestly say it’s become one of my favourite itineraries to sail.
Since attending her naming ceremony, Arvia and P&O have always stood out as something special to me. There’s something about the service, the atmosphere and that familiar British feel that makes you feel comfortable from the moment you step onboard.
With P&O Cruises, your fare includes stylish accommodation, a fantastic choice of dining venues, plenty of exciting activities, and amazing entertainment throughout your holiday.
Arvia is also one of P&O Cruises’ largest ships, carrying up to around 5,200 guests, with 15 guest decks and a huge variety of places to eat, drink and be entertained. There are also four swimming pools onboard, including an infinity pool with a swim-up bar, so there’s plenty to keep you busy when you’re not exploring ashore.
So, I thought I’d share 7 things I really loved about Arvia:
1. Dining Experiences
Who says food isn’t one of the most important parts of a cruise? For me, dining can make a huge difference to the overall experience. You want plenty of choice, whether you’re after something quick and casual or fancy sitting down for a proper meal.
And Arvia definitely delivers when it comes to food.
From the Meridian and Zenith main dining rooms to The Quays, there’s something to suit pretty much every mood. The Quays is perfect when you fancy something a little more relaxed, with grab-and-go favourites like classic fish and chips.
You’ve also got the Horizon Restaurant buffet, Taste 360, and 6th Street Diner, which serves American-style comfort food. So whether you fancy something light, a proper sit-down meal or something a little different, there are plenty of options available.
Then, you have the speciality restaurants for those evenings when you want to make a bit more of an occasion out of dinner.
There are some fantastic options to choose from, including Sindhu for Indian-British fusion, The Beach House for Latin American and Caribbean flavours, The Keel & Cow gastropub, Green & Co feat. Mizuhana and Epicurean.
What I also really like is that the speciality dining is reasonably priced. It doesn’t feel like you’re paying a huge premium just because you’re onboard a cruise ship — the prices are much more in line with what you’d expect to pay for a nice meal out here in the UK.
2. Bar & Lounge Areas
One thing you’re certainly not short of onboard P&O Arvia is places to grab a drink, sit back and relax.
My favourite was The Crow’s Nest, tucked away on Deck 17 right at the front of the ship. It has some of the best views onboard, making it a lovely spot to sit and watch the world go by, especially during sailaway. It also has a bit of a jazz club feel, with occasional piano players adding to the atmosphere.
Arvia has a huge variety of bars and lounges throughout the ship, including Anderson’s Bar, The 710 Club, The Club House and the bars around the SkyDome. The 710 Club is particularly good if you enjoy live music, while The Club House is more of an all-round entertainment space.
Another thing that really surprised me about P&O was the British-style pub, Brodie’s, located on Deck 7.
With daily quizzes, live sports and other entertainment, it’s definitely the place to head if you’re looking for a livelier atmosphere.
Top Tip: Get there early! Brodie’s can fill up pretty quickly, especially when there’s something popular on.
3. Direct Flights & Bonded Luggage
One of the things I love about P&O’s Caribbean itineraries is just how easy they make the journey.
Whether you’re flying from London Gatwick, Manchester, Birmingham or Newcastle, you can fly directly to either Barbados or Antigua. No changing flights or multiple connections — which, after all, makes the start of your holiday so much easier!
Another great thing about the P&O Caribbean packages is their ‘Bonded Luggage’ service. Once you drop your bags off at check-in, you won’t see them again until they’re delivered to your cabin. The onboard team takes care of getting your luggage from the airport and then onto the ship for you.
Top Tip: Make sure you make use of your hand luggage allowance! Your main bags can take a little while to reach your cabin, simply because there are so many to get through. After a long flight, having a change of clothes and a few essentials with you can make all the difference!
4. Entertainment for Children
On my second sailing onboard Arvia, I travelled with a large group of family, including a 6-year-old. From what I saw, Arvia is definitely a family-friendly ship, with plenty to keep younger guests entertained.
The kids’ club was fantastic for him. He could head off with the P&O team, make friends and enjoy some time doing his own thing.
Arvia’s Reef children’s club caters for children from 2–12, while there are also dedicated spaces and activities for older children and teenagers. There’s even a nursery for the younger ones, so there’s something for different age groups.
There were also family movies and activities held at selected times in The Skydome, which was great for parents and carers as they could relax nearby while still keeping an eye on the little ones.
The SkyDome itself is one of Arvia’s standout areas, with a retractable glass roof that creates a poolside space during the day before transforming into an entertainment venue in the evening. You can also catch films on the SeaScreen.
Plus, why not try out P&O Arvia’s Mission Control Escape Room. It’s an immersive, family-friendly escape experience that’s great fun onboard — just keep in mind it comes at an additional charge.
5. Celebration Nights
One thing P&O does really well is Celebration Nights! I love that they still give you the chance to get dressed up in your best dress or suit and make the evening feel a little bit special.
On a 2-week Caribbean itinerary, you’ll enjoy two chances to dress your best — with one formal night each week.
In the main dining rooms, you can enjoy a 5-course menu featuring dishes created by P&O’s food heroes, including Marco Pierre White.
But if dressing up isn’t really your thing, you can still enjoy your evening. There are plenty of casual venues where you can relax without the formal attire.
P&O also makes the dress code specific to different venues, so you don’t necessarily have to spend the entire evening dressed up. This gives you a bit more flexibility depending on what you fancy doing that night.
Top Tip: On Celebration Nights, check your daily Horizon newspaper, delivered to your cabin each evening, for the dress code at each dining venue.
6. Altitude: Ultimate Open-Air Top-Deck Activity Area
If you’re looking for a bit of fun onboard, Altitude on Deck 19 is definitely worth checking out!
For the brave ones, there’s the Altitude Skywalk — a high-rope aerial course made up of different rope sections suspended 54 metres above the ocean. There’s a small additional fee to take part, but it’s absolutely worth the thrill.
The Skywalk is P&O Cruises’ first high-ropes experience and has different routes to challenge you while giving you some pretty incredible views over the ocean.
For something a little more down to earth, there’s the 9-hole Altitude Minigolf course, which is suitable for all ages – Plus it’s included in your cruise fare!
There’s also the Altitude Sports Arena, where you can get involved in activities such as football and basketball. And if you’re travelling with younger guests, Splash Valley offers water jets, shaded areas and ocean views.
Top Tip: If you want to try the Skywalk, check your daily Horizon newspaper or the P&O My Holiday app once onboard for opening times and to book your slot.
7. Vista’s Café Bar
This may sound a bit random, but I really loved having a proper barista Costa onboard!
Located on Deck 6 inside the Grand Atrium, Vista’s Café Bar is in the perfect spot. You can either pay as you go, which will be added to your onboard account or use your drinks package, making it an easy place to pop by whenever you fancy a coffee.
The Grand Atrium is also one of the social hubs of Arvia, so it’s a great place to sit and watch the world go by while enjoying your drink. It’s a really bright and open space, which makes Vista’s a handy meeting point if you’re travelling with family or friends.
Key Note: Depending on your drinks package, Classic or Deluxe, only certain drinks from the Costa menu are included. If you’re a big Costa fan and want a wider choice, it’s worth checking what’s included before choosing your package.
Overall Thoughts:
Overall, in my opinion, P&O Arvia is definitely worth trying. P&O is a cruise line I know I can rely on, and the itineraries are fantastic — especially the Caribbean!
Who wouldn’t love a 14-night holiday sailing around beautiful Caribbean islands, soaking up the sunshine along the way?
There really is a lot to do onboard Arvia, whether you want to spend your holiday relaxing by the pool, trying different restaurants, watching a show, enjoying the bars or getting involved in some of the more adventurous activities. That variety is probably one of the things I enjoy most about sailing on her.
P.S. Definitely give P&O Arvia’s exclusive Golden Tide Rum a try while you’re onboard!
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