Cruise Frog guide
P&O Cruises
P&O Cruises is a British cruise line based at Carnival House in Southampton and owned by Carnival Corporation. It sails seven ships built or adapted for British holidaymakers, most of them sailing from Southampton, from the adults-only Aurora and Arcadia to Iona and Arvia, the largest ships built for the UK market.
Style
Mainstream
big ships with lots to do and fares for most budgets
Best for
- Families
- Couples
- Adults only
Fleet rating
No ships rated yet.
About P&O Cruises
Its heritage goes back to 1837, when the Peninsular Steam Navigation Company began carrying mail and passengers to Spain and Portugal; the parent P&O set up P&O Cruises as a separate subsidiary in 1977. Its first newbuild, Oriana, arrived in 1995, followed by Aurora in 2000. P&O spun off its cruise business as P&O Princess Cruises in 2000, which merged with Carnival in 2003. Ventura (2008), Azura (2010) and Britannia (2015) followed, and in 2020 and 2022 the line added Iona and Arvia, the first British-market ships to run on liquefied natural gas. Oceana was sold in 2020. In October 2026 Carnival announced that Arcadia will move to Holland America Line after August 2029 and that Cunard's Queen Anne will join P&O in May 2029 under a new name.
The ships are designed around British tastes, with pubs, menus created with British chefs and a Union flag painted on the bow since 2014. The large family ships have pools, teen areas and glass-roofed SkyDome venues, while Aurora and Arcadia offer a quieter adults-only alternative.
What P&O Cruises is known for
P&O Cruises claims the longest heritage of any cruise line, and Carnival markets it as Britain's favourite cruise line. Sailing from Southampton, it lets British guests cruise without flying to a port, and its ships carry touches aimed squarely at British travelers, from pubs and afternoon tea to chef-led venues such as the Cookery Club developed by James Martin on Britannia. Iona and Arvia brought the line its largest ships and its first LNG-powered vessels, while Aurora and Arcadia keep an adults-only option in the fleet.
Its record also includes well-publicized problems. Aurora's 2005 world cruise was abandoned soon after departure because of propulsion faults, and she had further propulsion trouble on her 2009 world cruise. Ventura and Iona have had norovirus outbreaks, in 2024 and 2025. In 2022 the line also faced public backlash after a mass dismissal of staff at P&O Ferries, a separate company sharing the P&O name, and ran newspaper and social media advertising to make clear that it has different owners.
Who it's for
P&O Cruises suits British travelers who want a holiday that starts at Southampton and feels familiar on board: families on the big ships, couples and groups of friends, and first-time cruisers who want British food, entertainment and service. Adults who prefer a calmer, child-free ship can choose Aurora or Arcadia.
Travelers from outside the UK, or anyone who would rather fly to a warm-weather port than spend the first days at sea sailing south from Southampton, may find lines with more North American or Mediterranean departures a better fit. Those looking for small ships or all-inclusive luxury should look elsewhere.
- Families
- kids' clubs, family cabins, things for every age
- Couples
- romantic dining, quiet spaces, balcony cabins
- Adults only
- no children aboard
How it rates
None of P&O Cruises's ships has been rated yet. A line's rating is the average of its ships' scores.
Where P&O Cruises sails
Ships
Leaving Aug 2029Arcadia2005 · 84,342 GT · 1,952 guestsArcadia is a Vista-class ship built by Fincantieri at Marghera, Italy, and originally intended for Holland America Line and then Cunard before Carnival assigned her to P&O…
Arvia2022 · 185,581 GT · 5,200 guests · Canary Islands · CaribbeanArvia is Iona's Excellence-class sister, built by Meyer Werft in Papenburg and delivered in December 2022; at about 185,600 gross tons she is the largest ship serving the British…
Aurora2000 · 76,152 GT · 1,878 guestsAurora is the oldest and smallest ship in the P&O Cruises fleet, built by Meyer Werft in Papenburg, Germany, as an enlarged version of the earlier Oriana, with a tiered stern and…
Azura2010 · 115,055 GT · 3,096 guestsAzura is Ventura's sister, a modified Grand-class ship built by Fincantieri at Monfalcone and the only one of the class with a duck-tail stern. Named by Darcey Bussell, she…
Britannia2015 · 143,730 GT · 3,647 guests · CaribbeanBritannia is a Royal-class ship built by Fincantieri at Monfalcone, sharing her design with Princess Cruises' Royal class, and the flagship of P&O Cruises since she entered…
Iona2021 · 184,089 GT · 5,206 guests · Northern Europe · Canary IslandsIona is an Excellence-class ship built by Meyer Werft in Papenburg, Germany, and the first ship for the British market powered by liquefied natural gas. Delivered in October…
Ventura2008 · 116,017 GT · 3,192 guestsVentura is a Grand-class ship built by Fincantieri at Monfalcone and, on entering service in April 2008, one of the largest cruise ships built for the British market. Named by…Coming soon
Former ships
| Ship | Sailed | Gross tons | Left |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oceana | 2002–2020 | 77,499 | July 2020 |
Where to fly in
- London Heathrow (LHR)7 P&O Cruises ships sail from Southampton, England40 lounges on Lounge Frog
Quick answers
What is P&O Cruises known for?
P&O Cruises claims the longest heritage of any cruise line, and Carnival markets it as Britain's favourite cruise line. Sailing from Southampton, it lets British guests cruise without flying to a port, and its ships carry touches aimed squarely at British travelers, from pubs and afternoon tea to chef-led venues such as the Cookery Club developed by James Martin on Britannia. Iona and Arvia brought the line its largest ships and its first LNG-powered vessels, while Aurora and Arcadia keep an adults-only option in the fleet.
Who is P&O Cruises best for?
P&O Cruises suits British travelers who want a holiday that starts at Southampton and feels familiar on board: families on the big ships, couples and groups of friends, and first-time cruisers who want British food, entertainment and service. Adults who prefer a calmer, child-free ship can choose Aurora or Arcadia.
Where does P&O Cruises sail?
P&O Cruises's ships in service sail Caribbean (2 ships), Canary Islands (2 ships), Northern Europe (1 ship) and Norwegian Fjords (1 ship).
Does P&O Cruises have new ships coming?
Yes: P&O Cruises has 1 new ship on the way: Queen Anne (debuts May 2029).
How many ships does P&O Cruises have?
P&O Cruises has 7 ships in service on Cruise Frog: Arcadia, Arvia, Aurora, Azura, Britannia, Iona and Ventura.
Who owns P&O Cruises?
P&O Cruises is part of Carnival Corporation.
Where is P&O Cruises based?
P&O Cruises is headquartered in Southampton, United Kingdom. It has operated since 1977.
What is P&O Cruises's loyalty program called?
P&O Cruises's past-guest loyalty program is Peninsular Club.
What is the largest P&O Cruises ship?
Arvia is P&O Cruises's largest ship at 185,581 gross tons, carrying 5,200 guests.
Cruising with children
P&O families should check both the ship and the sailing date. Fleet-wide assumptions about which ships accept children can go out of date.
Read the P&O Cruises family guide →