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Five reasons to sail to the Caribbean

If you’ve ever wanted that sunshine holiday feeling to last a little (or a lot) longer, a Caribbean cruise is just the ticket. In 2026, we have three 35-night cruises that will sail across the Atlantic to some of the dreamiest destinations in the Caribbean and beyond.

5 min 24 Sep 2024

Editorial Team

Author

Are you ready for your next epic adventure? Here are five reasons to sail to the sunshine, straight from Southampton.

1. Skip the flights and start your holidays sooner

The Caribbean might be half the world away, but sailing there is half the fun. Crossing the Atlantic is a bucket-list journey in itself – a multi-day, at-sea odyssey with stops in exciting destinations along the way.

 

Sailing from Southampton means you can skip the hassle of flying – no airport queues, no delayed flights, no luggage limits (more on that below). Your holiday begins the minute you board your ship in Southampton, and getting to the terminal is easy whether by car, coach, train or taxi.

 

Before you know it, you can be sitting on deck, cocktail in hand, ready to set sail on the holiday of a lifetime. Did you know that you can drop off your luggage from 12pm and come back to the cruise terminal at your arrival time? You can also enjoy lunch on board – it’s served all afternoon – if you’re keen to get on the ship and settled in as soon as possible.

 

En route to and from the Caribbean, you’ll make stops in destinations such as Tenerife, La Coruna and the Azores, breaking up the sea days and giving you the chance to explore ashore. The sun may not be at full beam in these Atlantic stop-offs yet, but there’ll be culture galore, stunning scenery and new cuisines to tuck into.

2. Discover off-the-beaten-track destinations

Our straight-from-Southampton Caribbean cruises visit some destinations you won’t find on most fly-cruise itineraries. Ventura’s trip in January 2026 visits two of the Caribbean’s ‘ABC’ islands in the lesser Antilles – ecotourism pioneer Bonaire, a haven for nature lovers, and lively, multicultural Curaçao. Other stops include the breathtakingly beautiful Dominica, a top spot for whale-watching, and lively Guadeloupe with its black-, gold- and white-sand beaches and fabulous Creole cuisine.

 

Ventura’s cruise in late February through to early April stops off at pretty, pastel-hued Hamilton in Bermuda and the tropical playground of Freeport, Bahamas, before you enter the Caribbean proper. You’ll skim the central American coastline, gaining more beach time at lush Roatan in Honduras, and gorgeous, laid-back Belize, before heading off for a day and night in the home of jazz, New Orleans, and on to glamorous Miami.

 

Meanwhile, Iona’s early 2026 cruise is more classic Caribbean – with Barbados, St Kitts, Antigua and Grenada all on the agenda, as well as charming Tortola in the British Virgin Islands and St Maarten with its bustling Dutch capital Philipsburg.

Virgin Gorda, shore experiences available form Tortola, British Virgin Islands
Virgin Gorda, shore experiences available form Tortola, British Virgin Islands
Virgin Gorda, shore experiences available form Tortola, British Virgin Islands
Virgin Gorda, shore experiences available form Tortola, British Virgin Islands

3. Get to know our fabulous ships

One of the many joys of these longer cruise holidays is the chance to spend more time on our fabulous ships! Sea days give you precious time to unwind and relax. Shop, swim, enjoy delicious food with friends, catch some brilliant shows, or simply enjoy the ever-changing sea and skyscapes as you sail serenely on to the next destination. Believe us, you won’t get bored.

 

Treat yourself to spa day in between disembarkations – Ventura’s Oasis Spa offers the very latest treatments, and you can even avail yourself of alfresco pampering at our premium VIP open-air deck spa, The Retreat, with private cabanas and complimentary smoothies or fruit platters. Ventura and Iona also have a gym and a range of fitness classes, plus four swimming pools apiece.

 

Both ships boast multiple dining and entertainment venues, from the upmarket Glass House and Epicurean restaurants to the unpretentious Keel & Cow gastropub on Iona or the traditional pub fare at The Exchange on Ventura. Iona has two special theatres, the intimate Limelight Club and the spectacular Headliners, plus a four-screen cinema, while Ventura has its lavish two-deck high Arena Theatre and its dinner-dance spot The Tamarind Club, as well as a casino.

Bruges Christmas market

From taking a turn round the deck and indulging at Sundaes Ice Cream Bar to checking out Iona’s own gin distillery or investing in a piece of art from Ventura’s gallery, every sea day can be different and full of delightful surprises, and you can even benefit from on-board spending money if you book with our Select Price. Splash your cash in the on-board shops, bars, photo and art galleries, and on restaurants, spa, internet packages and shore experiences booked on board.

 

Your cosy cabin will become a home from home – they’re all luxurious, with air-con, complimentary White Company toiletries and a daily steward service, and every cabin on every ship has a TV with live channels, films and box sets. Iona also hosts 250+ on-demand films and TV programmes. If you really want to push the boat out, treat yourself to a suite with whirlpool bath, a coffee machine and butler service.

A conservatory mini-suite on Iona
A conservatory mini-suite on Iona
A conservatory mini-suite on Iona
A conservatory mini-suite on Iona

4. Enjoy unlimited luggage

With 35 nights away you might want to bring a lot of luggage. From ballgowns to bikinis, loungewear to your best suit, don’t worry, it’s all welcome onboard: bring as many bags as you can comfortably fit into your cabin for no charge (all we ask is that no item of individual luggage should weigh more than 23kg). Unlike with flights, there is no limit set on the amounts of liquid toiletries you can pack either, so bring all your favourite full-size smellies and lotions.

 

However much you manage to bring with you, your bags will all be taken care of as soon as you arrive at the terminal. Leave it with us while you focus on embarking, and you’ll be reunited with them at your cabin once you’re onboard. Ps – We also allow guests to bring one litre wine or champagne, per person, onto the ship with them.

 

At some point you’ll want to refresh your undies and favourite dresses and tees, so rest assured you’ll find a self-service launderette on board with washers, dryers and ironing stations available – detergent can be purchased on the ship or bring a stash with you.

 

You can also download our handy P&O Cruises packing list here.

The Retreat on Iona

5. A longer holiday = more rest and relaxation

The British winter can sometimes feel relentless, and once you’re past Christmas there isn’t much to look forward to – unless you’ve booked yourself on a lovely long cruise with us of course! A month and more in the sunny Caribbean will give you proper time to relax and recharge your batteries, whether that’s on the beach, exploring a Caribbean market or rainforest, or having fun and meeting new friends on board.

 

Set some holiday goals: read a novel a week, sharpen up your tennis game, try a new dish every night, climb a mountain, swim with turtles, get a tan. Or just go with the flow and see what happens. Sometimes a week away just won’t cut it. So skip a big chunk of British winter with 35 nights on board Iona or Ventura and come back with a sunniest of smiles. 

Feeling inspired?

 

Explore our 2026 Caribbean cruises from Southampton here!