Arvia’s beautiful blessing

It’s a long-standing maritime tradition for a new ship to be blessed with the belief it’ll bring good fortune to the vessel and all who sail on her. And today, our newest ship, Arvia, was officially welcomed to the port of Southampton during a special ceremony in which the city’s Bishop, the Rt Revd Debbie Sellin blessed the ship and her crew. The commemorative plaques were exchanged between Associated British Ports and P&O Cruises president Paul Ludlow and Captain Robert Camby. What a memorable moment!

Arvia has arrived!

We’re so excited that our brand-new ship is now in port in Southampton. Believe us, she looks incredible. Click below to find out the latest news about Arvia’s arrival.

Arvia's maneuver along the river Ems

Not long now! Take a look at Arvia's build progress here

Photographs provided by Christopher Ison

Watch Arvia's full build timelapse here

Arvia's on the move!

Watch this extra special milestone as Arvia floats out from the covered shipyard to the outside harbour.

Join Captain Camby as he visits the Arvia ship yard

It’s very exciting times for Arvia and P&O Cruises guests with only a few months until she sets sail on her first cruise holidays.

Raising the roof: SkyDome takes shape

Arvia’s magnificent retractable SkyDome roof is now in place. An 800-ton crane lifted the roof in four pieces (comprising two fixed and two movable parts). Each movable section is made up of 84 panes and each element weighs 23 tons. This unique roof will come into its own in the Caribbean sunshine. We can’t wait!

Powering ahead: Arvia’s azipods in position

Arvia’s mighty azipods are now in position, ready for the propeller blades to be installed. The azipods are being tested before the propeller blades (which have a diameter of approximately 5.8m) are assembled and mounted in August.

Painted lady: Arvia’s exterior update

We’re delighted to show you Arvia’s bow, now boasting our signature red, white and blue livery, and her name on the aft. Here, the Sunset Bar is also taking shape, with views up towards the aft Suites.

Inside story: Arvia’s interior takes shape

Enjoy a sneak peek of the base of Arvia’s Grand Atrium staircase, her SkyDome (with whirlpools, pool and stage areas) and the tear-shaped infinity pool and swim-up bar. In Anderson’s Bar, the still room with its glass wall is well underway.

Watch The Making of Mission Control!

‘We wanted to create something brand new and we believe this is the first of its kind in the world,’ says Phil Yeomans, Director of Entertainment, P&O Cruises. ‘We took the escape room and a simulator, and mashed the two together to create a fantastic submarine experience. Boarding Arvia II is like being in the biggest blockbuster movie out there.’

New and exclusive to Arvia, Mission Control is a unique immersive experience that combines an escape game with multimedia simulation and an intense live-action story to create a thrilling underwater odyssey. With two one-hour adventures to choose from, can you crack the code and save the day?

Take a look at the brand new build time-lapse for Arvia!

Spotlight on Arvia’s Grand Atrium

In May 2022, P&O Cruises gave a glimpse into Arvia’s Grand Atrium. Like her sister ship Iona, Arvia’s Grand Atrium offers guests incredible dining and entertainment set against a backdrop of spectacular widescreen ocean views. With warm tones, natural materials and custom-made elements, including a stunning installation of metal ribbons lining the great staircase, the dramatic space is the epitome of elegance.

The Tidal Rum – Exclusive to Arvia

Celebrating a build milestone

A key stage in the construction of Britain’s newest and most innovative cruise ship was marked at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg in February 2022. The team building P&O Cruises 184,000 tonnes ship Arvia, celebrated the milestone with the traditional coin-laying ceremony. This event is a long-held ship-building tradition which is to bring good luck to the ship and its crew through construction to the future at sea. Specially selected Barbados coins were placed under the block before the block was then lowered onto the coins.

Meet Shivi – our newest P&O Cruises Local Food Hero

In November 2021, P&O Cruises was delighted to welcome Shivi Ramoutar to their line-up of Local Food Heroes. Shivi is passionate about bringing the bold flavours, colourful ingredients and joyful style of Caribbean food to new audiences, while adding personal touches that reflect her own journey.

Arvia's taking shape

On Sunday 24 October 2021, the mega-block float out took place, signalling a key development in our new ship’s build. The mega-block consists of approximately 30 individual blocks united in one mighty structure that weighs 15,000 tons, and measures 140m long (nearly six tennis courts laid end to end) and 42m wide (nearly the height of Nelson’s Column in London). Arvia has now entered a new phase during which the mega-block elements have been fitted out and cabins installed. The mega-block will move back into the hall at the beginning of 2022, where it will be joined with the bow section that is currently under construction in the hall.

We’re delighted to bring you an update on her build

Construction of Arvia is well underway at Meyer Werft shipyard in Warnemunde, Germany. And four little letters have got us very excited. The FERU (floating engine room unit) has been safely installed in the shed at Meyer Werft. This vital section of the ship houses all the main engines and is a wonder of maritime engineering.

Arvia's steel-cutting ceremony

An exciting milestone in the future of British cruising has been marked as construction begins for our next Excel class ship. The first piece of steel has been cut during a virtual ceremony at Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, Germany.

Book your next cruise onboard Arvia