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Whether sailing from our home port of Southampton, or hopping on a fly-cruise; famous landmarks, hidden gems, unique cultures and some of the best experiences on land and sea are all yours. Let us take you through some of the highlights of cruise holidays…

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Snorkelling in Virgin Gorda in the Caribbean

To help you get to the heart of each destination, we offer a huge range of shore experiences, ideal for first time cruisers. Working with local experts, we look past the typical tourist trail to find the unique, authentic and unmissable things to do.

Discover every destination, your way. Whether you want to fill your days with adventure or relaxation, the choice is all yours. If going ashore independently, please note you must adhere to the specific COVID-19 protocols in each destination.

Woman sat on stone seating looking at view

You'll have local recommendations at your fingertips thanks to our new digital port guides (sent by email before your holiday). They're packed full of information and tips for all of the destinations on your itinerary – saving you time researching before you go!

With over 780 cruise holidays to choose from, we’ve an itinerary to suit everyone. And with 70 countries to explore, you’ll find colours, cuisine and culture you’ve only ever dreamed of… till now.

Did you know we travel to over 70 countries?

Image of P&O Cruises ship Arvia Arial view

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Every day on board a cruise ship, you have a wide choice of activities. Our ships are all fully equipped with a spa, gym, swimming pools, children's clubs, restaurants and bars. And with film screenings, pub quizzes, cookery demonstrations and much more, you’ll be spoilt for choice. Will you play a game of Minigolf or brave the dizzying heights of our first ever high ropes experience on Arvia?

Enjoy the comfort of a luxury hotel, complete with all the trimmings. From a quiet space to lay your head, to something a little more indulgent, everyone has their own style. We've got a range of accommodation to suit all travellers.

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A variety of restaurants serving extraordinary food are included in the price of your holiday. From five-course feasts to casual options, there's something to tickle all taste buds. You'll find modern British dishes, flavours inspired by the destinations on your itinerary, as well as plenty of options for any dietary requirements.

Silhouette from an airplane, photo taken during sunrise.; Shutterstock ID 281338112; project: Marketing; job: Content Marketing; client: PO Cruises; other: 

If you’re a first time cruiser, you might be wondering if you should sail to your destination from Southampton or fly out to meet your ship. There’s no right or wrong answer here and a lot will depend on your personal preference, but to help you make up your mind we’ve put together the top three reasons for choosing each one.

Should I book a fly-cruise or sail from Southampton?

Couple looking at the views in the Norwegian Fjords

With so many variables when it comes to itineraries and ships, it can all be a bit overwhelming when picking your first cruise holiday. Sailing around the sun-soaked Caribbean or sightseeing on a city break? Not sure where to start? To help find the right cruise for you, we’ve listed the main factors to consider.

How do you pick a cruise for the first time?

We’ve gone to the experts (our past guests!) to find out their top advice for anyone who’s yet to try a cruise holiday. We’ve rounded up the top three tips we think will come in handy for your first ever cruise.

Aerial view of the harbour, beach and lighthouse in Hope Town on Elbow Cay off the island of Abaco, Bahamas.; Shutterstock ID 791782681; project: olly; job: ; client: pocruises; other: 

On a cruise holiday, you can see more bucket list destinations than you’d have thought possible. Wake up somewhere new nearly every day and explore several destinations at your own leisure and pace – not just one. Plus, best of all, we take care of the travel for you. Instead of lugging your cases from A to B via buses, trains and planes, we bring the destinations to you. Most of the travel happens while you sleep so you can wake rested and ready to explore.

With us, you’ll get full days in almost all destinations, meaning you’ve plenty of time to explore. And if you want to really maximise your time, we’ve a huge range of handpicked shore experiences to choose from. You’ll also find a lot of our holidays include evenings and overnight stays, giving you the chance to soak up the local nightlife or, in some cases, enjoy two full days in a destination.

View outside a cabin window of houses and buildings up a hill

Some of the world’s best destinations must be explored by sea. Sailing through the Norwegian fjords, exploring the islands of the Caribbean, cruising into Sydney Harbour, under the Golden Gate Bridge, along the Panama Canal – these experiences just can’t be rivalled. Not to mention the uninterrupted ocean views and endless sunsets and sunrises you’ll find out at sea…

Couple sat on sunbed looking at mountains on Norwegian fjords cruise 

The best thing about a cruise holiday is the double exploration: not only the destinations but also the decks of your ship. The second you step on board, your holiday begins. You can sink into a spa treatment, sip cocktails by the pool, take a seat in the theatre, dine in delicious restaurants and more, all en route to your first destination. We make travel effortless so that you can wake rested and raring to go.

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Why choose a cruise holiday?

Offering so much more than a traditional land-based holiday in so many ways

Discover more destinations

Full days, evenings and overnight stays

You can’t beat travelling by sea

Travel in style

We know the world better than anyone, and we want to show you the best bits

Did you know we travel to over 70 countries?

What can I do on the ship?

More on-board activities than ever

Chic accommodation

Mouthwatering menus

With so much variety on a P&O Cruises holiday, you can make each day your own

What can I do on shore?

Shore experiences

Explore independently

Our digital port guides

Latest articles for first time cruisers

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