P&O cruise ships come in three broad types: two very large, modern ships (Arvia and Iona), three mid-to-large family ships (Britannia, Azura and Ventura), and two smaller ships aimed mainly at adults (Arcadia and Aurora). For the most facilities, choose Arvia or Iona; for a calmer, more traditional feel, look at Arcadia or Aurora. The fleet is also about to change, with Arcadia leaving and Cunard’s Queen Anne joining in 2029.
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P&O cruise ships by size and age
P&O Cruises currently sails seven ships. The table lists them from largest to smallest, which also happens to be close to newest to oldest. Passenger numbers are standard capacity, and tonnage is rounded because published figures vary slightly.
| Ship | Gross tons | Guests | Entered service | Age in 2026 | Who can sail |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arvia | 185,600 | 5,200 | 2022 | 4 | All ages |
| Iona | 184,700 | 5,200 | 2021 | 5 | All ages |
| Britannia | 143,000 | 3,647 | 2015 | 11 | All ages |
| Ventura | 116,000 | 3,078 | 2008 | 18 | All ages |
| Azura | 115,000 | 3,100 | 2010 | 16 | All ages |
| Arcadia | 83,800 | 2,094 | 2005 | 21 | Mainly adults-only |
| Aurora | 76,200 | 1,874 | 2000 | 26 | Mainly adults-only |
Age matters less than you might expect, because refits keep the older ships current. Arcadia was refurbished in 2024 and Azura in 2025. Britannia has also had a recent refit, with new colour schemes, a larger Market Café and a redesigned Sunset Bar. Aurora has a 16-night dry dock scheduled for May 2028.
The best P&O cruise ship for you
Choosing the best P&O cruise ship is mostly a question of how much bustle you enjoy and who you are travelling with.
| If you want | Look at | Why |
|---|---|---|
| The widest choice of food and entertainment | Arvia or Iona | The largest, newest ships, with a covered SkyDome pool area |
| A first cruise with a modern feel | Iona or Britannia | Plenty to do, and regular sailings close to home |
| A family holiday at a lower price | Azura or Ventura | Kids’ clubs and space, usually without new-ship pricing |
| A balance of size and atmosphere | Britannia | Big enough for variety, smaller than the two giants |
| A quieter, child-free cruise | Arcadia or Aurora | Smaller ships and many adults-only departures |
| A long voyage or world cruise | Arcadia or Aurora | These ships run the longest and most unusual itineraries |
Arvia and Iona: the big, modern pair
These near-identical sisters each carry 5,200 guests and run on liquefied natural gas. Both have the SkyDome, a glass-roofed pool and entertainment space that makes them practical for cooler northern routes. Iona has an on-board gin distillery, and Arvia has the Altitude Skywalk high above the top deck. The trade-off is scale: expect more people, and more planning around popular venues.
Britannia: the middle ground
Britannia carries about 3,650 guests and has a similar range of speciality restaurants to the bigger ships. She is also home to P&O’s Cookery Club. She is scheduled to be based in Southampton all year from 2027, for the first time since her 2015 launch, which makes her a useful option if you want to avoid flying in winter.
Azura and Ventura: dependable family ships
Azura and Ventura are near-twins of around 115,000 tons and just over 3,000 guests. Both are family-focused, with kids’ clubs that divide children by age. They are large enough to keep everyone busy but noticeably easier to navigate than Arvia or Iona. Ventura also has a small number of solo cabins, which are worth searching for if you travel alone, as they tend to be limited.
Deployment can settle the choice. Ventura has a seven-night Scandinavia cruise planned from Southampton after New Year’s Eve 2027, while Azura runs selected Canary Islands fly-cruises.
P&O cruise ships for adults: Arcadia and Aurora
Arcadia and Aurora have long been P&O’s adults-only ships, and this is the detail most fleet guides have not caught up with. Since late 2025, P&O has been selling selected family departures on both, and families can sail on them from December 2026. Up to September 2027 there are 12 family sailings on Aurora and eight on Arcadia, concentrated around school holidays, including Christmas and summer.
Both ships keep a substantial adults-only programme, but you can no longer assume a sailing is child-free just because of the ship’s name. Check the departure itself before paying a deposit. If a child-free cruise is the reason you are booking, avoid Christmas, Easter and the summer holidays without confirming first.
The ships have different characters. Aurora is the smallest and oldest in the fleet, with a classic, traditional feel and a following among long-voyage fans; a 75-night South America Grand Tour is planned for 2028. Arcadia is known for its art collection of around 3,000 works and glass-fronted lifts, and has a 124-night world cruise in 2028.
Which ships have family facilities?
On the family departures, Arcadia and Aurora offer children’s menus, bottle warming and baby-changing, along with activities for all ages. Neither was built as a family ship, so families wanting full kids’ clubs and splash areas will generally be better served by the five all-ages ships.
Dining on P&O cruise ships
Main restaurants, the buffet and casual poolside food are included in your fare on every ship. Most ships offer two styles in the main dining rooms: Club Dining, with a set time and table, and Freedom Dining, where you turn up when you like. Britannia, for example, has the Oriental restaurant for Club Dining and the Meridian and Peninsular for Freedom Dining. Check which your ship offers before you book, as this affects the evening routine more than people expect.
Extra-charge restaurants vary by ship. Prices change, so treat these as a guide:
- Sindhu (modern Indian): £25 per person, following a 2026 menu refresh, and listed by P&O across the fleet.
- Epicurean (fine dining): about £40 per person on Iona in early 2026. It is on Arvia, Iona, Britannia, Azura and Ventura.
- The Glass House (wine bar with small plates): on most of the fleet, including Aurora, priced by the dish.
- The Beach House (relaxed, casual dining): about £11.50 per person on Iona in early 2026, and available on selected ships.
- The Limelight Club (dinner with live acts, adults only): typically £30 to £45 per person, depending on the performer.
- Keel & Cow and The Olive Grove: casual options on Arvia and Iona. The Olive Grove has no cover charge, though some dishes cost extra.
If food is a priority, Arvia, Iona and Britannia give you the most variety. The smaller ships have fewer venues, so check the current deck plan on the P&O Cruises ships page if a particular restaurant matters to you.
Where the ships sail
Most P&O cruises leave from Southampton, but winter deployment changes the picture. From October 2027 to April 2028, Iona joins Arvia in the Caribbean on 14-night fly-cruises from Barbados, Antigua and St Kitts. If you want one of the two biggest ships without a flight that winter, you will need to pick a different ship or season. If you are comparing fares for next year, our guide to cruise deals for 2027 is a useful starting point.
Weighing P&O against a smaller British line? See how it measures up in our P&O Cruises and Ambassador comparison.
How the P&O fleet will change in 2029
In October 2026, Carnival Corporation confirmed a three-way fleet reshuffle. Arcadia’s last P&O season ends on 21 August 2029, after which she moves to Holland America Line. Queen Anne, launched for Cunard in 2024, will leave after her 2028/29 World Voyage, have an extensive refit, take a new name and join P&O in May 2029. Our report on the Carnival fleet shuffle has more on the move.
A few things are still unknown. P&O has described the incoming ship as a new class for the fleet, with a different scale and onboard style, but it has not announced her new name or said whether she will be adults-only. At about 113,000 tons and around 3,000 guests, she would sit close to Azura and Ventura in size. If she is not adult-focused, Aurora would become P&O’s only mainly adults ship once Arcadia leaves.
On the announced dates, the fleet would briefly reach eight ships between May and August 2029, then return to seven. We found no announcement of Aurora leaving, and she has a dry dock booked for 2028. If you are holding an Arcadia booking in or after summer 2029, ask P&O or your agent what applies, as details of the farewell season are still to come.
FAQs
How many P&O cruise ships are there?
P&O Cruises has seven ships as of November 2026: Arvia, Iona, Britannia, Azura, Ventura, Arcadia and Aurora. Cunard’s Queen Anne is due to join in May 2029, and Arcadia is due to leave that August.
Which is the best P&O ship?
There is no single best ship. Iona and Arvia suit people who want the newest ships and the most choice, Britannia is a strong middle ground, Azura and Ventura suit families on a budget, and Arcadia and Aurora suit adults who prefer a smaller ship.
Are any P&O ships adults-only?
Arcadia and Aurora are P&O’s adult-focused ships, but they are no longer adults-only all year. Selected family sailings run from December 2026, so check the individual departure before you book.
What is the biggest P&O cruise ship?
Arvia is the largest by a small margin at about 185,600 gross tons. Her sister ship Iona is about 184,700 tons, and both carry around 5,200 guests.
Does P&O Cruises still exist?
Yes. P&O Cruises is a UK cruise line owned by Carnival Corporation, with most sailings leaving from Southampton. It is separate from P&O Ferries.