0208 248 2355
Questions about your booking? Contact Us
Login
Arvia is all about luxury. Swim-up bars, infinity pools and the retractable SkyDome. Take some time out in The Retreat, a private deck where you can relax in style. If you're looking for excitement, Keel and Cow offers a gastropub experience out on the high seas, while The Club House becomes the party centre of the ship at night.
With a long journey down from Aberdeen to Southampton before embarking on our cruise, as always, we decided to travel the day before just in case of any unforeseen hiccups on the journey down. And as usual the journey down was smooth and uneventful giving us plenty of time to enjoy the delights of Southampton. Whilst enjoying a few drinks in the bar of the Leonardo Grand Hotel we received an email from P and O letting us know that Arvia would be delayed due to weather and to leave it an hour later than originally planned before proceeding to the terminal the next day. With an extra hour in bed promised it made the decision to have just one more drink easier. And that extra one made the next two seem like an even better idea. On arrival at the terminal on the day of departure we were told that we were looking at a delay of a couple of hours and we should head into town for a while after dropping off our luggage. Of course, it was slightly disappointing having to wait a little bit longer before the holiday started properly but these things happen and it has to be said the communication form the staff at the terminal was first rate. After an enjoyable walk around the city walls we returned to the terminal and joined the end of the queue for priority boarding. It did look quite daunting but the speed and efficiency of the boarding process saw us on board in no time at all. We’d previously sailed on the Ventura (twice), Azura (once) and Britannia. (once) and our first thought was just how big Arvia was. Boarding was via the lower atrium and our first impressions were all favourable. Having glass all round makes for a much airier feel than we had experienced on the other ships we had been on and makes total sense. You are on a cruise, you want to see as much of the sea as possible. We had booked one of the Conservatory Mini-Suite on Deck 9 for this cruise. For the sake of comparison, we had booked suites on Ventura and Azura and a standard balcony on Brittania. We both felt that our cabin on Arvia was the best we had stayed in. The bedroom area itself is the same as a standard balcony cabin but the separate conservatory room plus the very roomy balcony lifted it to what we felt was something special. With it being a transatlantic cruise, we were looking at a lot of sea days so we made the most of the spacious balcony to relax in during the crossing. The conservatory really is a brilliant extension of the balcony as the doors could be open fully to effectively join the two areas together. A perfect place to enjoy the sea views and sip some cold wine. There were a few unfortunate incidents during our cruise. Whilst crossing the Bay of Biscay we had to divert towards land so one of our fellow passengers could be airlifted to hospital. Worse was to come the next day when a crew member tragically lost their life following an accident which led to us making an unscheduled halt in La Coruna. An awful time for the ships crew which themeselves and the entertainers handled exceptionally well. Our stop in Tenerife was followed by another emergency, this time we were diverted to rendezvous with an oil rig under tow to evacuate a crew member who required medical attention, Arvia’s medical facilities and scheduled arrival at our next port meaning she was the best suited ship to assist. The seamanship displayed during the transfer of the unfortunate crew member from the rig to Arvia was exceptional, as was the communication received from the bridge throughout. It was then full speed ahead to the Caribbean, thankfully without further incident. I will leave it to others to review the various ports we visited and restrict this to the facilities onboard. We felt the menu in the main dining room was an improvement on our previous cruise. The option to pay a small supplement to ‘upgrade’ to the daily specials was, we thought, a good idea though we were happy enough with what was on the main menu. We heard others saying they thought portions were small but it wasn’t our experience. During the cruise we dined in Sindhu (excellent), The Epicurean, (dinner and afternoon tea, both superb), The Beach House (the lava rock steak has to be done) and Green and Co which was exceptionally good and quieter than the other premium dining rooms. However, the best meal we had onboard was, unexpectedly, in the Keel and Cow where we enjoyed possibly the best steaks we have had anywhere. Wonderful. We used the main dining room every morning for breakfast apart from one port day when we went to the buffet. When we did bother with lunch it was usually at The Quays where you could get some rather good Fish and Chips or Katsu Curry or the roast of the day. There were never any queues and portion sizes were sensible. On such a large ship there were plenty of entertainment options. We took in a couple of comedy magic shows in the theatre as well as one the ships own Headliners productions, all very enjoyable. The atrium was a particularly pleasant place to spend an hour or so with a very talented busker, Scott Bruce, singing in the Amber lounge and acrobats doing their stuff whilst suspended on ropes etc high above the atrium floor. The intimate 710 club had several musical performances every night, each night offering a different genre. It has a real speakeasy feel in there, a great place to enjoy the musicians close up whilst sipping on a cocktail. The Clubhouse was lively every night so getting a seat could be a challenge though we never failed to find somewhere to park ourselves. We had some really enjoyable later nights in there with a rotating cast of singers as the cruise progressed. The star attraction for us was the Caribbean styled band, Phoenix, who appeared in the clubhouse a couple of times but were usually consigned to the Skydome. Their Bob Marley tribute night was the best night’s entertainment we had all cruise and the first time I have seen multiple encores demanded on a cruise ship. As for the version of Pulse we had onboard, the musicians were first rate, the vocalists though highly personable, not so great. The look of horror on the lead guitarists face as he watched the female lead singer lie down on the floor to sing Nirvana’s Smells Like Teen Spirit will live with me for a long time. A little bit of his rock and roll spirit visibly died! There is a gym onboard though I can’t say whether it was good , bad or indifferent as we couldn’t see if from any of the bars. The casino was lively every night and the card tables and roulette wheels attracted a regular crowd. There is a three screen cinema onboard showing the latest releases. It proved very popular during sea days with queues forming up to an hour before films were due to start. A great way to spend a rainy afternoon though if you can get in. The escape room experience seemed to be well used, bookings filled up rapidly whenever it was open though we passed on that one. The crazy golf was good fun though the novelty of having it onboard a ship soon wore off. The go ape style climbing experience seemed to be closed, it may have been open during our time on board though we didn’t see it. The pools and sun decks were very busy once we hit the sunshine as you would expect. The ship’s crew were enforcing the no reserving sunbed rule as best they could. We saw several beds tagged and personal belongings bagged up and removed. We always managed to find somewhere, not always our first choice but given how many people were onboard we couldn’t complain. All in all, we had a fantastic time onboard Arvia. The ship certainly has a wow factor and the service from the crew was friendly and efficient. There was plenty to do onboard at all times of the day and despite the number of passengers it wasn’t hard to find a quiet corner to sit and relax as a couple. Our only complaint was that time went by too quickly. I guess it’s time to get the brochures out. It will be really hard to see past Arvia again for our next cruise.
Just returned from our trip Southampton to Barbados. We have cruised previously with Celebrity, RCI, Marella, Cunard and 2 previous cruises with P&O. Our experience on this trip was very good overall with main points as follows: Ship beautiful and well maintained by staff. Last two days of cruise with overnight in Barbados some passengers decided to treat ship with disrespect, leaving their towels and discarded food etc on floors around Skydome. Such a shame as this was not the case on previous days. Staff had a job trying to keep things tidy and in order. Entertainment was excellent. Food was subjective, some days very good, some days average but always hot and well cooked. Curry in Horizon buffet consistently good. Staff mainly very good and considering challenges they had on this voyage they did a great job. The ship was sailing at full capacity which surprised us. The majority of passengers were friendly and good company to be around. Small minority were not so good and were a challenge for crew to deal with. It did not impact us in any way and mostly we had no direct experience of this. We had an enjoyable cruise and would definitely sail on Arvia again. Thank you to the staff who did a great job whilst dealing with unforeseen sad circumstances on this voyage.
Accommodation is a crucial part of every holiday. From a simple space to lay your head, to something a little more luxurious – everyone has their own style. We've got a range of accommodation on our ships to suit all travellers.
A world of culinary delights
On Arvia, we cater to every craving. From family favourites to world-class cuisines inspired by your voyage, with so many restaurants included in the price like 6th Street Diner or The Chef's Table, you'll be spoilt for choice. There are also chic speciality restaurants for those who want that wow-factor dining experience.
Speciality restaurants - Indulge yourself in an extra-special culinary crusade - with exquisite menus and exceptional service - for a little extra.
Included restaurants - With so many delicious dining options already included in your holiday price, you'll be spoilt for choice at any time of the day.
Dazzling entertainment day and night
Experience world-class entertainment on Arvia. From big-name acts to dazzling acrobats, there's a show, performance or activity to suit everyone. Laugh, sing and dance under the retractable SkyDome, catch captivating performances in the Grand Atrium or enjoy live music and have a drink in the 710 club.
Your serene sanctuary at sea
Unwind and recharge in Arvia's serene spaces. Treat yourself to a luxurious pampering session at the Oasis Spa, or find peace under the open sky at The Retreat. With a hair and beauty salon for a fresh new look and plenty of quiet corners to relax with a book or a view, there's a haven of relaxation on board Arvia for everyone.
Adventurers of all ages set sail on Arvia, there's endless family fun with various activities for everyone. From daytime excitement to evening entertainment, enjoy splash zones, adventure parks, climbing walls, interactive games and dedicated kids' clubs. Families create memories that last a lifetime on Arvia.
Adventurers of all ages set sail on Arvia, there's endless family fun with various activities for everyone. From daytime excitement to evening entertainment, enjoy splash zones, adventure parks, climbing walls, interactive games and dedicated kids' clubs. Families create memories that last a lifetime on Arvia.
