arvia new cruise ship

• CruiseMapper

Arvia deck plans

Deck layouts, review of facilities, activities, amenities.

Arvia deck plan review at CruiseMapper provides newest cruise deck plans (2024-2025-2026 valid floor layouts of the vessel) extracted from the officially issued by P&O UK (P&O Cruises) deckplan pdf (printable version).

Each of the Arvia cruise ship deck plans are conveniently combined with a legend (showing cabin codes) and detailed review of all the deck's venues and passenger-accessible indoor and outdoor areas. A separate link provides an extensive information on Arvia staterooms (cabins and suites), including photos, cabin plans and amenities by room type and category.

MS Arvia (2022-built) is P&O UK fleet 's newest and largest cruise ship (second unit from Carnival Corporation 's Excellence-class), with sistership P&O Iona (2021).

P&O Arvia cruise ship deck plan shows 18 decks (16 passenger-accessible, 11 with cabins), a total of 2610 staterooms for 5204 passengers (max capacity is 6264) served by 1762 staff-crew. The boat has 20 dining venues (12 restaurants plus 8 food bars, including 10 breakfast-serving, 8 coffee-serving, 5 Afternoon Tea-serving, 9 specialty restaurants, 4 MDRs/dining rooms), 12 bars and lounges, shopping space 1300 m2 (14000 ft2), 4 swimming pools (1 indoor, 3 outdoor/2 Infinity), 18x outdoor Jacuzzis (whirlpool hot tubs/6x Infinity Whirlpools), SkyDome (retractable glass-roof covering the Pool Deck), 13 entertainment venues (including adults-only), kids-dedicated zones (indoor-outdoor facilities), 22 elevators (passenger lifts located forward-midship-aft).

The boat has 8 laundrettes (self-service laundry rooms for passengers) located midship on decks 4-5-9-10-11-12-14-15.

The liner's design was developed in collaboration with renowned maritime companies and interior design firms, including Meyer Werft (German shipbuilder), Jestico+Whiles ( London -based hospitality design studio), Richmond International (London-based hotel architecture), Partner Ship Design ( Hamburg -based maritime architecture specialist with several Carnival Corporation projects - including AIDA, Costa, P&O, Carnival).

Deck layouts

Deck 03 - hospital, deck 04 - cabins, deck 05 - cabins-spa, deck 06 - gala-dining, deck 07 - parade-lobby-shops-casino, deck 08 - cabins-promenade-escape room, deck 09 - cabins, deck 10 - cabins, deck 11 - cabins, deck 12 - cabins, deck 14 - cabins, deck 15 - cabins, deck 16 - cabins-skydome-lido-pools-bridge, deck 17 - cabins-sundeck-kids-teens, deck 18 - panorama-pools-beachcomber-retreat, deck 19 - sports-golf.

Arvia deck plans are property of P&O UK (P&O Cruises) . All deck layouts are for informational purposes only and CruiseMapper is not responsible for their accuracy.

The Cruise Blogger | Cruise Blog

Unpacking the myths about cruise holidays. Tried and tested cruising advice from a thirty-something former officer's wife.

Your guide to the newest P&O Cruises ship Arvia, including Caribbean sailings

On 22nd February, the first piece of steel was cut for the newest addition to the P&O Cruises fleet – Arvia. The 184,700-tonne sister to ship to Iona, is being built in Papenburg, Germany. She is due to join the fleet in December 2022, and will be the cruise line’s second LNG powered Excel class ship.

The name Arvia means ‘from the seashore.’ P&O Cruises president Paul Ludlow said: “Arvia will join Iona as an innovative and future-focused ship offering an outstanding, varied and contemporary holiday. Arvia has been designed to travel to the sun year-round and to maximise views of the ocean and the seashore from everywhere on board, so it seemed a very fitting name and one which will reflect the experience for guests on board. 

“The seashore is known for its relaxing properties and tranquillity and a holiday on Arvia will, indeed, celebrate this and have relaxation at its heart. The rejuvenating and restorative qualities of a walk on the beach and invigorating sea air will be reflected in the experiences both on board and on shore as well as the vast space on board which has enabled us to include a number of new and extraordinary features.”

Itineraries

Arvia will offer a Caribbean maiden season of fly/cruise holidays from home port Barbados and Antigua from January to March 2023.  The new Caribbean itineraries will also feature La Romana in the Dominican Republic – a maiden port of call for P&O Cruises; Curaçao; Martinique; St Kitts; St Lucia and St Maarten. 

Arvia’s seven and 14-night fly/cruises from the UK also all include an overnight call in Barbados. 22-night holidays departing from or returning to Southampton with UK flights are also available.  

Paul Ludlow said: “Arvia holidays, alongside the rest of our winter 2022 season, will be on sale very shortly. We cannot wait to bring our newest ship to our glorious home port of Barbados and also to Antigua, which will be a first-time turnaround port for P&O Cruises.  

“The Caribbean is the optimal maiden season destination for Arvia; a ship where every facet, including unique retractable roof SkyDome and Altitude Skywalk high ropes, is designed to provide exceptional views of the ocean, seashore and surrounding destinations. 

“From the very initial concept Arvia has been created to be the epitome of a sunshine resort, developed to be an ideal way to enjoy the Caribbean’s turquoise waters and white sandy beaches like never before.” 

Arvia’s attractions

P&O Cruises released series of images describing Arvia as the “epitome of a sunshine resort.”

Designed to appeal to all ages, guests will be able to choose two different adventurous Altitude Skywalk high rope courses while 54m above the ocean. Altitude Minigolf comprising of nine mini golf challenges, another P&O Cruises first, will be located below Altitude Skywalk. 

A swim-up bar and stunning infinity pool with uninterrupted views of the ship’s wake will also be part of the on deck experience. 

SkyDome is a relaxed pool environment by day with dining and entertainment by night, including stunning aerial performances, theatre productions and blockbuster movies al fresco on SeaScreen. This area will feature the cruise line’s first-ever retractable SkyDome roof.

Arvia Dining

As well as these contemporary entertainment experiences Arvia will feature twelve restaurants joined by eight more casual places to eat. 

Green & Co featuring Mizuhana, with a plant and fish-led menu, served in chic and elegant surroundings, has been especially developed for Arvia.  Mizuhana sushi bar will be within Green & Co, where guests can watch expert chefs at work while taking in sea views. Expert food-pairing advice and vibrant cocktails complete the experience.    

Also on board is 6 th  Street Diner, informal by day with a sophisticated night-time vibe, featuring retro seating, atmospheric lighting and juke box and serving all-American flavours including speciality fried chicken and waffles with bourbon mascarpone. P&O Cruises distinctive signature restaurants Epicurean, Sindhu, The Glass House, The Keel & Cow and The Olive Grove, already across the fleet, will feature on Arvia. 

Arvia Accommodation

It looks like the accommodation on board Arvia will be similar to Iona’s, with conservatory style suites and modern, stylish furnishings. You can find a selection of stateroom images below.

Paul Ludlow, said: “Arvia is the latest evolution in the P&O Cruises experience, embodying the newest trends in travel, dining and entertainment, and will be the epitome of a sunshine resort sailing year-round to the warmest climates. 

“New restaurant Green & Co featuring Mizuhana will have a plant-led menu reflecting the latest trends in vegan, vegetarian and flexitarian dining while Altitude Skywalk and SeaScreen will entertain all ages.” 

The ship, 345m in length, with 16 guest decks will also be home to Ocean Studios cinema, 1,300sqm of shopping and the Oasis Spa and Health Club. 

The Oasis Spa boasts new treatments exclusive to Arvia – two couples suites each with a hammam and steam room, a therapeutic cool room, a restorative salt sauna and an invigorating Kneipp Walk which combines a pebble foot massage with hot and cold water treatments to stimulate circulation and boost vitality.  

Similar to sister ship Iona, Arvia will be powered by liquefied natural gas as part of P&O Cruises ongoing commitment to sustainable travel. Building of the ship is already underway at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Germany. 

More information can be found on the P&O Cruises website.

One comment

Well I am on the maiden Christmas Southampton to Canaries, what an absolutely appalling mess, Christmas ruined for 1000’s quite literally, summed up with Captain’s thought for the day over the tannoy on Boxing Day, in a derogatory tone “before you criticise anyone you should try walking a mile in their shoes” he did apologise on tannoy the following day, too little too late, I have a huge list of issues, stand up and be counted and make it right!!!!!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

By using this form you agree with the storage and handling of your data by this website. *

Privacy Overview

P&O Arvia Cruise Ship Review – Should you book?

Arvia is P&O Cruises’ newest ship and we recently took a 14-night Mediterranean cruise to find out what this cruise ship has to offer. This P&O Arvia cruise ship review will talk you through the best and worst of Arvia so continue reading to find out what we really thought.

If you are considering a cruise on P&O Arvia, we hope this will help you decide if this ship is right for you.

Where is P&O Arvia today?

Arvia is known as the ‘sunshine ship’ so cruises in the Caribbean during the winter and the Mediterranean during the summer.

In the Caribbean, it’s embarkation ports are Barbados and Antigua. For Mediterranean cruise, Arvia sails from Southampton.

P&O Arvia is currently here .

Is Arvia the biggest cruise ship?

P&O Arvia is the largest ship ever commissioned for the British cruise market and although she’s a sister ship to Iona, Arvia is heavier by 611 gross tonnes. This Excel Class ship has many other sisters within the Carnival Corporation such as Carnival Celebration , Costa Smerelda and AIDANova.

P&O Arvia can accommodate 5,200 passengers and up to 6,264 if all 3rd and 4th berths are occupied. You may be concerned (like we were) that this cruise ship is just too big with too many people onboard but surprisingly, Arvia was able to cope really well with the amount of passengers .

The current cruise price for P&O Arvia is very reasonable for a brand new ship and therefore, it’s likely that cruises on Arvia are going to be fairly full for the foreseeable future.

Listen to my review of Arvia on the Magically Cruising Cruise Podcast

P&O Arvia Cabins

P&O Arvia offers a wide range of different cabins to suit all preferences and price points. You can choose from an inside cabin right up to a huge suite.

The main types of cabins on P&O Arvia are:

• Conservatory Mini-suite

The most popular type of cabin on Arvia is a balcony cabin but it’s worth knowing that not all balcony cabins are the same. Location is key when deciding on a cabin and some are best avoided if you value your privacy!

The forward-facing balconies on Deck 8 offer no privacy and no view, which kind of defeats the object of paying for a balcony.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Cruise Lifestyle (@cruiselifestyleblog)

With that said, there are plenty of good cabins to choose from on Arvia so it’s worth doing some research on where you’d like to be situated before booking.

If you’re interested in treating yourself to a suite on P&O Arvia , there are some beautiful ones in great locations.

Take a look at one of the best suites on Arvia that Cruise With Amber enjoyed on the inaugural cruise.

P&O Arvia Inside Cabin Review

We booked an inside cabin on the Saver Rate, which didn’t allow us to choose our inside cabin location.

Overall, we found the cabin to be small but manageable for two people sharing. It had everything we needed.

We were apprehensive about how much storage space this cabin type would have but we managed to find somewhere to put everything – and we’re not light packers!

The plug sockets on P&O Arvia include UK, European and USB sockets, which is really useful. I created this handy guide to plug sockets on P&O Cruises to help with your next cruise.

Deck 4 is a really good location for getting on and off the ship in port, plus there’s very little movement, even in rough seas. Our cabin (4655) was in a unique location, which posed a bit of different a problem. Watch our cabin tour and review of an inside cabin on Deck 4 to find out what the issue was.

Dining on Arvia

P&O Cruises has stepped up its options in the dining department on Arvia, with a good selection of complimentary and specialty restaurants.

There are four restaurants that are categorised as main dining rooms:

• Zenith (Deck 7)
• Meridian (Deck 6)
• The Olive Grove (Deck 6)
• 6th Street Diner (Deck 6) – see the menu and our review

Across the ship there are 8 food venues that are included in your cruise fare and you can eat in all of these places with no extra charge. In addition to the main dining rooms mentioned above, you also have the choice of:

Horizon Buffet

• The Chef’s Table (available on celebration nights only)

We ate in all complimentary dining venues during our cruise and really enjoyed the variety that they offered.

Read my guide to complimentary dining on P&O Arvia

Zenith and meridian dining rooms.

Both of these dining rooms are almost identical in terms of decor and table arrangements. Zenith benefits from windows on either side and overlooks the Meridian restaurant, whereas Meridian has huge windows looking out over the wake.

The menu is the same in both restaurants so it doesn’t really matter which you choose to dine in. The menu changes daily but you will always find steak, a vegetarian option, a curry option, ice cream and a cheese board.

The food is good in the Meridian and Zenith for dinner, with recommendations from the chef and for wines.

The menus features gluten free, vegan and vegetarians options for each course.

Portion sizes were more than adequate for us and the service was friendly and attentive. During peak times it was a little slower but we were never in any rush to hurry through our dinner.

Here’s what we ate for dinner on one evening in the Zenith Restaurant.

It’s certainly worth dining in the Meridian or Zenith on at least one of the celebration nights to enjoy an elevated menu. The Baked Blueberry Souffle is particularly worth ordering.

Breakfast in the Meridian and Zenith is not to be missed because it’s a much calmer start to the day than the Horizon Buffet. This cruise was the most we’ve ever eaten breakfast in the main dining room.

There are healthy options as well as the traditional ‘Full English’ so everyone is catered for.

The Olive Grove

The Olive Grove is very popular on Iona and it’s worth dining here at least once during a cruise on Arvia. The menu is inspired by Mediterranean cuisine , which is particularly apt for a Mediterranean cruise.

Service is fairly quick in this restaurant so it’s a good option if you have plans to watch a show. This restaurant is only open for dinner and reservations are recommended.

We were particularly impressed with the quality of the dishes , given that this was included in the cruise fare. There were choices of Italian, Spanish, Greek, Portugese, Sardinian and Turkish dishes on the menu. There are two menus that alternate every few days so if you have the time, we’d advise returning so you can try both.

Here’s what we ate for dinner in the Olive Grove.

6th Street Diner on P&O Arvia

This American-style diner is exclusive to P&O Arvia and is open for brunch and dinner. It’s a perfect option if you’re looking for casual dining with table service.

The brunch menu serves breakfast and lunch options from 10.00am, so is worth remembering if you choose to sleep in on a sea day.

There’s certainly a fun element to this restaurant with the crew dressed accordingly and 50s rock and roll music playing on the jukebox.

Read my full review of brunch and dinner at the 6th Street Diner .

Situated on Deck 8, The Quays offers quick, hot food options with a choice of three stations:

• Hook, Line and Vinegar – Fish and chips
• Asian Fusion – Asian dishes with noodles and rice
• Roast Carvery – roast dinners and Yorkshire pudding wraps

The Quays is a really quick and easy place to get something to eat at pretty much any time of the day. There’s plenty of table seating inside but we also enjoyed taking our food to the outside dining area on port side.

We ate at all three stations during our cruise but our particular favourites were the Katsu Curry from Asian Fusion and the Fish and Chips from Hook, Line and Vinegar. We had these more than once because they were so tasty.

We’re not huge fans of eating roast dinner on holiday but this was also a popular choice with passengers. In our opinion, the Yorkshire pudding wraps sounded better than they were.

You can head to The Quays for breakfast as the stations serve breakfast items from 6.30am to 10.00am.

• Hook, Line and Vinegar serves pancakes and waffles
• Asian Fusion becomes an egg station with omlettes
• Roast Carvery serves cooked breakfast items

We had breakfast in The Quays once during our cruise. The pancakes with bacon we had were very tasty and is a much quicker option than the 6th Street Diner if that’s what you are planning to order. It’s worth noting that the hot breakfast at the Roast Carvery was very popular and so you must be prepared to queue.

In the SkyDome is a pool-side grill option serving pizza, burgers, hotdogs and salads. The menu changes slightly each day to rotate through different variations of these items.

Don’t be put off by a queue, it moves fairly steadily because the food is being made constantly so you can grab what you want without having to place an order. We thought this was a very clever system to keep the waiting time to a minimum.

Chef’s Table

To cope with the inevitable demand for formal dining on celebration nights, P&O Cruises has introduced the Chef’s Table. We dined here on the first Celebration Night of our cruise.

The four-course menu is chosen by Marco Pierre White with wine pairings from Olly Smith but we felt it definitely deserved to be served in a better setting than the Horizon Buffet.

The menu caters for most passengers with vegetarian and gluten-free options and some vegan-friendly choices.

Here are two of the dishes we enjoyed the most from the Chef’s Table.

The buffet on P&O Arvia is on Deck 16 and is fairly substantial in size. There’s food available almost all day for you to grab a snack or dine in a casual setting.

Even though the buffet is large, there are still times during the day that are particularly busy: breakfast and late at night.

The choice for breakfast is extremely good and has an assortment of hot and cold options from cereals and pastries to a cooked breakfast items. Breakfast is also when you can get complimentary fruit juices from the drinks machines, which is a nice little extra.

It did surprise us how busy the ‘midnight buffet’ was on our cruise . We did go a couple of nights for a little snack when we’d had a lighter dinner and it was queued with people filling their plates with noodles and all sorts! We’d heard the hot chocolate was worth trying, but for us, it didn’t live up to the hype.

Overall, we were very impressed with the range of complimentary dining options on Arvia . There are formal and casual venues with table service as well as places you can grab a meal or snack without any fuss.

P&O Arvia Dining and the Virtual Queue

You can make reservations for all of the main dining rooms two weeks before your cruise on your P&O Cruises online account if you’re happy to eat early (5.00pm – 6.30pm). We would recommend doing this on days you really want to eat in a particular venue e.g. Meridian on Celebration Night.

After 6.30pm, the four main dining rooms require you to join a virtual queue on the My Holiday webpage but we found that going to the restaurant and collecting a buzzer was much quicker .

Don’t worry if you don’t book your dining in advance, there is always somewhere to eat on Arvia!

Entertainment on P&O Arvia

There’s a vast choice of entertainment on Arvia, which I’ve summarised in the table below. Each entertainment venue offers something slightly different so there’s lots to choose from.

The only entertainment you need to pay extra for is the dinner and show in the Limelight Club but after that has finished, it’s open for anyone to enjoy the live music that starts at 10.30pm.

To find out more about the Limelight Club, read our useful guide .

Booking some of the entertainment takes the spontaneity out of your evenings but we can understand the need to do this, given the amount of passengers onboard.

The first week of entertainment can be booked 15 days before your cruise and the second week’s entertainment from a couple of days before the cruise and during the cruise.

Entertainment in the Grand Atrium and Amber Lounge

In the Grand Atrium there are nightly performances from aerial performers, which are very impressive. Each night is slightly different and it’s certainly worth catching some of these performances during a cruise.

The fact that the performers are doing it all without safety lines is even more impressive.

The nearby Amber Lounge has a mix of entertainment and activities during the day and night. On our cruise, there were lessons in playing the castanets and talks about Spain as well as Spanish music.

Brodie’s Entertainment

Brodie’s is the British pub onboard Arvia and it did remind me a little of a Weatherspoons! This where the avid quizzers will be found because there are so many quizzes held in this venue.

Brodie’s has a dart board and pool table in one corners and small stage in another, where live music is performed.

This is also the place onboard to watch football and sports on the various TV screens dotted around the venue.

We did stop by here on a couple of sea days to take part in a quiz but the evening quizzes were extremely popular and so it was probably the only venue on the entire ship we failed to find a spare seat.

The 710 Club is located near the Grand Atrium and is a small venue that opens nightly. There are three sessions each evening, with live musicians taking on a different theme each night, e.g. 90s, songwriters, American vinyl.

Gary Barlow has has direct input into creating this venue by choosing music for the club, guiding future performers and playlists and even shaping the interiors and signature cocktails.

If you enjoy listening to live music, this is a perfect venue but does require a booking in advance on My Holiday. We didn’t manage to secure a booking but we did hover outside the 710 Club about five minutes before the start of a session and were able to get a seat. This has worked for others too, so don’t give up if you don’t book in advance.

Another tip I have is to make sure you order a drink before the music starts because waiter service completely stops during the performances.

Headliners Theatre

The Headliners Theatre on Arvia has numerous shows to keep you entertained throughout your cruise. There’s a mix of performances from music to comedy and there was a good amount of guest performers who joined throughout the cruise to add to the variety.

In our opinion, The Greatest Days: Official Take That Musical in the Headliners Theatre was excellent. You don’t have to be a Take That fan to enjoy it and we thought it was the closest thing we’d seen to a proper musical on a cruise ship.

Entertainment in the Sky Dome

The Sky Dome is where you’ll find a lot of the family-friendly entertainment on Arvia. Once you get you’re head around the fact that it all takes place around a swimming pool, it does offer some completely different entertainment.

The space is bright and airy due to the glass roof.

You will find tribute acts here as well as some of the cruise ship performers’ shows that are weird and wacky.

Club House Entertainment on Arvia

We really enjoyed the Club House on Arvia for evening entertainment. Most nights, the house band would play three sets and it was the place where passengers would go for a dance. In effect, I’d say this is the onboard disco.

Throughout the cruise, there are themed nights such as Pure Pop, 70s, Motown and Floor Fillers. If you like to listen to upbeat music and have a dance, this is the best place to head.

Sunset Bar Entertainment

If you like the idea of looking out at the wake view with a cocktail and some background music, we’d recommend the Sunset Bar.

The entertainment is low key but definitely creates some Ibiza beach bar vibes , whilst you enjoy the warm evenings. There’s a DJ who plays music at the Sunset Bar from the late afternoon onwards so it’s a perfect spot to sit back and enjoy a chilled sail away.

Just remember, on Mediterranean cruises, the sunset can only be enjoyed at the Sunset Bar for the first half of the cruise (before the ship starts heading west again).

Entertainment in the Crow’s Nest

The Crow’s Nest offers some incredible views over the ship’s Bridge during the day and at night becomes a elegant spot to enjoy a drink.

Each evening there’s a pianist who plays and sings. The good thing about this venue is that you can still hold a conversation with people and enjoy the background music.

Things to do on P&O Arvia

There are many activities to choose from Arvia and if you want to make the most of your time onboard, the daily Horizon Newsletter will become your bible.

From 7.00am until past midnight, there are daily activities and entertainment to get involved in. From fitness classes and silent discos to talks about art and culture.

You can browse all of the Horizon Newsletters from a 14-night Mediterranean cruise on Arvia to give you an idea of what to expect. There’s even things to do on port days if you decide to have a fake sea day!

Being Active of Arvia

There are facilities and activities onboard to help to stay active during your cruise.

We enjoyed taking part in the daily Fitsteps classes in the Limelight Club. Fitsteps is a fitness class inspired by Strictly Come Dancing so you can enjoy a dance fitness class without needing to learn the technical steps.

The walking track is a fantastic way to exercise in the fresh air with sea views and there’s an area for table tennis and deck games like shuffleboard. We actually preferred the full wrap-around promenade on Deck 8, which allows you to walk right around the ship.

Unfortunately, if you like to swim, the pools on Arvia aren’t very big . The pool in the SkyDome is the longest pool and is quietest at the beginning or the end of the day.

The gym is located on Deck 5 forward and is very small, given the number of passengers onboard. It’s probably the first cruise ship gym without floor to ceiling windows but it was well used throughout the cruise.

Swimming Pools, Hot Tubs and a Swim-up Bar

There are four swimming pools on P&O Arvia that all offer something a little different:

• SkyDome Pool (Deck 16) is the largest pool, it has a retractable roof that opens on hot days and is where a lot of families base themselves
• The Panorama Pool on Deck 18 is an infitinity pool with views over the aft of the ship
• The Beachcomber Pool is adult-only and has it’s own area with bar
• The Infinity Pool offers gorgeous wake views and is next to the swim-up bar on Deck 16

A great feature of Arvia is the number of hot tubs that are available onboard – there are 18! Not only are they located next to each of the four pools, you’ll also find them dotted around the open decks on 8, 16 and 17.

There are so many hot tubs on Arvia, you can always find one to sit back and relax in, especially the ones located on Deck 16 and 17.

The infinity hot tubs allow you to look out to sea and we particularly enjoyed finding one of these as we left port.

The swim-up bar is a first for P&O Cruises and is a fun addition. There are stools in the water so you can sit and enjoy a cocktail whilst cooling off.

Altitude SkyWalk

Do you enjoy a challenge? The Altitude SkyWalk is a high ropes course at sea that can be booked for a small fee. Adults are £10.00 and Children are £7.50 (height restrictions apply).

We’re not afraid to say, it scared us!

Everyone is given a safety briefing before being let loose on the course and the staff are on hand if you need extra help and encouragement. The safety locking system is very clever and actually put our minds at ease (slightly) that there was no way of falling.

The course takes you around a series of different challenging routes with obstacles and things to climb. You can even choose to ‘walk the plank’!

If you really want to do this while on Arvia, we’d recommend booking early in the cruise because it cannot operate during certain wind conditions. Therefore book with enough time to re-schedule if you need to.

Altitude Minigolf

If you prefer to enjoy yourself with both feet firmly on the ground, the mini golf course is located under the Altitude SkyWalk and requires no booking or fee. It’s a fun activity to do together any time between 9.00am and 10.00pm.

Shopping on Arvia

The main shopping area on Arvia is found on Deck 7 and it feels like you’ve stepped into a boutique shopping centre. Despite shopping not really being a priority, we could appreciate how nice this area was for a spot of window shopping.

There’s men’s and women’s clothing, beauty, fragrances, handbags, jewellery and watches as well as a P&O Cruises merchandise shop to buy your souvenirs.

The most popular shop onboard had to be the duty-free. We noticed a slight glimmer of fear on the staff’s faces here, with boxes and boxes of duty-free being wheeled in on sack trolleys to meet demand!

Kids Clubs on P&O Arvia

The Reef children’s clubs on P&O Cruises cater for children from 6 months to 17 years old. There are five different age groups:

• Nursery (6 months to 2 years)
• Splashers (2 to 4 years)
• Surfers (5 to 8 years)
• Scubas (9 to 12 years)
• H2O/Scene (13 to 17 years)

P&O Cruises also offers a Night Nursery (6pm to midnight) for children aged 6 months to 4 years so that parents can enjoy an evening together, knowing their children are safe and being looked after. It’s important to be aware that it’s the parent’s responsibility to settle the child in the Night Nursery before leaving and this is not a drop-off service .

We were able to take a look around the kids club area on embarkation day and chat to staff about the activities. Everything is designed to be age-appropriate and there was plenty of things to keep the children busy.

For obvious reasons, there’s a limit on the number of children who can access the clubs each day and so it’s important to arrive early to avoid disappointment from the children and the adults. You can register children up to 14 days before your cruise and sessions can be booked once you get onboard.

It’s also important to know that P&O Arvia has a limit on the number of children who can cruise on each sailing (this is the case for other cruise lines too). Each sailing will have a maximum number so last-minute cruises may not be as easy to find for families.

Our Overall Thoughts on P&O Arvia

Arvia is a new cruise ship for the British market and marks a change in direction for P&O Cruises. This ship, along with her sister Iona, is designed much more with the ‘new to cruise’ and younger cruisers in mind.

Using technology to book dining and entertainment plays a much bigger role in the cruise experience. Although we are not averse to using technology, we felt that this did take away some of the spontaneity that we’ve enjoyed on cruises in the past.

We were impressed with the more casual approach that P&O Cruises has introduced on this ship. There are more casual dining options such as the 6th Street Diner and The Olive Grove. We also noticed that on celebration nights the full black attire we’d previously experienced on Britannia was not as strict.

Things we loved about P&O Arvia

• The full wrap-around promenade deck
• The Quays quick and easy food options
• The Headliners Theatre shows
• The ability to always find a sun bed
• The huge number of hot tubs
• The infinity pools and swim-up bar
• The Beachcombers adult-only pool area
• Water stations around the ship
• All doors opening contactless
• The variety of complimentary dining choices
• The cocktail menu in the Amber Lounge
• The Sunset Bar
• Dinner in the Meridian and Zenith MDR on Celebration Night
• The views from the Crow’s Nest

Things we disliked about P&O Arvia

• The queues for lifts, buffet and shuttle buses
• Our inside cabin
• The size of the gym
• The size of the swimming pools
• Having to plan all dining and entertainment in advance
• The Chef’s Table on Celebration Night
• Limited entertainment in the Grand Atrium
• Low crew to passenger ratio

As you can see, we enjoyed far more than we disliked about Arvia. This ship is an affordable choice to cruise the Mediterranean or Caribbean.

This cruise is excellent value and we’d recommend you take a look at what is included on a P&O cruise next.

If you’ve cruised on P&O Arvia, we’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.

Laura is a UK cruise blogger based in Cornwall, UK. She founded Cruise Lifestyle in 2016 to share useful advice about cruising, destinations and food. Last port visited: Bridgetown, Barbados Next port of call: unknown, but she can’t wait for cruising to resume safely!

Find me on: Twitter

You may also enjoy:

Crow’s nest menu: p&o cruises …, all p&o arvia horizon newsletters from …, amamagna: the best ship for your first ….

• Pingback: Crow's Nest Menu: P&O Cruises Drinks with Prices
• Pingback: High Ropes Course on P&O Arvia: Everything you need to know
• Pingback: Best FREE Things to do in La Coruna (+ cheap options)
• Pingback: Heythrop Park Hotel: A Good Alternative to a Cruise?

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Where to cruise next, 7 epic safari cruise destinations …, how to visit the …, best south pacific cruise …, expedition cruises: things to …, new norwegian fjords cruise …, best cruise destinations for …, margaritaville: grand cayman, what to wear on …, montego bay cruise port …, gibraltar monkeys: how to …, magens bay, st thomas, san francisco cruise port …, why less cruises will …, useful tips for your …, heythrop park hotel: a …, discover more from cruise lifestyle.

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Type your email…

Continue reading

latest in US News

Trump’s would-be assassin Thomas Crooks wrote chilling online...

MSNBC's Joy Reid compares 'elderly' Biden's potential COVID...

Mom of American teacher imprisoned in Russia said Trump vowed to...

CNN's Van Jones highlights 'strength vs. weakness' after Trump...

Biden insists he's 'in better physical shape' than Trump as he...

JD Vance's RNC speech shows Trump's Republican Party stands for...

Nancy Pelosi privately told Biden he can't beat Trump in 2024...

J.D. Vance delivers soul-stirring first remarks as Trump's VP

Family of nine left behind in remote alaska, charged $9k by norwegian cruise lines.

• View Author Archive
• Get author RSS feed

Thanks for contacting us. We've received your submission.

An Oklahoma family of nine was left stranded in remote Alaska after their Norwegian Cruise Lines ship left them behind — and then charged the desperate family $9,000 in customs fees.

The Gault family was traveling with six young kids and a 78-year-old grandmother on July 12 when they disembarked from the Norwegian Encore in Katchikan, a small town in a string of south Alaskan islands, so they could watch a lumberjack show together.

But on their way back, the local tour operator transporting passengers to and from the vessel failed to properly check who had tickets and who didn’t — merely conducting a head count — and told the Gaults there was no room and to wait for another shuttle.

“We see the chaos getting onto the buses. We go to get on the bus and one of the attendees is like, ‘The bus is full, and you know you got to wait for the next bus,'” Joshua Gault told 2 News .

However, that bus never came, and after frantically calling the port authority to arrange transportation, they finally arrived back at the docks to see the Norwegian Encore sailing away — taking with it their passports, medication and clothes.

“Six kids on board, minor children, and a 78-year-old mother-in-law, all on medication. We all had to quit cold turkey medication these last few days because it was all on the cruise ship,” Joshua said.

From there, the chaos only deepened.

The family, which had already spent about $30,000 on the trip, was immediately hit with nearly a $9,000 charge from the cruise line — $971 per passenger — for missing the boat.

That fee stemmed from the US Customs and Border Protection’s Passenger Vessel Services Act, which they violated by not visiting a foreign port before they returned to the US, as their itinerary planned.

But they were unable to catch up with the vessel at its next port of call in Canada because nearly all their passports had sailed away from them.

With no choice but to find their way home, the Gaults had to arrange new lodging within hours, book flights home, and feed their many hungry mouths — with the costs piling up the longer it took them to get home.

“All the flights for nine people, all the food for nine people, all the hotel stays,” Gault told 2 News, counting off the accommodations they had to arrange — and pay for — on the fly.

After days of travel — which included stops in numerous cities, canceled flights, and more than one overnight airport stay — the family finally arrived home in Tulsa, strung out, tired, and having picked up exhausting cases of COVID along the way.

“So yeah, we’re beat down right now. We’re unhealthy and beaten down,” Joshua said.

The family is working with Norwegian to rectify the situation, but after their ordeal, they feel the cruise line has a lot of slack to pick up to make things right.

“‘We’re still looking into it, we haven’t forgotten about you,'” Cailyn Gault said Norwegian kept telling them as they battled their way home.

“And I was like, ‘No, we feel like you pretty much forgot about us when you left us in port and told us to go figure it out,'” she added.

Norwegian Cruise Lines told The Post it has begun the process of refunding the Gaults the nearly $9,000 in fees they were charged, and will reimburse them for all their travel expenses once receipts have been received.

The cruise line also said it tried to contact the Gaults after they missed their bus due to “a misstep by a local tour operator,” and when they were unable to reach them, worked with the local port authority to help the family arrange lodging for the night before they were able to make a flight to Seattle the next day.

“In addition, these guests will be receiving a pro-rated refund for the two cruise days they missed,” a Norwegian Cruise Line representative said.

“As a gesture of goodwill, the company will also be providing each of the nine guests with a Future Cruise Credit in the form of a 20 percent discount of their cruise fare that can be used towards their next voyage,” Norwegian added.

The incident was just the latest to put Norwegian Cruise Lines under the spotlight for leaving passengers behind.

Back in April, eight passengers were left behind in Africa after an independent tour they took was late to arrive at the boat — leaving them cobbling together an itinerary across the continent to catch up with the boat.

It is well-known policy on most cruise lines that passengers who fail to return to the ship within a strict deadline will be left behind so the vessel can maintain its schedule — but exceptions are generally made if tardiness is the fault of the cruise line or an operator provided or recommended by it.

Though the passengers in April had been using an independent tour when they missed the boat, their ages and handicaps sparked controversy over the rigidity of the cruise line’s policy.

Norwegian ultimately agreed to partially refund those passengers for their expenses incurred catching up with the boat.

Advertisement

The top 10 biggest cruise ships in the world

M odern cruise ships continue to grow in size, with the biggest cruise ship, the Icon of the Seas , launching at the start of this year, and her sister ship the Star of the Seas expected to surpass her in size.

Both of these ships are operated by Royal Caribbean International, which operates five of the ten largest cruise ships in the world. Carnival Corporation, arguably the biggest cruise company in the world, features three times on the list through its subsidiaries P&O Cruises and Costa Cruises.

All of the heaviest cruise ships in the world were built within the last 20 years, although the majority – six of the ten – were built within the last five years.

So, here are the top ten biggest cruise ships in the world, by gross tonnage. 

10. P&O Cruises MS Arvia : 185,581 gross tonnes

The MS Arvia is P&O Cruises’ fourth ship to be built by German shipyard Meyer Werft. Weighing in at 185,581 gross tonnes, the 345m (1,130-foot) Arvia is slightly larger than her sister ship, the MS Iona . The 20-deck ship is the largest ship commissioned for the British cruise market and has a maximum passenger capacity of 6,264 passengers, with 1,800 crew onboard. 

The ship is the second liquefied natural gas (LNG)-powered Excellence-class vessel for P&O, following the Iona . Arvia is powered by a 61,760kW LNG drive system, with a propulsion power of 37 megawatts. The LNG-powered propulsion system allows the vessel to sail at a maximum speed of 21.5 knots.

After being floated out in August 2022, the Arvia mainly operates itineraries around the Caribbean or the Mediterranean.

9. Costa Cruises – Costa Smeralda : 185,010 gross tonnes

The Costa Smeralda is the first LNG-powered vessel in the Costa Cruises fleet. With a gross tonnage of 185,010gt, the 20-deck Excellence-class ship measures 337m (1,106 feet) in length. The second LNG-powered cruise ship to enter operation in the world, she has a maximum capacity of 6,554 passengers with 1,646 crew and a service speed of 21.5 knots.

Construction of the Costa Smeralda began at the Meyer shipyard in Turku, Finland, in September 2017. Meyer Turku collaborated with the Meyer Werft Papenburg shipyard to develop and integrate the LNG propulsion plant for the ship. She is fitted with four 16-cylinder, Caterpillar MaK 16VM46DF engines, with 15.4 megawatts (20,710 horsepower) output per engine, resulting in a maximum power of  37 megawatts (50,000 horsepower).

The ship, which was named after the Emerald Coast of Sardinia, entered service in December 2019 , departing Savona on its maiden voyage in the Mediterranean, where it has sailed since.

8. Costa Cruises – Costa Toscana : 186,364 gross tonnes

The Costa Toscana is the sister ship of the Costa Smeralda and is also powered by LNG . measuring 337m (1,106 feet) long and weighing in at 186,364 gross tonnes, the Toscana has a maximum capacity of 6,338 passengers and 1,678 staff across her 20 decks.

Like her sister ship, the Toscana was also built at the Meyer shipyard in Finland, with construction completed in 2021. She is also powered by four MaK-Caterpillar engines, with a total power of 57.2 megawatts (76,706 horsepower), and two ABB Azipod motors , resulting in a service speed of 17 knots.

Named in homage to the Tuscany region of Italy, Costa Toscana mainly sails around the Mediterranean Sea but Costa Cruises has also used the ship to sail itineraries further afield, such as around Brazil and the UAE.

7. MSC Cruises – MSC World Europa : 215,863 gross tonnes

The only entry in the top ten from MSC Cruises, MSC World Europa measures 333m (1,094 feet) in length. With 215,863 gross tonnage, she can house more people than any other ship in the MSC fleet: up to 6,762 passengers across 2,633 cabins spread over 22 decks, in addition to 2,138 crew.

Built by Chantiers de l’Atlantique in Saint-Nazaire, France, the World Europa ’s LNG-power propulsion system was subcontracted to Finland-based Wärtsilä. Five LNG-powered, 14-cylinder Wartsila 46DF dual-fuel engines power the vessel, with a propulsion power of 44 megawatts ( 59,005 horsepower). She also features nitrogen oxide reduction (NOR) units, two Wartsila LNGPac fuel storage and supply systems, seven thrusters, and two fixed-pitch propellers. 

The MSC World Europa was floated out at the end of 2021 and was initially used as an accommodation vessel for fans attending the 2022 FIFA World Cup, with the ship berthed at Doha Port in Qatar during the tournament. Following the competition, the ship subsequently travelled several routes around the UAE, before sailing to the Mediterranean, where it has sailed itineraries since.

6. Royal Caribbean International – Allure of the Seas : 225,282 gross tonnes

The first of many entries on this list operated by Royal Caribbean, Allure of the Seas weighs in at 225,282 gross tonnes. Measuring 362m (1,187 feet), she is only 50mm (2 inches) longer than her sister ship the Oasis of the Seas . The Allure has a maximum capacity of 6,780 passengers and 2,200 crew across 18 decks.

Built at the Turku Shipyard in Finland, the Allure took two years to build , floating out in 2010. She features six Wärtsilä 46 diesel engines with a total power output of 97 megawatts (130,053 horsepower). It is propelled by three electric Azipod azimuth thrusters. The ship can travel at a cruising speed of 22 knots.

With a homeport of Galveston, Texas in the US, the Allure mainly serves itineraries around the Bahamas but she is scheduled to sail routes around the Mediterranean in 2025.

5. Royal Caribbean International – Oasis of the Seas : 226,838 gross tonnes

The oldest ship on this list, the Oasis of the Seas has been in service for over a decade. She was the biggest cruise ship at the time when floated out in 2009, with a gross tonnage of 226,838gt and a length of 360m (1,181 feet). The Oasis has a maximum capacity of 6,699 passengers and 2,181 staff across 18 decks.

The Oasis took two years to build at the Meyer shipyard in Turku, Finland, with the keel laid on 12 November 2007 and the ship arriving at her homeport of Port Everglades in Florida, US, on 13 November 2009.

The Oasis is powered by eight Wärtsilä V12 diesel engines, which generate 5.6 megawatts (7,500 horsepower) each, alongside four bow thrusters. The main propulsion system consists of three 20-megawatt (26,820 horsepower) electric Azipod motors, resulting in a combined propulsion power of 82 megawatts (109,964 horsepower) and a standard cruising speed of 23 knots.

The Oasis mainly operates routes around the Caribbean, but occasionally repositions to offer itineraries in the Mediterranean.

4. Royal Caribbean International – Harmony of the Seas : 226,963 gross tonnes

The third Oasis-class ship built by Royal Caribbean, Harmony of the Seas weighed in bigger than her existing sister ships at launch in 2016, with 226,963 gross tonnage, but she has since been surpassed by newer vessels. With a total length of 362m (1,188 feet), Harmony has a maximum capacity of 6,780 passengers and 2,300 staff across 18 decks.

Royal Caribbean placed an order with STX France for the construction of Harmony of the Seas in December 2012. The first steel for the ship was cut at STX France’s Saint-Nazaire shipyard in September 2013, while the keel-laying ceremony was held in May 2014.

The Harmony is powered by three 18.9-megawatt Wärtsilä 16V46 16-cylinder main generator diesel engines and three Wärtsilä 12V46 12-cylinder engines producing 13.9 megawatts each. The propulsion power is provided by three electric Azipod azimuth thrusters and manoeuvring is assisted by four 5.5-megawatt Wärtsilä CT 3500 tunnel thrusters. The propulsion system results in 82 megawatts (109,964 horsepower) and enables the ship to sail at a standard speed of 23 knots.

Harmony of the Seas embarked on her inaugural seven-night Western Mediterranean cruise from Barcelona, Spain, in June 2016, and currently operates itineraries around the Western Caribbean from her homeport of Galveston, Texas in the US.

3. Royal Caribbean International – Symphony of the Seas : 228,081 gross tonnes

At launch in 2018, the Symphony of the Seas surpassed the Harmony as the biggest cruise ship, weighing in at 228,081 gross tonnes. Measuring 361m (1,185 feet), the Symphony has a maximum capacity of 6,680 passengers and 2,200 staff across 18 decks and was the testing ground for Royal Caribbean's new muster drill . With a total length of 361m (1,185 feet), She is roughly 30 metres (98 feet) longer than the largest military ships , the US Nimitz-class aircraft carriers and the USS Gerald R. Ford .

The keel-laying ceremony for the Symphony of the Seas was held in October 2015 at STX’s Saint-Nazaire shipyard in France, and the ship sailed out in June 2017. She is powered by six diesel sets, each composed of three Wärtsilä 16V46D engines and three Wärtsilä 12V46D engines, as well as three 20-megawatt electric Azipod main engines – resulting in 82 megawatts (109,964 horsepower) of propulsion power and a standard cruising speed of 22 knots.

The Symphony commenced her seven-day maiden voyage from Barcelona in April 2018, and since then has mainly operated itineraries around the Caribbean from her homeports of Miami, New York, and Fort Lauderdale.

2. Royal Caribbean International – Wonder of the Seas : 235,600 gross tonnes

Royal Caribbean's flagship, Wonder of the Seas is the fifth Oasis-class cruise ship built for the cruise company. Weighing in at 235,600 gross tonnes, the Wonder was the largest ship in the world when she was completed in January 2022. Measuring 362m (1,187 feet) in length, the 18-deck Wonder has a maximum capacity of 7,084 guests across its 2,867 staterooms, as well as housing 2,369 crew.

Built by Chantiers de l’Atlantique in Saint-Nazaire, Wonder is powered by two Wärtsilä 16V46D engines and four Wärtsilä 12V46D engines; and uses three 20-megawatt electric Azipod engines for propulsion, combining for a propulsion power of 82 megawatts (109,964 horsepower and a standard cruising speed of 22 knots.

The Wonder sailed her maiden voyage in March 2022 from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and has since served itineraries around the Caribbean from her homeports of Miami and Cape Canaveral.

1. Royal Caribbean International – Icon of the Seas : 248,663 gross tonnes

Weighing 248,663 gross tonnes and measuring 365 metres (1,1967 feet), the Icon of the Seas is the largest cruise ship in the world. Christened on 23 January 2024, the Icon has a maximum capacity of 7,600 passengers and 2,350 crew across 20 decks. She is the lead ship of the new Icon-class, with a sister ship the Star of the Seas due to be delivered in 2025 and another ship planned for delivery in 2026.

Built by Meyer Turku in Finland, the Icon is the first ship in the Royal Caribbean fleet that can be powered by LNG. It uses three Wärtsilä 14V46DF and three Wärtsilä 12V46DF for its main generator engines, which provide 67.5 megawatts of energy to run the ship. She is propelled by three 20-megawatt Azipod thrusters as well as five 4.8-megawatt Wärtsilä WTT-45 CP bow thrusters, with a cruising speed of 22 knots.

After sailing her maiden voyage on 27 January 2024, the Icon now sails year-round itineraries of seven-night trips around the Eastern and Western Caribbean from her homeport of Miami, Florida.

"The top 10 biggest cruise ships in the world" was originally created and published by Ship Technology , a GlobalData owned brand.

The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.

Get the best experience and stay connected to your community with our Spectrum News app. Learn More

Continue in Browser

Get hyperlocal forecasts, radar and weather alerts.

Please enter a valid zipcode.

World's second-largest cruise ship to call Port Canaveral home

ORLANDO, Fla. — Port Canaveral has a new, very large resident.

The world’s second-largest cruise ship — Royal Caribbean’s Utopia of the Seas — arrived Thursday morning.

What You Need To Know

The world's second-largest cruise ship  — royal caribbean’s utopia of the seas — arrived in port canaveral thursday according to the cruise lines international association's 2023 state of the industry report, port canaveral second busiest u.s. port for cruises, and third in the world, in 2022 the disney cruise ship treasure is coming to port canaveral at the end of 2024, and royal caribbean's star of the seas is expected to arrive in 2025.

According to the Cruise Lines International Association's 2023 State of the Industry report, Port Canaveral was the second-busiest U.S. port for cruises, and third in the world, in 2022. 

Only PortMiami and Barcelona Cruise Port in Barcelona, Spain, were busier, the report says .

Travel agents and port officials say the demand is strong enough to close the gap.

According to Port Canaveral CEO Capt. John Murray, Port Canaveral trailed Miami by about 400,000 passengers in 2023 — which would be down significantly from the approximate 800,000 difference for 2022 noted in the CLIA 2023 report.

But, when it comes to what industry has been thriving lately in Central Florida, people have to look no further than in the waters.

Tabbitha Stewart, CEO of Premium Travel Concierge, says bookings for cruises in the past year have nearly doubled out of Port Canaveral.

She said a big factor in that is the port's affordability.

“Three- to four-day cruise, you are looking at $200-300 per person,” Stewart said. “Then, a seven-day cruise is about $700 per person.”

“Most of my clients, even outside of Florida are coming to Orlando,” Stewart added. “That’s our No. 1 destination, and there are people asking would we be able to do Disney and a three- or four-day cruise out of Port Canaveral?”

Aside from the now Utopia of the Seas in the port, the Celebrity cruise ship Equinox will be in port come December.

The port doesn’t look to stop there.

The Disney cruise ship Treasure will be arriving at the end of the year, and next year the Star of the Seas, a second Icon Class ship from Royal Caribbean will also be in.

Between new ships and added parking lots that altogether can hold up to 100,000 cars at one time, Murray says Port Canaveral is not just a seasonal port, but a year-round one.

Murray also said 2024 is on pace for a record year for travel at Port Canaveral.

In 2023, which was a record year for Port Canaveral , 6.8 million passengers arrived. This year the port is on pace for 7.5 million, and in 2025 they are projecting another new record of more than 8 million passengers.

Cruises will depart from Philadelphia for first time in nearly 15 years beginning in 2026

• Norwegian Cruise Line will begin offering cruises from Philadelphia in 2026.
• The cruises will leave from the SouthPort Marine Terminal Complex and feature an overnight stop in Bermuda.
• The ship will operate Bermuda itineraries through Aug. 27, 2026, before offering 10- and 11-day cruises to New England and Canada.

Cruise passengers on the East Coast will soon have another U.S. port to choose from.

Norwegian Cruise Line will begin offering cruises from Philadelphia , marking the first cruise line to have a homeport there in close to 15 years. Norwegian Jewel will sail seven to nine-day sailings to Bermuda starting April 16, 2026, the brand said Wednesday.

“We remain committed to delivering more experiences for our guests to create unforgettable memories, so they can vacation better with us,” the line’s president, David J. Herrera, said in a news release . “We are particularly proud to partner with PhilaPort to launch cruising in the area, making it even more accessible to the U.S. Mid-Atlantic region.”

The cruises will leave from the SouthPort Marine Terminal Complex – where preparations are “currently underway with the local government to develop a facility to welcome cruisers,” according to the release – and feature an overnight stop in Bermuda’s Royal Naval Dockyard.

An African safari cruise? This Norwegian cruise sailing takes you on a bucket list adventure

“The Port of Philadelphia is extremely excited to partner with Norwegian Cruise Line, one of the world’s premier cruise lines,” added Jeff Theobald, PhilaPort’s executive director and CEO. “Philadelphia has so much to offer, as the birthplace of freedom and the home to much of our nation’s history, we look forward to connecting cruisers with our world class city.”

The ship will operate Bermuda itineraries through Aug. 27, 2026, before offering 10- and 11-day cruises to New England and Canada. Embarkation ports for the latter sailings will alternate between Philadelphia and Quebec City in Canada’s Quebec province.

Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at [email protected].

The Key Points at the top of this article were created with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and reviewed by a journalist before publication. No other parts of the article were generated using AI. Learn more .

I sailed on Carnival's new cruise ship. See all of its amenities — and why some are better than its pricier competitors

• I spent four nights on the new  Carnival Firenze cruise ship  in May.
• The ship has plenty of free activities alongside enticing up-charged options.
• Take a look at all the amenities on Carnival's new Italian-themed vessel.

Carnival's new Firenze cruise ship is filled with upcharged options. But if you look past them, you'll be pleasantly surprised by their complimentary activities.

The company's second Italy-themed ship came highly anticipated. In early April, Firenze's naming ceremony "triggered a step up in bookings," Josh Weinstein, the president and CEO of Carnival Cruise Line's parent company, Carnival Corp, told analysts in late June.

Two weeks after the ceremony, Carnival Firenze set sail on its maiden voyage from its homeport in Long Beach, California, marking the 27th vessel to join the cruise line's fleet.

This boost in bookings might not come as a surprise after seeing its prices.

New cruise ships generally command an inflated fare. But it seems the new 5,245-guest Firenze ignored this tradition, with 2024 fares currently starting at almost $360 per person for a four-night cruise.

Not too bad , given all of its amenities.

Firenze is more than just another towel animal-toting Carnival cruise.

In 2022, Carnival acquired Firenze and its sister ship from Costa Cruises. Firenze then underwent a two-month refresh to be outfitted with the "Carnival Fun Italian Style" theme.

If you're an American who loves campy European-themed venues — think a cheaper version of the Venetian in Las Vegas — Firenze could feel like an Italian getaway. The theme is hard to miss, from the white statues to the giant photos of Florence, Italy.

I went on Firenze's four-night cruise about two weeks after its maiden voyage.

I previously wrote a less-than-glowing review of Carnival Firenze , although I was impressed with the vessel's complimentary activities, a rarity on many popular cruises.

Norwegian's newer ships, for example, have $10 mini-golf courses and VR arcades that cost $29 for an hour of play. Similarly, Royal Caribbean's new ultra-giant, ultra-popular Icon of the Seas has a $49-per-person ropes course that can be completed in less than a minute.

Carnival Firenze also has a mini-golf and ropes course — but they're both free, albeit not as exciting or modern as the cruise line's competitors.

Unfortunately, the arcade isn't free. But you'd be hard-pressed to find a complimentary one anywhere.

Like Icon of the Seas, brave guests must be harnessed in before walking Firenze's ropes course.

But unlike Royal Caribbean's adrenaline-pumping walkway, Firenze's course takes several minutes to complete. And while it's less showy and dramatic than Icon's, it is free to go on as many times as you'd like — and for that, a better deal.

Want to keep the adrenaline going? Carnival's new ship has waterslides near the children's water playground.

Nearby, there's also cornhole, a giant chess set, and an outdoor sports court for an afternoon of shooting hoops. If you're lucky, you can also claim one of the open-air foosball tables.

If not, there's an indoor foosball table near the ping pong table and a collection of board games and books.

Speaking of indoor-outdoor options, Firenze has two pools, one outside and another under a glass roof.

The latter is also home to the makeshift nighttime movie theater, so long as viewers are OK with paying $4 for popcorn and the background sound of screaming children at the pool.

If you want to escape the kids, Firenze has the obligatory cruise ship spa, casino, and boutiques.

Or go to the adult-only outdoor lounge outfitted with rows of lounge seats, two hot tubs, and, most importantly, no children in sight. It's also where you'll also find the ship's salad bar — one of Firenze's 15 dining options.

Of the 16 restaurants, nine venues are complimentary

But there are some caveats.

Some included options, like the pizza kiosk and buffet, have up-charged items. Others, like the aforementioned salad bar and grill stand, remained frustratingly closed until the last day of my cruise.

But if you don't consider these stipulations, Firenze's free-to-upcharged restaurant ratio isn't abnormal. About half of competitor Icon of the Seas' 21 dining venues also cost extra.

Carnival Firenze's specialty options include an empanada stand and classics like sushi, teppanyaki, and Italian restaurants.

Travelers ready to splurge on food could pay as little as $1.50 for an empanada or almost $50 for a steakhouse dinner.

Dining at the free buffet but eyeing the up-charged chicken wings? They'll be $5 for six pieces. Having breakfast at the free main dining room? A fresh juice will be $5.

Want a dinner lobster roll from the seafood shack? It'll be another $18.

During the day, the seafood shack serves as a complimentary chicken stand, joining eight other free options.

Cruisers can live out their "Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives" dreams at the Guy Fieri-branded burger counter, where heavy accouterments like fried mozzarella slabs and onion rings are commonplace.

Or, head up a deck to Il Mercato for grab-and-go Italian sandwiches.

Firenze has two main dining rooms for a more formal sit-down dinner. Just note that the dinner buffet serves the same menu as these restaurants. And while the food is fine, it's not great — and I did find a piece of plastic hidden in my pasta.

As with any mass-market cruise ship, alcohol isn't free.

Cocktails are about $13, while beers and seltzers are about $9. But if you can't cruise without booze (it is Carnival, after all), the new ship has plenty of venues for your needs.

Bars like Piano Bar 88 and Tuscan Lounge have live music.

Amari offers options that fit the ship's Italian theme, like aperitifs, digestives, and Negroni sbagliatos ("stunnin'!").

Meanwhile, Heroes Tribute Bar and Lounge is great for guests who want to sip a beer, watch sports, and surround themselves in American military garb.

If you enjoy doing karaoke, you'll love karaoke night at the stylish and contemporary Moda Bar and Lounge.

And if you crave Aperol spritzes the moment the sun comes out, you could find yourself frequently visiting the bubbly-forward, new-to-brand Frizzante.

While not technically a bar, the coffee shop also sells boozy milkshakes and floats for almost $12.

But then again, everything at JavaBlue Cafe has a price tag, from the $4.50 latte to the icy $7.25 frappe. And if you want a sweet treat with your pick-me-up, it'll be $4 for a doughnut or cupcake.

(If you don't want to pay for caffeine, the buffet has free black coffee, Bigelow's green tea, and Lipton tea.)

It wouldn't be a cruise without live entertainment, either.

The atrium hosts musicians and singers dressed in Venice Carnival — or "Eyes Wide Shut" — style masks, while the smaller Limelight Lounge is the go-to for stand-up comedy. There's also an interactive "Deal or No Deal" game show, although participation costs $25.

But if we're talking about traditional theater shows, my four-night cruise included the cheesy "Dear Future Husband" song-and-dance production and the interactive "What's Age Got To Do With It?" game show.

If laughter from the crowd indicates success, the game show — which sources participants from the crowd — was a hit.

A show where half the players are children is sure to be entertaining.

Is the entertainment better on Norwegian and Royal Caribbean’s newest ships? Yes.

Does Carnival Firenze have as many pools as its competitors' latest vessels? No.

But is Firenze's mini-golf and ropes course free? Yes.

Plus, with four-night voyages starting at almost $90 a night, Firenze's 2024 itineraries are both shorter and cheaper than several other new cruise ships on the market. (Norwegian Viva's cheapest 2024 itinerary is more than $1,520 per person for an 11-day sailing, while Icon of the Seas starts at almost $1,770 per person for eight days.)

So, if you can resist the enticing upcharges, Carnival's new Firenze could be a great pick for families looking for a cheap and fun vacation at sea .

• Main content