P&O Cruises Ships Comparison: Which is Best for you
P&O Cruises are a UK based cruise line serving British guests & has a fleet comprising of 7 ships. Ranging from medium-sized adult-only cruise ships to ultra-large family-friendly ships with accommodating over 6,000 guests and 1,800 crew members.
When booking your P&O Cruises holiday with us at Pure Holidays, we always recommend choosing the right ship that suits your requirements, which we are on hand to assist you with. There is the additional factor of the destinations that your cruise holiday will be visiting, but choosing a correct ship is also very significant.
Our guide below will give you information for each of the ships with P&O Cruises fleet to make an informed decision on which one is best for you including linked to each dedicated cruise ship page for more detailed information.
The seven ships within P&O Cruises fleet are as follows, all of which can be booked online via the website.
You can also view each P&O Cruises in the following table from smallest to largest
| Ship Name | Tonnage (GRT) | Decks | Length (m) | Capacity | Max Capacity | Crew |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arvia | 184,700 | 20 | 344 | 5206 | 6264 | 1800 |
| Iona | 184,089 | 20 | 344 | 5206 | 6264 | 1800 |
| Britannia | 143,370 | 18 | 330 | 3647 | 4406 | 1350 |
| Ventura | 116,017 | 19 | 291 | 3078 | 3727 | 1205 |
| Azura | 115,055 | 19 | 290 | 3100 | 3737 | 1250 |
| Arcadia | 84,342 | 11 | 290 | 2094 | 2458 | 866 |
| Aurora | 76.152 | 13 | 270 | 1874 | 2258 | 860 |
What does Gross Registered Tonnage size refer to
All cruise ships worldwide are measures in size using the metric of Gross Registered Tonnage (GRT), which refers to the internal volume of a ships listed as register tons’, each of which is equal to 100 cubic feet (2.83m3). The best way to compare the size of the P&O Cruises ships is by using the GRT measurement.
How many decks to P&O Cruises ships have
It will depend on the P&O Cruises ship you are choosing as to how many decks that they will have. For example, Arvia & Iona being the largest ships in the fleet have over 17 decks compare to Aurora, the smallest ship which has just over 12 decks. There are some decks that are not accessible or visible to customers, these are either below the water line or are for crew members only as they contain areas such engine rooms, kitchens, crew quarters, laundry rooms etc.
Most of P&O Cruises decks onboard come with deck number plus corresponding letter & number to help you navigate your way around, as per the below example from Ventura.
What is the maximum capacity onboard P&O ships
As a rule of thumb, all cruise lines including P&O Cruises will quote the guest capacity of a ship based on number of lower berths per room i.e a double/twin room as two guests or single rooms as one guest. However, all of P&O Cruises ships can accommodate up to 4 guests in specific rooms either via upper pullman bunks or sofabeds depending on the room grades – for more information you can see our Understanding P&O Cruises Cabins & Fares Guide.
The maximum guest capacity it more likely to increase during peak seasons such as Summer school holidays or Christmas & New Year periods.
What it the Crew Ratio onboard P&O Cruises
It will depend on the size & guest capacity of the P&O Cruises ship as to the crew ratio. On Aurora, it normally works out to be one crew member for every 2.2 guests. Whereas on larger ship such as Arvia the ratio is likely to one crew member for every 3 guests. P&O Cruises largest & newest ship is Arvia. She is only slightly bigger than sister-ship Iona, with a gross tonnage of 184,700, compared to 184,089. Both of ships can hold up to 6,264 guests and 1,800 crew members.
Whereas the smallest P&O Cruises ship is Aurora, which is also an adult-only ship with a gross tonnage of 76,152. She can hold up to 1,874 guests at double occupancy along with 860 crew members.
P&O Cruises Ships listed by date of entering service. The following table lists P&O Cruise’s ships from newest to oldest:
| Ship Name | Year Built | Last Refurbished |
|---|---|---|
| Arvia | 2022 | |
| Iona | 2021 | October 2025 |
| Britannia | 2015 | 2024 |
| Azura | 2010 | 2021 |
| Ventura | 2008 | February 2026 |
| Arcadia | 2002 | 2024 |
| Aurora | 2000 | March 2025 |
P&O Cruises oldest ships in the fleet are Aurora & Arcadia at over twenty years old. The average lifespan for a well-maintained ship is approx. 30 to 35 years. Both are firm favourites with P&O Cruises guests and have still have a lot of years of service to offer.
All cruise ships are required to undergo a dry-dock refurbishment approx. every five years. This covers major technical maintenance, hulling scraping & repainting plus refreshing guest areas with decor, carpets, dining ware etc. Iona will be the latest ship within the P&O Cruises fleet to receive a refit in October 2025.
P&O Cruises’ newest ship is Arvia is also the largest ship within the fleet, alongside her sister Iona. Arvia predominately spends the summer sailing from the UK before heading over to the Caribbean to offer fly-cruises from Antigua & Barbados.
It is no surprise that the smallest ship in the P&O Cruises fleet is also the oldest ship. Aurora is one of two dedicated adult-only cruise ships that entered service in April 2000. She was famously known for cancelling her maiden voyage hours after sailing from Southampton due to a major engine failure.
Did you know P&O Cruises offer adult-only ships
Both Aurora & Arcadia are the only ships that accept guests who are aged 18 and over & are popular with guests looking to travel during peak season without children.
Although Arcadia and Aurora are the smallest and oldest ships in the P&O Cruises fleet, they both offers a range on enticing cruises including mini-breaks & longer discovery cruises departing from Southampton to exotic voyages and world cruises.
What evening dining times do P&O Cruises Offer
Across most of the P&O Cruises ships there are 3 main dining time options available
- Club Dining 1st Sitting – Eat at 6.30pm at the same table every night
- Club Dining 2nd Sitting – Eat at 8.30pm at the same table every night
- Freedom Dining – Arrive any time between 6pm and 9.30pm
Iona and Arvia are the only ships within the P&O Cruises fleet that don’t offer Club Dining, with only Freedom Dining being available. Guests can still pre-book dining times using the P&O Cruises App once onboard the ship, should you wish.
When making your P&O Cruises booking with us over the phone or online you can request the first sitting, second sitting or Freedom Dining on Select Price Fares only. Should you opt to book the Early Saver or Saver Fares, dining time is assigned to you once onboard by the restaurant team, except for Iona & Arvia as they only offer Freedom Dining.
Can I change my P&O Cruises dining time once booked
Dining time preferences can be change on Select Price Fares either via contacting us or by using your P&O Cruises Personaliser online up to five days before departure (subject to availability). This also covers table size requests on Club Dining, however these are on a request basis only & not guaranteed.
What cabins/rooms does P&O Cruises offer
There are different cabin types available depending on the P&O Cruises ship you decide to book, but you will likely find the following across each ship. There is also more detailed cabin information in our Understanding P&O Cruises Cabin & Fares Guide.
- Inside Cabins – Every P&O Cruises ship has inside cabins. Some also have the option of a larger inside cabin plus family rooms.
- Sea View Cabins – Britannia the only ship that doesn’t have outside cabins with windows, whereas all of other ships in the P&O Cruises fleet do. Some of these do come with obstructed views.
- Balcony Cabins – Balcony cabin types include standard, deluxe, promenade or smaller.
- Mini-Suites – Mini-Suites are available only on Arvia, Iona, Arcadia and Aurora. Arvia and Iona also offer conservatory mini suites.
- Suites – Suites are available on each of P&O Cruises’ ships. Arvia and Iona also feature family sea view suites with no balcony.
- Single Cabins – For solo travellers, there is a range of designated single cabins on all ships including inside outside & balcony.
Where can I see all P&O Cruises cabins available
You can find out more about all the different cabin types available across each P&O Cruises ships via their dedicated cabin pages on the website. This information is also available when you are booking your P&O cruise online via the website, so you can choose which one suits your needs.
- Find out about Arvia cabins & rooms
- Find out about Iona cabins & rooms
- Find out about Britannia cabins & rooms
- Find out about Azura cabins & rooms
- Find out about Ventura cabins & rooms
- Find out about Arcadia cabins & rooms
- Find out about Aurora cabins & rooms
Do P&O Cruises offer All-Inclusive & Drinks Packages
You can now enjoy an all-inclusive holiday onboard every P&O Cruises ship including drinks, wifi & speciality dining credit. These can be either purchased at a discounted rate via your P&O personaliser (Subject to availability) or you can choose to include the Classic & Deluxe all-inclusive package as part of your holiday cost at the time of booking. To help you choose what’s best for you, make sure you see or helpful P&O Cruises all-inclusive package guide.
Alternatively, guests looking just to purchase a drinks package can do this via your P&O Cruises website personaliser.
Summarizing P&O Cruises ships
I am sure you can agree that P&O Cruises has a ship that suits everyone & size. Whether you’re travelling with the family and to be entertained all day long with high ropes courses and crazy golf or escape from it all aboard an adult-only voyage, you can have just that.
You can relax knowing you are in good hands with Pure Holidays, your independent award-winning cruise experts when it comes to booking your P&O Cruises ship, whether that being made over the phone or online via our user-friendly website.