P&O Cruises’ latest vessel, Arvia, has arrived in Southampton in preparation for her inaugural crusing, now simply days away. The vessel was greeted with applicable fanfare to mark the auspicious event, bringing new and elevated cruising to the European market earlier than the ship will head to the Caribbean for the winter season.
Arvia Arrives in Southampton
Arvia arrived in Southampton on Sunday, December 18, 2022, just some days earlier than her much-anticipated 14-night inaugural crusing, a roundtrip voyage to the Canary Islands with calls in Spain and Portugal as nicely.
“It was a truly remarkable moment as, after the years of design and build, Arvia arrived into Southampton ahead of the maiden voyage and then departure for the Caribbean season,” stated Paul Ludlow, P&O Cruises president.
The 185,200-gross-ton vessel was accompanied by fireboats for her arrival, a standard salute for a brand new ship’s first go to.
Arvia was simply formally delivered to P&O Cruises on Thursday, December 15, in Bremerhaven, Germany. Now, the ship will stay in Southampton as the remainder of the crew members arrive and ultimate provides are loaded forward of her inaugural voyage.
“We cannot wait for our first guests to be on board this week to see the extraordinary attention to detail, design of the restaurants and bars, scale of the theatre, the layout and new brands in the retail area and the exhilarating top deck activities,” Ludlow stated. “We are seeing a new generation recognising the value for money and individuality of a holiday at sea.”
Upcoming Itineraries
Arvia will supply a large assortment of sailings, starting together with her two week inaugural cruise departing on December 23, 2022. After that, she’s going to depart on a 15-night transatlantic crossing from Southampton to Bridgetown, Barbados, which can be one of many ship’s winter homeports.
On that 22-night crossing, Arvia will tour a wide range of common Eastern Caribbean ports, together with St. Maarten, St. Lucia, and Grenada, earlier than arriving in Barbados in January 20, 2023.
During the winter crusing season, the brand new ship will supply departures from each Barbados and Antigua, giving vacationers nice selection of their trip plans. Depending on the itinerary and crusing date, the ship will go to common and opulent tropical locations such because the Dominican Republic, St. Kitts, Martinique, and the British Virgin Islands.
The new ship can even be officially christened within the Caribbean in a first-of-its-kind beachside extravaganza naming ceremony in March.
Arvia will stay within the Caribbean till mid-March 2023, at which era she’s going to re-cross the Atlantic to return to Southampton for a summer season season of 14-day roundtrip Mediterranean sailings that can go to high ports of name in Spain, France, and Italy.
Amazing Onboard Features
In addition to spectacular itineraries, one of many largest vessels ever constructed for the UK market can even supply excellent onboard options for visitors to take pleasure in which might be thoughtfully harking back to the outstanding locations the ship will go to, offering a seamless and enjoyable ambiance for vacationers.
“As the latest evolution in the P&O Cruises experience, [Arvia] embodies the newest trends in travel, dining and entertainment and is the epitome of a sunshine resort sailing year-round to the warmest climates,” Ludlow stated.
“It takes its sister ship Iona’s design aesthetic and general arrangement but provides new and exciting outside and inside spaces which make the most of Arvia’s deployment to the Caribbean and the Mediterranean.”
Among the highest new options onboard Arvia is the retractable roof SkyDome, which encloses a relaxed poolside atmosphere appropriate to be used in all climate situations and season. The house may transition to an leisure venue for reveals, dwell music, aerialist performances, film showings, and extra.
The ship options greater than 30 eating places, eateries, and bars, together with the progressive Green & Co, which gives exquisitely crafted fish and plant-based dishes, in addition to the brand new sixth Street Diner with its all-American menus for breakfast, brunch, dinner, and desserts. Other onboard eating places even have unique menu choices.
New retail choices, leisure, wellness choices, and immersive adventurous experiences are additionally a part of Arvia‘s lineup, positive to impress the as much as 5,200 visitors the ship can welcome at every crusing.