Arvia

MS Arvia is an Excellence-class cruise ship operated by P&O Cruises, a British cruise brand within Carnival Corporation & plc. Built by Meyer Werft at its Papenburg shipyard in Germany, the vessel was designed as a large resort-style ship for the British cruise market and is closely related to P&O Cruises' Iona. Its construction officially began in February 2021, with the keel laid on 15 February 2022. Arvia was floated out on 27 August 2022, left the shipyard on 5 November 2022, and was delivered to P&O Cruises on 9 December 2022. The ship has an approximate gross tonnage of 184,700 GT. In normal operation it can accommodate around 5,200 passengers, while its maximum capacity rises to approximately 6,685 when third and fourth berths are used. Its scale has made it a prominent part of P&O Cruises' contemporary fleet and, according to the referenced description, the largest ship serving the British cruise market. Arvia was initially expected to enter service during the first half of 2022, but completion and delivery were postponed to December. Its planned maiden voyage on 9 December 2022 was subsequently delayed for operational reasons. The first voyage eventually departed on 23 December 2022 from Southampton for a 14-night itinerary to the Canary Islands. The ship is designed for a broad holiday market, combining included dining, specialty restaurants, entertainment, pools, wellness facilities and family-oriented activities in a single floating resort environment. The vessel contains more than 30 bars and restaurants. Included dining includes two Freedom Restaurants, the Horizon buffet and themed venues such as 6th Street Diner, which adopts an American-diner concept, and The Olive Grove, a Mediterranean-style restaurant. Other dining options include The Glass House, associated with wine expert Olly Smith, and specialty venues such as Keel & Cow, Green & Co, Sindhu and the Epicurean. The range mixes casual dining, gastropub food, fish and plant-based dishes, Indian cuisine and more formal fine dining. Onboard leisure facilities include four swimming pools, two of them infinity pools, approximately 20 whirlpools, a SkyDome with a retractable glass roof and an outdoor SeaScreen cinema. The Altitude activity area contains a ropes course and an adventure mini-golf course. The ship also has a chargeable spa with a hydrotherapy area, salt steam room, cold room, sauna and experiential showers. Its interior design broadly follows the layout and philosophy of Iona, although Arvia uses a more wood-toned aesthetic in its atrium and differs in the arrangement and treatment of dining venues. P&O Cruises announced Nicole Scherzinger as Arvia's godmother on 2 March 2023. The ship's naming ceremony took place in Barbados on 16 March 2023, with Scherzinger conducting the ceremony. Singer Olly Murs performed, and Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley attended and delivered a speech. Arvia remains an operating cruise ship marketed principally through P&O Cruises' United Kingdom-focused holiday network.

Arvia was commissioned by P&O Cruises as part of the expansion of its large contemporary cruise fleet. The ship was built by Meyer Werft at Papenburg in Germany, with construction officially beginning in February 2021. The vessel's keel was laid on 15 February 2022, followed by its float-out on 27 August. It left the shipyard on 5 November 2022 and was delivered to P&O Cruises on 9 December 2022. The ship's entry into service was affected by schedule changes. Delivery had originally been expected in the first half of 2022, but was moved to December. Although a maiden voyage had been planned for 9 December 2022, operational considerations led to a delay. Arvia eventually began passenger service on 23 December 2022 with a 14-night Canary Islands cruise departing from Southampton. Arvia is an Excellence-class ship and has a close relationship in design and onboard concept to P&O Cruises' Iona. At approximately 184,700 GT, it was described as the largest ship serving the British cruise market. Its design emphasizes the cruise-resort model: a large passenger capacity, numerous restaurants and bars, multiple pools, entertainment spaces, wellness facilities and activities for families and active travelers. The ship's food-and-beverage program includes more than 30 bars and restaurants. Its included venues include two Freedom Restaurants, the Horizon buffet, 6th Street Diner and The Olive Grove. The Glass House provides another dining and wine-focused venue. Specialty restaurants include Keel & Cow, Green & Co, Sindhu and the Epicurean, giving the ship a mixture of informal, specialist and formal dining experiences. Arvia differs from Iona in several details, including the number and arrangement of included dining rooms, the placement and menu treatment of The Olive Grove and the more wood-toned treatment of its atrium. Leisure facilities include four pools, around 20 whirlpools, a SkyDome with retractable glass roofing and an outdoor SeaScreen. The Altitude area adds a ropes course and adventure mini-golf, while the spa offers hydrotherapy and thermal facilities for an additional charge. These features support P&O Cruises' effort to offer a broad, self-contained holiday environment aboard a ship aimed primarily at the United Kingdom market. On 2 March 2023, P&O Cruises announced Nicole Scherzinger as Arvia's godmother. The formal naming ceremony was held in Barbados on 16 March 2023. Scherzinger took part in the ceremony, Olly Murs provided musical entertainment and Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley delivered a speech. Arvia continues to operate as a P&O Cruises vessel within the Carnival Corporation group.

1. 2023Godmother announced

   P&O Cruises announced Nicole Scherzinger as Arvia's godmother on 2 March 2023.

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2. 2023Naming ceremony in Barbados

   The ship was formally named in Barbados on 16 March 2023.

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3. 2022Keel laid

   The keel was laid on 15 February 2022.

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4. 2022Float-out

   Arvia was floated out on 27 August 2022.

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5. 2022Delivery to P&O Cruises

   Meyer Werft delivered the ship to P&O Cruises on 9 December 2022.

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6. 2022Maiden voyage

   After an operational delay, Arvia began its maiden voyage from Southampton on 23 December with a 14-night Canary Islands itinerary.

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7. 2021Construction officially begins

   Construction of Arvia officially began at Meyer Werft's Papenburg shipyard in Germany.

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A large, contemporary British cruise-resort experience combining extensive included and specialty dining, family activities, entertainment, pools and wellness facilities.

• Arvia cruise shipCruise ship2022

  Arvia is an approximately 184,700 GT Excellence-class cruise ship operated by P&O Cruises. It normally carries about 5,200 passengers and can accommodate approximately 6,685 at maximum berth utilization. The ship combines accommodation, transportation and resort facilities, including extensive dining, pools, entertainment, wellness services and activity areas.

• Onboard dining programDining2022

  Arvia offers more than 30 bars and restaurants. Included options include the Horizon buffet, two Freedom Restaurants, 6th Street Diner and The Olive Grove. Additional venues include The Glass House and specialty restaurants such as Keel & Cow, Green & Co, Sindhu and the Epicurean. Together they cover casual, Mediterranean, gastropub, fish and plant-based, Indian and fine-dining formats.

• Arvia leisure and wellness facilitiesLeisure and wellness2022

  The ship's leisure offering includes four swimming pools, two infinity pools, approximately 20 whirlpools, a SkyDome with retractable glass roofing and an outdoor SeaScreen. The Altitude activity area includes a ropes course and adventure mini-golf. Its extra-cost spa contains hydrotherapy and thermal facilities, including a salt steam room, cold room, sauna and experiential showers.

• 2022Maiden voyage postponedOther

  Arvia's maiden voyage had initially been scheduled for 9 December 2022, the planned delivery date, but the ship's operational schedule changed.

  What changed. P&O Cruises delayed the maiden voyage to 23 December 2022.

  Aftermath. The ship entered passenger service with a 14-night Canary Islands cruise departing from Southampton.

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• 2023Nicole Scherzinger announced as Arvia's godmother

  P&O Cruises announced singer Nicole Scherzinger as the ship's godmother.

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• 2023Arvia named in Barbados

  Arvia's beachside naming ceremony took place in Barbados on 16 March. Nicole Scherzinger conducted the ceremony, Olly Murs performed and Prime Minister Mia Mottley attended.

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• 2022Arvia keel laid at Meyer Werft

  The ship's keel was laid on 15 February 2022 during its construction at the Papenburg shipyard.

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• 2022Arvia floated out

  Arvia was floated out from the Meyer Werft construction facility on 27 August 2022.

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• 2021Arvia construction officially begins

  Construction of the P&O Cruises ship officially started at Meyer Werft in Germany.

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1. MS Arvia