Arcadia Embarks on P&O’s 2024 World Cruise

The Arcadia embarked on P&O Cruises’ 2024 World Cruise on Saturday. Sailing roundtrip from Southampton, the vessel is now offering a 99-night voyage that will circumnavigate the globe.

Cruising to Central America, the Caribbean, North America, Hawaii, the South Pacific, Southeast Asia, the Far East, the Red Sea, the Middle East and the Mediterranean, the full itinerary features visits to a total of 29 destinations.

After leaving the United Kingdom, the Arcadia is set to cross the Atlantic on its way to Freeport, in the Bahamas.

The 2005-built vessel then visits Florida and Aruba before transiting the Panama Canal and arriving in the Pacific Ocean for ports of call in Guatemala and Costa Rica.

Still in the Pacific, the ship visits Hawaii, Fiji, New Zealand and Australia on its way to Indonesia and the Southeast Asia.

Ports of call in the Philippines, Vietnam and Malaysia are also on the schedule, in addition to visits to Indonesia and Hong Kong.

On its way back to Europe, the Arcadia sails to other countries in Asia, the Middle East and the Red Sea, including Sri Lanka, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, and Egypt.

The final leg of the 2024 World Cruise features a transit of the Suez Canal, as well as ports of call in the Mediterranean and the Atlantic, such as Valletta, in Malta, and Cádiz, in Spain.

Completing the western circumnavigation of the globe, the Arcadia is scheduled to arrive back in Southampton on April 15.

The itinerary is highlighted by extended visits to key destinations across the globe, including overnight calls in Honolulu, Sydney, Hong Kong, and Dubai.

Built by the Fincantieri shipyard in Italy, the Arcadia originally debuted in April 2005. In 2018, the 1,968-guest ship underwent a major refurbishment that included updates to cabins, public areas, and more.

According to P&O, the project aimed at improving the onboard experience with a fresher and more contemporary feel.

P&O makes a play for the School half-terms to capture the Family Market.

P&O Britannia sitting pretty in the Caribbean photo credit Spacejunkie2 (Flickr account)

P&O Cruises has bolstered its autumn half-term offering for 2025 in an effort to entice more families onboard its ships. 

The line will operate three seven-night ex-Southampton sailings specifically aimed at families whose children go to schools in different countries within the UK.

The voyages depart on 18 October, 25 October and 1 November 2025. Each sailing covers a different October half-term either in Scotland, Northern Ireland or England. 

A P&O Cruises spokesperson said: “Consequently, there will be a much larger number of holidays departing during this period.”

P&O Cruises sales director Ruth Venn said: “We’ve tried to put three consecutive sailings to cover each of three half terms. It’s great to have broad appeal.” 

P&O Cruises will return to 12 ports, including Los Angeles, Melbourne, Bali, Bodo and Dunedin, for the first time in five or more years during 2025/26. 

The programme also features two new itineraries for Britannia. Prices for the sailings, which include calls to Jamaica, Turks and Caicos and Dominican Republic, start from £1,399pp.

From January 2026, Arcadia will operate a 100-night Eastern Circumnavigation World Cruise for the first time in nine years. 

The ship will call into 28 destinations including Dubai, Singapore, Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney, Dunedin, Auckland, San Francisco and Los Angeles. Prices start from £9,599pp. 

The line will visit Tangier, Morocco, for the first time when Azura calls there during its sailing from Valetta, Malta. 

Cruises booked by 4 December will include a 10% saving. Past guests, who have cruised with P&O Cruises for 15 nights or more, can access a further 5% discount on selected sailings. 

P&O Cruises to upgrade Arcadia and Aurora

P&O Cruises has announced a multi-million-pound investment for its adult-only ships, Arcadia and Aurora

The changes, which are due to be completed by May 2023, will include new balcony furniture, new chairs in cabins, as well as new furniture in the open deck areas.

On Arcadia, the Neptune Pool will also see changes with new lounge chairs, sofas, tables and armchairs.

A wider refit for Arcadia will take place in November 2024, while Aurora’s is scheduled for April 2025.

P&O Cruises president Paul Ludlow said: “Arcadia and Aurora are two of our most beloved ships in the fleet, offering guests a more intimate experience in stylish surroundings.

“After a busy season hosting guests on longer duration itineraries and world cruises, we will be making sure that both ships look their absolute finest ahead of the summer season.”

P&O Cruises recently named its latest ship Arvia during a  beachside ceremony in Barbados.

The event – hosted by broadcasters and DJs Sara Cox and Trevor Nelson – featured performances from Olly Murs and the ship’s godmother Nicole Scherzinger.

The 5,200-passenger Arvia is the line’s second Excel-class ship, following on from Iona.

It is P&O’s second vessel to be powered by liquefied natural gas and has an optimised hull design to minimise drag and the “latest energy-efficient technology”, according to P&O Cruises.