P&O Cruises’ second Excel class ship, Arvia, joined the fleet in December 2022 bearing all of the hallmarks of her sister, Iona.
One big difference is that the luminous glass-roofed SkyDome is retractable, designed to maximise time in the sunshine in the warm climes. And the ship’s first multi-sensory escape, Mission Control, is set underwater on board a fictional submarine Arvia II,
Every aspect of Arvia has been designed to bring guests even closer to the sea, sky and shore, reflecting its name meaning “from the seashore”.
The SkyDome, measuring 40.96m by 34.24m, is a relaxed pool environment by day with entertainment by night, including live music, spectacular production shows, DJ sets and blockbuster movies al fresco on SeaScreen.
Arvia has eight speciality restaurants as well as 13 entertainment venues, four swimming pools including a spectacular infinity pool at the aft of the ship and 16 whirlpools.
New experiential retail areas on board include an area showcasing the latest in tech at sea, a ‘design your own’ fine jewellery bar; and the first-at-sea Swarovski ‘Wonder Lab’ Concept Store featuring the latest crystal collections. There will also be a collection of pre-loved handbags and watches.
New entertainment options include Altitude, Arvia’s outdoor adventure zone which features Altitude Skywalk, P&O Cruises first ever high-ropes experience, Altitude Minigolf and the new aqua zone at Splash Valley.
Mission Control is also exclusive to Arvia and is a unique immersive experience combining an escape game with multimedia simulation and a live-action story to create a thrilling underwater challenge.
At 185,000 tonnes, 345m in length and with 17 guest decks, she is powered by liquefied natural gas (LNG).
