P&O Arvia Dining Review: Best & Worst Restaurants (and the Secret One You Won’t Find Online)

If you’ve ever wondered whether P&O Cruises Arvia speciality restaurants are worth the splurge, or whether you’re better off sticking to the main dining room or buffet, I have (valiantly) completed this very important research for you… and my waistband is still in recovery.

If you’ve ever tried to eat a civilised meal with a baby who is more clingy than a Koala and a toddler whose core food group is “bread roll”, you’ll understand why cruise dining matters – it’s one of the only consistent moments of joy and (hopefully) ease.

Over our July 2025 Arvia sailing, I set myself a slightly ridiculous challenge: try almost every speciality restaurant on board so you don’t have to - and report back on the food, the vibe, how it worked with kids, and how confidently each venue handled our family’s allergies (nuts for me, nuts/dairy/eggs for my toddler), and whether it’s actually worth your holiday budget. Oh, and I found a secret dining experience you won’t see on the P&O website.

Spoiler: some venues were brilliant, some baffling, and one meant I had to go to the buffet with the youths at 10pm.

🍴 How This Works

I’ve split this review into sections for each restaurant we tried, starting with the included venues and ending with the priciest experience we booked. For each, you’ll get:

• 💡 What it’s like and where to find it
• 🧭 What we ordered and how it worked with kids
• ✨ How they handled allergies and our score out of 5

If you’re here for the quick answer, scroll to The Leaderboard at the end for our top picks, and where I’d avoid next time.

🥗 Dining on P&O Cruises Arvia (A Very Quick Guide)

Before we get into the speciality venues, it’s worth knowing what’s already included in your fare.

On Arvia, that is predominantly the Main Dining Rooms (Meridian and Zenith), which serve a different menu every day for dinner, as well as breakfast and lunch. On the higher decks, you’ll also find the Horizon Buffet, which is open almost all day and night. You’ll also find The Beach House (Caribbean-inspired, small supplement in the evenings), poolside grills, and a few grab-and-go spots for pizza and burgers.

Speciality venues (as reviewed here) are venues which aren’t part of the MDR or buffet system, which sit alongside all of that included dining but offer something different, usually for an extra charge. You can mix and match depending on your mood, budget, and how much energy you have left after chasing toddlers round the splash zone.

📋 Contents

• 🍝 The Olive Grove
• 🥞 Sixth Street Diner
• 👨‍🍳 Chef’s Table
• 🥩 Keel & Cow
• 🌱 Green & Co (featuring Mizuhana)
• 🍛 Sindhu
• 🍷 Epicurean
• 🥂 The Cellar Door

🍝 The Olive Grove (Included) on P&O Arvia

First of all, Arvia’s Olive Grove is not Iona’s (Arvia’s sister ship) Olive Grove, and it’s worth managing expectations up front. On Iona it’s a lovely, varied Mediterranean concept; on Arvia it’s effectively an alternate dining room with a handful of extra “Mediterranean” dishes, tucked along what I came to call Restaurant Row. If you wander along Deck 6, it’s basically dining room after dining room, and the Olive Grove slots in as one of them.

We ate here once, and that was plenty. The kids were restless and service was patchy. The “Mediterranean” options included a nice mezze platter, but the pasta was forgettable and the lighting was oddly gloomy for a family dinner. Allergy-wise, we got safe mains sorted, but desserts were a flat “no”.

Verdict & Ratings

Food:

3/5 – Solid, not show-stopping; the Med extras are the best bet.

Vibe:

3.5/5 – Welcoming design, but I wish they would turn the lights up.

Allergy Experience:

3/5 – Mains were manageable; desserts a non-starter.

Service:

3.5/5 – Friendly but a little chaotic and rushed.

Value for Money:

3.5/5 – It’s included, so fine value, just not a standout.

Overall:

3/5

🥞 Sixth Street Diner (Included) on P&O Arvia

Decor-wise, this is a fun, bold, American-style diner that looks like it should be brilliant for families. Reality: long queues, slow service, and food that really didn’t justify waiting for. We tried it for breakfast – a mistake. Pancakes tasted identical to the buffet ones, only with added waiting. The toddler had fun with the booths, but that was about it. On paper, this should have been a family highlight; in practice, I wouldn’t bother again.

Allergy experience was mixed – they had oat milk but it took an age to appear, and options beyond that were limited. Service was flat, and I felt bad for the team because they were clearly overwhelmed.

Verdict & Ratings

Food:

2/5 – I can have better, fresher, pancakes in the buffet.

Vibe:

4/5 – Love the look; shame the experience didn’t match.

Allergy Experience:

4/5 – This wasn’t a problem, but oat milk took ages.

Service:

2.5/5 – Slow, flat, and oddly indifferent.

Value for Money:

3/5 – It’s free, but not worth the queuing.

Overall:

2.5/5

👨‍🍳 Chef’s Table (Included) on P&O Arvia

Sounds fancy, doesn’t it? It isn’t. On paper, Chef’s Table sounds intimate; in reality, it’s an organised scrum in the buffet space used by The Beach House on other evenings. Our sitting had 500+ guests. It was formal night, everyone was dressed up, and we all ate in a very loud room together – which is neither enjoyable nor fancy.

From a food and experience perspective, think: corporate awards dinner. My beef wellington was lovely, but noticeably different from my husband’s, likely due to allergy tweaks. I remain unconvinced that it was any different from what the MDR was serving that same night.

Service was sweet but clearly overwhelmed, drinks took forever, and orders went awry more than once. If you want “special”, the MDR would actually have felt calmer.

Verdict & Ratings

Food:

3.5/5 – Genuinely good beef; the rest was banquet fare.

Vibe:

2/5 – Buffet in a tux; busy, echoey, not relaxing.

Allergy Experience:

4/5 – Safe, but admin-heavy.

Service:

3/5 – Lovely team, outnumbered by logistics.

Value for Money:

2/5 – Free, yes, but stressful; special it is not.

Overall:

2.5/5

🥩 Keel & Cow (À la carte) on P&O Arvia

Keel & Cow is pitched as a gastropub: steaks, serious burgers, comfort dishes. In practice, its location – perched at the top of the atrium – makes dinner feel like you’ve booked the best table at a shopping mall food court. It’s hot, echoey, and the lights dip without warning when the atrium shows start. With small kids, that sensory combo is… a lot.

Food-wise, our steak was fine rather than fantastic, which stings at this price point. We had better sirloins in the MDR. That said, allergy handling was brilliant even when I forgot to pre-order – calm, clear, zero fuss. Dessert options for me: none. But our server was wonderful and so kind with the children.

Verdict & Ratings

Food:

3/5 – Edible, not exciting; steaks can be better elsewhere.

Vibe:

2/5 – Loud, hot, atrium-adjacent theatrics; not ideal with kids.

Allergy Experience:

4/5 – Excellent handling even without pre-order.

Service:

4/5 – Warm, thoughtful, genuinely lovely.

Value for Money:

3/5 – Rising prices + middling plates = meh.

Overall:

3.5/5

🌱 Green & Co (featuring Mizuhana) (£10pp set menu) on P&O Arvia

This one’s unique to Arvia – and easily my favourite. It’s light, colourful, airy, with sea-view tables that feel properly grown-up and thoughtfully spaced. My only concern was that it felt a little empty at times, which made me nervous for its future popularity. Hopefully it’s deliberate capacity management – because this is worth visiting.

The food is creative, beautiful, and full of flavour; the chakalaka wellington and coconut cake were standouts, and the sushi was fresh and bright. Portions can be small, so order wisely. Our first visit had an allergy mishap when my pre-order was forgotten (we sat for nearly an hour while they scrambled). Second visit: flawless. That’s how good it was – we went twice.

Verdict & Ratings

Food:

4.5/5 – Inventive, flavourful, beautifully plated.

Vibe:

4/5 – Calm, airy, grown-up; occasionally too quiet.

Allergy Experience:

3/5 – One poor miss; second visit redeemed it.

Service:

4/5 – A mixed first impression, then excellent.

Value for Money:

5/5 – Priced lower than some, yet miles better.

Overall:

4.25/5

🍛 Sindhu (£21pp set menu) on P&O Arvia

Sindhu is a P&O favourite for us, and this visit mostly delivered on our warm, celebratory expectations. It’s absolutely lovely inside. If you’re planning to eat here, I’d recommend arriving a little early and having a drink at the bar – the Cosmopolitans and the East India Punch were both hits.

The lamb starter was particularly good, and all the mains were a hit. Portions are generous – maybe too big! The only issue was allergy handling: I was told I couldn’t eat several things (including the bread and poppadoms) because they’re bought in. A shame, as I’ve safely had them before.

The silver lining: service was excellent. The team made a real fuss of the kids and struck that perfect warm/professional balance.

Verdict & Ratings

Food:

4.5/5 – Rich, flavourful, generous.

Vibe:

4/5 – Elegant, well laid out; a proper night out.

Allergy Experience:

3/5 – Safe, but too many “no, you can’t” moments.

Service:

4/5 – Excellent, especially with children.

Value for Money:

4/5 – Worth it for a treat evening.

Overall:

4/5

🍷 Epicurean (£35pp set menu) on P&O Arvia

Epicurean is the “dress up, be fancy” option. The décor leans soulless, but the location (high deck, tucked away near the suites) makes it feel like an occasion. Service was brilliant – one server even remembered my eldest from a previous cruise.

The food was refined and tasty, though not quite fireworks-spectacular. Côte de boeuf used to be hand-carved at the table; now it’s two steaks. Still delicious, but the theatre is gone. Desserts soared – the white chocolate crème brûlée was a highlight. Allergy handling was superb: I even got the same bread as everyone else. Trust me, that’s cruise-mum magic.

Verdict & Ratings

Food:

4/5 – Refined and tasty, but missing the wow factor.

Vibe:

4/5 – Formal but kind.

Allergy Experience:

5/5 – Thoughtful touches (hello, bread equality!).

Service:

5/5 – Knowledgeable, warm, brilliant with kids.

Value for Money:

3.5/5 – Lovely splurge, but less special than before.

Overall:

4/5

🍾 The Cellar Door at The Glass House (£60pp) on P&O Arvia

The secret one. Cellar Door is a four-course, wine-paired dinner hosted in a small room off The Glass House. You won’t find it online – you need to ask at the bar or be invited by staff. It felt intimate (just five tables), hosted by a sommelier who guided us through each pairing.

At £60pp, it’s pricey if you’ve already bought the drinks package (you still pay full price). The food was thoughtful, but my pork main was overcooked, and allergy handling was unimaginative – no crackers with the cheese course, and no substitute offered. Still, pacing and atmosphere were lovely, and it did feel like a treat.

Verdict & Ratings

Food:

4/5 – Thoughtful menu; one miss on the main.

Vibe:

3.5/5 – Cosy and “in the know”, but atrium noise seeps in.

Allergy Experience:

3.5/5 – Safe but unimaginative substitutes.

Service:

4/5 – Warm, knowledgeable, nicely paced.

Value for Money:

3.5/5 – Pricey if you’ve got the package, but memorable.

Overall:

4/5

🏆 The Leaderboard

🥉 Third place – Sindhu
Flavour-packed, welcoming, and a proper evening out. If allergy handling returned to its former flexibility, it’d be a five-star contender.

🥈 Second place – Epicurean
Formal without frostiness, exceptional service, and a dessert I’m still dreaming about. Pricey, but feels like a treat.

🥇 First place – Green & Co featuring Mizuhana
Beautiful plates, brilliant cocktails, and the only venue we loved enough to revisit.

🚫 One to avoid (for breakfast) – Sixth Street Diner
All style, not much substance. If you’re queuing half an hour for the same pancakes the buffet is handing out… maybe skip.

🍴 My Tips for Planning Your Own P&O Arvia Dining

💡 Tip: Book your speciality dining the minute slots open (14 days before sailing). Popular venues really do vanish within minutes.

💡 Tip: With allergies, pre-order at least 24 hours in advance. It saves the awkward scramble when everyone else has ordered and you’re still negotiating risotto safety.

💡 Tip: Timing matters – some venues are calm at lunch but people-watching arenas at dinner.

And if all else fails? The buffet will always take you back. Anytime.

🔗 Planning your own Arvia food tour?

📺 My full Arvia family review (rules, facilities, dining & our Little Cruiser Score) is here: here
🛳 The ship-wide review – the good, the bad, and the crowded – is here: here
▶ Prefer to watch? The YouTube dining deep-dive, with menus and plates, is here: here

📸 Come say hi on Instagram @lisschatsship for real-time tips, snaps, and the occasional “why are the pram wheels always locked” rant. And if you’ve eaten your way around Arvia too, tell me your winners and “never agains” – purely for research… and a little nosy gossip.

📲 Follow for More

You can find more cruise reviews, tips for travelling with little ones, and new videos every other Friday right here:

• 📸 Instagram: @lisschatsship
• ▶️ YouTube: LissChatsShip on YouTube
• 📝 Blog: www.lisschatsship.com
• ✉️ Email: lisschatsship@gmail.com

P&O Cruises Drinks Packages 2025 – Are they Worth It? Prices, Tips and Reviews

Thinking about the drinks package for your P&O Cruise? Is it a money saver or a way to drain your bank account quicker than the slot machines in the casino.

Cruise forums love a P&O Cruises drinks package review (or debate) almost as much as they love arguing over dress codes. Some people swear it’s a money-saver. Others claim it’s a waste unless you’re committed to a cruise-long happy hour or a budding alcohol addiction. With P&O Cruises drinks packages in 2025, the truth is… it depends on your habits, your sailing, and your patience for mental maths.

I’ve sailed with P&O Cruises both with and without a drinks package, so here’s a full breakdown and my thoughts, including how it works, the different options, what’s actually included, and whether it’s worth your money.

🍹 What Drinks Cost on P&O Cruises Without a Package

One of the first things to know about P&O drinks prices is that bar prices are in pounds, with no automatic gratuities added - unlike most American cruise lines where the final bill can make your eyes water more than the tequila. The drinks prices on the P&O Cruises drinks menu are roughly similar to UK pub prices, with cocktails usually £7.00 - £9.00, wines anywhere from £6.00 - £12.00 a glass, and beers from about £4.00.

Soft drinks aren’t free unless you’re grabbing water, tea, or coffee from the buffet, so if you’re ordering Diet Coke all day, it will add up.

🥤 The Drinks Packages

P&O currently offers four main options (prices correct as of August 2025):

1) P&O Refresh Package (£14.45 per person, per day)

Unlimited soft drinks. Great for kids, non-drinkers, or those who just want endless Sprite on tap, but apparently have managed to get through life without ever requiring water.

2) P&O Alcohol-Free Package (£26.95 per person, per day)

Everything in the Refresh Package plus Costa coffee, hot chocolates, teapigs teas, non-alcoholic beers, still and sparkling waters and a few non-alcoholic cocktails.

3) P&O Classic Drinks Package (£48.85 per person, per day)

This includes everything in the Alcohol-Free Package, plus spirits, selected cocktails, wines, and beers up to £7.95 each. Anything above that price gets a discount, but instead of paying the difference (as you would with other cruise lines’ packages), you pay the amount in full with that discount.

4) P&O Deluxe Drinks Package (£60.50 per person, per day)

Same as Classic but with a higher price limit - drinks up to £10. This covers most of the P&O Cruises wine list, premium spirits, and fancy cocktails (but more on that later…). It also means that the spirit pours are, by default, doubles, and glasses of wine are default at 250ml.

💡 Tip: Is it overcomplicated? No comment. But if you book in advance of the cruise you do get 10% off.

📜 The Fine Print (and the Eyerolls)

• 🗓️ All Holiday Long: The packages are available for all cruises over 5 days long and must be bought for the whole cruise - no picking just a few days.
• 🛏️ Cabin rule: All adults in the same stateroom must buy the same package. If one of you doesn’t drink, you’re out of luck. Having said that, I do understand that there are some exceptions to this rule for medical reasons or pregnancy; however, I’m not sure how consistently this is provided and certainly don’t believe it to be standard practice.
• 👧 Kids Packages: If the adults in a cabin have an alcoholic drinks package, the under 18s in the cabin get the Refresh package included. However, if they’re anything like my teen cousins they’ll be fuming that the package doesn’t include mocktails and will be demanding the Alcohol-Free package - and you’d have to pay for that separately rather than pay the difference.
• 🥂 Daily limit: The packages only include up to 15 alcoholic drinks in 24 hours. No round-buying allowed, so if you’re trying to make friends with the whole bar you’ll need another tactic.
• 🚫 Not included: There are quite a few things which are simply not included in any package. This includes room service, mini-bar items, self-serve wine/beer machines, Anderson’s exclusives, and certain cocktails and spirits. This includes, annoyingly, the entire Amber Lounge cocktail menu - none of which are within either of the drinks packages anymore. It definitely used to be…!
• 🍾 Bring-on options: You can bring 1 litre of wine/champagne and extra soft drinks, but the rest gets confiscated. A corkage fee applies if you drink it in public areas.
• 💳 Onboard credit: Onboard credit can only be used once on the ship; so if you have good OBC then you can’t also make use of the 10% discount from buying in advance. Bit sneaky, that one.
• 🥤 The Diet Coke mystery: in some menus on my latest Arvia cruise, it appeared that Diet Coke and Coke Zero were only included in the deluxe package. Now, to me this seems a little restrictive, but equally it could have just been a printing error.

💡 Tip: If you’re sitting on onboard credit, weigh up whether to buy the package on board (use OBC) or pre-cruise (use the 10% discount). You can’t stack both.

🤔 So, is it worth it?

A drinks package can be good value if:

• ☕ You regularly have a speciality coffee in the morning, wine or beer at lunch, cocktails by the pool, and a drink or two with dinner.
• 🌊 Your sailing has a lot of sea days, where you see yourself lounging with a cocktail in hand.
• 🧪 You like trying different drinks without worrying about the price.
• 🧾 You don’t want to think about your onboard bill.

The Classic Package tends to be the sweet spot for most people, as long as your daily drinks add up to more than £49.00 - which, with a couple of cocktails, a coffee, and a wine with dinner, isn’t hard.

However, it might not be worth it if:

• 🥛 You simply don’t drink much - paying individually could be smarter.
• 🗺️ You’re off the ship most days in port and won’t be drinking much onboard.
• ☕ You prefer the buffet coffee (although, I am a coffee snob so I do judge you for that…)
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 You’re travelling with people who don’t drink much and don’t want to be forced to buy the same package.

Drop your own maths in the comments - I’d love to know your personal break-even point.

🎭 Choose Your Fighter

• 🍷 The Wine-Loving Couple - If you and your partner have two glasses each with lunch and dinner, plus a pre-dinner cocktail, and get quickly bored of the same Sauvignon night after night, the Deluxe package is for you.
• 👨‍👩‍👧 Family with One Drinker - If one adult doesn’t drink at all, you can’t just put them on a cheaper package unless there’s a medical or pregnancy exemption, so you’d be better off paying as you go rather than paying over the odds for extra packages.
• 🍸 Cocktail-Only Cruiser - If you love elaborate cocktails, the Classic cap will sting and the Deluxe package does extend your options. Having said that, if you truly love a fancy cocktail then the Amber Lounge is your den - and the cocktails there aren’t included in any packages at all.
• 🥤 Soft Drink & Coffee Addict - If you’re knocking back Sprite and Costa flat whites all day, the non-alcoholic package might work for you. Although by day four your caffeine intake may rival the ship’s engine room.
• 🥂 The Spritzer Socialite - You like a fizz at sailaway, a wine at dinner, and a limoncello to round it off. You’ll likely scrape value from the Classic package, but only if you remember to visit the café for a few coffees.
• 📚 The All-Day Lounger - You’ve got a book, a sun lounger, and the ambition to work your way through the cocktail menu, but you’re not picky about wines or double spirits. The Classic will suit you.
• ☕🍷 The Coffee-to-Cabernet Cruiser - Your day starts with a flat white from Costa and ends with a robust red from the Glass House. Deluxe is the one that will keep you caffeinated and content.
• 🚰 The “I’ll Just Have Water” Wanderer - You’re rarely on board, live off buffet tea, and drink your wine on land. Skip the package, spend it on excursions.

👩‍👩‍👧‍👦 My Take

If you’re sailing somewhere hot, with plenty of sea days, and you enjoy a mix of coffees, cocktails, and soft drinks, a package is a stress-free way to avoid mental arithmetic every time you order. On the other hand, if you’re on a port-heavy cruise, or chasing small children around the splash park instead of the bar, you might struggle to get full value - especially if nap schedules keep you away from the late-night entertainment.

For us, with a toddler and a baby in tow, I typically go for the package, but only because I tend not to cram my days, even on port days, with lots of adventures. Read my blog here about why I don’t always get off the ship. This means I’m typically pretty comfortable that I’ve had my money’s worth on the Classic package. If I feel like splurging, I might also go for the Deluxe package just to enjoy a real treat holiday, especially for more luxury wine options in the Glass House.

Bottom line? The drinks package isn’t about getting the most booze for your buck - it’s about whether you want to spend your cruise doing long division or long sipping.

🔗 Planning Your Cruise Bar Tab?

• 🍽️ You can see my full review of P&O Arvia’s restaurants on my website here.
• 🧠 More family cruise tips and honest reviews on Instagram: @lisschatsship
• ▶️ Prefer to watch? Weekly cruise videos on YouTube: subscribe here

📲 Follow for More

You can find more cruise reviews, tips for travelling with little ones, and new videos every other Friday right here:

• 📸 Instagram: @lisschatsship
• ▶️ YouTube: LissChatsShip on YouTube
• 📝 Blog: www.lisschatsship.com
• ✉️ Email: lisschatsship@gmail.com

P&O Cruises Complaints: What’s True, What’s Not, and Why I Still Recommend Them for Families

If you’ve spent more than ten minutes in a cruise Facebook group, you’ll know that P&O Cruises gets a lot of criticism.

Some of it’s fair, some of it’s wildly exaggerated, and some of it is just people mixing them up with an entirely different company.

I’ve sailed with P&O plenty of tim es — most recently a two-week summer cruise on P&O’s Arvia with my two young children. I’ve experienced both the “what were they thinking?” moments and the “this is brilliant” surprises.

Here’s my take on the most common complaints you’ll hear, whether they are fair, and why I still think P&O can be a great choice for families.

🚪 The Cabin Location Controversy

The most-vlogged P&O gripe online is about P&O Arvia’s conservatory mini suites on Deck 8. On paper, they sound lovely — private conservatory space plus a balcony. In reality, your balcony is directly on the promenade, and anyone walking past can wave at you while you sip your coffee. Some are even right next to hot tubs that seem permanently occupied.

The truth is that, it’s a significant design flaw if you value privacy. We specifically booked a Deck 9 conservatory mini suite instead — one deck higher, with a proper balcony and no foot traffic. You can watch my P&O Arvia cabin review for more detail on those issues here.

📌 Tip: Always check the deck plans before booking. Location, location, location!

✈️ The Maleth Airlines Mess

This one’s hard to defend. In 2023 and 2024, P&O used Maleth Airlines for long-haul P&O Caribbean fly-cruises. The aircraft had no entertainment, were cramped for eight-hour flights, and often didn’t turn up on time.

We were caught up in a 13-hour delay at a closed airport in Antigua with minimal communication. This was not unusual — I haven’t heard of a single Maleth P&O flight that ran on time.

I also have a severe nut allergy, and despite notifying the airline in advance and again on board, nuts were served on the flight. The crew had to make a last-minute announcement asking people not to eat what they’d just handed out. Not exactly reassuring.

Refunds for delays are still in limbo. We’re owed over £1,500, and the process is painfully slow. Due to the ongoing legal dispute between Maleth and P&O, it doesn’t look like any compensation will be forthcoming.

P&O has now switched to TUI and Norse Atlantic for their upcoming Caribbean sailings, which should be more reliable, but for some passengers the Maleth episode left a lasting bad taste. I get it; being locked in a dark airport with a sobbing two year old was not a highlight of my cruise.

💸 Cost-Cutting Claims

Post-pandemic, many guests say P&O has trimmed back the extras:

• 👥 Fewer staff, slower service
• 🍽️ Dining changes and extra charges
• 🧹 Housekeeping less frequent (and no more evening turndown service)

I agree some changes are noticeable, but others feel more like a shift in the industry generally. For example, I don’t personally miss turndown — I can live without a chocolate on my pillow.

Some people frame this as a P&O customer service issue, but in my view it’s more about knowing what’s included before you book. Manage your expectations and you’re less likely to be disappointed.

⛴️ The P&O Ferries Confusion

This one drives me up the wall. P&O Cruises and P&O Ferries are completely different companies. The ferry company made headlines in 2023 for mass redundancies and poor treatment of staff.

P&O Cruises had nothing to do with it, but plenty of people still think they’re the same organisation. They’re not. End of story.

🌟 What P&O Does Better Than Most

Now, before we all start packing pitchforks, I want to be fair — there are things P&O does really well. The staff? Brilliant. We’ve had so many crew members go out of their way to help us, whether it’s finding an extra bread roll for my toddler at 4pm or just remembering my favourite coffee after a hard night with our baby. And the fact you can sail straight from Southampton without a flight, all year round? Game-changer when you’re travelling with small kids, pushchairs, and a family-sized stash of Calpol.

But for me, there are two things P&O does that tip the scales in their favour for families — and they’re the kind of benefits you might not even know about until you’re onboard.

🧳 1) Bonded Luggage Service — The Airport Fairy Tale

If you’ve ever flown long-haul with children, you’ll know the horror: weaving through a crowded arrivals hall, pushing a buggy one-handed while dragging a suitcase, a Trunki, and possibly a toddler who’s decided now is the moment to practice her best unicorn gallop.

P&O Cruise’s bonded luggage service makes all of that disappear. Here’s how it works: if you’re on one of their P&O Cruises Caribbean fly-cruises (and a few other itineraries like Malta), you check in your suitcase at your UK airport. You don’t see it again until it’s outside your cabin door on the ship. No baggage claim. No customs hall balancing a wriggly child on one hip and a 23kg case on the other. You just step off the plane, get on the transfer, and go straight to your holiday.

If you’ve ever thought “I’ll wait until the kids are older before doing the Caribbean,” this might be the thing that changes your mind.

🌙 2) The Night Nursery

Every cruise line will tell you they’re family-friendly, but very few back it up with something as genuinely useful as P&O’s night nursery. Between 6pm and 2am, you can drop off your baby or toddler (up to age 4) for supervised sleep while you enjoy a grown-up evening on the ship.

It’s completely free (no babysitting fees, no booking a year in advance, no limit on usage) and it’s staffed by trained childcare professionals who will call you if your child wakes up and needs you.

For parents, this is gold. You can have dinner in a speciality restaurant without trying to eat a £35 steak in under three minutes. You can go to the theatre without worrying about bedtime meltdowns. Or you can just sit on your balcony with a drink and remember what silence sounds like.

And because it’s P&O, the nursery is indoors, quiet, and secure — not a noisy kids’ club corner. It genuinely feels like an extension of your own bedtime routine, not a compromise.

For me, these two services alone make P&O one of the most family-friendly cruise lines.

⚖️ My Verdict

P&O isn’t perfect. There are real issues worth knowing about, and they’re not for everyone. But they also do some family-friendly things better than most other lines — and for some, those benefits outweigh the downsides.

Would I book again? Yes. I have, in fact. I’m going on a Caribbean cruise on P&O Arvia in January and I’m already so looking forward to it! Take a look here and read about my review of P&O’s Avia in Europe in 2025 to see all the things I loved.

📌 Over to you: Have you experienced any of these complaints yourself? Or do you have a different P&O gripe (or compliment) to add? Let me know in the comments on my YouTube video or drop me a message on Instagram.

📲 Follow for More

You can find more cruise reviews, tips for travelling with little ones, and new videos every other Friday right here:

• 📸 Instagram: @lisschatsship
• ▶️ YouTube: LissChatsShip on YouTube
• 📝 Blog: www.lisschatsship.com
• ✉️ Email: lisschatsship@gmail.com

P&O Arvia Cruise Family Review – Europe 2025: Our Honest Family Experience

Thinking of cruising on P&O Cruises’ Arvia with little ones? Here’s everything we learned from sailing with a 6-month-old and a 3-year-old in Summer 2025; the wins, the challenges, and what I’d do differently next time.

We’ve just returned from 14 nights onboard Arvia with our toddler and baby, and while this wasn’t our first time on the ship (we last cruised her in 2022), this was our first experience with two small children in tow.

So, what’s Arvia really like for families? Here’s everything we noticed.

👶 The Basics: Rules, Ages, and What You Need to Know

Minimum Age: Babies must be 6 months old and P&O are strict on this (they check birth certificates like you’re 17 and trying to get into Wetherspoons). Our youngest was just days past the minimum when we boarded.

🧸 Kids’ Clubs & Nursery

So what are the kids' club offerings on P&O Cruises - and how do they actually work?

🎏 The Reef

P&O Cruises offers a dedicated kids’ club called The Reef, which is split into four age groups:

• 🎈 Splashers: 2–4 years
• 🌊 Surfers: 5–8 years
• 🤿 Scubas: 9–12 years
• 🎮 The Scene: 13–17 years

Each group has a tailored programme of activities and is run by DBS-checked youth staff.

Sessions usually take place in three daily blocks:

• ⏰ Morning (typically 10am–12pm)
• ⏰ Afternoon (2pm–5pm)
• ⏰ Evening (6:15pm–11pm)

Do note: on port days, there are usually no morning sessions available.

Our toddler, aged 3, joined the Splashers group and had a great time - a big change from our previous cruise when she refused to go. The staff were welcoming, enthusiastic, and made a huge fuss over her arrival, which helped her settle in straight away.

🧸 Onboard Nursery

For babies aged 6 months and up, there’s a nursery room with toys, books, a little soft climbing structure and baby-friendly facilities - but it’s not a drop-off service. A parent or carer must stay with the child during the session.

We used this a lot when our eldest was a baby, but this time around, our youngest wasn’t such a fan. Still, it’s a calm space for a break - especially useful on sea days or when your cabin needs a tidy.

🌙 The Night Nursery

This is one of the standout family-friendly features on P&O Cruises’ ships. The Night Nursery is available for children under 4 years old and is open from 6:00pm to 11:00pm (or 1:00am with prior arrangement).

If your child falls asleep in a pram, or you’re able to take them up and settle them in the beds or cots in the nursery, you can drop them off and enjoy the evening. You’re given a pager and contacted immediately if they wake up.

Unlike many other cruise lines that offer paid babysitting, this is a free service, and a brilliant option if you want a relaxed adults-only dinner or show (or just sit in your cabin and enjoy the silence). It worked beautifully for us when our eldest was a baby - but our youngest is a contact napper and hates his pram, so we didn’t use it as much this time around.

📲 Booking System

One change we encountered on this sailing was a new booking system being trialled onboard. It had two main options:

• 💳 Paid Pre-Booking: You could book sessions in advance for between £5–£8 per slot. This helped guarantee childcare during adult-only dining or spa appointments.
• 📅 Daily Free Booking via App: Free sessions became available to book from 8:30am the day before. These were released in limited numbers, and while we found good availability in Splashers, we heard from other parents that trying to book for Surfers (ages 5–8) felt like competing for Glastonbury tickets.

⚠️ If you missed a session you booked, you could be charged up to £10, and drop-off periods felt chaotic - lots of queuing, lots of confusion. The app system added an unexpected layer of stress, especially with young children and unpredictable nap schedules. The prebooking requirement even applies to the Night Nursery, which seems really contradictory to the point of the Night Nursery – to watch your children if you’re lucky enough to get them to sleep!

In our case, we didn’t make every session we booked, but the team kindly waived the fees. Still, we found the lack of flexibility frustrating for families with little ones who don’t run to a fixed schedule.

🛝 Onboard Facilities for Babies and Toddlers

💦 Splash Zones and Pools

There are three pools where children are allowed, and unlike some cruise lines, P&O permits babies and toddlers in swim nappies to use them. Lifeguards are present at key times around the pools. Having said that, the splash zone was definitely the biggest hit with our toddler - colourful, shallow, and full of water features for safe, active play.

It’s worth noting that on sea days the pools did feel very busy. And if your little ones are sensitive to noise or crowds, it might not be the most relaxing space.

🏟️ SkyDome

The SkyDome - a glass-covered pool area with a retractable roof - is designed as an all-weather solution. But in practice, it turns into a hot, echoey space when the weather’s poor.

On rainy days, the dome was full of wet swimmers and soggy towels, and the pool itself felt overcrowded and overstimulating for small children. If you’re a UK reader, it reminded me a lot of a Center Parcs swimming pool.

🧩 Soft Play & Indoor Spaces

Disappointingly, some of the advertised facilities weren’t open. There’s a designated soft play area in The Club House which remained closed the entire trip. I also repeatedly saw adverts around the ship for a Little City role-play space which the adverts claimed would be posted in the Horizon magazine but, like the socks I always put in the washing machine, never appeared. It wasn’t clear why, and that lack of clarity was frustrating.

🐣 Toddler Time

Each day there was a 9:00am or 3:00pm “Toddler Time” show - themed music and movement activities aimed at the under-twos. When we tried this on a previous cruise, it felt flat - the staff were kind, but read from a script and didn’t engage much. We skipped it this time, but we’d love to see it improved in future.

🎭 Entertainment for Kids

P&O absolutely excelled here. Over the two-week cruise, there were themed shows for children - from pop performances to animal adventures - plus circus school, craft sessions, and dance parties.

Our toddler had a brilliant time, and even insisted we went to meet the Animal Guys one evening in their Meet and Greet. The crew outside the kids’ club also went out of their way to engage with children onboard - high fives, jokes, and lots of friendly chats at dinner.

A small note: some of the kids’ entertainment clashed with kids’ club sessions, which meant families had to choose between the two. A little more coordination here would have helped.

🍼 Dining with Babies and Toddlers

There’s a dedicated Children’s Tea held in the buffet most nights - perfect for families who want an earlier, more casual dinner. One evening, our toddler even “had tea with a T-Rex”!

But the kids' menu itself was limited, and allergy-safe options were more so. P&O Cruises advertise a link with Annabel Karmel, but we didn’t see that reflected onboard.

🥄 I’ve got a full post about allergy-safe dining on Arvia coming soon - stay tuned for updates!

We usually ate dinner together as a family in the main dining room, and the limited options meant that our eldest ended up eating pasta almost every night.

🥣 Weaning Onboard

We were weaning our 6-month-old during the cruise, and it was a mixed bag. Daily purees were available, but the flavours were odd - think “salmon and peach.” One of them prompted my husband to declare it tasted like “vomit with a dry finish.” We gave up on the purees after that.

Instead, we used one of our stops to buy some easier pouches for our youngest. If he’d been a bit older though, there were some suitable finger food options in the buffet too - soft bread, steamed veg, and plain pasta If you’re in the weaning phase, I’d recommend bringing some baby snacks and pouches just in case.

🚿 Changing Facilities

Most accessible toilets had fold-down baby changers, which was really helpful - no need to run back to your cabin every time.

That said, the toilet doors were... quirky. Some had an odd light-based locking system that confused a lot of guests, and more than once we saw people accidentally walk in on others or leave the door unlocked without realising. They definitely were not designed by someone who’s ever used a toilet with a toddler “guarding” the door.

🧳 What I Wish I’d Packed

One thing I really wish we’d brought? A small inflatable baby pool.

It would’ve been perfect for bath time, or for letting our baby splash near our sunbed without getting overwhelmed by the bigger pools. We’ve used the balcony bath trick in the past, but it wasn’t possible this time due to the location and layout of our cabin.

💭 Overall Family Experience

We had a lovely time - especially seeing our toddler enjoy the splash zone and children’s shows. But there wasn’t anything that felt truly magical or unforgettable for little ones, and I’m not sure our kids would be wowed by a second sailing on the same ship.

That said, we’re heading back on Arvia in January for a Caribbean cruise, and I’m really curious to see how different a term-time sailing will feel compared to this busy summer sailing.

⭐ The Little Cruiser Score

Our final rating for the family experience onboard Arvia - based on our personal experience with a baby and toddler:

⭐

Ease for Parents

3/5

⭐

Facilities & Features

3/5

⭐

Food Flexibility

2/5

⭐

Family Factor

3/5

⭐

Overall Score

2.5/5

This score reflects a bit of everything - some lovely moments, but also logistical challenges that made things feel more effort than ease.

💬 Have you sailed with babies or toddlers? I’d love to hear how it went for you - every family’s experience is different, and I always love swapping tips.

🎥 Want to See the Full Video?

If you'd prefer to watch our family review, including real footage from onboard and a full explanation of our score, you can catch the full episode on YouTube:

👉 Watch the Arvia Family Cruise Review

📲 Follow for More

You can find more cruise reviews, tips for travelling with little ones, and new videos every other Friday right here:

• 📸 Instagram: @lisschatsship
• ▶️ YouTube: LissChatsShip on YouTube
• 📝 Blog: www.lisschatsship.com
• ✉️ Email: lisschatsship@gmail.com

P&O Arvia Cruise Review - Europe 2025: The Good, the Bad, and the Crowded

We’ve just returned from a 14-night sailing on board P&O Cruises' Arvia, and in this post I’m sharing my full, honest review of the ship, the itinerary, and the overall experience.

This wasn’t our first time on Arvia, we sailed on her in 2022, but this was our first time returning with a clearer idea of what to expect, and with two children, two prams, and about eleven teddy bears, which have somehow multiplied over the fortnight!

Here’s everything we noticed, loved, and think is worth considering before you book.

🛳️ The Basics

• 📍 Ship: P&O Arvia
• 🗺️ Itinerary: “Spain, France & Italy” – Southampton, A Coruña, Mallorca, La Spezia, La Seyne Sur Mer, Barcelona, Cadiz, Southampton
• 📅 Sailing Date: July 2025
• ⏳ Duration: 14 nights
• 🛳️ Embarkation Port: Southampton

📍 Itinerary Overview

This cruise was marketed as a Spain–France–Italy itinerary, with highlights including Barcelona, Palma, and La Spezia. However, there was a last-minute switch from Toulon to La Seyne-sur-Mer (after final payments for the cruise itself), with passengers asked to pay for a shuttle boat if they still wanted to visit Toulon. It felt a little like being charged to attend a party you’ve already RSVP’d to, and caused a few complaints online in advance of our trip.

Some ports required long transfers, and a few weren’t ideal for relaxed sightseeing, particularly if you're not keen on heat, queues, or coach tours. That said, La Seyne-sur-Mer ended up being a quiet gem, with beautiful walks and incredible street art.

🛠️ Ship Overview

Arvia is P&O Cruises’ newest ship (launched in 2022), and very much a modern mega-ship experience. Think light and bright shopping mall meets a five star resort.

There’s a strong emphasis on open space, natural light, and contemporary design, which works beautifully in sunshine, but feels crowded fast when the weather turns.

• 🏊 4 pools + a splash zone (a big hit with our toddler!)
• 🏟️ SkyDome indoor pool area
• 🏢 16 guest decks
• 🍽️ Wide range of restaurants (some included, some extra cost)
• 🎭 Multiple entertainment venues
• 👨‍👩‍👧 Family areas including kids’ club, mini golf, and night nursery

🍽️ Dining & Drinks

Dining on Arvia is a mix of included venues (buffet, main dining room, the Olive Grove, Sixth Street Diner etc.) and paid speciality options like Green & Co., Sindhu, The Keel & Cow and The Glass House.

The buffet and Main Dining Room were fine but nothing special, especially if you have dietary restrictions, where things can get repetitive.

The speciality dining, though, was excellent. We paid extra to dine at Green & Co. twice, and it really felt like a proper night out that you wish you could take your Mum friends to. If you’re a foodie, it’s worth the splurge.

I’ve got a full video all about the food on Arvia coming soon, including how they handled allergies, so subscribe on YouTube to catch it.

📌 Tip: Popular speciality venues book up quickly on sea days. Pre-book what you can, and if you have allergies, note them on your booking and speak to the venue host the day before.

🎭 Entertainment & Atmosphere

Entertainment is a mixed bag. The theatre shows felt a bit tired; if you’ve cruised P&O before, you’ve probably seen most of them; I certainly remembered the “Festival” show from a few years ago and it hasn’t changed. On our sailing, the headliners included a juggler, a comedian, and a rather polarising Taylor Swift tribute act (who boldly skipped a couple of verses like we wouldn't notice…). She returned as P!nk a few nights later.

However, the entertainment put on for the children was brilliant. There were themed dinners (my eldest had tea with a T. rex) and two different shows throughout the fortnight; the first week was animal themed, and the second week was pop music themed. Our three year old loved them, although I think the engagement would drop off if your children were over 7 or 8 years old.

The atrium looks impressive but functions awkwardly; dining alongside loud shows and constant foot traffic isn't ideal, especially if you’re trying to keep a three year old focussed. At times, it felt more like an airport lounge than a relaxing venue.

The ship’s vibe is friendly and casual, but on grey days or sea days, all the spaces filled up quickly and the swimming pool in the SkyDome resembled an overcrowded fish tank.

😬 What Didn’t Work

• 🌧️ Overcrowding on grey days; indoor spaces got packed
• 🛗 Limited lift availability; especially difficult for those with mobility needs or prams
• 🧭 Accessibility quirks; no full circuit around the top deck, uneven pathways in places
• 🥗 Allergy handling; inconsistent and repetitive (more on this on my YouTube)
• 🚌 Port logistics; long walks and shuttles in multiple destinations

🌟 Highlights

• 🙌 Outstanding staff – they were always kind, attentive, and especially great with the children
• 🍣 Speciality meals – worth the extra cost
• 🧘 Lovely peaceful days on board – I’ve written a full post on why we sometimes don’t get off the ship
• 🛏️ Fresh and modern cabins – despite a few quirks
• 💦 Splash Zone – safe and fun
• 🎨 Unexpectedly lovely port stops – La Seyne-sur-Mer was a surprise gem
• 🧳 Embarkation/disembarkation – quick and well managed

🧾 Our Ratings

⭐Ship

3.5

⭐Itinerary

3

⭐Dining

3.5

⭐Entertainment

3

⭐Cabins

4

⭐Service & Staff

4.5

⭐Value for Money

3

Overall Experience: 3.25 / 5

👶 Travelling with Kids?

If you're cruising with a baby or toddler and want to know what Arvia offers for little ones, I’ve written a dedicated family cruise review here:

👉 Arvia with Kids: What Worked, What Didn’t, and the Little Cruiser Score

🎥 Watch the Full YouTube Review

If you'd prefer to watch rather than read, here’s the video version:

▶️ Watch the full Arvia cruise review on YouTube

📲 Follow for More

• 📸 Instagram: @lisschatsship
• ▶️ YouTube: LissChatsShip on YouTube
• 📝 Blog: www.lisschatsship.com
• ✉️ Email: lisschatsship@gmail.com

💬 Have You Sailed on Arvia?

If you’ve cruised on Arvia (or are thinking about it) I’d love to hear your thoughts. Was your experience similar? Did you enjoy the itinerary? Would you cruise her again?

Or do you have other questions I haven’t yet answered? Let me know in the comments or come say hi on Instagram!