P&O Cruises Officially Takes Ownership of Arvia

New P&O Cruises ship Arvia has officially been handed over to the cruise line, ahead of her first passenger cruise on 23 December 2022.

During a handover ceremony at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Germany, P&O Cruises President Paul Ludlow signed the Protocol for Delivery and Acceptance, which marks the official transfer of the 185,000-tonne ship.

“Arvia, as the latest evolution in the P&O Cruises experience, embodies the newest trends in travel, dining and entertainment and is the epitome of a sunshine resort sailing year-round to the warmest climates. 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,” Paul Ludlow said.

“Arvia is a very evident symbol of optimism for the future of the cruise industry as we see a new generation recognising the value for money and individuality of a holiday at sea.”

Several of Arvia’s features have never been seen before on a P&O Cruises ship, including the Altitude Skywalk, a high-ropes experience that scales high above the ocean waves. The 5,200-passenger ship also features an escape room, swim-up bar and retractable SkyDome, all of which are firsts for the British cruise line.

Like Iona, Arvia is powered using low-emission liquefied natural gas propulsion, one of the cleanest fuels available. All ships currently on the shipyard’s order books feature this system.