P&O Cruises has announced a major update to its sailing programme, revealing that under-18s will soon be welcome aboard its two adult-only ships, Arcadia and Aurora, on a select number of holidays starting from December 2026.

The cruise line will open 12 Aurora sailings and eight Arcadia departures to guests of all ages between December 2026 and September 2027. These itineraries go on sale today (7 October), with additional cruises for the winter 2027–28 season available to book from 14 October.

The move comes in response to increasing demand for multi-generational travel, giving families more opportunities to holiday together on P&O Cruises’ mid-sized ships. The new sailings will allow families to travel during peak periods and at Christmas, while also increasing the number of family-friendly cruises during the 2027 summer holidays by 23%.

Sailing from Southampton, the new itineraries include a wide choice of destinations such as the Canary Islands, Norway, the Mediterranean and Northern Europe. On board, families can look forward to a range of new touches designed with all ages in mind – from kids’ menus and bottle-warming facilities to family entertainment and special events.

Both Arcadia and Aurora will continue to offer an extensive programme of adult-only holidays alongside the new multi-generational sailings, ensuring guests have even more choice.

Arcadia Holidays with Guests of All Ages

Cruise CodeDestinationNightsDeparture Date
J619Spain, Portugal & Canary Islands1621 Dec 2026
J703Short Break to Zeebrugge (for Bruges)310 May 2027
J704Northern Europe & Scandinavia1413 May 2027
J705Spain727 May 2027
J709*Norway & Iceland1420 Jul 2027
J710Eastern Mediterranean Discovery243 Aug 2027
J711Short Break to Zeebrugge (for Bruges) & Rotterdam527 Aug 2027
J713Norwegian Fjords1420 Sep 2027

*Children on J709 must be at least 12 months old.

Aurora Holidays with Guests of All Ages

Cruise CodeDestinationNightsDeparture Date
R621Short Break to Rotterdam411 Dec 2026
R622Christmas Scandinavian1415 Dec 2026
R623Short Break to Hamburg529 Dec 2026
R704Short Break to Rotterdam421 Apr 2027
R707Northern Europe & Scandinavia726 May 2027
R709Short Break to Rotterdam421 Jun 2027
R711Spain, France & Portugal79 Jul 2027
R712Hamburg & Zeebrugge (for Bruges)516 Jul 2027
R713Northern Europe & Scandinavia1621 Jul 2027
R714Hamburg & Zeebrugge (for Bruges)56 Aug 2027
R715Western Mediterranean Discovery2111 Aug 2027
R717Short Break to Rotterdam413 Sep 2027

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