P&O Cruises is a British cruise line headquartered beside the Ocean Cruise Terminal in Southampton. The brand is part of Carnival Corporation Ltd. and primarily serves the UK holiday market, combining cruises from Southampton with selected fly-cruise programmes and longer international voyages.
The initials P and O stand for Peninsular and Oriental, reflecting the line's origins in the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company. Although the modern holiday product has evolved considerably, P&O Cruises traces its heritage to 1837 and describes itself as Britain's largest cruise line.
History of P&O Cruises
The company's roots date to 1837, when the Peninsular Steam Navigation Company secured a contract to carry mail between Britain and the Iberian Peninsula. It became the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company in 1840.
In 1844, the company operated a leisure voyage from London to the Mediterranean, an itinerary P&O Cruises identifies as the world's first leisure cruise. Passenger travel subsequently developed alongside P&O's wider mail and shipping operations.
The dedicated P&O Cruises identity emerged from this much longer maritime history. The purpose-built Oriana, introduced in 1995, was commissioned specifically for the British cruise market. Fleet expansion continued during the 2000s with ships including Aurora, Arcadia, Ventura and Azura.
Britannia entered service in 2015 and was named by Queen Elizabeth II in Southampton. The larger Excel-class ships Iona and Arvia followed in 2021 and 2022. P&O Cruises has been part of the Carnival group for more than two decades and is now one of the cruise brands owned by Carnival Corporation Ltd.
P&O Cruises fleet
P&O Cruises currently operates seven ships:
- Arvia — entered service in 2022 and is one of the line's two largest ships. It is family-friendly and can be powered by liquefied natural gas.
- Iona — entered service in 2021 as the first British cruise ship capable of operating on liquefied natural gas. It is family-friendly and regularly sails from Southampton.
- Britannia — entered service in 2015 and was refurbished in 2024. The family-friendly ship operates European and Caribbean programmes.
- Ventura — entered service in 2008. It is a family-friendly ship offering itineraries from Southampton and seasonal voyages farther afield.
- Azura — entered service in 2010. It is family-friendly and is frequently used for Mediterranean and Canary Islands fly-cruises.
- Arcadia — entered service in 2005. The smaller ship is used for longer itineraries and adult-focused holidays, with selected sailings welcoming guests of all ages.
- Aurora — entered service in 2000 and is the smallest ship in the current fleet. It operates adult-focused and longer voyages, with selected holidays welcoming all ages.
The fleet ranges from the more traditional scale and style of Aurora and Arcadia to the approximately 184,700gt Excel-class ships Iona and Arvia. Facilities, passenger capacity and the balance between family and adult-focused cruising therefore vary considerably between ships.
Where P&O Cruises sails
Southampton is P&O Cruises' principal homeport and the departure point for many of its no-fly holidays. Destinations include the Norwegian fjords, Iceland, the Mediterranean, Spain and Portugal, the Canary Islands, Northern Europe, Scandinavia, the Baltic region, the British Isles, North America and the Caribbean.
The line also operates fly-cruise programmes, particularly in the Mediterranean, Canary Islands and Caribbean. Longer itineraries can include world cruises, extended regional voyages and journeys to South America, Asia, Australasia and the Pacific. Deployment varies by season and ship.
Onboard experience
P&O Cruises tailors its product principally to British guests. Onboard spending is in pounds sterling, English is the main language and dining, entertainment and service are designed around the UK market. The cruise fare generally includes accommodation, main dining, entertainment and access to many ship facilities, while speciality dining, drinks and selected activities cost extra.
Facilities vary across the fleet but can include main and speciality restaurants, theatres, live-music venues, cinemas, spas, swimming pools, children's clubs, sports areas and observation spaces. Larger ships offer a wider selection of dining and entertainment venues, while the smaller vessels are suited to guests who prefer a more traditional ship and longer, destination-led itineraries.
Arvia, Iona, Britannia, Ventura and Azura are family-friendly. Arcadia and Aurora have traditionally concentrated on holidays exclusively for adults, although P&O Cruises now offers selected all-ages sailings aboard both ships. Guests should therefore check the arrangements for the individual departure.
Ownership and leadership
P&O Cruises is owned by Carnival Corporation Ltd., whose portfolio also includes AIDA Cruises, Carnival Cruise Line, Costa Cruises, Cunard, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises and Seabourn.
Paul Ludlow is president of Carnival UK and president of P&O Cruises. He has led P&O Cruises since 2018 and holds commercial and operational responsibility for Carnival UK's P&O Cruises and Cunard brands.
P&O Cruises and P&O Cruises Australia
The present British P&O Cruises brand should not be confused with the former P&O Cruises Australia. The Australian operation was a separate Carnival brand and was retired in 2025, when its remaining operations were incorporated into Carnival Cruise Line. The Southampton-based P&O Cruises business continues to operate under its established name.