Beach Caribbean Cruise life

Two ships, one unforgettable day

The sun was shining on P&O Cruises sister ships Arvia and Iona when they docked together for the first time ever in the Caribbean.

5 min 05 Feb 2025

Editorial Team

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Two ships. Thousands of nautical miles. One special moment. On Friday 24 January 2025, sister ships Arvia and Iona met in the same port at the same time, for the first time. And what a sight it was.

The small island of Tortola in the British Virgin Islands was in for quite the display when the two biggest and newest ships in the P&O Cruises fleet pulled up in port alongside each other.

 

It’s always a special moment when our ships meet – with hundreds of destinations to visit and endless nautical miles to sail, it’s rare to see their schedules line up. And for our two Excel-class ships, it’s a never-before-seen phenomenon. To celebrate this special occasion, Arvia’s Captain Paul Brown and Iona’s Captain Andrew Wolverson greeted each other on the quayside. Guests and crew waved to each other from decks and balconies and mingled on shore. After a delightful day in port, there were dual celebrations on board with music and revelry as both ships sailed away together, sticking close to each other at sea before Arvia veered off towards Antigua and Iona headed for Barbados.

Journey to paradise

The two ships have passed each other at sea once before, when Arvia was on her maiden voyage and Iona was sailing the Med. But this marked the first time they were docked in the same port. And of all the ports in which these two ships could have met, Tortola is ideal. It may be a small island, but it offers a big, warm-hearted welcome.

 

While Arvia is familiar with Caribbean waters, it was new territory for Iona – this was her first visit to the region. But it won’t be her last. Her Caribbean Winter Warmth cruise, which departs Southampton on 3 January 2026, will see Iona set sail on another 35-night transatlantic adventure. After a stop in Tenerife on the way, she’ll visit a plethora of idyllic ports – St Kitts, Barbados (where she’ll stay overnight), Grenada, St Lucia, Antigua, Tortola and St Maarten, with another stop in Tenerife and one in La Coruña on the way back home. It’s a fortifying dose of sunshine that’s sure to banish any winter blues.

 

Arvia, meanwhile, will be stationed in the Caribbean as part of her 2026 winter fly-cruise season. She’ll sail on two different 14-night itineraries, visiting iconic islands such as Martinique, St Lucia, Tortola and more.

Colorful Caribbean batik patterened scarves drying in the wind

A Caribbean encounter

Arvia and Iona have it right – where else would you want to be in January but the Caribbean? It’s a true escape – the grey skies and long nights of home will be a distant memory when you’re basking on a beautiful beach, strolling historic streets or ziplining through a rainforest canopy.

 

And while the region is famed for sun, sand and sea, each island offers a completely different experience. Tortola is lush and mountainous, its forested slopes tumbling down into bright, clear seas. Barbados really does have something for everyone: beautiful beaches with excellent snorkelling, world-class food, fascinating architecture and a vibrant nightlife. St Lucia is the definition of lush – verdant rainforests, a riot of bougainvillea and the imposing Pitons are a treat for the senses. Antigua is a beach-lover’s paradise (legend has it there are 365 of them – one for every day of the year), but it’s also got a fascinating history to explore.

 

We visit more than 20 islands in the Caribbean, each as welcoming and easy-going as the last. The hardest (and most fun) part is choosing your favourite.

Gustavia, Saint Barthelemy skyline and harbor in the West Indies of the Caribbean.; Shutterstock ID 786055612

Two ships with a lot in common…

Arvia and Iona are true sister ships – designed in the same style, and each with their own charms. However, we always say they’re sisters, not twins. There’s a lot they share: both offer relaxed, family-friendly cruising with endless opportunities for fun on board. They’re designed to bring the outdoors in, with towering glass atriums, plenty of places to take in ocean views, and the magnificent SkyDome, a glass-panelled dome that puts the world in widescreen.

 

Both also offer a huge variety of things to see, do, eat and drink on board. There’s The 710 Club, an atmospheric, intimate space where you can savour the sounds of live music, cocktail in hand. Or The Limelight Club, where you can enjoy a dinner-and-show experience with some of Britain’s favourite performers. Both ships also have four pools including an Infinity pool – quite possibly the most epic place on board from which to soak up sea views. And both ships have 30 bars and restaurants, including The Olive Grove and its mouthwatering Mediterranean-inspired menu, and The Keel & Cow, serving up what might just be the best burger at sea.

 

When it comes to cabins, both ships offer a signature option not available on other ships: The Conservatory Mini-suite, which brings the outdoors in with a conservatory-style room that forms an extension to the cabin.

P&O Cruises two largest ships, Excel class Arvia (left) and Iona, both berthed in the British Virgin Islands, the first time there have been two P&O Cruises ships of this size in the same Caribbean port. Iona is on a 35 night Caribbean itinerary which left Southampton on January 11, 2025 and will call at Tenerife, Tortola, Barbados, St Lucia, Martinique, Antigua, St Kitts, St Maarten and La Coruna. Arvia is based in the Caribbean each year from November through to March offering 14 night fly/cruise itineraries from Barbados. The ships, which each carry 5,200 guests and 1,800 crew, offer the choice of over 30 restaurants and bars. Ship features include Altitude high ropes course 200 feet above sea level; Mission Control, an interactive immersive experience and Schhh, an evening experiential show which was originally created by Nicole Scherzinger who also named Arvia in a glittering ceremony in Barbados and attended by Olly Murs, Trevor Nelson and Sara Cox in 2023. Picture date Friday 24th January, 2025. Picture by Christopher Ison. Contact +447544 044177 chris@christopherison.com

…and a lot that sets them apart

Iona was our first Excel class ship. She entered service on 7 August 2021 and since then has spent her summers in the Norwegian fjords and her winters in Spain, Portugal and the Canary Islands.

 

Iona’s SkyDome is the place to be for watching the world float by, but the views inside are just as spectacular: keep your eyes upwards to experience the jaw-dropping acrobatics of Creativiva, who have devised brilliant performances exclusively for Iona.

 

In addition to the 30 bars and restaurants and 10 entertainment venues on Iona, there’s something for the younger crowd, too – Iona is the only ship with Scene, a space just for teens. 

 

Arvia entered service in December 2022, making her the newest ship in our fleet. She’s our sunshine ship, spending her winters doing Caribbean fly-cruises and summers mainly in the Med. To take advantage of all that sunshine, her SkyDome is retractable. And out on deck you’ll find Altitude activity zone, which features a high-ropes adventure, mini golf and a splash zone.

 

The excitement isn’t reserved for the outdoors – inside you’ll find the immersive escape room experience Mission Control, and you can take your tastebuds on a ride at exclusive restaurants such as Green & Co feat. Mizuhana, with a menu full of vibrant Asian flavours, mouthwatering plant-based dishes and beautifully crafted sushi, or the American-inspired 6th Street Diner, offering Southern US favourites like fried chicken and waffles.

 

Both ships also offer delectable menus from our Local Food Heroes. During Iona’s Norway season you can taste the freshness of the fjords with a menu from Kjartan Skjelde in Epicurean, and when Arvia is in the Caribbean, you’ll find a menu full of sunny dishes by Shivi Ramoutar in The Beach House.

Fancy your own Caribbean meet-up? Discover our range of cruises to the Caribbean here, including Iona’s 2026 Caribbean Winter Warmth cruise