If you’re choosing between Arvia and Britannia, one of the first questions you’ll probably ask is which P&O ship should I book?
At first glance, the answer might seem obvious. Arvia is newer, larger and has more modern features. Britannia is older, smaller and has a more traditional P&O feel. But that does not automatically mean Arvia is the better ship for everyone.
I’ve sailed on both Arvia and Britannia, including a Mediterranean cruise on Arvia and a Caribbean cruise on Britannia. That means I’ve experienced both ships in warm-weather conditions, where the pools, outdoor spaces, dining choices and overall atmosphere really matter.
This guide is not just about comparing ship statistics. It is about how Arvia and Britannia actually feel in practice, especially when you are choosing between a newer resort-style ship and a more classic P&O cruise experience.
Watch My Arvia vs Britannia Video
If you want to see the comparison in more detail, watch my full Arvia vs Britannia video where I talk through the biggest differences between the two ships, including cabins, dining, entertainment, pools, families, solo cruising and which one I would choose again.
Are Arvia and Britannia Very Different Ships?
Arvia and Britannia are very different ships, and that is what makes this comparison useful.
Arvia is one of P&O Cruises’ newest and largest ships. It is modern, bright, family-friendly and designed with warm-weather cruising in mind. It has more dining choices, more activity spaces and a more resort-style feel.
Britannia is smaller, more traditional and has a calmer classic cruise atmosphere. She launched in 2015 and was refurbished in 2024, according to P&O Cruises, so while she is not new, she has had a refresh and still feels smart and well maintained.
On paper, Arvia has the advantage if you are looking for the newest features. But in practice, Britannia has strengths that really matter once you are onboard. The ship is easier to navigate, the atmosphere feels more traditional, and on my Caribbean cruise, the food and service were stronger than my recent experience on Arvia.
So the question is not simply which ship is newer.
The better question is which style of cruise suits you more.
Arvia vs Britannia: Size and Layout
The first major difference is size.
Britannia is a large ship, but by modern standards she feels more mid-sized compared with Arvia. P&O’s Britannia page lists her as sailing since 2015 and refurbished in 2024, while Arvia is part of P&O’s newer generation of much larger ships.
That difference is noticeable onboard.
Britannia feels easier to understand. You can move around without feeling as if you are walking huge distances all the time, and the ship has a more classic cruise layout. After a day or two, it becomes fairly easy to know where you are and how to get around.
Arvia is much bigger. That gives you more choice, but it also means longer walking distances and a busier feel in certain areas. There are more venues, more passengers and more activity spaces, so the ship can feel more exciting, but also more tiring.
This is one of the biggest practical differences between the two ships.
If you like a ship that feels easier to get around and a little calmer, Britannia has the advantage. If you enjoy a bigger ship with more venues and more going on, Arvia will probably appeal more.
Arvia vs Britannia Cabins
Cabins are one of the areas where the answer depends heavily on the cabin type you are booking.
If you are booking an inside cabin, Britannia is the clear winner for me.
The inside cabin I experienced on Britannia felt more spacious and practical. There was better storage, including proper drawers between the beds, a large walk-in wardrobe and a bigger-feeling bathroom. It felt like a cabin designed for people who actually need to unpack and live in the space for a week or two.
Arvia’s inside cabin felt tighter. The storage was more limited, with smaller shelves and a smaller wardrobe area. It was modern, but it did not feel as practical.
However, if you are booking a balcony cabin, Arvia starts to pull ahead.
Arvia’s balcony cabins feel fresher and more modern. The design feels newer, the bathrooms feel bigger, and the layout feels more premium. If your cabin is an important part of the holiday and you want that newer ship feel, Arvia has the advantage here.
Britannia does have dedicated solo cabins, including solo balcony cabins, and I really liked the location of these on Deck 16. They are close to key areas of the ship, and although the cabins are small, the balconies are the same size as standard balcony cabins.
That is a big advantage if you are travelling alone.
Arvia also has some cabin types that sound more special than they may feel in practice. The Conservatory Mini Suite, for example, is a popular talking point, but for me it can feel more like a balcony cabin with an added sofa area than a true suite-style upgrade. The promenade deck balconies can also be controversial because of privacy and foot traffic.
So for cabins, the winner depends on what you book.
For inside cabins and solo cabins, I would choose Britannia. For a standard balcony cabin with a newer feel, I would choose Arvia.
Arvia vs Britannia Dining
Dining is one of the biggest differences between Arvia and Britannia.
Arvia has more choice. That is the simplest way to put it.
You have more casual dining options, more modern venues and a wider range of places to eat. The Quays, 6th Street Diner and The Olive Grove all help Arvia feel more varied. If you like being able to choose from different styles of food without always going to the main dining room, Arvia has a clear advantage.
This is where Arvia really feels like a newer ship.
Britannia offers a more traditional P&O dining experience. You have the main dining rooms, the buffet, casual poolside options and speciality restaurants such as Sindhu, Epicurean, The Glass House and The Beach House.
Britannia also still offers Club dining in the Oriental Restaurant, where you sit at the same table at the same time each evening. That is a big plus if you like a traditional cruise experience or if you are travelling solo and want to get to know your tablemates.
On my Britannia Caribbean cruise, I ate in the Oriental Restaurant every night at 6.30pm, and it worked really well. The food in the main dining room was significantly better than my recent experience on Arvia, and the service also felt stronger.
That is where this comparison becomes more interesting.
Arvia wins on variety. Britannia won on food quality and service during my cruise.
The buffets on both ships were not the highlight for me. They were useful, but I did not find either buffet especially exciting. They get busy at peak times, and I would usually choose other dining options where possible.
If Britannia had a version of The Quays, it would be very close to ideal for me. That is the one area where I really missed Arvia’s dining setup.
So if you want lots of casual choice, Arvia is the better dining ship. If you want a more traditional main dining room experience with stronger service, Britannia may suit you better.
Arvia vs Britannia Speciality Dining
Both ships have good speciality dining, but there are some differences.
Britannia has popular options including Epicurean, Sindhu, The Glass House and The Beach House. These give you a good range of extra-charge dining without the ship feeling overwhelming.
On my Britannia cruise, The Beach House was the standout. It felt relaxed, the food was excellent, and the lava rock steak made it feel like a proper treat without being too formal.
Arvia also has speciality dining, but it has some venues that Britannia does not, including Green & Co and The Keel & Cow. These help Arvia feel more varied, especially if you enjoy trying different restaurants across the cruise.
If you are someone who plans your evenings around food, Arvia has more variety. But Britannia’s speciality restaurants still feel strong, and the overall dining experience on my Britannia cruise was very good.
Arvia vs Britannia Formal Nights
Formal nights are another clear difference between the two ships.
Britannia feels more traditional.
If you enjoy dressing up, having a more elegant evening, going for cocktails before dinner and enjoying a classic cruise atmosphere, Britannia is probably the better choice. On Britannia, formal nights felt like more of an event, especially on my Caribbean cruise and over New Year.
Arvia is more relaxed.
You can still dress up on Arvia, and people do make an effort, but the overall feel is more casual. The ship has a more modern resort-style atmosphere, and there is less emphasis on traditional cruise elegance.
This is not about one being better than the other. It depends what you enjoy.
If you like Black Tie evenings and a more refined atmosphere, choose Britannia. If you prefer a more casual holiday feel with fewer formal expectations, Arvia may suit you better.
Arvia vs Britannia Entertainment
Entertainment is strong on both ships, but the style is different.
Britannia has the Headliners Theatre, live music, comedians, guest singers, Brodie’s, the Live Lounge, the Crystal Room and deck entertainment. It feels like classic cruise entertainment, and on my Caribbean sailing it worked really well.
I especially enjoyed the entertainment on the Lido Deck, including the New Year’s Eve celebrations. The atmosphere was lively, fun and very memorable.
Arvia has more modern entertainment spaces and some standout features. The 710 Club is a real highlight if you enjoy live music in a smaller, more intimate venue. Seats go quickly, so it is worth booking through the onboard system as soon as you can.
Arvia also has the Greatest Days musical, based around the music of Take That, which gives the ship something more distinctive.
The Club House on Arvia is larger than Britannia’s Live Lounge, but bigger does not always mean better. Britannia’s Live Lounge feels more intimate, while Arvia’s Club House feels more like a large entertainment venue.
The SkyDome on Arvia looks impressive and can be a great space, but I found it a mixed experience. The venue itself is striking, but the acoustics are not always ideal.
Britannia keeps things simpler, but sometimes simpler works. The entertainment felt easy to enjoy, and the ship had a lively but comfortable evening atmosphere.
If you want bigger, newer entertainment options, Arvia has the edge. If you like traditional cruise entertainment with a more classic feel, Britannia works very well.
Arvia vs Britannia Pools and Sunbeds
At first, Arvia looks like it should easily win when it comes to pools.
It has more modern outdoor spaces, infinity pools, infinity hot tubs, a swim-up bar, a large promenade deck and the SkyDome. It looks like the more exciting warm-weather ship.
But in practice, it is not that simple.
Arvia can feel crowded around the pools. The most popular areas fill up quickly, especially on sea days, and finding a sunbed can be frustrating. There is a lot of deck space, but it does not always flow as well as you might expect.
The infinity pool and swim-up bar are great features, but they are also major draws. That means they can become very busy.
Britannia has fewer pools and hot tubs, but the layout feels more traditional and, in some ways, easier to use. The main pool areas are busy, but they feel more familiar. The Serenity Pool is a good adults-only area, and the aft pool gives you a different atmosphere with views over the wake.
Britannia still had sunbed issues on my Caribbean cruise. Some passengers were up early to reserve loungers, and P&O staff did try to manage this with stickers. It was not perfect.
But compared with my experience on Arvia, Britannia did not feel quite as chaotic around the pool areas. If you were flexible, it was usually possible to find a chair or a different place to sit.
So Arvia has the better pool features. Britannia may feel easier and calmer in practice.
One tip for Arvia is to use the pools on port days. If you head out later or come back while others are still ashore, you may get a much quieter experience. I managed to use the infinity pool almost to myself this way.
Is Arvia or Britannia Better for Families?
Arvia is the better choice for most families, especially if you are travelling with older children or teenagers.
It has more family-friendly casual dining, including venues like 6th Street Diner and The Quays. The SkyDome is useful because it gives families a pool and entertainment space that can be used in different weather conditions. There are also more activity-led options, including the Altitude Skywalk, sports court, mini golf and Mission Control.
That gives Arvia more of a resort-style family holiday feel.
Britannia can still work well for families. It has The Reef kids’ clubs, a nursery for under-fives, pools, entertainment and plenty going on during the day. But it feels more traditional and less activity-led.
If your children are happy with the kids’ club, pool time, shows and port days, Britannia can be a very good family cruise. But if you want a ship with more built-in activities and more modern family spaces, Arvia is the stronger choice.
For teenagers in particular, Arvia probably has the edge because there is more to do around the ship.
Is Arvia or Britannia Better for Solo Travellers?
For solo travellers, I would choose Britannia.
Britannia feels easier to navigate, calmer and more comfortable if you want a ship where you can settle in quickly. The dedicated solo cabins are a major advantage, especially the solo balcony cabins on Deck 16.
Club dining is also a real benefit. Sitting with the same people every night makes it easier to meet others without having to keep starting again at each meal. On my Britannia cruise, this worked really well.
Britannia also has enough sociable spaces without feeling overwhelming. You can sit in the Blue Bar, go to Brodie’s, watch a show, join quizzes, enjoy live music or spend time on your balcony without feeling out of place.
Arvia may suit solo travellers who want a busier, more social ship. If you like the idea of the 710 Club, SkyDome, Club House, more casual dining and more modern venues, Arvia can work well.
But for me, Britannia is the better solo ship. It feels more manageable, more traditional and easier to enjoy alone.
Arvia vs Britannia Itineraries
Itineraries are harder to compare because they change by season and year.
In general, both ships operate a mix of Mediterranean, Northern Europe, Canary Islands and Caribbean sailings depending on the season.
Britannia often feels very well suited to the Caribbean because of its outdoor decks, traditional cruise feel and more elegant atmosphere. My Caribbean cruise on Britannia worked extremely well, especially with the mix of ports and New Year’s Eve celebrations.
Arvia is also well suited to the Caribbean and Mediterranean because it was designed with warm-weather cruising in mind. The open decks, SkyDome, pools and resort-style features make sense in sunshine.
For itineraries, I would not choose purely based on ship. I would look carefully at the actual ports.
Two Caribbean cruises can sound similar but have different islands, different overnight stays and different port times. The same applies to Mediterranean itineraries.
So if the itinerary is the most important thing to you, compare the ports first. If the itineraries are similar, then choose based on the style of ship you prefer.
Is Britannia Better Than Arvia?
Britannia is better than Arvia if you want a calmer, more traditional cruise experience.
It is easier to get around, has a more classic P&O atmosphere, works well for formal nights and feels more comfortable for solo cruising. On my Britannia cruise, the main dining room food and service were better than my recent experience on Arvia, which made a big difference.
Britannia also feels more polished in some areas. It may not have the newest features, but the overall experience felt smoother and more consistent on my sailing.
It is not the better choice if you want the newest ship, the most dining variety or the most activities. But if you want a traditional cruise that still feels lively and enjoyable, Britannia is a strong choice.
Is Arvia Better Than Britannia?
Arvia is better than Britannia if you want a newer, bigger and more modern ship.
It has more dining variety, more activities, more family-friendly features and a livelier resort-style feel. If you want The Quays, 6th Street Diner, a swim-up bar, infinity pools, Mission Control, mini golf and the Altitude Skywalk, Arvia is the obvious choice.
It is also likely to suit families better, especially those with older children or teenagers who want more to do.
The trade-off is that Arvia can feel busier. You may walk more, plan more and deal with more pressure in popular areas. The ship has a lot to offer, but that does not always mean it feels easier.
So Arvia is better if those extra features matter to you. Britannia is better if the overall feel of the ship matters more.
Final Verdict: Should You Book Arvia or Britannia?
So, should you book Arvia or Britannia?
Choose Britannia if you want a slightly smaller ship, an easier layout, a calmer atmosphere, traditional dining, formal nights and a more classic P&O cruise feel. It is also my choice for solo cruising, especially because of the dedicated solo cabins and Club dining.
Choose Arvia if you want a newer, larger ship with more dining options, more activities, more family-friendly features and a livelier resort-style atmosphere. It is the stronger choice for families, teenagers and passengers who want the newest facilities.
Neither ship is better for everyone.
Arvia wins on features. Britannia wins on traditional cruise feel.
For me personally, as a solo cruiser, I would choose Britannia over Arvia. The ship felt more relaxed, easier to use and more polished on my Caribbean cruise. But if I were travelling with children or wanted the most modern ship with the most options, Arvia would probably be the better fit.
The most important thing is to choose the ship that matches how you actually like to cruise, not just the one with the longest list of features.
FAQs About Arvia vs Britannia
Is Arvia or Britannia better?
Neither ship is better for everyone. Arvia is better if you want a newer, larger ship with more dining choices, activities and a resort-style atmosphere. Britannia is better if you want a calmer, more traditional cruise with an easier layout and a classic P&O feel.
What is the main difference between Arvia and Britannia?
The main difference is the style of cruise. Arvia feels modern, busy and resort-like, while Britannia feels more traditional, elegant and easier to navigate.
Is Britannia smaller than Arvia?
Yes, Britannia is smaller than Arvia. Britannia carries fewer passengers and feels easier to get around, while Arvia is larger and has more venues, more activities and longer walking distances.
Which ship has better cabins, Arvia or Britannia?
It depends on the cabin type. Britannia has better inside cabins and dedicated solo cabins. Arvia has more modern balcony cabins with a fresher feel.
Which ship has better dining, Arvia or Britannia?
Arvia has more dining variety, including venues such as The Quays, 6th Street Diner and The Olive Grove. Britannia had better main dining room food and service in my experience.
Is Arvia or Britannia better for families?
Arvia is usually better for families because it has more casual dining, more activities, the SkyDome, Mission Control, mini golf, the sports court and the Altitude Skywalk. Britannia still works for families but has a more traditional feel.
Is Arvia or Britannia better for solo travellers?
Britannia is better for solo travellers in my experience. It has dedicated solo cabins, an easier layout and Club dining, which makes it easier to meet people at dinner.
Which ship is better for formal nights?
Britannia is better if you enjoy formal nights and a more traditional cruise atmosphere. Arvia has formal nights too, but the overall feel is more casual and resort-like.
Which ship has better pools?
Arvia has better pool features, including infinity pools, infinity hot tubs, a swim-up bar and the SkyDome. Britannia has fewer pool features but can feel easier and calmer around the pool areas.
Is Britannia outdated compared with Arvia?
Britannia is older than Arvia, but she does not feel outdated if you like a more traditional cruise ship. She has been refurbished, and the ship still feels smart and comfortable.
Useful P&O Cruise Guides
If you are still deciding whether Arvia or Britannia is the right ship for you, these guides will help you go deeper into the areas that matter most before you book.
My P&O Britannia Honest Review gives you a full personal look at what Britannia is like on a Caribbean cruise, including dining, entertainment, sea days, sunbeds, ports and whether I would book again.
For practical planning, my P&O Britannia FAQs guide answers the main questions people ask before sailing, including dress code, dining, drinks packages, cabins, embarkation and what is included in the fare.
If dining is one of the most important parts of your cruise, my P&O Britannia Dining Options guide goes into more detail about what is included, what costs extra, and which venues are worth considering before you travel.
If you are also considering Arvia, my What I Wish I’d Known Before a P&O Arvia Cruise guide shows you the most important things to know before you board P&O Arvia,
My P&O Arvia Dining Options guide is useful if you want to understand how Arvia’s restaurants work, especially The Quays, 6th Street Diner, Olive Grove and the speciality dining venues.
For onboard spending, my P&O Drinks Prices and Menus guide gives you a practical look at drinks costs, menus and whether a drinks package is likely to make sense for your cruise.
Together, these guides will help you decide not just which ship looks best on paper, but which one is actually the best fit for the way you like to cruise.
Useful Cruise Items to Consider
These are a few simple items that can make your cruise on P&O Arvia more comfortable and help you stay organised onboard.
I personally use variations of these when cruising, and they’re all practical rather than essential.
Magnetic hooks Perfect for extra storage in your cabin
Packing cubes Keep your suitcase organised
Cruise luggage tags Protect your tags at the port
Travel Extension Lead UK For charging multiple phones, cameras, and laptops
Toiletry organiser Great for small bathrooms
You can also browse my full Cruise Essentials list for more useful items I use or recommend for cruise holidays.