Choosing the right ship is one of the most important decisions you will make when booking with P&O Cruises. This P&O ship comparison is designed to help you understand the real differences between the ships, so you can pick the one that actually matches how you like to cruise.
It is not just about where you are going. The ship itself shapes your entire experience, from how busy sea days feel to how easy it is to get a table for dinner or find a quiet place to relax.
I have sailed on Arvia, Iona, Britannia, Ventura and Arcadia, with Aurora and Azura planned, so this guide is based on real onboard experience rather than brochure descriptions.
Watch: Which P&O Ship Is Right for You?
If you would rather see how each ship actually feels onboard, this P&O Ship Comparison video breaks it down clearly, including real examples from Arvia, Iona, Britannia, Ventura and Arcadia.
P&O Ship Comparison: Why Picking the Right Ship Matters
A common mistake is to focus entirely on the destination and assume all ships offer a similar experience. That is not the case with P&O Cruises. The difference between ships can be significant.
For example, Arvia can carry over 6,000 passengers and feels busy, energetic and packed with choice. Arcadia carries under 2,000 passengers and feels calm, quiet and far more traditional. Both are P&O ships, but they deliver completely different holidays.
The size of the ship affects everything. Larger ships offer more dining options, more entertainment venues and more variety, but they also bring more people, more queues and a busier atmosphere. Smaller ships are easier to navigate, quieter and more relaxed, but with fewer choices onboard.
Dining style is another key factor. Some ships are fully flexible with freedom dining only, while others offer fixed dining options with the same table and time each evening. If you prefer structure and routine, that matters more than most people realise when they book.
The type of passenger each ship attracts is also important. Some ships are clearly geared towards families and first-time cruisers, especially during school holidays. Others attract older couples and more experienced cruisers looking for quieter itineraries and a slower pace.
Getting the ship right means your expectations match the onboard reality. That is what this guide is designed to help you do.
P&O Ship Comparison: Arvia and Iona (Modern, Large and Family Focused)
Arvia and Iona are the two largest ships in the P&O fleet and are designed to feel like modern resorts at sea. If you want variety, choice and a lively atmosphere, these are the ships to look at.
Both ships offer a huge range of included dining. The main dining rooms, Horizon buffet, The Quays and Taste 360 give you plenty of choice throughout the day. On top of that, there is a strong selection of speciality restaurants including Sindhu, The Epicurean, The Glass House and The Beach House. Arvia also introduces Green and Co, which focuses on plant-based and Asian-inspired dishes.
One of the biggest advantages of these ships is the variety of casual food options. Compared to smaller ships, you have far more choice at lunch, more global flavours and better availability of late-night food. This makes a noticeable difference, especially on sea days.
There are also some key differences between the two ships. Arvia is designed for warmer climates, with a retractable roof over the SkyDome that can open fully in destinations like the Mediterranean and Caribbean. This makes the central pool area feel much more open and connected to the outdoors.
Arvia also includes additional features such as the Altitude Skywalk, a high ropes course, and Altitude Minigolf. There is also Mission Control, a paid escape room experience that is unique in the fleet. These features are particularly popular with families and groups.
Iona, on the other hand, was designed with cooler itineraries in mind. Her SkyDome has a fixed glass roof, creating a more enclosed and sheltered environment. This works particularly well in destinations like the Norwegian Fjords, where weather can be unpredictable.
Dining differences are also worth noting. Iona still offers the Olive Grove as a full Mediterranean dining venue, while Arvia has changed Olive Grove to serve the main dining room menu with a smaller Mediterranean selection. Arvia also replaces one of the main dining rooms with the 6th Street Diner, which focuses on American-style comfort food.
Both ships operate entirely on freedom dining. This gives you flexibility to eat when you want, but it also means queues at peak times. If you tend to dine between 6:30 and 8:00 in the evening, you should expect to wait unless you plan ahead and use the My Holiday system early.
It is also important to understand who these ships are aimed at. P&O Cruises markets Arvia and Iona heavily towards families and first-time cruisers. As a result, they have more three and four berth cabins, which increases the number of families onboard.
During school holidays, these ships can feel very busy. On a recent Arvia Mediterranean sailing, there were over 6,000 passengers onboard. Sea days were particularly crowded, with limited sunbeds available unless you were out early, and queues building at popular dining venues.
If you enjoy a busy atmosphere with plenty going on, this is part of the appeal. If you prefer quieter ships, it is something to think about carefully before booking.
P&O Ship Comparison: Britannia (A Balanced, All-Round Choice)
Britannia sits in the middle of the P&O fleet in terms of size and overall experience. She offers a balance between modern features and a more traditional cruise feel.
Following her refit, Britannia feels fresh and well maintained without trying to compete directly with the scale of Arvia and Iona. This makes her easier to navigate and less overwhelming, particularly for first-time cruisers or solo travellers.
One of Britannia’s strengths is her layout. The ship feels spacious without feeling too large, and it is relatively easy to get from one end to the other. This makes a noticeable difference on sea days, especially compared to the larger ships.
The Lido Deck is a standout area, particularly during sailaways and warmer itineraries. It offers a lively atmosphere with music and a social feel, but without the intensity you might experience on the larger ships.
Inside the ship, the atrium acts as a central hub with live music and a relaxed atmosphere. It is busy, but rarely feels overcrowded. There are also enough quieter spaces to step away from the main areas if you prefer a calmer environment.
Dining is another strong point. Britannia offers both freedom dining and fixed dining, giving you more control over how you structure your evenings. This is a key difference compared to Arvia and Iona, where flexibility comes at the cost of queues.
The range of dining options is also solid. Alongside the main dining rooms and buffet, there are speciality venues such as Sindhu, The Epicurean, The Glass House and the Limelight Club, which combines dining with live entertainment.
Britannia also offers solo cabins, which makes her a practical choice if you are travelling alone. Combined with her manageable size and balanced atmosphere, she is one of the easiest ships in the fleet to navigate as a solo traveller.
The passenger mix on Britannia tends to be varied. Outside of school holidays, you will find a mix of couples, solo travellers and older passengers. During peak periods, families are present, but the ship generally feels less dominated by them than Arvia or Iona.
If you are unsure where to start with P&O Cruises, Britannia is often the safest choice. She offers enough variety to keep things interesting, without the scale and busyness of the larger ships.
P&O Ship Comparison: Ventura and Azura (Traditional and Versatile)
Ventura and Azura represent a more traditional style of cruising within the P&O fleet. They are mid-sized ships carrying around 3,000 passengers, which gives them a balance between space and manageability.
These ships feel more classic in design, with promenade decks, large theatres and a layout that will be familiar to experienced cruisers. The décor is slightly older compared to newer ships, but the overall experience is consistent and reliable.
Dining options include a mix of included and speciality venues, such as Sindhu and The Glass House. Like Britannia, they offer both freedom dining and fixed dining, which gives you more flexibility in how you plan your evenings.
One of the key advantages of these ships is that they tend to feel less crowded than Arvia and Iona. Even when sailing at full capacity, the atmosphere is generally more relaxed and less intense.
Azura has a particularly distinct role within the fleet as P&O’s main fly-cruise ship. She operates from Malta in the summer and Tenerife in the winter, which allows you to avoid sailing from Southampton and reach warmer destinations more quickly.
Ventura and Azura attract a broad mix of passengers, including couples, families and repeat cruisers. The overall atmosphere is more traditional than the newer ships, but still with enough choice to keep things interesting.
If you want a familiar cruise experience with a good balance of facilities and a more relaxed pace, these ships are worth considering.
P&O Ship Comparison: Arcadia and Aurora (Mostly Adults Only and Itinerary Focused)
Arcadia and Aurora offer a very different experience compared to the rest of the P&O fleet. Both ships are mostly adults only and carry fewer than 2,000 passengers, which creates a quieter and more intimate onboard atmosphere.
These ships are older, with Arcadia entering service in 2005 and Aurora in 2000, but they have been updated over time to maintain comfort and functionality. What they lack in modern features, they make up for in atmosphere and itinerary variety.
One of the biggest advantages of these ships is space. With fewer passengers onboard, it is much easier to find a quiet spot, whether that is on the promenade deck, in a lounge or around the pool. Sea days feel far less crowded compared to the larger ships.
The onboard experience is more traditional. You will find live music, guest speakers, ballroom dancing and formal nights that passengers tend to fully embrace. The overall pace is slower and more relaxed.
Dining options are more limited than on the larger ships, but the quality is generally consistent. With fewer passengers, you are less likely to encounter long queues or difficulty finding a table.
Where these ships really stand out is in their itineraries. Arcadia and Aurora often operate longer and more varied routes, including destinations such as Iceland, the Arctic Circle, Canada and extended voyages like the world cruise.
Aurora is also known for more unusual itineraries, including destinations such as Cape Verde, Morocco and the North Cape. These are routes that are rarely offered by the larger ships, which tend to focus on more standard Mediterranean and Canary Islands itineraries.
The passenger demographic on these ships is generally older, with many guests in their 60s and above. The atmosphere is calm, with a strong focus on the journey rather than onboard activities.
If your priority is the destination, and you prefer a quieter, adults-only environment, Arcadia and Aurora are often the best fit within the P&O fleet.
P&O Ship Comparison: How to Choose the Right Ship for You
Choosing the right ship comes down to matching the onboard experience to your personal preferences.
If you want a large, modern ship with the widest choice of dining and entertainment, Arvia and Iona are the obvious options. They suit families, groups and anyone who enjoys a busy atmosphere with plenty to do.
If you want a balanced experience that sits between modern and traditional, Britannia is a strong choice. She offers variety without feeling overwhelming, and gives you more control over your dining experience.
If you prefer a more traditional cruise with a relaxed pace, Ventura and Azura provide a familiar and comfortable option. They offer enough choice without the scale and intensity of the larger ships.
If you want a quieter, adults-only experience with a focus on itinerary, Arcadia and Aurora are the best fit. They are particularly well suited to longer cruises and more unusual destinations.
Solo travellers should also consider ship choice carefully. Britannia and Arcadia both work well due to their manageable size and availability of solo cabins. The atmosphere on these ships also tends to be more comfortable for travelling alone.
Ultimately, there is no single best ship in the P&O fleet. The right choice depends entirely on what you want from your cruise.
P&O Ship Comparison: Final Thoughts
P&O Cruises offers a wider range of ship experiences than many people realise. From large, family-focused ships to smaller, adults-only vessels, there is a clear difference in how each ship feels once you are onboard.
The key is to match the ship to your travel style rather than simply choosing based on price or itinerary. A slightly more expensive cruise on the right ship will almost always deliver a better experience than a cheaper option that does not suit how you like to travel.
If you are deciding between two ships in particular, it is worth comparing them directly in more detail, especially when it comes to dining, entertainment and overall atmosphere. That is often where the real differences become clear.
Once you understand how each ship operates, this P&O ship comparison makes it much easier to choose the right one for your next 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.
This article may contain affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Staying Connected at Sea
If you don’t want to rely entirely on the ship’s Wi-Fi, another option is a cruise eSIM.
Saily has recently launched cruise eSIM plans that provide mobile data both at sea and in supported ports. Depending on your itinerary and how you use your phone, this could be a convenient alternative for messaging, maps and general internet browsing.
You can check the latest plans and coverage here: Saily Cruise Esim
Use code SOLOTRAVEL10 to receive 10% off your purchase.
Affiliate disclosure: This section contains an affiliate link. If you purchase through this link, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I haven’t personally tested Saily’s cruise eSIM yet, so please check the latest coverage, data allowances and device compatibility before purchasing.
Useful Guides
P&O Arvia Dining Options (2026 Guide) – A full breakdown of included and specialty restaurants, menus, and what’s actually worth paying extra for.
What I Wish I’d Known Before a P&O Arvia Cruise – Practical tips that first-time cruisers often miss, including onboard costs, booking strategy, and common mistakes.
P&O vs Princess Cruises: Which Should You Choose? – A direct comparison of pricing, drinks packages, ships, and onboard experience.
Barcelona Cruise Port Guide (2026) – If your cruise starts or ends in Barcelona, this guide explains exactly how the port works, transport options, and what to expect.