A quick guide to P&O ships to help you decide which ship is right for your cruise.
Once you have chosen your cruise destination, deciding which ship to sail on is often the next big decision. With P&O Cruises, that choice matters more than you might expect.
The P&O fleet includes everything from large, modern ships with a huge range of facilities to smaller ships offering a more traditional cruise experience. The size and age of a ship can make a real difference to how your cruise feels, even when ships are sailing similar itineraries.
In this guide, I’ll walk you through P&O ships by size and age, explain what those differences actually mean once you’re onboard, and help you work out which P&O ship might be the best fit for you.
At a glance
Not got time to read the whole post? Here’s a quick overview.
- Biggest P&O ships: Arvia and Iona (5,200 passengers)
- Smallest P&O ship: Aurora (1,874 passengers)
- Newest P&O ship: Arvia (launched 2022)
- Oldest P&O ship: Aurora (launched 2000)
- Best for fewer crowds: Aurora & Arcadia
- Best for families: Arvia & Iona
A little bit about P&O Cruises
P&O Cruises is a British cruise line with a long history and a very British feel. Based in Southampton, they mainly cater to UK passengers, so you can expect familiar comforts onboard. If you’re British, this generally means a relaxed atmosphere and plenty of tea. I once ran out of tea on another cruise line, and I have not forgotten it!
There are currently seven ships in the P&O fleet, ranging from smaller, adult-only ships to large, family-friendly mega ships. Itineraries include the Caribbean, Canary Islands, Northern Europe, the Norwegian Fjords, the Mediterranean, and Spain and Portugal.
You can find out more about the destinations and itineraries that P&O Cruises’ offer on their website.
Overview of P&O ships
Here’s a snapshot of all the ships in the P&O Cruises fleet, including passenger capacity, age, and size.
| Ship Name | Passenger Capacity | Year Built | Year refurbished | Guest Decks | Length | Tonnage (GRT) |
| Arcadia | 2,094 | 2005 | 2017 | 11 | 289.90m | 83,781 |
| Arvia | 5,200 | 2022 | – | 15 | 345m | 185,000 |
| Aurora | 1,874 | 2000 | 2019 | 9 | 270m | 76,152 |
| Azura | 3,100 | 2010 | 2015 | 14 | 290m | 115,055 |
| Britannia | 3,647 | 2015 | 2019 | 13 | 330m | 143,000 |
| Iona | 5,200 | 2020 | – | 15 | 344m | 184,700 |
| Ventura | 3,078 | 2008 | 2018 | 14 | 291.40m | 116,017 |
P&O ships by size (largest to smallest)
The size of a cruise ship has a big impact on how your cruise feels day to day. Even when ships are sailing the same itinerary, a large ship and a smaller ship can offer very different experiences.
- Arvia – 5,200
- Iona – 5,200
- Britannia – 3,647
- Azura – 3,100
- Ventura – 3,078
- Arcadia – 2,094
- Aurora – 1,874
Passenger capacity is one of the biggest things to think about when booking a cruise. There will always be a lot of people onboard, but some ships have a LOT more people than others.
Across the P&O fleet, passenger numbers range from under 2,000 on the smallest ships to over 5,200 on the largest, and that difference really does affect how the ship feels.
What is P&O’s biggest ship?
P&O Cruises’ newest ships, Arvia and Iona are also their largest. Both carry up to 5,200 passengers, along with around 1,800 crew.
To accommodate that many people, both ships are huge. Arvia has 2610 passenger cabins, while Iona has 2,614, along with a huge choice of bars, restaurants, entertainment venues and outdoor spaces. This means there is always plenty to do, especially on sea days.
The ships are very well designed for their size, which makes a big difference. That said, certain areas can feel busy at peak times, such as the buffet, popular bars, or when everyone is getting on and off the ship in port. So, if crowds are not your thing, one of P&O’s smaller ships might be a better fit.
I’ve cruised on Iona twice, including once when she was pretty full according to the staff onboard. Apart from the odd busy moment, I never felt it was too crowded.
Best for: families, first-time cruisers, and those who like lots of choice
What is the smallest ship in the P&O fleet?
The smallest ship in the P&O fleet is Aurora. With a capacity of 1,874 passengers and around 850 crew, she’s almost three times smaller than Arvia.
With fewer cabins (just 962) and venues, Aurora feels much more intimate and offers a more traditional cruise experience. While there is less choice overall, areas tend to feel calmer and it is quicker and easier to move around the ship. She is also adult-only, which adds to the relaxed atmosphere.
Best for: adult-only sailings, quieter cruises, those who like classic cruising
P&O ships by age – newest to oldest
- Arvia – 2022
- Iona – 2020
- Britannia – 2015
- Azura – 2010
- Ventura – 2008
- Arcadia – 2005
- Aurora – 2000
The age of a ship can also make a big difference to how it feels onboard.
The newer P&O ships have a much more modern look and feel than the older ships with open spaces and lots of dining and entertainment options. So, if you love sparkly new things (like me!), Arvia and Iona are likely to appeal most.
However, if you prefer a more classic cruising style and ships with a more traditional layout some of their older ships might be more suitable for you. That does not mean they are dated. All P&O ships are refurbished regularly and are well maintained, but the atmosphere can feel quite different.
What is P&O’s newest ship?
P&O’s newest ship is Arvia, which joined the fleet in December 2022. She’s a family-friendly ship with lots of outdoor space and a very modern, resort-style feel.
What is P&O’s oldest ship?
Aurora is P&O’s oldest ship, having joined the fleet in 2000. She’s adult-only and was most recently refurbished in 2019, keeping her classic style feeling fresh and well looked after.
Which P&O ship is best for you?
What makes a ship “best” is subjective. Most people are simply looking for a ship that suits how they like to cruise. If you’re still undecided, this is the easiest way to narrow things down:
- If you hate crowds: Aurora or Arcadia
- If you want the newest, most modern ship: Arvia
- If you love lots of choice and entertainment: Iona or Arvia
- If you want a balance of size and facilities: Britannia or Azura
- If you prefer a classic cruise feel: Aurora or Arcadia
How crowded do P&O ships feel?
Passenger numbers do not always tell the full story. While capacity gives a rough idea of how busy a ship might be, layout, public spaces and ship design have a big influence on how crowded it actually feels onboard.
- Iona & Arvia:
- Can be very busy at peak times (buffet, embarkation, sea days)
- Often feel much calmer outside those peak times, once people spread out across the ship
- Mid-sized ships (Britannia, Azura, Ventura):
- Generally easier to get around than the larger ships
- Fewer bottleneck areas
- Smaller ships (Aurora, Arcadia):
- Rarely feel crowded
- Have a much more relaxed, traditional atmosphere
The last word
Choosing which P&O ship to cruise on can be trickier than you might expect.
Once you’ve picked your itinerary, the size and age of the ship are two of the most important things to consider to make sure you enjoy your time onboard.
The good news is that P&O Cruises really does offer something for everyone. Whether you love the buzz of a mega ship or prefer something quieter and more traditional, tthere is a P&O ship that will suit your style of cruising.
There is not a smaller P and O ship the goes to the Caribbean, so sadly there is not always a ship for you
Hi David, yes, the trend seems to be bigger and bigger ships. How small are you looking for? Emma