Is P&O Arvia Really That Bad? 

Thanks for watching! For full transparency, in the vlog we mention a rough breakdown of the costs for our recent 16 Night Cruise. The mentioned £77 per night is Per Person based on 2 cruisers sharing! We don’t want to intentionally misinform anyone so thought we’d mention it! 😊❤️🥂🚢🏝️ Hit The “Like” Button If You Enjoyed The Vlog (please.. 🥰)

Thanks for that review! I’m a first time cruiser (travelling solo) and have booked a thirteen night Mediterranean cruise on Arvia 29 September 2024. As I delved deeper during my research (having already booked the cruise) I came across negative reviews and thought “have I made a mistake?” But having listened to your very frank review I agree it is what you make it. There are things I’m not interested in or doing so I’ll just go and do something I am keen on. One thing I realised very quickly is one has to research the ship and cruising thoroughly and take notes as there is so much information to take on board (pun intended) and to familiarise myself on the layout of the ship, where towels, water stations, reception and other useful spots are. So I’m trawling RU-vid for as many tips, shortcuts, hacks etc to make my cruise the best experience I can. This is a holiday of a lifetime for me so I’m doing all I can to be as prepared as possible. Fingers crossed!!

Hi thanks for the vid. Me and my partner were on Arvia for the maiden Atlantic crossing last year and it was an amazing experience. We happily booked again for this year and we were on the same cruise as yourselves. Unfortunately our experience this time was not good. Numerous issues but the big one was the smoker in the next cabin. My partner is disabled and on oxygen so we do need to spend a fair amount of time in the cabin. Long story short we had a week of smoke blowing in our faces and couldn’t use the balcony until they eventually moved us. They only did that after me complaining multiple times per day for a week. Thanks for making the blog series. It’s good to know others had a better experience and I’m glad you enjoyed your time aboard

This is great information. Thank you so much. I'm now super excited for July. X

My husband and I were on Arvia in May around the Med. We are both in our 80's and had a fantastic cruise. We only got off once so found there was plenty to keep us occupied during the 14 days. Plenty of children but they were no trouble at all. Would definitely recommend a cruise on Arvia. Our next is at Christmas back on Iona another fantastic P&O Ship. If you want something quieter try Arcadia, Adults only but not so much on board in the way of eateries and things to do.

We got off ARVIA a week ago. Half term week 5,500 customers a lot of children (mostly no issues what so ever) Embarkation was delayed by two hours due to deep clean as previous cruise had norovirus . So starting with cleaning, horizon buffet staff would clear tables but not wash them down. When we saw staff cleaning tables they tickled them not cleaned them. Staff stood on the doors of restaurants was not interested in people washing or gel their hands. We have been used to royal Caribbean washy washy) Food is subjective in my oppinion dinner in MDR was acceptable, we booked chefs table very disappointed for a special event staff had different uniforms on some from horizons, keel and cow etc also not interested. Food at keel and cow was very nice but your sat in the airport lounge (atrium). Epicurean was amazing for dinner and afternoon tea. The quays for breakfast, lunch and dinner. 6th street diner for brunch and diner was good but slowwww service but a good fun place to go. Horizon buffet 🤯 well all buffets can be crazy on land and sea these are inevitability busy at certain times of day. We never ever had any issues finding a table of four just go back a bit away from the serving stations. The thing that made me mad was mid afternoon they would start setting up for chefs table or beach house. The issue was the serving area that was open was where they are blocking off tables/ area and the tables you could use were at the other side or end 🤯 I talked to an officer about this and he said it’s how they are told to do it by the company. Taste 360 offered the worst pizza at sea, . The olive grove was a hidden gem (for free/ included) very nice fresh food although service was a bit hit and miss. The virtual que was amazing if you can do tech the only issue you had to keep checking and refreshing it does not ping. But you can go and get a buzzer. Bars and bar ( great prices for drinks like a good land bar) service no issues other than sometimes slow and not all bars carry all spirits (again I’m used to royal where they would go and bring a bottle of what your drinking to that bar) and on that note watch out, my wife ordered a Malibu and lemonade, the dar staff returned 10 min later and apologised they did not sell that drink however we were still charged for it🤯 Anderson’s a very nice chilled out bar, the crows nest beautiful bar but OMG that piano singer was like music to slashed your wrist to and when he sang he was like the Billy Connery drunken pub singer you could only make out two or three words of the songs. Brodies very busy pub, staff work very hard and there are a lot of them, this bar has free pool table, darts and jukebox, great quizzes but it can be hard at times To get a seat, football/ sports shown in here. Casino was ok.club house another very busy evening venue that a lot of family’s with children went to. Mostly not a problem apart from some nights the little kids made it hard for the entertainer. Entertainment what we saw was great, not as good as royal but better than MSC. State room was lovely but strange having no draws, we had a aft Balconey directly below the pool, we had been told there is no issue with water coming over as they resolved the issue from Iona we picked the cabin for the great aft views. We did have issue with pool water coming over onto our Balconey most days, the rooms below us got it worse. We did not have any issue at all with noise levels from DJ/ music at any time of day we had our Balconey door open whenever we were in the room. Great tv offerings from box sets ( but the box set are not I episode order) to movies to usual tv. Getting on and off the ship very little problem ( one port had issue but not P&O fault). We had select fair so had free shuttle bus rather than £10 each. Although we did not have kids with us the kids seemed to be very well entertained in sky dome (but the entertainment was loud) sooty show, Wallace grommet and Shaun the sheep, and other crazy stuff, we heard people saying their kids loved the kids club. We never saw anyone using the slash zone area on the top deck. It’s great P&O are moving into the family friendly market. Sadly some P&O regulars are not used to that many kids on a ship and complain about them (even when they were well behaved. Shops, check out prices, Lego very expensive, JBL and Marshall speakers cheaper on Amazon or Argos , bag of M&Ms more expensive than the cinemas at home I would very happily sail Arvia again and would recommend it to people. ❤ p&O need to sort out the cleaning, the PA system in sky dome, and customers sailing any ship need to learn how to WASH their hands more often.

Great video guys, we did fourteen nights on Arvia in Carribean Nov /Dec 23 and loved it.Sunbeds are an issue but everything else was Fab.Really enjoy your videos and reviews.

Thanks for this video. We have done the same. Booked and saw the negative videos. This is our first holiday with our children abroad as we have a disabled son. So we were worried we had chosen badly. But this video is great in terms of explaining your experiences. Thanks!

Having sailed on the same cruise as you,we agree with you on your views,apart from the service in the Crows Nest.We had no issues in getting served,but being creatures of habit,tend to sit in the same area and get to know the waiters serving in that area.We loved our aft cabin,the music played at the Sunset bar made a change from the usual cruise music aimed at the over 70s,but we couldn't hear it in the cabin if the doors are closed.We liked Arvia so much we have re booked the same cruise and cabin for 2026.

Awe guys, love your well thought out replies to the reviews. Like I said before, I've never sailed P&O, being Canadian, there are no ships that embark from any ports here. I'd have to fly to the UK, which I have done in the past. The World Cruise on P&O is a great value and I've been looking at that for a few years. I've done the World Cruise on Princess and loved it. Thanks again for all the great content! Miss the dogs :)

Great video gents, I am on Arvia in a few weeks for a Med cruise, very much looking forward to it. We’ve been on cruises in the past which we’ve enjoyed a lot, then read some right moans about it afterwards. I’m pretty confident we’ll have a fab time this time too, getting money’s worth out of the drinks package tends to give everything a nice warm fuzzy glow anyway. Only downside is it’s the start of the summer holidays so there’ll be loads of kids (my two included😂),cheers!

Great as always, the British sense of " fair play" really shone through in all your observations. As a flight attendant, I particularly appreciated the fact that you acknowledged the duty time that the crew were expected to work !!

Great video guys, loved the start, thought I was in 2010 watching the X factor 🤣 nice to hear your thoughts

Great Vlog Gents , made the same trip as yourselves from Barbados to Southampton earlier this year and recently ( last week around the med ) on Arvia There are without doubt some areas that could be improved on the ship , but in general we like Arvia , plenty to do ,plenty to eat , ok sometimes the menu etc could be improved , but you really do get value for money ,especially like we do and have the saver fare . The complaints about the entertainment are crazy , i think out of the cost you probably pay £10 per day !! Anyway great channel , enjoy the watch

Hey Gents. Excellent video love the staging 👍 cheers for shout out at start. We have similar views, I agree definitely on food the word is inconsistent and same with the service. I note now that some of bars on arvia and other ships are order at the bar only, it’s obviously cost cutting but might actually make it quicker, we shall see. 💯 agree on the wifi, since it’s been refuted Elon musk starlink it’s excellent, maybe the comment was from before starlink was installed.

Great reviews and video updates... I'm on Arvia in December, I'm really apprehensive. The reviews on RU-vid all contradict each other. Been on RC and TUI and they've both been amazing. I'm hoping P&O Arvia will be okay.

Like your honest thoughts about Arvia as we were on the cruise after you...I would agree with you on the points you discussed and think she is fantastic too....Nothings ever perfect but all in all we loved Arvia...got four more cruises booked on her.. 😊 and we had 6200 passengers on our cruise with loads of kids and we still loved her...And she was definitely not Butlins At Sea

I loved the Arvia ( March 23 sailed back from the Caribbean) we had a wonderful holiday . In reference to the spa , you can get special offers when the ship is In port. The only thing I didn’t particularly like was the virtual dining . If you like to eat at a regular time not knowing what time you could eat does cause a problem if you’ve booked the theatre and you want to be there for eg 8.30 you’ve know idea if you’ll be able to get there In time. The whole idea of freedom dining is you can eat when you choose too, I wish they would do something about that but overall we had a great time

I just came off Arvia (my only previous experience with P&O was 6 months before that on the Azura - which I found slightly better ) .The wifi was good I had the fast one, the spa & retreat was good but upselling in salon a major pain & my 2nd hair appt I cancelled the wash & blow dry as I wasn't happy with the first one said my hair was dry and tried to get me to get £100 keratin treatment & buy products, also she didnt style my hair they way I wanted insist3ed on making it curly with hairstraightners cos it was too dry ! I wasn't thrilled with how it looked on the day , but the next day it was like I had been dragged thro a hedge backwards & was like an oil slick . ( I always get my hair done on ships first for me not being happy with it). I have been on a cruise almost every year since 2006, 1st time getting norovirus, seemed pretty rife on P&O around the time we sailed . I would say it wasn't for us the food was average ate in the speciality dining a lot as a result . If I had never cruised before I may have loved it, for us no more P&O .

Had 2 weeks on her last year , a holiday is what you make it- we had a great time and would def go on her again

Just got off Arvia today june 23 2024. had a good time i am pleased to say the service in the crows nest was very good indeed, Arvia is not perfect but there is not alot wrong,

Hi guys you say about crew doors for cabin locations but am I right in saying that they don’t show on deck plans

These days, people are all to quick to find fault, complain, moan about the smallest and inconsequential things. 99 things can go well, even great and no one says a thing. 1 thing is wrong and people get their pitchforks out, head to the internet and b!tch as if their granny has been slapped with a wet fish. I loved Arvia for 2 weeks last Summer, going transatlantic on her this October ... And I can't wait. Arvia is not perfect but what is? Most people will be paying, on avg, about £100 a night for a room, food, entertainment and everything else on board whilst being taken to different ports. I wish these moaners would show me better deals than what Arvia has to offer! Rant over. Great video, you guys are wonderful!

Have either of you ever holidayed at Butlins?

I’ll be on it nx Sunday but will make my own mind up, there definitely is serial complainers out there, as long as there’s a clean bed I’m happy 😃

Good of Moira Rose herself to stop by and leave a review 😂

High there, not able to see blog, because I am the celebrity infinity going to the Greek islands…Mx

Sorry, but I feel the blondish guy is uber positive about everything, almost clownishly so, and the handsome one just follows along. So it was no surprise you found all of the faults not a fault but somehow justifiable, i.e, the crew were tired, their feet hurt, it' was clean enough, the spa was amaaaaaazing.

We spent a awesome 2 weeks in may on arvia sad fact is people love to moan.

Great video 👍 we're going on Arvia next year and you've made us real at ease 👌 thank you 😊 🛳