p and 0 cruises 2022

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P&O Cruises fleet

Pacific encounter, pacific adventure, pacific explorer, review of p&o cruises.

This is CruiseMapper's hub for both companies - P&O UK and P&O Australia. Both P and O cruise lines belong to the world's largest cruise shipping company. P&O cruise lines deals are mainly on voyages departing from Southampton UK and Sydney NSW Australia . Both P&O companies are subsidiaries/part of the Carnival Group of companies - all of which are fully owned by Carnival Corporation & PLC . P&O UK is under the management of Carnival UK. And there is a 3rd "PandO" company (not part of Carnival plc) - the UK-based P&O Ferries .

Company history and changes

P&O Cruises UK (POcruises.com) is a British-American passenger shipping company headquartered at Carnival House (Southampton, England) and operated/managed by Carnival UK. P&O was originally a constituent of “Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company” (1797-founded/1966-defunct) which was the world's oldest cruise line that operated the first-ever passenger ships.

P&O Cruises' sister company is P&O Cruises Australia. P&O Australia's current President is Marguerite Fitzgerald. while P&O UK's (as well as Carnival UK's) current President is Paul Ludlow.

In 2000, "P&O Cruises" was excluded from P&O Group, becoming the subsidiary "P&O Princess Cruises". In 2003, P&O Princess merged with Carnival, forming Carnival Corporation & plc.

P&O (UK and AU) holds as market share ~5% of the worldwide cruise industry. Both companies (P&O Australia and P&O UK) were created in 1977, re-branding P&O's passenger division. Arcadia was the fleet's first adults-only liner, followed by Adonia (now Azamara Pursuit ), Oriana and Aurora (April 2000).

P&O UK ships Arcadia and Aurora are currently marketed as adult-only.

In August 2017, Azura became the world's first cruise ship to perform gay weddings at sea. P&O UK's wedding package prices started from GBP 1200. For comparison, Cunard’s shipboard weddings cost starts at ~GBP 2570 ( RMS Queen Mary 2 ) and ~GBP 2120 ( Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth ). On MS Azura, gay wedding ceremonies are carried out by the ship’s Captain, while marriage licenses are issued by Bermuda's Government (as the vessel is registered in Hamilton Bermuda ).

In June 2018, P&O UK announced that Oriana leaves the fleet in August 2019. The liner (now named Piano Land ) was sold to the Chinese company Well Star Travel Cruise (brand of CTS-China Travel Services International). The Chinese company plans short cruises from Chinese homeports to ports in Japan and Southeast Asia (Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, Philippines, Indonesia).

Since May 1, 2019, P&O Cruises UK's Daily Service Charge per person (GBP 7) is no longer required. Crew tipping remains not expected or required.

In June 2021, P&O UK launched a mobile app to optimize pre-boarding and maximize onboard efficiency. The new "My Holiday" app is free of charge but available only on the ship. It allows pre-booking and making reservations onboard (dining times, restaurants, shows) via mobile phones and tablets. The app is an addition to the My Holiday (Reception Desk) which provides 24-hour assistance, including booking and how to use the application.

In summer 2023, two P&O UK ships (Iona and Arvia) introduced in their retail shops three kids' toy brands (Barbie, Hot Wheels Cars, Keycraft's Pocket Money) in addition to the always available toys from brands like Lego, Jellycat, TY (stuffed animals).

In April 2024 was introduced fleetwide the new illusion show "Unbelievable" created by Stephen Mulhern (TV presenter, magician, comedian) and Jonathan Wilkes (TV presenter, singer) and with Vegas-style choreography from Paul Domaine (show director, professional choreographer).

In June 2011 was announced that P&O UK will expand the fleet with a new 141,000-ton unit built by Fincantieri. The new vessel ( MV Britannia ) entered service in 2015. In January 2014, with Britannia was introduced a new livery based on UK's Union Flag.

On September 6, 2016, P&O UK (via Carnival Corporation) signed an MoA with Meyer Werft ( Papenburg Shipyard ) for building a new (company's largest) 5200-passenger vessel. In late-October 2016, P&O announced that the new ship ( Iona ) will have some of the largest at sea outdoor areas, glass-domed top deck, glass-walled atrium (full height) and wider and longer (approx 2600 ft / 800 m) Promenade Deck allowing multiple alfresco dining/open-air venues.

Iona was delivered in October 2020 and inaugurated in August 2021. The sistership Arvia was postponed (due to the COVID crisis) and delivered in December 2022 and inaugurated in January 2023.

The newest P&O UK vessel has max passenger capacity 6264, volume 187500 GT-tons, 18 decks, 2610 staterooms, 17 eateries (including 7 specialty restaurants/ Britannia has just 3), 12 bars/lounges, 13 entertainment venues, 4 swimming pools, 16 outdoor whirlpools. The top-deck Dome is an entertainment space, with a swimming pool, large jacuzzies, a retractable stage. This all-weather venue hosts daily entertainment and dining and nightly shows (aerial performances and light projections onto the covering glass roof).

P&O UK's newest ship is also LNG-powered (by liquefied natural gas). Two similar-design ships (180K tons) were also ordered for CCL-Carnival Cruise Line . On January 26, 2018, Carnival Corporation signed a shipbuilding contract with Meyer Werft for building a second (180,000 GT) liner for P&O, with the delivery scheduled for 2022. As of 2018, Carnival Corp’s fleet of newbuilds ( on order and under construction ) numbered 19 units, scheduled for deliveries in 2018-2022.

In January 2016, Carnival Corporation signed an MoA (memo of agreement) with Fincantieri to build 4 new units. Contracts were finalized in April 2016. Of these, 2 vessels were for Costa Asia (homeported in China), one for Princess and one for P&O Australia. With this shipbuilding order, the Corporation had a total of 17 new ships scheduled for deliveries between 2016 and 2020. The four vessels will be built at Fincantieri's shipyards in Monfalcone and Marghera, with scheduled deliveries in 2019-2020.

Three of the vessels are designed with gross tonnage 133,500 tons, LOA length is 323 m (1060 ft) and capacity 4000 passengers plus 1450 crew (2 are for Costa Asia, 1 for P&O AU). One ship with GT 143,700 tons and capacity 3560 passengers is for Princess. Both Costa ships are exclusively for the booming Chinese market. Each vessel is powered by two MAN diesel engines (model 14V48 / 60CR) plus three MAN diesel engines (medium-speed, model 8L48 / 60CR), providing total power output 62,400 kW. The engines are Tier-II compliant.

P&O Cruises Australia

P&O Cruises Australia Ltd is a British-American company with corporate headquarters at Carnival House (Southampton, England UK). P&O Australia is a sister company of P&O UK. Both are under Carnival UK's executive control. Currently, P&O Australia operates 3 boats deployed in the South Pacific Ocean on island-hopping itineraries - mainly roundtrips from homeports in Australia.

After numerous changes in the company’s organization, in 2000 P&O Group demerged all cruise shipping operations. Then, P&O Princess Cruises was created- a new company independent of P&O; consisting of AIDA Cruises , Princess Cruises , P&O Cruises Australia, P&O Cruises (UK), and later "Ocean Village" and A-Rosa Cruises (riverboats).

In 2003, Carnival Corporation merged with P&O Princess Cruises thus forming Carnival Corporation & plc- the largest cruise company in the world, with eleven cruise lines portfolio, including P&O AU. Official website pocruises.com.aunofollow.

Princess' oldest ship - Regal Princess, was transferred to P&O Australia in October 2007, and after a month of drydock refurbishment entered service as Pacific Dawn.

Carnival Corporation informed about the closure of Ocean Village (UK-based travel brand) on October 30, 2008. Both Ocean Village ships were transferred to P&O Australia - Ocean Village 2 (as Pacific Jewel, in December 2009) and Ocean Village 1 (as Pacific Pearl, in December 2010).

P&O ships sail on 270+ itineraries each year (with 120+ of them departing from Southampton), and visiting 90+ countries on 6 continents.

Pacific Pearl was renamed MV Columbus and in 2017 started operations for CMV . Pacific Pearl left the fleet in April 2017, after completing 294 voyages for P&O and carrying 1+ million passengers over 5 years. In November 2019, for Pacific Aria (now Celestyal Journey) and Pacific Dawn (now Ambience) were signed presale agreements with CMV and both ships were planned to start operations for the UK-based company in 2021 as "CMV Amy Johnson" (Pacific Dawn) and "CMV Ida Pfeiffer" (Pacific Aria). In September-October 2020, following CMV's bankruptcy , both vessels were acquired by new shipowners.

On November 25, 2015: P&O AU's entire fleet (all 5 liners) gathered in Sydney Harbour to celebrate the arrival of the fleetmates Pacific Aria and Pacific Eden.

In June 2018, P&O Australia launched with  Pacific Explorer "The Big Laugh" onboard show program - advertised as "the biggest comedy festival at sea". The program included all 14 stand-up comedy celebrities performing a total of 36 shipboard live shows (combined over 33 hours live performances). The program started with the 4-day roundtrip Sydney cruise to Moreton Island (departure June 20).

Among the guest comedians were Jimeoin (Irish), Matthew Matt Okine (AU), David Gerard Callan (Australian), Scared Weird Little Guys (Australian comedy music duo - John Fleming and Rusty Berther), David William "Hughesy" Hughes (AU), Harley Breen (AU), Claire Hooper (AU). "The Big Laugh" program comprised of all 72 comedy- themed cruises in 2018-2019. The famous Australian comedians performed during 2-, 3- and 4-night itineraries ("SeaBreaks") leaving roundtrip out of Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Cairns, Auckland NZ.

In 2019, P&O AU scheduled the ever largest "comedy cruise" program in the company's history - 38 itineraries (January through October). On March 7, 2018, was announced that Pacific Eden is sold to the UK-based company CMV , joining CMV's fleet in April 2019.

Since 2007, P&O Australia ships' onboard retail shops are managed by Harding (UK-based travel and cruise retail group). In 2020, Harding was acquired by Davidson Kempner Capital Management LP (1983-founded, NYC-based investment management firm with USD 34+ billion in managed assets). Harding has hubs in Bristol (England) , Miami (Florida USA)  and Sydney (NSW Australia) .

New beverage packages

In May 2023, P&O UK introduced four new drink packages available fleetwide but only on longer voyages, with durations of at least 5 nights (or longer).

The beverage packages are at a fixed price per person and per day. The package's pricing is lower if purchased online and before the voyage.

• "The Refresh Drinks" package is priced GBP 9.85 (prior to the voyage) and GBP 10.95 (if purchased onboard).  The Refresh package Includes soft drinks (lemonade, Pepsi, juices).
• "The Alcohol-free Drinks" package is priced GBP 22.45 (before) and GBP 24.95 (onboard) and includes all The Refresh package's beverages plus Costa Coffee and sodas.
• "The Classic Drinks" package is priced GBP 40.45 (before) and GBP 44.95 (onboard) and includes all beverages from The Refresh and The Alcohol-free packages plus alcoholic beverages (spirits, wines, cocktails).
• "The Deluxe Drinks" package is priced GBP 49.45 (before) and GBP 54.95 (onboard) and includes all other packages' beverages plus specialty cocktails, premium spirits and wines. Additionally, passengers who buy The Deluxe Drinks package also receive 20% off on all drinks excluded from this package.

The above-listed new packages are for P&O UK ships only and introduced/first offered on the liners Iona and Ventura (starting May 20, 2023) and available fleetwide since July 2023.

P&O Cruise Personaliser

PandO Cruise Personaliser is an online service that allows passengers to update their before-sailing information and see in a concise form all their booking details. P&O Personaliser is NOT mandatory to complete but may be of great help in cases of emergency for the company to contact family members, relatives, friends.

To log in, you'll need to input your first and surname, and cruise reference number. It is received as part of your reservation confirmation (up to 120 days prior to departure, not available for 18-yo) or upon booking (up to 1 year). The same number serves all people included in the booking. On the Web page, there's information about cruise itinerary, stateroom (category and number), boarding times, contact info (including emergency contacts), passport data, medical and dietary requirements (if requested).

PO Cruise Insurance is optional. If purchased, the Insurance policy type is also shown (Standard or higher), package deal type, all kinds of pre-made reservations (shore excursions, Air, Spa), credit card number, luggage tags, etc.

• Dining /medical requests can't be entered online - they must be specified in the manual form.
• The accessible information about changes and updates pertains ONLY to a phone number, address, passport, emergency contacts.
• You can't book a cruise through P&O Cruise Personaliser - booking requires full payment and immigration details.
• Through the Personaliser you can make online reservations (shore excursions, tours, Spa, hairdresser, specialty restaurants), to update special requests and onboard preferences, or to add some additional services (babysitting, amenities, etc).
• Itinerary changes are also listed in the Cruise Personaliser form, along with other important updates.
• Immediately call P&O if you have forgotten or lost your booking number. Call between 7 am – 8 pm (Australian Eastern Standard Time - Monday to Friday) and Saturday (8 am - 5 pm) - phone number 1300-159-454.

PO Cruise Personaliser is accessed by both travel agents and passengers. With personal bookings (through a travel agent or P&O Reservations Centre) passengers receive reference numbers (after confirmation). On a particular booking, each passenger can access the Personaliser using the booking reference number and first name-surname. If you're not the booking person, contact the one who did it for obtaining booking reference. After log-in, note that all passengers' names in the booking party are displayed under the same reference number.

IMPORTANT - Each of the same-booking passengers is able to access the info about you and the other, i.e. you can update and provide information of all other passengers in your booking, and they can change your information. If you wish so, you could provide P&O with other passengers' personal information. Another case is when they are minors (younger than 18 years old). Then you must be a parent or legal guardian.

After providing P&O cruise company with the personal data needed on the Personaliser (and also with additional info if asked for more details), this database is used for updating pre-cruise information.

Certain information is sometimes required under maritime-customs-immigration-security laws. Personaliser info may be disclosed to P&O Cruises service providers (ticketing companies, travel, and port agents, authorities, emergency response providers, immigration, airlines, customs, shore tour operators, related entities) for Carnival Corporation's business purposes. Certain information is collected because of customs or immigration laws requirements. If you refuse to provide the information requested in the Personaliser, they may not be able to process the booking or provide certain services during the voyage.

(Coronavirus crisis) passenger shipping pause 2020-2021

Due to the COVID pandemic, P&O's entire fleet (all UK- and AU-based liners) is with an expanded cancellation policy. All bookings on pre-scheduled itineraries (departures in the period March 14 through August 31, 2020) were given the option to cancel up to 48 hours (prior departure) without penalties.

All affected bookings received a 125% refund in FCC (future cruise credit) transferred to a booking made before December 31, 2021, or 100% monetary refund. With the FCCs customers can also pay for cabin upgrades or book a second stateroom (on existing bookings). FCCs can be also gifted or transferred (options offered through December 31, 2021).

P&O UK canceled all voyages departing between March 14, 2020, and June 2021.

• P&O UK planned to resume operations in early-February 2021 (Caribbean fly-cruises from Barbados and St Lucia) and in mid-March 2021 (roundtrips out of Southampton).
• P&O UK's World Cruises 2021 (ships Arcadia and Aurora) were both canceled.

Next are listed P&O UK's ships and their first departure dates in 2021-2022 - AZURA (Dec 10, 2021), BRITANNIA (June 27, 2021/UK Coastal), AURORA (April 13, 2022/Mediterranean from Southampton), ARCADIA (March 27, 2022/Canaries from Southampton), IONA (Aug 7, 2021/ Maiden Voyage /UK Coastal), VENTURA (Oct 3, 2021/Canaries from Southampton).

P&O Australia canceled all departures between March 14, 2020, and May 31, 2022. P&O Australia resumed operations in 2022 with the ships Pacific EXPLORER (May 31/from Sydney), Pacific ENCOUNTER (Aug 27/from Brisbane), Pacific ADVENTURE (October 22/from Sydney).

Citing the Coronavirus crisis' impact, in early-July 2020, P&O UK sold the ship Oceana . A total of 190 scheduled itineraries (departures from homeports Southampton UK and Dubai UAE) were canceled.

Itinerary of P&O Cruises

P&O Cruises ships sail on mostly round-trip itineraries leaving from UK (Southampton, April through October), Caribbean (from Barbados, during winter) and from Australia (Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane - year-round departures). While most PandO UK ships remain in Europe year-round, the line's largest vessels also sail in the Caribbean (out of Barbados) and offer longer world cruise itineraries.

Citing the COVID crisis' impact on the passenger shipping industry, in early-July 2020, P&O UK sold the cruise ship Oceana . A total of 190 scheduled itineraries (departures from homeports Southampton UK and  Dubai UAE ) were canceled.

P&O UK's 2025-2026 itinerary program (opened for booking on October 18, 2023) features 12 new for the company ports (including Los Angeles CA USA, Melbourne Victoria AU, Port Chalmers/Dunedin NZ, Benoa Bali Indonesia, Bodo Norway, Tangier Morocco). MS Britannia has scheduled two new Caribbean fly-cruise itineraries visiting Jamaica, Dominicana, Grand Turk). In January 2026, MS Aurora starts a 75-night Grand Voyage while MS Arcadia starts a 100-night World Circumnavigation Cruise (28 ports/destinations). Traditionally for P&O, both World  Voyages are roundtrips from Southampton.

(UK & AU) PO cruise itinerary changes

PO AU's vessels are all UK- flagged . However, all ships are registered in Bermuda ( Hamilton ) to allow shipboard weddings (at sea). These ceremonies are conducted by the Captains and are pretty popular.

Our P&O cruise schedules include the ships of both brands (Australia and UK).

In October 2022, P&O UK announced new "Scandinavia and Baltic Sea" itineraries debuting in 2024 summer, all of which are roundtrips from Southampton.

• (Arcadia) 16-night from GBP 1700 pp (June 25)
• (Aurora) 16-night from GBP 1350 pp (May 18) and 16-night from GBP 1450 pp (August 26)
• (Britannia) 14-night from GBP 1150 pp (May 10), plus 2x 14-night from GBP 1300 pp (August 30, September 20)

Arcadia also offers a 16-night "Iceland and Norway" voyage from GBP 1650 pp (July 30), while Britannia offers a 14-night "British Isles" from GBP 1300 pp (June 7) and a 14-night "Canary Islands" from GBP 1250 pp (July 5).  The new Baltic sailings feature overnight port stays in Copenhagen (Denmark), Helsinki (Finland), and Stockholm (Sweden).

P&O Cruises related cruise news

P&O Cruises' Britannia sets sail after extensive refurbishment

P&O Cruises UK's flagship Britannia left from Southampton on April 21st following an extensive multimillion drydock refurbishment. The company...

Crew medevaced from P&O Australia's ship Pacific Adventure

The Westpac Rescue Helicopter executed a medical evacuation of a crew member from the P&O Australia cruise ship, Pacific Adventure, who urgently...

P&O Cruises Australia injects $29M into Western Australia's economy

Fremantle presently serves as the embarkation point for P&O Cruises Australia's Pacific Explorer, hosting a series of 7 voyages in the upcoming...

P&O UK unveils summer 2026 cruises with early booking discount

P&O Cruises UK has unveiled its summer 2026 program, accompanied by an enticing early-bird booking promotion. The itinerary collection...

New amenities on P&O Australia's ship Pacific Adventure following drydock

P&O Australia's ship Pacific Adventure emerged from recent drydock with onboard enhancements. After undergoing a recent drydock, Pacific...

P&O Cruises UK launches "Shine at Sea" seminars for travel agents (ship Iona)

P&O Cruises UK is set to host 100 agents on its inaugural seminars at sea for the year. The company has launched a fresh incentive program named...

Cruise Port Rotterdam celebrates 2.5 millionth passenger with P&O UK's ship Iona

Cruise Port Rotterdam achieved a significant milestone on April 3, 2024, as it welcomed its 2.5 millionth cruise passenger. The noteworthy event...

Britain's largest cruise ship P&O Arvia makes maiden voyage to Mallorca

The upcoming visit of Britain's largest cruise ship to Mallorca is set for next month. With a remarkable gross tonnage of about 184,700, P&O UK...

P&O Cruises' Iona refurbishment delay prompts cruise cancellations

The planned refurbishment of P&O Cruises' vessel, Iona, has experienced delays, leading to the cancellation of two cruises scheduled for next...

Crystal Cruises cancels voyage and reroutes ships due to Red Sea risks

Crystal Cruises has made operational adjustments in response to ongoing security concerns surrounding ships navigating the Red Sea. The cancellation...

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P&O Cruises is a British cruise line, which also exudes exactly this flair on all its ships. The medium-sized to large ships are increasingly booked by British travellers and take you worldwide to the most beautiful cities and natural areas. If you love the British way of life and would like to sweeten your day with traditions such as afternoon tea and scones, P&O is ideal for you. Offering varied entertainment from Strictly Come Dancing themed cruises to Cookery Club at Sea, P&O have something for everyone. Families are also welcome, except on the two adults-only ships, where adults can pursue their dream of rest and relaxation.

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Voyage length, from/to port, from country, from/to country, includes flight.

Itinerary: Southampton, Stavanger, Olden, Ålesund, Haugesund, Southampton

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• Great service, lovely people working onboard. It was one of the most relaxing holiday, thanks to P&O. Remember, its an older ship… so no big slides or huge street disco like MSC, but less people which we liked… not the 6 thousands but the 3 thousand??
• Very Britisch,elegant,traditional,classic cruise line.Formal nights every 3-4 days so you feel like on Titanic. High level of entertainment with additional,interesting lectures during long cruise/40 days/. Superb itinerary. The only minus is limited choise of food and specific britisch menu.
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Which Canary Island should you go to?

Canary Islands cruises offer the perfect year-round vacation thanks to the Spanish archipelago’s winter sun, incredible nature offerings and beautiful beaches.

P&O Cruises offers vacations as varied as you are, with the line now highly popular among vacationmakers eager to cruise to the Canaries.

There are plenty of hotspots to choose from in this neck of the woods off the coast of Africa, whether you’re after culture, watersports or relaxation. P&O Cruises’ Canary Islands cruise vacations take travelers to five destinations – Lanzarote, Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura, Tenerife and La Palma.

Particularly exciting for 2022 is the launch of P&O Cruises’ newest ship Arvia , which will cruise to the Canary Islands from Southampton in December on its maiden voyage. A dazzling ship and spectacular destinations – what’s not to love?

This is everything you need to know about P&O Cruises to this delightful corner of the world.

What Canary Islands are there?

There are eight islands in the Canaries in total: Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, La Palma, La Gomera, El Hierro and La Graciosa. P&O Cruises visits the five biggest .

What Canary Island is the best?

This is likely down to personal choice – do you want a lively sociable scene or as few tourists as possible? Are golden sands important for you or are you more interested in history? Our island guide below will help you choose!

As for size, the largest of all the Canaries is Tenerife followed by Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote and La Palma. La Graciosa is the smallest of the eight islands. Thirty minutes by boat from Lanzarote, the tiny island has no roads but has become a popular day trip option thanks to its golden beaches and idyllic quietude.

​P&O shore excursions in the Canary Islands

Tenerife is home to the marvellous Mount Teide National Park – the biggest park on the Canary Islands – boasting craters, volcanoes (yup Mount Teide is still active, nope you don’t need to worry) and rivers of petrified lava. It was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and is fascinating to explore thanks to its impressive flora and fauna.

P&O Cruises offers a stargazing shore excursion to Mount Teide National Park. Equipped with telescopes and binoculars and led by an expert guide you’ll check out planets, stars, galaxies and star clusters in the night sky. Remember to make a wish if you see a shooting star!

If you’d rather stick to the towns for some culture, there’s the art gallery Museo de Bellas Artes in the cruise port of Santa Cruz; or you could delve into the world of natural science and archaeology at the Museo de la Naturaleza y El Hombre.

Alternatively hit the beach to soak up the sun and top up your tan – Playa de las Americas is a fab resort for beachside bars, shopping centres and sunbathing. Or why not go diving and explore the local marine life? Whales and dolphins can be found off the coast of Tenerife, with boat trips and swimming opportunities aplenty.

As for P&O Cruises’ shore excursions in Tenerife, join the History & Flavours of Tenerife trip to admire the UNESCO World Heritage Site of La Laguna and tuck into tasty local eats and thirst-quenching drinks, including a typical passionfruit mojito.

Fuerteventura

Fuerteventura may be the second-largest Canary island but it’s avoided over-development. However, like Tenerife, it also has a volcanic interior and top beaches.

The Corralejo dunes are worth exploring on a buggy tour while Flag Beach is popular with surfers and kite surfers. Jandia Peninsula also has some of the best beaches in the Canaries and is similarly great for watersports. Meanwhile, for history and culture head to Betancuria.

Gran Canaria

Gran Canaria holds the crown for the best-known beach in all the Canary Islands – Playa del Ingles, think miles of sand plus plenty of lively bars and restaurants, while Playa de Amadores is another popular beach spot.

P&O Cruises offers an excursion for those keen to try surfing on the Surfing at Las Canteras Beach, Gran Canaria trip. The surfing lesson on the city beach is for both beginners and those who have surfed before. It’s fun for all the family plus a great workout!

Another must-do on the island is to visit the spectacular Maspalomas Dunes which are constantly sculpted by winds. A highlight of P&O Cruises’ Gran Canaria voyages is Palmitos Nature Park – set in a canyon inland from Maspalomas and famed for its tropical plants, birds and fish. Another is Bandama, an extinct volcano set 1,900 feet above sea level, serving up panoramic vistas over the island.

Las Palmas de Gran Canaria is the capital if you fancy admiring the architecture in the old town, treating yourself to some shopping or settling in for a long lunch.

Lanzarote is another Canary Island hotspot with an amazing moon-like volcanic landscape – head to Fire Mountain in the Timanfaya National Park for the best views. You can also take camel rides here with P&O Cruises while other tours will take you to the wine country of La Geria to taste some of the local vintages.

If you’re an art fan, join The Magic of Manrique P&O Cruises excursion. Tourists will travel around the island in search of masterpieces by the painter, architect, builder and sculptor (and ecologist!) César Manrique. You’ll take in Jameos el Agua cave, a volcanic cave overlooking a saltwater lagoon home to a colony of white crabs unique to the island.

La Palma is the smallest of all the islands P&O Cruises sails to in the Canary Islands and is still relatively untouched by mass tourism. Explore the pretty harbour of Santa Cruz and the charming old quarter around Plaza de Espana where you’ll find a 16th-century fountain and town hall, a splendid Renaissance church and a handicrafts market.

Caldera de Taburiente is La Palma’s most magnificent volcanic crater. The national park has brilliant flora and fauna plus impressive clear night skies.

There really is something for everyone in the Canary Islands, and the best part about taking a P&O Cruises getaway is that you can hit up multiple destinations keeping the whole gang happy in one vacation. Just don’t ask to share our passionfruit mojito.

Where to go in February – 10 best cruise destinations

February cruises are a great opportunity to spread your wings and seek winter sun as well as the snowy charms of northern Europe.

Where to go in January – 10 best cruise destinations

January cruises are an excellent way to start the New Year right, whether you’re on a far-flung eastern adventure or a short-haul snowy mini-break.

10 surprising fun facts about the Canary Islands

Canary Island cruises are an easy way to pack multiple islands from the Spanish archipelago into one trip alongside a wealth of other Spanish gems. Here’s what you might not know about the Canaries.

Become the first to know about win-a-cruise competitions, on-trend vacation inspo and don’t-miss travel advice from the experts.

Ahoy there!

• Bungy Jumping
• Horse Riding
• Ice-Climbing
• Kite-Surfing
• Motor Sport
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• Scuba Diving
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• Stand Up Paddle-Boarding
• Wakeboarding
• White Water Rafting

Caribbean Cruise Travel in 2022 With P&O Cruises

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Please note this guidance is for UK cruise guests only.

It’s fair to say the Cruise industry has had a challenging time over the past couple of years. It has been stop/start since summer of 2021 and that has led to a lot of uncertainty for guests. I have a feeling things will pick up in a big way in 2022.

At the end of 2021 we all felt like we were back into the swing of things and had a system, then a new variant comes along and throws a spanner in the works. Nonetheless, in the UK (particularly England) we seem to have ridden out that storm without another lockdown (fingers crossed). If you can get organised and get your head around the rules and your Covid tests, you can have that holiday of a lifetime.

That’s where I can help, and there may not be a better time to book than now. You can also read my full review of the Caribbean Cruise on Britannia .

Is 2022 the best time to cruise the Caribbean?

My personal opinion is there is not a better time than right now to book that once in a lifetime cruise to the Caribbean. Here me out.

• The Price . Firstly due to the current climate, you can get some amazing deals on Caribbean cruises , starting at £999 for two weeks or £899 for 12 nights. This price covers an inside cabin, full board, your flights to and from Barbados and is based on two people sharing.
• Few or no children . Yes, that’s right, cruises are only offered to fully vaccinated passengers which therefore discounts most children. For families this may be a reason not to travel, but for those without, it’s a blessing!
• Ships are not at full capacity . On sea days or at popular times at the buffet, cruise ships can feel a little busy. However right now most cruises are not operating at full capacity. This means dinner is easier to reserve, the buffet is quieter, shore experiences are not fully booked, and you can get into all the shows.

What you need to prepare for your Caribbean Cruise in 2022

This is the important part, but please note things can change rapidly and this information is true at the time of writing. Below you’ll find a checklist of everything that you need to consider and what you will have to prepare. I will endeavour to keep this article updated as things change.

It is also important to note that this is relevant to P&O Cruise, travelling in and out of Barbados, for UK customers. Currently P&O Cruise only serves guests with a UK passport. I flew out of London and some requirements differ between the UK nations for returning home, so please check on the government website for England , Scotland , Wales and Northern Ireland .

Before your departure to Barbados:

• Have your Covid vaccination pass ready . You must be fully vaccinated with your second dose no less than 14-days before departure (there are currently no requirements to have had the booster). You can get your Covid pass from the NHS App.
• Book your pre-departure PCR test . You will need a Fit to Fly PCR test to be taken with a medical professional within 72 hours of your departure flight. This is a rule set by many countries and is a requirement for Barbados immigration. I do not see this one changing soon.
• Complete the Barbados immigration forms and upload your details to the BIMsafe App . Another requirement for entry into Barbados, you will upload all your details including your vaccination status to the App.
• Book your day 2 Covid test. Update! From 11th February 2022 fully vaccinated travellers will no longer need to take a Covid test when returning home. Until then, when you return home, you need to take a day two test, and you must book this in advance. This is currently an antigen test, and you do not need to isolate whilst you wait for the results.
• Complete your details in My P&O Cruises. Once you have booked a cruise, you have access to your dedicated login page . Here you need to make sure your details are up to date and complete the Health Declaration. This must be submitted within 72-hours of the trip. You can also check-in online and print your luggage labels, speeding things up at the airport.
• Airport Antigen Covid test. The final test before you board is a complimentary test organised by P&O Cruises, all information about this will be sent to you after booking. This is a drive through test just 5 minutes from Gatwick Airport, with a free shuttle bus for those not driving. It takes around 30-minutes but please allow more time in case it is busy.
• Travel Insurance. Make sure you have Covid cover and medical cover for a minimum of £2 million. Also ensure cruise cover is included in your travel insurance.

Before returning home from Barbados:

• Covid tests – Recent update : As stated above from 11th February fully vaccinated travellers do not need a Covid test. Until then you need to have your Day-2 test booked in advance, which can now be an Antigen test. You will only isolate if this test is positive, you do not need to isolate whilst you wait for the result.
• Complete the Passenger Locator Form . This is a requirement for travel from anywhere from the UK government, to be completed within 48 hours of returning to the UK. This form will ask you for the reference number for your day-2 test, hence booking it in advance.

You can start your Passenger Locator form from the UK if you wish, however logging back into the form at sea can be a challenge, so I recommend doing the entire form from the start onboard. P&O Cruises provided free access to the gov.uk pages, and a handy guide with all the details you need for the form. There were also plenty of staff on hand to help answer any questions.

What to expect during your Caribbean Cruise in 2022

You can expect beautiful sunshine, a tan to make your friends jealous, fantastic Caribbean culture, rum punch, and crystal-clear waters. OK, that was obvious. In terms of travelling during Covid times in 2022, I will split this down into two sections, onboard and going ashore to the islands.

• Face Coverings & social distancing . The most notable change is it is still a requirement to wear a face covering as you are moving around the ship, and all staff will always be wearing one. It is in place for peace of mind and was voted by cruisers as something they preferred. When you are outside or sat with a drink or meal, you can remove your mask. There are also social distancing guidelines all around the ship.
• Hand Hygiene . There are so many hand sanitising stations all around the ship. The buffet is still mostly self-service; however, you are asked to wash your hands before entry.

Going ashore:

• Island Rules . Each Caribbean Island sets its own rules when it comes to Covid, and please keep in mind they are protecting their population as many of these islands have low vaccination rates. Some islands are open as usual, and some you can only leave the port on an organised excursion.
• Face Coverings . Again, depends on the island. Some require you to wear this when going into shops, getting in a taxi, walking around the port, and some do not.
• Covid Tests . Finally on my cruise just one island required you to take a Covid test, this was very quick and easy and done onboard however at extra cost.

Please note your Horizon daily newsletter will keep you informed about the rules for each port, along with the daily announcements. You can also get the latest Destination Entry Requirements on the Cruise with Confidence page on the P&O Cruises website.

Bonus Tip : most cruises charge for WiFi as the ship uses a Satellite connection. However, if you have an e-SIM enabled phone you can get a $10 SIM that covers the whole of the Caribbean. It lasts a week or when your 1GB of data runs out. That’s enough to last as long as you’re not streaming or watching endless Instagram Reels.

The App is called Airalo and I can give you $3 free using the code SCOTT801 or signing up from this link.

What if I get Covid on my Caribbean Cruise?

Let us start with if you get it before your cruise or on one of the pre-departure tests. This means you will not be able to board the flight, but you can simply transfer your booking to another cruise using your Future Cruise Credit issued by P&O. Any tour experiences booked will be refunded. The credit is valid for 2 years from the dates its issued.

If you get Covid onboard you will be moved to one of the dedicated isolation cabins. This is either for the duration of the cruise or at the next port of call. In the situation where you need to disembark, P&O Cruises works with local authorities and the guest’s insurance to secure the most appropriate accommodation. This is all supported by P&O Cruises dedicated CARE team.

Please take some time to read the Cruise with Confidence page on the P&O Cruises website, which has a hand FAQ section.

Last thoughts on my Caribbean Cruise

It is hard to put into words the holiday feeling after nearly two years without it. I first felt that buzz on the flight over, people getting to know each other, talking about how excited they were. Top that off with a few moments, where you stop and take in the moment.

It is in those moments where you feel most grateful that you can travel again. It could be enjoying the sail away sunset from the balcony or seeing the Pitons in St Lucia for the first time. Either way keep these moments in mind when you look through these lists, because trust me when I say the hassle to get there is all worth it in the end.

Don’t forget to read my full review of the Caribbean Cruise on Britannia .

This article was supported by P&O Cruises but as always, the opinions and photos in the article are all my own, and I think it’s clear to see I loved every minute of my time in the Caribbean!

Founder & Editor of Intrepid Escape, a huge lover of adventure, adrenaline, sport & fitness. After travelling extensively for the last 12 years, Scott started to document his travels before fulfilling an important lifelong goal by starting Intrepid Escape. He has since become a full-time Travel Writer, Videographer, Presenter and Producer.

3 thoughts on “ Caribbean Cruise Travel in 2022 With P&O Cruises ”

On a cruise from Southampton to carribiean do we have to have test to get off ship for Barbados

are the covid reqs a little out of date all is required is proof of vaxinations personally had 4 and show prof of these are you sure PCR test is nesseray

Pingback: A Caribbean Cruise on Britannia; a review with P&O Cruises - Intrepid Escape

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