P&O Cruises Guide: Ships, Dining, Drinks & Tips | Cruise Lowdown

Your Cruise Lowdown guide to P&O Cruises - a British Favourite

Planning a P&O Cruises holiday? Cruise Lowdown brings together our guides, reviews and first-hand experiences to help you choose your ship, plan your cruise and make the most of your time onboard.

Explore our guides to P&O Cruises ships, restaurants and menus, drinks packages, cabins, deck plans, dress code, entertainment and more. You’ll also find practical advice and the latest P&O Cruises news and updates.

Whether you’re considering your first P&O cruise or you’re a regular passenger, start here to find the information you need.

P&O Cruises Ships

P&O Cruises has seven ships, ranging from the large, contemporary Arvia and Iona to the smaller adult-only Aurora and Arcadia.

Each ship has its own restaurants, cabins, entertainment and onboard facilities, so choosing the right ship is an important part of planning your cruise.

Family-friendly ships

Arvia
One of P&O Cruises’ largest ships, with a wide choice of dining, entertainment, activities and outdoor spaces.

Iona
P&O Cruises’ flagship Excel-class ship, designed with the Norwegian Fjords in mind and packed with restaurants, bars and entertainment.

Britannia
P&O Cruises’ flagship, combining a traditional cruise experience with a wide choice of dining, entertainment and activities.

Azura
A popular family-friendly ship offering a more traditional P&O Cruises experience.

Ventura
A family-friendly ship with a relaxed atmosphere, extensive entertainment and a choice of restaurants and bars.

Adult-only ships

Aurora
An adult-only ship offering a more traditional and intimate cruise experience, including longer voyages.

Arcadia
An adult-only ship known for its more relaxed atmosphere and longer itineraries.

Explore our P&O Cruises ship guides

Cruise Lowdown’s Guide to P&O Arvia

Cruise Lowdown’s Guide to P&O Iona

Cruise Lowdown’s Guide to P&O Britannia

More individual ship guides will be added as our P&O Cruises coverage grows.

P&O Cruises Dining

Food is a big part of the P&O Cruises experience, with everything from included main restaurants and buffets to casual dining and speciality restaurants.

The choice varies between ships, so it’s worth checking what’s available before you sail.

Cruise Lowdown’s P&O Cruises Dining Guide brings together restaurant guides, menus, prices, dining arrangements and first-hand experiences across the fleet.

Our P&O Cruises dining guides include:

• Main dining and Freedom Dining

• Club Dining

• Buffet restaurants

• The Quays

• The Olive Grove

• Epicurean

• Sindhu

• The Beach House

• The Glass House

• Keel & Cow

• Green & Co feat. Mizuhana

• Ocean Grill

• The Limelight Club

• The Cookery Club

• Individual restaurant menus and reviews

Explore our complete P&O Cruises Dining Guide →

P&O Cruises Drinks

From drinks packages and bar menus to P&O Cruises’ alcohol policy, there’s plenty to understand before you sail.

Our P&O Cruises drinks guides explain what’s included, what the different packages cost, what’s available onboard and whether a drinks package could be worthwhile for your cruise.

Explore our P&O Cruises Drinks Guide →

P&O Cruises Drinks Packages

Compare the different drinks packages and find out what’s included.

P&O Cruises Drinks Menu

See the drinks available across P&O Cruises bars and lounges.

P&O Cruises Alcohol Policy

Find out what alcohol you can bring onboard and the rules you need to know.

P&O Cruises Drinks Calculator

Is a drinks package worth it for you? Use our calculator to find out.

We also have individual drinks package guides for selected P&O Cruises ships.

P&O Cruises Cabins & Deck Plans

Choosing the right cabin can make a big difference to your cruise, particularly on larger ships where cabin location can affect noise, views, access to facilities and how much you pay.

Our cabin and deck plan guides help you understand the different accommodation options and identify some of the cabins and locations worth considering.

Find our P&O Cruises cabin guides:

Arvia Deck Plans

Explore the decks, cabin locations and advice on choosing the best cabin.

Iona Deck Plans

Explore Iona’s decks, cabin locations and cabins to consider or avoid.

P&O Cruises Accessible Cabins

Find information about accessible cabin options on selected ships.

Arvia Conservatory Mini-Suites

Our guide to one of Arvia’s distinctive accommodation options.

More P&O Cruises cabin and deck plan guides will be added as we cover more ships.

Life Onboard P&O Cruises

What is a P&O cruise actually like once you’re onboard?

Our guides cover the practical details and experiences that can make a difference to your holiday, from what to wear at dinner to how dining works and what you can expect from entertainment and activities.

P&O Cruises onboard guides

Dress Code

What to wear during the day, on formal nights and in the evening. The Cruise Lowdown guide to P&O Cruises Dress codes has all the answers.

Entertainment & Activities

Find out what you can expect from entertainment, activities and things to do onboard.

Family Cruising

Information about family-friendly ships, activities and facilities.

Read ->

• Cruise Lowdown’s Guide to P&O Arvia - The Perfect Family Cruise Adventure

• Cruise Lowdown’s Guide to Family Fun on Iona

Adult-Only Cruising

What to expect from P&O Cruises’ adult-only ships, Aurora and Arcadia.

P&O Cruises Practical Guides

There are plenty of things worth knowing before you board a P&O cruise.

Our practical guides cover the questions passengers commonly ask before and during their cruise, including:

• What to pack

• P&O Cruises dress code

• Drinks packages

• Alcohol policy

• Dining arrangements

• Freedom Dining and Club Dining

• Gratuities and service charges

• Embarkation

• Luggage

• Wi-Fi

• Accessibility

• Family cruising

• Cruise deals and value

P&O Cruises Reviews & Comparisons

Trying to decide whether P&O Cruises is right for you?

Our reviews and comparisons look beyond the brochure to help you understand what a P&O cruise is really like.

Read our first-hand experiences, ship reviews and comparisons, including our look at P&O Cruises versus Marella Cruises and our guides to the value and experience offered by P&O.

Latest P&O Cruises News

Keep up with the latest P&O Cruises announcements, ship updates, itinerary changes, new restaurants, menus and other developments.

Read the latest P&O Cruises news →

You can also browse our latest P&O Cruises articles below.

Scroll through the featured posts below to find out the latest from P&O Cruises.

P&O Cruises from Cruise Lowdown

Cruise Lowdown is an independent cruise and travel magazine covering ocean and river cruising.

Our P&O Cruises guides combine research with first-hand cruise experience, photographs, menus, ship guides and practical advice. We update our content as ships, restaurants, menus and cruise policies change.

Our aim is simple: to give you the information we’d want to have before booking or boarding a cruise.

Cruise Lowdown’s P&O Cruises FAQs

How many ships does P&O Cruises have?

P&O Cruises currently has seven ships: Arvia, Iona, Britannia, Azura, Ventura, Aurora and Arcadia.

Which P&O Cruises ships are adult-only?

Aurora and Arcadia are P&O Cruises’ adult-only ships.

Which P&O Cruises ships are best for families?

Arvia, Iona, Britannia, Azura and Ventura are the family-friendly ships in the current fleet.

What is included on a P&O Cruises holiday?

Your cruise fare includes accommodation, meals in included restaurants and a range of entertainment and activities. Exactly what is included varies by ship and sailing, so check the details for your particular cruise.

Does P&O Cruises have drinks packages?

Yes. P&O Cruises offers several drinks package options, including alcoholic and non-alcoholic choices. Prices and package details can change, so check our latest drinks guide before sailing.