Arvia Cabin Tour and Review
I sailed on P&O’s cruise ship Arvia at the beginning of 2024 and had an absolutely amazing time. Although I had initially booked an inside room, I took part in the company’s bidding scheme before sailing and managed to secure a balcony cabin for an additional £395 per person.
Was it worth it? Here are my thoughts on our balcony cabin on P&O’s Arvia (number 11317).
We spent two weeks on board Arvia, embarking at Barbados before sailing around the islands and disembarking back at Barbados. Although we loved our inside cabin during our Norwegian Fjords trip on Iona in 2023, I knew that we might want some extra space for this longer trip.
One of the main perks of staying in a balcony or ocean view room is that you gain an additional sitting area, whereas the inside rooms generally only have a bed and a desk. As this was a long trip, it meant my partner and I could have a bit more space, and made a wonderful base to return to after a day of exploring.
Everything in the room felt very high quality and modern. Our room was clean, had plenty of storage, and we didn’t hear any noise from the other cabins or entertainment venues. After staying in an inside cabin, it felt very surreal to step inside and see all of the space that we had!
The main reason that I wanted a balcony cabin was for the outside space. Being in the Caribbean, I knew that the weather was going to be lovely and I really wanted a private spot for my partner and I to chill out in.
Upon boarding, we were really pleased with the size of the balcony, which had plenty of room for both of us to relax in. The chairs were comfortable and able to recline, meaning that we often didn’t feel the need to head off elsewhere in the ship for a sun lounger (although there were plenty on the outside decks for anyone who wanted one). Some of my favourite moments from the trip were spent out on the balcony during the warm Caribbean evenings, wearing a loose cotton dress and reading my book while watching the ocean pass by. Absolute bliss!
We had an amazing holiday on board Arvia and I would highly recommend choosing a balcony cabin if it’s something that you have the budget for. Although it was wonderful, we also loved our inside room on Iona, and as sister ships the cabins on each are pretty much identical. I’m sure we would’ve also had a brilliant time with an inside cabin.
Top tip: If you’re on a budget and don’t mind the risk, you could try doing what we did by booking an inside cabin initially and then bidding in the upgrade programme. You’re not guaranteed to receive an upgraded cabin in this way, but we did and it definitely cost us less than booking a balcony cabin upfront. In order to increase our chances, I bid slightly higher than the lowest possible price, assuming that the majority of people would go for the lowest priced option. It seemed to work, but again, is risky if you have your heart set on a balcony.
Make sure you read the rest of my articles about Iona and Arvia before setting off on your trip!
