MS Arvia
{{Short description|Cruise ships}}
{{Use British English|date=April 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2023}}
| {{Infobox ship begin
| Infobox caption = Arvia }} {{Infobox ship image | Ship image = File:P&O Arvia.jpg | Ship caption = Arvia in Marseille, 2023 }} {{Infobox ship career | Hide header = | Ship country = Bermuda | Ship flag = {{shipboxflag|Bermuda|civil}} | Ship name = Arvia | Ship owner = File:Carnival Corporation house flag.svg Carnival Corporation & plc | Ship operator = File:P&O-house flag.svg P&O Cruises | Ship registry = *{{flagicon|United Kingdom}} Southampton, United Kingdom (2022–2025)
| Ship route = | Ship ordered = January 2018https://www.meyerwerft.de/en/press/press_detail/carnival_corporation_orders_new_ship_for_p_o_cruises.jsphttps://www.carnivalcorp.com/news-releases/news-release-details/carnival-corporation-orders-second-new-ship-its-po-cruises-brand | Ship cost = £730 million | Ship builder = *Meyer Werft | Ship original cost = | Ship yard number = S. 716 | Ship way number = | Ship laid down = 15 February 2022 | Ship launched = 27 August 2022 | Ship completed = 15 December 2022 | Ship christened = 16 March 2023 | Ship sponsor = Nicole Scherzinger | Ship acquired = 15 December 2022 | Ship maiden voyage = 23 December 2022 | Ship out of service = | Ship identification = *Call sign: ZCHG8
| Ship fate = | Ship status = In service | Ship notes = }} {{Infobox ship characteristics | Hide header = | Header caption = | Ship class = {{sclass2|Excellence|cruise ship}} | Ship tonnage = {{GT|185,581}}https://classdirect.lr.org/assets/LRV45426 | Ship displacement = {{cvt|87276|MT}} | Ship length = {{cvt|344.08|m|ftin}} | Ship beam = {{cvt|42|m|ftin}} | Ship height = 69.3 m (227 ft 4 in) | Ship draught = {{cvt|8.8|m|ftin}}https://carnival-news.com/ship/carnival-mardis-gras/ | Ship decks = 16 complete, 3 partial | Ship power = *total installed power: {{convert|61.7|MW|HP|abbr=on}} | Ship propulsion = 2 × {{convert|18.5|MW|HP|abbr=on}} | Ship speed = *Service speed: {{convert|22|kn}} | Ship capacity = 6,685 Max passengers https://scheepvaartwest.be/CMS/index.php/passengers-cruise/12902-arvia-imo-9849693 | Ship crew = 1,782 https://www.meyerwerft.de/de/image_press/pi_meyer_werft_delivers_arvia_to_po_cruises.pdf | Ship notes = }} |
MS Arvia is an {{sclass2|Excellence|cruise ship}} in service for P&O Cruises,{{Cite web |title=Arvia Itinerary, Current Position, Ship Review |url=https://www.cruisemapper.com/ships/Arvia-2158 |access-date=2023-03-10 |website=CruiseMapper |language=en-EN}} a subsidiary of Carnival Corporation & plc. The keel was laid on 15 February 2022.{{Cite web |date=2022-02-16 |title=MEYER WERFT and P&O Cruises celebrate keel laying ceremony of Arvia |url=https://www.meyerwerft.de/en/press/press_detail/meyer_werft_and_p_o_cruises_celebrate_keel_laying_ceremony_of_arvia.jsp |access-date=2024-04-06 |website=MEYER WERFT |language=en}} The ship was built by German shipbuilder Meyer Werft in Papenburg and left the shipyard on 5 November 2022.{{Cite web |date=2022-11-05 |title=Neuer Kreuzfahrtriese hat Werft verlassen: "Arvia" auf dem Weg zur Nordsee |url=https://www.tag24.de/thema/reisen/kreuzfahrten/neuer-kreuzfahrtriese-hat-werft-verlassen-arvia-auf-dem-weg-zur-nordsee-2656747 |access-date=2024-01-16 |website=TAG24 |language=de}}{{Cite web |last=Winter |first=Harry de |date=2022-11-06 |title=Die schönsten Bilder von der Emsüberführung der "Arvia", {{!}} NOZ |url=https://www.noz.de/lokales/papenburg/galerie/von-papenburg-nach-eemshaven-die-schoensten-bilder-von-der-emsueberfuehrung-der-arvia-43507082 |access-date=2024-01-16 |website=noz.de |language=de}} She was delivered on 9 December 2022 to P&O Cruises.{{Cite web |title=P&O Cruises Officially Takes Delivery of Arvia - Cruise Industry News {{!}} Cruise News |url=https://cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/2022/12/po-cruises-officially-takes-delivery-of-arvia/ |access-date=2023-03-09 |website=cruiseindustrynews |language=en-US}} Construction officially started in February 2021.{{Cite web |title=Press Detail |url=https://www.meyerwerft.de/en/press/press_detail/meyer_werft_starts_construction_on_arvia_for_p_o_cruises.jsp |access-date=2024-04-07 |website=MEYER WERFT |language=en}}
At about 184,700 gross tonnage, Arvia is the largest ship to be commissioned for the British cruise market. She was floated out on 27 August 2022.{{Cite web |date=2022-08-27 |title=Meyer Werft floats out P&O UK's newest cruise ship Arvia {{!}} Cruise News |url=https://www.cruisemapper.com/news/10799-meyer-werft-floats-out-arvia |access-date=2023-03-10 |website=CruiseMapper |language=en-EN}}{{Cite web |last=NDR |title=Kreuzfahrtschiff "Arvia" verlässt Baudock - Proteste am Rande |url=https://www.ndr.de/nachrichten/niedersachsen/osnabrueck_emsland/Kreuzfahrtschiff-Arvia-verlaesst-Baudock-Proteste-am-Rande,arvia102.html |access-date=2024-04-07 |website=www.ndr.de |language=de}}
Arvia{{'}}s normal operating capacity is 5,200 passengers even though her maximum capacity if 3rd and 4th berths are used is 6,685 passengers.
Arvia was originally planned to embark her maiden voyage on 9 December 2022 but due to operational reasons, this was delayed to 23 December 2022.{{Cite web |title=P&O Cruises New Ship Arvia Delayed {{!}} Cruise Critic |url=https://www.cruisecritic.com/news/7139/ |access-date=2023-03-10 |website=www.cruisecritic.com |language=en-us}} Her maiden voyage was a 14 night Canary Island cruise from Southampton. On 2 March 2023, P&O cruises announced that Arvia{{'}}s godmother will be Nicole Scherzinger.{{Cite web |title=Nicole Sherzinger Arvia Godmother - Cruise Critic |url=https://www.cruisecritic.co.uk/news/7285/ |access-date=2023-03-10 |website=www.cruisecritic.co.uk |language=en-gb}}
Delivery was originally planned for the first half of 2022, but later postponed to December 2022.{{Cite web |date=August 4, 2020 |title=P&O Cruises updates on additions to the fleet |url=https://www.pocruises.com/content/dam/po/marketing-assets/press-centre/2020-articles/Update%20on%20Iona%20and%20XL2%20-%204.8.pdf |access-date=11 April 2025 |website=P&O Cruises}}{{Cite web |year=June 2018 |title=The Navigator |url=https://www.meyerwerft.de/de/pressemedien/pdf_press/mw_navigator_05_18_rz_web_final_1.pdf |website=meyerwerft.de}}
Design and facilities
Arvia has over 30 bars and restaurants onboard.{{Cite book |title=January 2023-April 2025 brochure |publisher=P&O Cruises |pages=152–153}}{{Cite web |date=26 August 2022 |title=P&O Cruises new ship Arvia to feature more than 30 bars and restaurants, with exclusive destination-inspired dishes by Shivi Ramoutar and José Pizarro. |url=https://www.carnivalcorp.com/news-releases/news-release-details/po-cruises-new-ship-arvia-feature-more-30-bars-and-restaurants |website=Carnival Corp}} Her design is similar to that of her sister ship, {{ship|MS|Iona||2}}, with some differences.
First, and unlike Iona, Arvia has two included Freedom Restaurants (Main Dining Rooms) and two included themed dining venues. Iona has four included Freedom restaurants. The additional themed dining venues aboard Arvia are the 6th Street Diner which is themed after a traditional American diner and The Olive Grove which is a Mediterranean-style restaurant. However, they both include the main buffet like all P&O ships the "Horizon". They also feature inside of the main atriums, The Glass House (On Deck 7) ,which is a dining venue with handpicked wine for Olly Smith.https://www.pocruises.com/content/dam/po/pdfs/Arvia-Deck-Plan-2025.pdf Secondly, in the Quays, on board Iona they contain an American Selection of food along side with the Fish and Chips and Asian cuisine. However, on Arvia instead of the American food selection, it is Yorkshire Pudding Wraps served with gravy and inside is turkey and a lot more to dig into to.
Even though The Olive Grove is also available on Iona, there are a few differences. In particular, there are no supplements for selected dishes on the Arvia menu unlike Iona and Arvia{{'}}s The Olive Grove is located on deck 6 instead of deck 8.{{Cite web |title=Arvia Deck Plans, Layouts, Pictures, Videos |url=https://www.cruisedeckplans.com/DP/deckplans/Arvia |access-date=2023-03-10 |website=www.cruisedeckplans.com}} Arvia also has a few specialty (extra) dining venues including Keel & Cow which is a gastropub, Green & Co which is a fish and plant-based restaurant, Sindhu which is an Indian restaurant and the Epicurean which is a fine dining venue which requires a more than casual dress code before entering.
Another difference between Iona and Arvia is that the atrium on Arvia has a more wooden tone while on Iona, it uses more marble.{{Cite web |title=P&O Arvia Build Journey |url=https://www.pocruises.com/cruise-ships/arvia/build-journey |website=P&O Cruises}} Like Iona, Arvia has four swimming pools, including two infinity pools.{{Cite web |title=P&O Arvia |url=https://www.pocruises.com/cruise-ships/arvia/overview |website=P&O Cruises}} Arvia also has 20 whirlpools including 10 infinity whirlpools, a skydome with a retractable glass roof and a seascreen (outdoor cinema screen). Additionally, Arvia has an activity zone with a ropes course and adventure mini-golf course which are both are in the Altitude named location. .
Arvia{{'}}s onboard spa, available at extra cost, has several facilities, including a hydrotherapy area with a salt steam room, cold room, sauna and experiential showers.{{cite news |last1=Jewel |first1=Ateh |date=2023-04-24 |title=I thought cruising wasn't for people like me. I was wrong |language=en |work=The Times |url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/i-thought-cruising-wasnt-for-people-like-me-i-was-wrong-wm7qh0q3v |access-date=2023-04-25}}
Naming ceremony
On 16 March 2023, Arvia was named in Barbados by Nicole Scherzinger. The naming ceremony was a beachside ceremony. Olly Murs was also singing in the event.{{Cite web |date=2023-03-18 |title=P&O UK's newest cruise ship Arvia officially named in Barbados (Bridgetown) {{!}} Cruise News |url=https://www.cruisemapper.com/news/11608-po-cruises-newbuild-arvia-officially-named |access-date=2023-05-11 |website=CruiseMapper |language=en-EN}} Prime Minister of Barbados, Mia Mottley was also present in the event and gave a speech during the event.