P&O Cruises’ two newest ships, the Arvia and the Iona, arrived together in St. Maarten in a rare joint call.
The two Excel class ships, each with a capacity of 5,200 guests, docked side-by-side in the port of Philipsburg at 7 a.m. local time on January 23, 2026, according to a statement from the cruise line.
The Arvia’s Captain Robert Camby and the Iona’s Captain Andrew Wolverson greeted each other on the quayside, with guests and crew waving from decks and balconies.
“Seeing the Arvia and the Iona together in St Maarten is a fantastic moment for us all at P&O Cruises. The Caribbean is a hugely popular destination for our guests, and this joint call reflects both the scale of our ambition and the exceptional experiences we’re able to offer on board two of the most innovative ships ever built for the British market,” said Paul Ludlow, president of Carnival UK & P&O Cruises.
The Arvia is midway through a 14-night round-trip Eastern Caribbean Islands fly cruise from Barbados.
The Iona is sailing a 35-night round-trip Caribbean Winter Warmth cruise from Southampton.
Both ships were scheduled to depart at 6 p.m. local time, with the Arvia bound for St Johns in Antigua and the Iona sailing to Tortola in the British Virgin Islands.
The Arvia will remain in the Caribbean as part of her 2026 winter fly-cruise season, sailing two different 14-night itineraries visiting islands including Martinique, St Lucia and Tortola.
