If you’re comparing Arvia vs. Iona, you’re choosing between two of P&O Cruises’ biggest and newest ships.
The two Excel-Class sisters are remarkably similar on paper. Both carry around 5,200 passengers, both were designed for a modern British cruise market, and both offer an enormous selection of restaurants, entertainment, and activities.
But they aren’t identical.
P&O deliberately gave Arvia several features that aren’t found on Iona, including a retractable SkyDome roof, Altitude Skywalk, mini-golf, swim-up bar, Mission Control, and new dining venues. Iona, meanwhile, has its own advantages, particularly for Norwegian Fjords cruises and its larger four-screen cinema complex.
So which one is better? This guide covers the key differences between these two megaships.
If you’re still exploring your cruise options, it’s also worth checking out our guide to the best all-inclusive cruise lines for Brits. It compares popular cruise lines to help you find the right holiday experience, whether you prefer a family-friendly getaway or a more luxurious escape.
Table of Contents
Quick Comparison: Arvia vs. Iona
| Category | Arvia | Iona |
|---|---|---|
| Class | Excel Class | Excel Class |
| Entered service | 2022 | 2020 |
| Passenger capacity | 5,280 | 5,200 |
| Main strength | Activities & warm-weather cruising | Scenic cruising & SkyDome |
| SkyDome | Retractable roof | Fixed glass dome |
| Water features | Swim-up bar & Splash Valley | Infinity whirlpools |
| Outdoor activities | Skywalk & mini-golf | Sports court |
| Dining | More distinctive casual choices | Strong traditional dining |
| Cinema | 3 screens | 4 screens |
| Families | Excellent | Excellent |
| Best itineraries | Caribbean & Canary Islands | Norwegian Fjords & Northern Europe |
| Overall | Winner for most families | Winner for scenic cruising |
Ship Age & Overall Design
Arvia
Arvia entered service in 2022, making it two years newer than Iona. It was designed as the “sunshine ship,” with a stronger emphasis on warm-weather cruising.
P&O specifically gives Arvia a retractable SkyDome roof, allowing the pool area to transition between indoor and outdoor use. The ship also introduced several features that make it feel slightly more activity-focused.
Iona
Iona entered service in 2020 and was the first of P&O’s two Excel-Class sisters.
It’s still an enormous modern ship, with 30 bars and restaurants, 10 entertainment venues, four swimming pools, and 15 guest decks listed by P&O. Iona’s design puts more emphasis on scenic cruising, particularly with the Norwegian Fjords in mind.
Winner: Arvia. It’s newer and has a slightly more ambitious activity-focused design.
Itineraries
Arvia
Arvia was designed primarily for warmer destinations. P&O lists the Canary Islands and Caribbean among Arvia’s key destinations.
That makes its outdoor facilities particularly useful. If you’re cruising somewhere sunny, the ship’s pools, swim-up bar, and outdoor activity areas become a major part of the holiday.
Iona
Iona is the better choice for Norwegian Fjords, Spain, Portugal, and the Canary Islands, according to P&O’s current Excel-class comparison. The Fjords are particularly important.
Iona was designed with scenic cruising in mind, and its large glass SkyDome and open-deck spaces make viewing mountains and waterfalls from the ship a major part of the experience.
Winner: Iona for scenery; Arvia for sunshine.
SkyDome & Pool Areas
Arvia
Arvia has a retractable SkyDome roof, which is one of its biggest structural differences from Iona.
P&O also gives Arvia a swim-up bar, allowing the pool deck to function more like a warm-weather resort. That makes Arvia particularly well suited to Mediterranean and Caribbean sailings.
Iona
Iona also has a SkyDome, but its roof is fixed. It has infinity whirlpools and a strong indoor/outdoor pool setup, making it particularly useful when cruising in cooler climates.
Winner: Arvia.
Activities & Family Attractions
Arvia
This is where Arvia pulls away. Its Altitude Skywalk high-ropes course and nine-hole mini-golf course give families more active options. There’s also Mission Control, an immersive submarine-themed experience, plus Splash Valley for younger guests.
The Skywalk sits high above the ocean and is one of the most distinctive attractions on either ship.
Iona
Iona has plenty to do, including pools, sports facilities, entertainment, cinema, and family programming.
It isn’t remotely boring. But its activity lineup is less focused on big outdoor attractions than Arvia’s.
Winner: Arvia.
For families with children or teenagers, Arvia is the clear choice.
Dining
Arvia
Arvia has more than 30 bars and restaurants and introduces several distinctive dining concepts.
The 6th Street Diner offers an American-style casual dining experience, while Green & Co., featuring Mizuhana, combines plant-based food with sushi.
The ship also has The Olive Grove and The Quays among its dining options. The result is a more eclectic food scene.
Iona
Iona also has an impressive dining lineup, with around 30 bars and restaurants.
Its food options include The Olive Grove, The Quays, Keel & Cow, Sindhu, The Glass House, and Epicurean, alongside the main dining rooms and buffet.
The major structural difference is that Iona has four main dining rooms, while Arvia has two. Arvia instead uses some space for alternative dining concepts.
Winner: Arvia for variety; Iona for traditional main dining.
Cabins
Arvia
Arvia has a broad selection of cabins, including inside, sea-view, balcony, conservatory mini-suite, and suite categories.
It also has a particularly large number of inside cabins compared with other P&O ships.
Iona
Iona offers the same basic range, including inside, sea view, balcony, conservatory mini-suite, and suite accommodation. P&O says its cabins were designed to provide some of the line’s most comfortable and flexible accommodation.
Both ships also have five-berth accommodation options in selected categories, useful for larger families.
Winner: Tie.
The differences aren’t large enough to choose one ship purely because of its cabin categories. For cabin selection, your specific deck and cabin location matter more.
Entertainment
Arvia
Arvia has a huge entertainment program, including theater productions, live music, bars, lounges, and family activities.
Its three-screen cinema complex gives movie fans another option, while venues such as the Amber Lounge add to the evening entertainment lineup.
Iona
Iona has an especially strong entertainment setup.
P&O lists 10 entertainment venues, while its Excel-Class comparison highlights a four-screen cinema complex, aerialists, matinee performances, and live entertainment under the SkyDome.
Winner: Iona, narrowly.
Arvia is more activity-heavy, but Iona has a slightly stronger traditional entertainment package.
Atmosphere
Arvia
Arvia has a more energetic, resort-like personality.
It suits families, groups, and travelers who want to spend sea days doing things rather than simply relaxing. Its warm-weather deployment reinforces that identity.
Iona
Iona feels slightly more balanced. You can enjoy the massive range of activities, but the ship’s scenic-cruising design makes it particularly appealing to couples and adults who want to enjoy the views as much as the attractions.
Winner: Depends on your travel style.
Which Is Better for Families?
Arvia
Arvia gets the family vote because of its combination of:
- Altitude Skywalk
- Mini-golf
- Splash Valley
- Mission Control
- Swim-up bar
- Large pool areas
- Family dining
These additions give children and teenagers more reasons to leave the cabin.
Iona
Iona is still an excellent family ship.
Its large entertainment spaces, pools, cinema, youth facilities, and enormous range of dining options mean there’s plenty for children to do.
But it doesn’t have quite the same concentration of headline outdoor attractions.
Winner: Arvia.
Which Is Better for Couples?
Arvia
Arvia is great for couples who want a modern resort-style cruise.
There are plenty of restaurants, bars, spa facilities, and entertainment options, but the ship can feel busy during peak periods.
Iona
Iona has a slight edge for couples who want scenic cruising.
The Norwegian Fjords itinerary is the obvious example. You can spend a day watching dramatic landscapes from the SkyDome rather than racing from one attraction to another.
Winner: Iona; For a romantic Norwegian Fjords cruise, Iona is the obvious choice.
Arvia vs Iona: Which Should You Book?
| If You Want… | Choose |
|---|---|
| Newer ship | Arvia |
| Norwegian Fjords | Iona |
| Caribbean | Arvia |
| More outdoor activities | Arvia |
| High ropes course | Arvia |
| Mini-golf | Arvia |
| Retractable SkyDome | Arvia |
| Swim-up bar | Arvia |
| Traditional main dining | Iona |
| More cinema screens | Iona |
| Scenic cruising | Iona |
| Families with teenagers | Arvia |
| Couples seeking scenery | Iona |
| Overall flexibility | Arvia |
Final Verdict: Arvia vs Iona
So, Arvia vs Iona, which P&O mega-ship is actually better?
For most families and travelers planning a warm-weather cruise, Arvia wins.
It’s newer and has the more versatile SkyDome, more prominent outdoor attractions, the Altitude Skywalk, mini-golf, Mission Control, a swim-up bar, and several dining concepts that aren’t available on Iona.
But Iona wins when the itinerary is the star of the show.
If you’re sailing the Norwegian Fjords, Iona’s design makes an enormous amount of sense. Its SkyDome, infinity whirlpools and scenic orientation make it particularly well suited to northern European cruising.
Overall Winner: Arvia
Choose Arvia if: you’re traveling with children or teenagers, want more outdoor activities, prefer warm-weather destinations, or simply want P&O’s newer Excel-Class ship.
Choose Iona if: you’re cruising the Norwegian Fjords, care about scenic views, prefer more traditional main dining, or want a slightly stronger cinema and entertainment setup.
And don’t make the mistake of thinking they’re identical simply because they’re sister ships. P&O itself describes them as “sisters, not twins”, with meaningful differences in destinations, dining, outdoor facilities and entertainment.
FAQs: Arvia vs Iona
1. Is Arvia bigger than Iona?
They are extremely close in size and passenger capacity. Carnival Corporation lists Arvia at 5,280 passengers and Iona at 5,200. Both are among P&O Cruises’ largest ships.
2. Arvia vs Iona, Which is better?
Arvia is the better all-around choice for most families, thanks to its newer design, outdoor activities, retractable SkyDome and warm-weather focus. Iona is better for scenic cruises, particularly the Norwegian Fjords.
3. Does Arvia have better activities than Iona?
Yes. Arvia has the Altitude Skywalk, mini-golf, Mission Control and a swim-up bar, giving it an advantage for active families and teenagers.
4. Which ship is better for the Norwegian Fjords?
Iona. P&O specifically lists Iona for Norwegian Fjords, Spain, Portugal and Canary Islands cruises, while Arvia focuses more heavily on the Canary Islands and Caribbean.
5. Is Arvia newer than Iona?
Yes. Arvia entered service in 2022, while Iona entered service in 2020. Both are Excel-Class sister ships, but Arvia introduced several features that aren’t found on Iona.
