There is something undeniably special about a cruise. From the moment your luggage disappears from your hands and you step on board, you can almost feel your shoulders drop. Life at sea has a different rhythm: meals are taken care of, your cabin is your sanctuary, and each day brings a new horizon without you having to lift a finger to get there. Having previously sailed on board Iona, Arvia’s sister ship, we were excited to see how this newer addition to the fleet would compare. Would she have the same sense of space, the same easygoing style, the same feeling of being completely looked after at every turn?

Our time on board

Our ship departed from Southampton, which is one of my favourite ways to start a cruise. There is something wonderfully stress free about driving straight to the port, pulling up in front of the ship, handing over the car keys, dropping off the bags and simply walking on board. No airports, no weighing cases at home and no drama, just an easy transition from everyday life to holiday mode.

Once on board, Arvia very quickly showed us that although she is similar to Iona, she also has a personality all of her own. Designed with sunshine in mind, she feels light, bright and made for long, leisurely days outdoors: from the infinity pools and panoramic deck spaces to the SkyDome with its retractable roof that lets the blue skies in.

Dining is a real highlight, with a choice of restaurants to suit every mood, from relaxed family favourites to date night venues and speciality options that are well worth dressing up for.

There are activities for all ages, superb entertainment in the evenings and plenty of quieter corners if you simply want to curl up with a book and watch the wake.

It is this unique blend of British comforts, friendly service and modern, resort style facilities that really sets Arvia, and P&O Cruises, apart.

Our itinerary

This was our first ever 14 night cruise and I will admit we were not entirely sure how we would find it. Would an extended itinerary give us the perfect opportunity to completely switch off and relax, or would it start to feel a bit repetitive and (dare I say it) boring? I am very pleased to say our experience was absolutely the former. The itinerary offered a lovely balance between exploring in port and relaxing on deck in the sunshine, which was exactly what we were hoping for. You could opt for a fly cruise if you would like a more port intensive itinerary, but for us this cruise from the UK was definitely the right option.

Our port stops offered a wonderful mix of culture, coastlines and characterful cities. We called at La Coruña first, with its sweeping bay and historic old town, then headed south to sun kissed Málaga, gateway to Andalusia’s white villages and Picasso’s hometown. Here, we went on an amazing hiking excursion to Caminito del Ray. The heights were a little scary for me, I must admit, but the views were absolutely incredible and I felt very proud of myself indeed afterwards (I'd not done anything like that before). In Alicante we enjoyed palm lined promenades and castle views, before sailing on to iconic Barcelona, where Gaudí’s masterpieces and vibrant neighbourhoods filled our day (along with sangria and tapas, of course!). Toulon brought a taste of the French Riviera with its harbourfront charm and Provençal markets, while Cádiz wrapped up the journey with its golden beaches and honey coloured old town (and more sangria and tapas, of course!).

What made this 14 night Mediterranean sailing on Arvia stand out was the balance. The itinerary delivered a real variety of ports: Spanish cities, a French harbour town, big name Barcelona and characterful Cádiz. Each day felt different, yet the rhythm of life on board gave the whole trip a lovely sense of continuity.

Sea days were a genuine pleasure rather than “time to be endured”. We used them to make the most of Arvia’s facilities: a little time in the spa, a lot of time eating, and just enough walking around deck to kid ourselves that it all balanced out. Evenings were spent choosing between restaurants and entertainment, or simply enjoying that very cruise specific pastime of sitting with a drink, watching the sea and wondering why on earth we do not do this more often.