P&O's Arvia and Iona Make Rare Side-by-Side Call in St. Maarten

P&O Cruises’ two newest Excel-class ships, Arvia and Iona, made a rare side-by-side call in Philipsburg, St. Maarten, on Jan. 23, 2026, berthing together at 7 a.m. local time.

Each ship can carry up to 5,200 guests, bringing two of the largest vessels built for the British market into the port on the same morning. P&O Cruises said both ships were scheduled to sail at 6 p.m. local time, with Arvia continuing to St. John’s, Antigua, and Iona heading to Tortola in the British Virgin Islands.

Captains meet on the quay as guests mark the moment

P&O Cruises said Arvia’s Captain Robert Camby and Iona’s Captain Andrew Wolverson met on the quay during the call, while guests and crew joined in from balconies and open decks as the ships shared the berth.

Paul Ludlow, president of Carnival UK & P&O Cruises, said the joint call highlighted the brand’s presence in the region. “Seeing the Arvia and the Iona together in St Maarten is a fantastic moment,” Ludlow said. “The Caribbean is a hugely popular destination for our guests,” he added.

How two different Caribbean strategies overlapped in St. Maarten

The shared day in Philipsburg came as the two ships operated different types of Caribbean programs during the 2025-26 winter season.

• Arvia was mid-voyage on a 14-night roundtrip Eastern Caribbean Islands fly-cruise that begins and ends in Barbados, with destinations that include Martinique, St. Lucia, Tortola and St. Maarten.
• Iona’s stop came during a longer 35-night roundtrip Caribbean Winter Warmth cruise from Southampton, an itinerary that keeps the ship in the region long enough to overlap with fly-cruise operations based farther south.

After departing St. Maarten at 6 p.m. local time, Arvia was set to continue to St. John’s, Antigua, while Iona was scheduled to sail to Tortola.

Arvia’s winter fly-cruise program from Barbados

P&O Cruises has positioned Arvia in the Caribbean for the 2026 winter fly-cruise season, operating two different 14-night itineraries that rotate through multiple islands. The Philipsburg call took place as Arvia sailed a two-week Eastern Caribbean itinerary from Barbados, and the ship was scheduled to remain in the region across the winter season.

Iona at five years: delivery, early operations, and recent maintenance

Iona was delivered by Meyer Werft on Oct. 9, 2020, and recently reached five years since handover. The 183,000-ton ship is part of Carnival Corporation’s Excel series and was introduced as the largest ship built for P&O Cruises at the time, as well as the first LNG-fueled vessel dedicated to the UK cruise sector.

Its early service was shaped by the pandemic: after cruising paused, Iona spent close to a year in layup before beginning guest operations. The ship’s maiden voyage sailed on Aug. 7, 2021, departing Southampton on a seven-night itinerary that featured scenic cruising around locations in Scotland during a period when guests could not go ashore due to restrictions. P&O Cruises also marked the send-off with a fireworks display at its homeport in Southampton.

In regular service, Iona has operated year-round itineraries to Northern Europe, the Canary Islands and Scandinavia. More recently, the vessel underwent routine maintenance and technical overhauls during a drydock visit in Rotterdam in October 2025 ahead of winter sailings, including its 35-night Caribbean itinerary in early 2026.

Onboard, the ship features eight specialty restaurants, 13 entertainment venues, four swimming pools and 16 whirlpools.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

When did Arvia and Iona call at St. Maarten together?

The ships arrived in Philipsburg at 7 a.m. local time on Jan. 23, 2026, and were scheduled to depart at 6 p.m. the same day.

What itineraries brought Arvia and Iona to Philipsburg?

Arvia called at St. Maarten while sailing a 14-night roundtrip Eastern Caribbean Islands fly-cruise from Barbados. Iona’s stop came during a 35-night roundtrip Caribbean Winter Warmth cruise from Southampton.

Where did each ship go after leaving St. Maarten?

P&O Cruises said Arvia was bound for St. John’s, Antigua, while Iona was scheduled to sail on to Tortola in the British Virgin Islands.

Why did Iona go to drydock in Rotterdam in 2025?

Iona underwent routine maintenance, technical upgrades and overhauls during a drydock visit in Rotterdam in October 2025 in preparation for its winter sailings, including its longer Caribbean itinerary in early 2026.