Best Suites on P&O Cruises Arvia | Full Review | Arvia Suites to avoid (2023)

If you are considering booking a suite on Ariva (I’ve already sailed in one) they you may be wondering what types of suites are available and which one is going to be the best option for you. Fear not – I’ve studied the deck plans, used my first-hand knowledge of my time on board, to put this blog post together you. I’ve broken down each suite for you, so read on for your handy guide to choosing the best suite on P&O cruises Arvia.

I’ve also got a Arvia Suite Tour for you to take a look around on my You Tube Channel.

What types of suites are available on P&O Cruises newest ship Arvia?

There are three types of suites on board Arvia:

• Suites
• Family suites
• Conservatory mini suites

Conservatory mini suites are referred to in the brochure and on the website as ‘suites’, but conservatory mini suites don’t come with suite perks. This post will cover the B-Grade Suites only as these all B-grade suites aboard Arvia include the standard suite perks.

If you’re interested in choosing the best conservatory mini suites check out my separate guides, I’ve put together on the best conservatory mini suites on Arviaand the best conservatory mini suites on Iona.

Why chose a suite on P&O cruises Arvia?

Suites can offer families a great space to sprawl out in; a spacious lounge and balcony are perfect for sharing and socialising. Suites are also great for having a cosy night in on a sea day to rest and re-energise after a few busy days in port. For couples, a suite can also be a perfect romantic getaway offering with privacy and a bit of the luxe life.

What are the different types of B-Grade suites on P&O Cruises Arvia?

There are 4 grades of suite aboard Iona: B4, B5, B6 and BA. However, I’ve categorised them in to three main groups for the purpose of this post:

• Forward Suites – 12 Suites located at the front of the ship between deck 9 through 15 with steel fronted balconies
• Aft Suites – 12 suites located at the aft of the ship between decks 9 through 15 with glass fronted balconies
• Family Sea View Suites – two family sea view suites located right at the front of the ship with no Balcony

Just like Iona, there are no mid-ship B Grade suites aboard Arvia. If you would like a mid-ship cabin with suite-level space, then it might be best to opt for a Conservatory Mini Suite instead. It’s a case of personal preference – if you like all the trappings of suite life aboard P&O then you have a combined total of 24 forward or aft options to choose from.

However, if a mid-ship location wins out over suite-level perks, then one of the 95 conservatory mini suites (C-Grade cabins) on decks 8 and 9 might be more for you. Alternatively, the mid ship Deluxe Balcony (E-Grade) cabins could also be another idea for an upgraded mid-ship balcony option. While these two cabin grades offer additional interior and balcony space, you will need to bear in mind that you won’t get all the suite perks of a B grade suite.

What are the forward suites like on P&O Cruises Arvia?

There are 12 forward suites with steel fronted balconies aboard Arvia. These can be found right at the front of the ship on decks 9-15.

Suites: 15110, 15109, 14112, 14109, 12112, 12111, 11110, 11109, 10110, 10109, 9110 and 9111

Great things about forward suites on Arvia:

• As you’re right at the front of the ship, the Epicurean restaurant is very close by (where breakfast is served, exclusively for suite guests).
• To get to these suites, you’re likely to use the mid forward lifts which tend to be less busy than the mid ship lifts.
• These suites are also highly accessible for the Retreat, The Spa and the Crows Nest.So if these are your typical preferences to hang out in whilst on ship, these suites will be perfectly located for you.
• The forward-facing suites will also provide some awesome panoramic views looking out over the bow (for example when sailing through the Norwegian fjords or in and out of port).
• Some forward suites have interconnecting cabins, making these suites a really flexible option for larger families travelling together (see below) for more information.

Things to consider when booking forward suites on Arvia:

• Some of the suites have a slight overhang from the bridge (15110 and 15109, and to a lesser extent 14112 and 14109) , so you might find that these suites may be still shaded even in the middle of the day. A bit of shade might be an added bonus for you – it’s all about personal preference, but it’s still good to know before you book.
• Suites 9110 and 9111 seem to have slightly different windows and doors than the other forward suites.
• If travelling with younger kids, it’s worth bearing in mind that there will be quite a walk to the back of the ship for the Reef kids club (on Deck 17). So if you don’t fancy a long walk, then perhaps pick an aft suite instead.
• When the ship is sailing, the balconies may be unusable on windy sea days on the forward suites. If you prefer to spend sea days on your balcony then a more sheltered aft suite might be better.
• As you’re right at the front of the ship, you might experience some more movement than mid-ship cabins. In rougher seas this might become more pronounced the higher up you are (suites on deck 15 will be the highest). However Arvia is a big ship and has impressive stabilisation technology so the movement might not be as pronounced as it is on forward or aft cabins on smaller ships.
• With the exception of the family suites (see below) all forward suites have steel fronted balconies – therefore if you like a sea view whilst seated then you might want to opt for the aft suites instead.
• The forward suites have a very small balcony
• The forward suites also do not have a sliding door to separate the lounge and bedroom areas.

Suites with interconnecting cabins on board P&O Cruises Arvia

Six forward suites on Arvia have an adjoining OA Grade cabin.

Suites 14112, 14109, 11110, 11109, 9110 and 9111

These suites have interconnecting doors which link to a separate inside cabin (larger inside, OA grade cabin). The forward suites above are the only suites with interconnecting cabins.

I’ve listed the suites below, along with the cabins they connect to and how many passengers each OA Grade cabin sleeps:

• Suite 14.112 (sleeps 4) connects with 14.114 (sleeps 4)
• Suite 14.109 (sleeps 4) connects with 14.111 (sleeps 3)
• Suite 11.110 (sleeps 4) connects with 11.112 (sleeps 2)
• Suite 11.109 (sleeps 4) connects with 11.111 (sleeps 2)
• Suite 9.110 (sleeps 4) connects with 9.112 (sleeps 2)
• Suite 9.111 (sleeps 4) connects with 9.115 (sleeps 2)

While a cabin with an interconnecting door may not be a preference for some, it might be a perfect option for others who wish to travel with an extended family group of up to 8 people (if you want this option for 8 people, then book cabins 14.112 & 14.114)

Suites: 15734, 15735, 14740, 14739, 12738, 12737, 11740, 11739, 10740, 10741, 9744 and 9739

Suite 10740 is the only adapted suite on Arvia.

Great things about forward suites on Arvia:

• The aft balconies wrap around the back of the ship and provide fantastic views and like the forward suites have impressive balcony space. The aft suites also benefit from the soft, calming white noise and views of the ship’s wake.
• These balconies are also likely to be more sheltered from the wind than the forward suite balconies on sea days.
• To get to these suites, you’ll use to use the mid aft lifts which tend to be less busy than the mid ship lifts.
• Location-wise, the aft suites are convenient for the Reef (kids clubs) on Deck 17 and the main dining room (decks 6 & 7). These suites are also convenient for the sunset bar and club house, buffet, and the infinity pool.

Things to consider when booking forward suites on Arvia:

• As you’re right at the back of the ship, the Epicurean restaurant will be quite a walk(breakfast is served, exclusively for suite guests in the Epicurean)
• Location-wise, as these suites are right at the back of the ship, you might experience slightly more movement in rougher seas than mid ship cabins and this might be even more pronounced the higher up you go (towards deck 15).
• Some suites are located directly above the Club House (Arvia’s nightclub) and Sunset Bar, (9744 and 9739) so you may hear some late-night noise from these venues in these suites.
• Some suites tend to be more shaded that other aft suites (15732 and 15733). So if this is likely to affect your enjoyment of the balcony space then you might wish to choose a suite on one of the lower decks.
• While all the forward suites sleep 4 passengers, some of the aft suites do not. Therefore if you are travelling in a group of 4, your aft suite options tend to be more limited for groups of 4; only 6 suites sleep 4 people at the aft. I have listed the max occupancy number for each aft suite below.

Arvia Aft Suites which sleep up to 4 Passengers:Suites: 14740, 14739, 11740, 11739, 9744 and 9739
Arvia Aft Suites which sleep up to 3 Passengers:Suites: 15734, 15735, 12738, 12737, 10740 and 10741

What are the Family Sea View suites like on P&O Cruises Arvia?

There are only two of these suites on ship and these can be found right at the front of the ship on Deck 8. As the name suggests, these are sea view suites, so there is no balcony. Basically, these two suites are extremely roomy sea view cabins with suite level perks.

Suites: 8110 and 8109

Great things about Family Sea View suites on Arvia:

• As these suites do not have a balcony, they offer parents travelling with younger children or adventurous toddlers the peace of mind which comes with no balcony. However, if you want a balcony with your suite, you might wish to opt for a different suite.
• As you’re right at the front of the ship, the Epicurean restaurant (where breakfast is served, exclusively for suite guests) is very close by.
• To access these suites, you’ll use the mid-forward lifts – which tend to be less busy than the mid-ship lifts.

Things to consider when booking Family Sea View suites on Arvia:

• While these two suites are marked up as ‘family’ suites, they are probably the two suites farthest away from The Reef kids’ club on board. To get the Reef from these two suites you will need to walk almost the entire length of the ship and take the lift from deck 8 to deck 17. So while this might not be a deal breaker, it’s work knowing in advance.
• As mentioned above these suites do not have a balcony and are sea view only. If you want a balcony with your suite, you might wish to opt for a different suite.
• These suites are also level with the promenade deck. You may therefore get passers-by right outside your window.
• Family Sea View Suites do not have a separate bath and are shower only. This is a strange design feature for families – especially those with younger children. As a parent, I know that a bath is a much easier option than a shower when it comes to an evening routine. So you may wish to pack a small inflatable paddling pool to put in the shower even if you are staying in one of these suites.
• Similar to the other forward suites, as you’re right at the front of the ship, you might experience some more movement than mid-ship cabins. However these two suites are on deck 8 so they are quite low down and in fact the lowest suites on the ship in terms of their location, so you are likely to experience the least amount of movement compared to the other forward suites on ship.
• One thing to consider in these suites is that you may hear the anchor being dropped early in the morning when in a tender port, but this unlikely to be a frequent occurrence on your cruise.
• As you are right at the front of the ship there is quite a walk to the horizon restaurant (buffet style restaurant) and the main dining rooms which are located towards the back of the ship.

Watch a tour around an identical Family Sea View Suite on sister ship Iona:

What benefits do you get in a suite on Arvia?

All suites on Arvia come with the following P&O suite perks:

• Priority check-in
• Access to an exclusive hospitality lounge with a selection of teas, coffees and fresh pastries while you wait to board
• Priority boarding with Ligurian tier guests
• Exclusive welcome reception, as soon as you board with hot and cold canapés and complimentary alcoholic drinks
• Box of Chocolates
• Fresh Fruit
• Daily canapes
• Coffee machine
• Breakfast in an exclusive venue (the Epicurean)
• Inclusive room service
• Butler service
• Superior bathroom with full-size whirlpool bath.
• Luxurious premier White Company toiletries
• Spacious lounge area and separate bedroom
• Priority Tenders (where applicable)
• Priority Disembarkation

Suites on Arvia which sleep up to 4 people

There are 20 suites on board Arvia which sleep up to 4 passengers. You’ll find them located in both the forward and the aft areas and in all grades. Most of the suites sleeping up to 4 passengers are located in the forward section of the ship.

• Family Sea view suites: 8110, 8109
• Forward Suites: 15110, 15109, 14112, 14109, 12112, 12111, 11110, 11109, 10110, 10109, 9110 and 9111
• Aft Suites: 14740, 14739, 11740, 11739, 9744 and 9739

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