Iona’s sister ship will sail its maiden voyage from Southampton to the Canary Islands on 9 December ahead of a winter cruising the Caribbean before returning to the UK to sail the Mediterranean next summer.

The ship, which will offer a number of firsts for the line including a “multi-sensory” escape room, rum distillery and high ropes course, is nearing completion at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Papenburg, with sea trials due to begin next month.

Speaking to TTG during a tour of the vessel this week, Rob Scott – P&O Cruises’ vice-president of sales, marketing and brand – said Arvia’s arrival would provide a “magnetic moment” for the line to utilise.

“We’re hugely excited to have this new capacity and new product in wave, and we have a lot of surprises planned from an advertising and promotions perspective," he said. "We know it’s critical to us and we’re going to push hard."

Scott said P&O Cruises would provide agents with “compelling and creative offers” to help drive business throughout the turn-of-year period, adding: “It’s a competitive market and we’re well aware of that.”

Asked if the line was worried the UK’s ongoing cost of living crisis could impact demand, Scott said P&O Cruises was “very confident in the value perspective” of its product, claiming the line had seen its “highest-ever level” of new-to-cruise customers booking in August.

“That gives a glimpse about where the market is going and that’s hugely reassuring given our increase in capacity,” said Scott, echoing recent Clia figures reporting current demand for cruising was surpassing 2019 levels.

“We’re seeing stronger demand for 2023 than we did pre-pandemic and bookings at a higher yield," Scott continued. "People are willing to pay more for the experience, so it’s very positive. All the work we’re doing investing in agent training is really helping too.”

Scott said P&O Cruises would get “as many agents onboard Arvia as soon as we can” to experience the ship, having invited five trade partner winners of its Arvia Insiders competition to see the vessel this week.

He added the line had “big plans” for Arvia’s upcoming christening ceremony after large parts of Iona’s naming event last summer had to be hosted virtually due to Covid restrictions.

According to Scott, an announcement on the vessel’s godmother will be “made imminently”.