Key Aspects:
- P&O Cruises will continue its UK fly-cruise Caribbean program with three air carriers in 2026-27.
- The line confirmed it has contracts with Virgin Atlantic, TUI Airways, and Norse Atlantic Airways.
- The cruise ships Arvia and Britannia will sail Eastern and Southern Caribbean voyages.
The fly-cruise charter arrangements that P&O Cruises launched in the UK two years ago have been so successful that the cruise line has renewed its airline partnerships for the winter 2026-27 Caribbean season.
From October 2026 to March 2027, UK-based cruise guests who book the cruise line’s fly-cruise packages will travel to the Caribbean aboard TUI Airways, Virgin Atlantic, and Norse Atlantic Airways.
P&O Cruises will base two ships in Bridgetown, Barbados, for the season, Britannia and Arvia, with air-inclusive 14-night cruise packages offered to guests across Great Britain. Arvia will operate departures from both Barbados and Antigua, and guests can join the ship at either destination.
“For our fly-cruise guests, their holiday begins at the airport, so getting the flight experience right really matters to us. That’s why we’re delighted to be continuing our long‑standing relationships with TUI, Norse Atlantic, and Virgin Atlantic,” said Paul Ludlow, president of Carnival UK and P&O Cruises.
“Together, these partnerships mean our guests can enjoy consistently high‑quality journeys, with the comfort and care they know and love from P&O Cruises, right from take‑off,” added Ludlow.
Norse Atlantic Airways will offer service on Saturdays from London Gatwick and Manchester to Antigua, on certain departure dates, and will operate regional flights to Barbados from Cardiff, Glasgow, and Newcastle, also on select dates.
A whole plane charter will be offered on a Virgin Atlantic Airbus A330 every two weeks for guests booked on Arvia’s 14-night departures from Barbados.
TUI Airways will serve Barbados, too, offering flights from London Gatwick, Birmingham, and Manchester. For select departures, the airline will operate regional service from Belfast, Bournemouth, Edinburgh, Exeter, Glasgow, and Newcastle.
P&O Cruises is a Carnival Corporation brand that caters to the UK market. Its 5,200-guest Arvia is an Excellence-class ship that entered service in 2022, while the smaller Britannia accommodates 3,600 and was launched in 2015.
During the 2026-27 winter season, both ships will operate 14-night voyages to a wide range of Caribbean destinations. Some longer cruises are offered, too, such as a 28-night Christmas/New Year’s sailing.
Read Also: Eastern vs. Western Caribbean Cruise: Which Will I Prefer?
Guests can embark Arvia at either Barbados or Antigua. The ship’s 14-night November 28, 2026 cruise, for instance, departs from Antigua and calls at St. Lucia and Grenada before arriving in Barbados, where she overnights and embarks more guests.
The ship then visits Martinique, St. Kitts, St. Maarten, and Tortola, BVI, before debarking guests in Antigua, and then continuing on to other islands before returning to Barbados.
A Previous Charter Carrier Didn’t Measure Up
P&O Cruises reached agreements with the three airline partners after it suspended a relationship with Maleth Aero, an air charter company that previously transported cruise guests from multiple UK airports to Barbados.
The cruise line parted ways with Maleth Aero in February 2024, as reported on Cruise Hive, after guests complained about Maleth Aero’s lack of premium seating and in-flight entertainment on the long-haul flights.
At the time, the P&O Cruises president took to Twitter (now X), with a video in which he assured guests that he was aware of passengers’ frustrations with the charter carrier and was working toward a solution.
In addition to Maleth Aero, the cruise line was also partnering with TUI Airways, and that relationship has been steady.
The fly-cruise guests can choose economy, premium economy, or upper class seats on Virgin Atlantic; a full slate of in-flight entertainment on all three carriers; meals and some free drinks; and baggage service.
