P&O Cruises has set out Arcadia’s final year, and it opens with the longest trip she does.
Her last world cruise leaves Southampton on 6 January 2029 and runs 126 nights. Her last P&O sailing of all is a 22-night Central Mediterranean cruise departing 30 July 2029, which brings her home on 21 August, the day she passes to Holland America Line.
The winter sailings go on general sale on 21 October. Everything already published for Arcadia, including her winter 2028/29 cruises, operates as planned.
Six ports P&O has never called at
The world cruise is where P&O has put the effort. Nosy Be in Madagascar, Hiroshima, Mahé in the Seychelles, Kochi in Japan, Osaka and Puerto Princesa in the Philippines are all first-time calls for the line.
Maputo and Puerto Vallarta are back on a P&O itinerary for the first time in more than 20 years, and Huatulco on Mexico’s Pacific coast is on the route too.
Christmas at sea, then New Year off Madeira
Before the world cruise comes her last Christmas. A 16-night Atlantic Islands cruise departs on 21 December 2028, spends Christmas and New Year on board, and is off Madeira on New Year’s Eve for Funchal’s fireworks.
She docks back in Southampton on 6 January, the day the world cruise sails.
The last summer
After the world cruise returns in May, P&O has listed four long sailings to see her out: 21 nights in the Western Mediterranean from 4 June, 14 nights in the Baltic from 25 June, 16 nights around the British Isles from 9 July, and the 22-night Central Mediterranean finale from 30 July.
P&O calls the last of those her final extended itinerary, so expect some shorter cruises in the gaps. The summer sailings do not yet have an on-sale date.
When to book, and what’s on the table
Pre-registration for the winter itineraries opens at 8.30am on 13 October and closes at 8pm on 19 October, with general sale from 21 October.
Book by 16 December 2026 for a departure on or after 12 October 2028 and P&O is offering a 10% launch discount on Select Price winter holidays, a 5% Peninsular Club discount on selected Select Price sailings, free upper berths on selected cruises and a 10% low deposit.
P&O quotes the world cruise from £18,499 per person on an Early Saver fare, two sharing a balcony cabin. That is the launch figure, and it can’t be checked against a booking page until the sale opens on 21 October.
Arcadia’s farewell sits inside a wider winter 2028/29 launch across five ships and 130 destinations, including Aurora’s 75-night Americas grand tour with overnights in Rio and Santos, and a 21-night Mediterranean cruise on Ventura in February 2029.
The bottom line
Arcadia has three sailings left that no one will ever repeat: her last Christmas, her last world cruise and that 22-night finale. Those are the ones that will go first, and P&O’s launch discount is the only time the world cruise will be 10% off.
If you want the finale, you’ll have to wait: summer 2029 isn’t on sale yet.
