TL;DR
P&O Cruises launches winter 2027/28 Caribbean fly-cruises with direct flights from 10 UK airports — including 8 regional hubs. General sale opens tomorrow.
- What: Iona joins Arvia in the Caribbean for the first time
- When: Winter 2027/28 (October 2027 – April 2028)
- Where: Three departure ports: Barbados, Antigua, St Kitts
- Airports: Manchester, Birmingham, Gatwick, Heathrow, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Newcastle, Cardiff, Belfast, Bournemouth
- Airlines: Norse Atlantic Airways, TUI Airways, Virgin Atlantic
- Early booking perks: 10% off, low deposits, third/fourth guests sail free on selected dates (book by 17 December 2025)
What’s New
For winter 2027/28, P&O Cruises has confirmed airline partnerships for its Caribbean fly-cruise programme, and the big news is access. Three airline partners mean clients across the UK can now fly direct to the Caribbean without routing through London.
Norse Atlantic Airways, TUI Airways, and Virgin Atlantic will operate flights from 10 UK airports, including Manchester, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Newcastle, Cardiff, Belfast, and Bournemouth alongside London Gatwick and Heathrow.
Iona will join sister ship Arvia in the Caribbean for the first time since her 2020 launch. Both Excel-class ships carry 5,200 passengers and will operate 14-night fly-cruise holidays from Barbados, Antigua, and a new addition: St Kitts.
Paul Ludlow, P&O Cruises president, said the airline partnerships recognise that flights are a key part of the holiday experience, highlighting the new in-flight proposition with Norse Atlantic and fortnightly Virgin Atlantic services.
Here’s Where It Gets Good
Until recently, Caribbean fly-cruises typically required routing through London, adding cost and complexity for clients outside the capital. This expanded regional airport network removes that barrier.
Clients in Manchester, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Newcastle, Cardiff, Belfast, and Bournemouth can now fly direct to Barbados or Antigua. That means less travel time, fewer connections, and a smoother start to the holiday.
All three airlines offer luggage valet service on P&O charter flights: luggage is checked at the UK airport and delivered directly to the cabin door on the ship, with guests bypassing immigration at the overseas airport.
Norse Atlantic Airways will operate weekly flights from Manchester and London Gatwick to Barbados and Antigua using Boeing 787 Dreamliners with Economy and Premium Economy cabins.
TUI Airways will fly from London Gatwick, Manchester, and Birmingham as primary hubs, with selected regional departures from Edinburgh, Glasgow, Newcastle, Cardiff, Belfast, and Bournemouth. All TUI flights head to Barbados.
Virgin Atlantic will operate fortnightly flights from London Heathrow to Barbados using Airbus A350 aircraft with three cabin classes: Economy, Premium Economy, and Upper Class.
Agent Intel to Know
Iona and Arvia will operate Caribbean itineraries between October 2027 and April 2028, visiting ports including Tortola, St Maarten, Martinique, St Lucia, and Grenada.
Both ships offer four swimming pools (Arvia features a swim-up bar), 30 bars and restaurants, the SkyDome — a pool and dining space by day, live entertainment venue by night — and The 710 Club, an intimate live music venue curated by Gary Barlow.
General sale opens tomorrow.. Early booking offers are valid until 17 December 2025 and include:
- 10% discount on Select and Early Saver fares
- Low deposits available
- Third and fourth guests sail free on selected off-peak cruises of six nights or more departing from Southampton
- 20% discount on Classic drinks packages
- Additional 5% discount for Peninsular Club members on selected holidays
For clients outside London, the regional airport access is worth highlighting in conversations. It removes a significant booking barrier and makes Caribbean fly-cruises more accessible.
Worth Knowing
P&O Cruises is also sending Arcadia on a 124-night world cruise departing Southampton on 6 January 2028. The voyage includes an extended East Asia segment with overnight stops in Tokyo and calls to Kagoshima and Nagasaki — the first Japan visits since 2019. Arcadia will also visit the Maldives.
Britannia will be based in Southampton year-round for the first time since her 2015 launch, operating a mix of Canary Islands, Madeira, Caribbean, and Mediterranean itineraries.
Agent Advantage Insight
Regional airport access opens up Caribbean fly-cruises for clients who previously found the London connection too much hassle. If you work with families in the North, Midlands, Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland, this is worth mentioning when Caribbean holidays come up in conversation.
