P&O Cruises for Solo Travellers: Honest UK Guide (2026)

P&O Cruises is the biggest British cruise line. Their ships are the ones you see dominating Southampton’s Eastern Docks — vast, modern, and recognisably British in their catering and atmosphere. For solo travellers, P&O is a more complicated picture than Saga or Fred. Olsen. The price can be right, the ships have everything, but the supplement situation requires navigating.

This guide covers what solo travellers actually experience on P&O, which ships have solo cabins, and when P&O makes sense as a choice.

Browse P&O solo cruise sailings →

The Single Supplement Situation

P&O does not waive the single supplement as a policy. On most cabin grades, travelling alone means paying 100% extra — effectively the full price of both beds in the cabin.

That said, P&O has made genuine efforts to accommodate solo travellers on their newer ships, and there are ways to reduce or avoid the supplement entirely:

Solo cabins on Iona and Arvia. P&O’s two newest and largest ships each carry a number of single-occupancy cabins. These are priced for one person, with no supplement. They sell out quickly and tend to be interior or lower-grade categories, but they represent genuine solo-friendly pricing on a mainstream UK line.

Solo cabin guarantee. P&O occasionally offers a “solo guarantee” fare — you book a solo cabin at a set price and are assigned a specific cabin closer to departure. These represent some of the best value available on a large mainstream ship, but cabin choice is out of your hands.

Regular cabin with supplement. Outside of solo cabins, the full supplement applies. On some sailings and cabin grades, P&O runs offers that reduce the supplement to 50%, particularly in shoulder season. Worth checking, but not something to rely on as a year-round option.

Check P&O solo cabin availability →

The Ships

P&O’s current fleet spans several ships quite different in size and character:

For solo travellers, the ship choice matters considerably.

Iona and Arvia are where to look if you want solo cabins — they carry the most of any P&O ships. They are also genuinely enormous: 5,200 passengers creates a different social environment to a 900-passenger Saga ship. Finding familiar faces takes longer. The anonymity can feel liberating or isolating depending on what you’re after.

Aurora and Arcadia are adults-only, which removes the family-holiday atmosphere of Iona and Arvia. Some solo travellers significantly prefer the calmer atmosphere of the smaller adults-only ships, even without dedicated solo cabins. Arcadia in particular has a reputation as a quieter, more traditional British cruising experience.

What’s Included — and What Costs Extra

P&O’s pricing model is not all-inclusive. The headline fare covers accommodation, meals in the main restaurants, and entertainment. A significant number of items cost extra:

Drinks packages are available to purchase before sailing and represent reasonable value if you drink regularly. Solo travellers comparing P&O to Saga should factor in the likely additional spend on drinks when assessing true costs. On a 14-night sailing, the gap can be several hundred pounds.

UK Departures

P&O sails almost exclusively from Southampton. For the majority of UK solo travellers this is accessible, but it’s a meaningful difference from Fred. Olsen’s regional ports. Northern passengers typically need to travel to Southampton themselves — either by train (there are direct services from many major cities) or by pre-cruise car parking.

Some itineraries depart from Barbados or other fly-cruise embarkation points, though the bulk of P&O’s sailings start from Southampton.

The Social Side on a Large Ship

Large ship solo cruising is a different experience from smaller ships. On Iona or Arvia, 5,200 passengers creates a genuinely city-scale environment. The benefit is choice and anonymity. The challenge is that community doesn’t form automatically — you need to seek it.

P&O has a solo traveller programme on most sailings, typically including:

• A solo traveller welcome meeting at the start of the voyage
• Organised group dinners for solo guests
• Solo-focused social events and activities through the cruise

Solo traveller Facebook groups and forums consistently describe P&O sailings as hit-and-miss for solo community, depending on the particular sailing and which staff member is running the solo programme. On a good sailing with an active host and a good group of solos, it works well. On others, the programme is minimal.

The ships’ sheer size also means the entertainment programme is extensive. There is always something on — a show, a speaker, a quiz, a music event. For solo travellers who are comfortable entertaining themselves, a large P&O ship offers genuine variety.

Dining

P&O’s larger ships offer a range of dining options:

• Main dining rooms — fixed or flexible sittings available depending on the ship
• The Glass House (wine bar with food) — popular with solo travellers for casual dining
• Epicurean and other speciality restaurants — cover charge applies
• The Lido — the casual buffet restaurant, useful for solo travellers who prefer not to be seated at a formal table

P&O has moved towards “Freedom Dining” on most ships — flexible timing rather than fixed sittings. For solo travellers this is a meaningful advantage over fixed-seating lines: you can eat when you want, at a table for one or joining others, without committing to a set time and table companions.

Price Guide

Solo cabins at the lower end of this range represent competitive pricing for a mainstream line. Factor in drinks and gratuities on top of the headline fare for a realistic budget.

See current P&O solo cruise prices →

Honest Pros and Cons

Pros

• Solo cabins on Iona and Arvia — genuine no-supplement option on a mainstream ship
• Extensive onboard facilities — something for everyone on a large ship
• Freedom Dining — flexible meal times suit solo travellers
• Strong entertainment programme — shows, speakers, activities
• Southampton departures on most sailings
• Adults-only options (Aurora, Arcadia) for a calmer atmosphere
• Competitive pricing on solo cabin fares when available

Cons

• Supplement applies on most cabins — 100% extra unless you find a solo cabin
• Solo cabins limited and sell quickly — mostly interior grade
• Not all-inclusive — drinks, tips, speciality dining all add up
• Large ships (Iona, Arvia) don’t generate natural community — anonymity can work against solo social life
• No door-to-door transfers (unlike Saga)
• Solo programme quality varies significantly by sailing

Is P&O Right for You?

P&O tends to suit solo travellers who:

• Can book a solo cabin on Iona or Arvia — the value case depends on it
• Want a large ship with genuine variety of entertainment and dining
• Prefer flexible dining over fixed sittings
• Are comfortable being somewhat self-sufficient socially
• Want to sail from Southampton on a recognisably British ship

It’s probably not the right fit if you prioritise guaranteed supplement-free pricing, a smaller community feel, all-inclusive simplicity, or regional UK departures.

For first-time solo cruisers, P&O’s large ships can feel overwhelming without the safety net of a dedicated solo cabin and an active solo programme. Saga or Fred. Olsen offer a more structured solo experience. For experienced solo travellers who know what they’re doing and can secure a solo cabin deal, P&O offers genuine variety at a competitive price.

Browse P&O itineraries for solo travellers →

Related Guides

• Best cruise lines for solo travellers UK — how P&O compares to Saga, Fred. Olsen, Cunard, and NCL
• Cruise lines with no single supplement UK — full guide to supplement-free options
• Solo cruises from Southampton — departure guide
• Best cruise insurance for over 55s UK — protect your trip