Here at Gilly Bachelor Travel Expert, we love hearing about our team’s own adventures — and this summer, our lovely admin superstar Stephanie Minton set sail again on P&O’s Arvia with her husband and son.

Last year was Stephanie’s very first cruise experience, and she came back absolutely delighted about it. In her own words:

“It was fantastic, it is easily the best holiday we’ve been on. It’s very different to any land holidays we’ve been on before — but with so much going on and so much to do. Definitely would do it again.”

And true to her word, she did. You can see Stephanie’s comments about last year’s cruise below.

Why Stephanie Chose Arvia (Again)

Arvia clearly stole her heart last year, and for good reason. With its diverse itinerary, huge cruise credit bonus of £580, a summer holiday kids club, and a choice of 30 different bars & restaurants, booking the same cruise again was a no-brainer!

However, this time around, she knew all the little tricks that make a big difference:

  • She booked well in advance, especially since she was travelling in the busy school summer holidays. On Arvia, cabins that sleep four or interconnecting cabins (perfect for larger families) are limited — and once they’re gone, they’re gone. You can read more about this in our recent blog post about booking cruises early, even if you don’t intend to cruise until 2027/28 (yes, they really are filling up that quickly!)

  • P&O also has age-category limits for children (e.g. ages 6–9) to ensure safety in the rare case of an emergency. So again, booking early was essential to secure a place for her son. Once these spaces are filled, they will not allow for anymore children, so we cannot stress enough how important it is to book ASAP.

  • Her early planning paid off and she managed to book Cabin 14711 — a balcony cabin with one of the largest balconies on the ship. She booked this at the same price as the other cabins on her floor, despite their balconies being much smaller. Early bird gets the worm, I believe they say!

Life on Board

Stephanie and her family loved everything from the smooth seas (no rocky rides this time!) to the endless dining choices, activities and entertainment

No Flights: One of the benefits of this cruise (and some other cruises that we offer!) is that it’s perfect for travellers that want to avoid flying.  Stephanie and her family were able to drive down to Southampton, have their car parked in a secure location (which usually would have cost £180, but she got it for FREE, thanks to the offer), and get their luggage taken onboard. Then all they had to do was complete the check-in and ship orientation process, before being set free to enjoy all that the cruise had to offer. Once they decided to wind down, they retired to their cabin and were greeted by their luggage waiting for them! Ahh, isn’t simplicity so blissful?

Dining Highlights: P&O Arvia is home to 30 different restaurants and bars, and with their generous £580 on-board credit (thank you offer!), the Minton Family were truly spoilt for choice. Stephanie was especially pleased with:

  • Green & Co, a plant-based, all vegan restaurant, which was “absolutely delicious,” she claimed, and only cost and extra supplement rate of about £10 per person.

  • The Beach House, a coastal-themed eatery that serves South American, Caribbean, and Stateside comfort cuisines, was another restaurant they all really enjoyed. Also costing around £10 supplement per person, proving you don’t have to spend a fortune to eat well at sea.

Kids Club: The cruise offers separate safeguarded kids clubs for different age groups, so her son (9-12 years old) was able to take part in various activities like air hockey, swimming, computer games (yes, I know…), or just hang out with new friends! BUT, you should know… If you pre-book before boarding, there’s a small fee. However, if you sign up once onboard, it’s free — though you risk missing out if it’s already full.

Excursions: Normally, Stephanie prefers flexibility when exploring the various locations once the ship is docked. However, being a huge F1 fan, she couldn’t pass up the opportunity to experience the Paul Ricard F1 Circuit tour in port La Seyne-sur-Mer where she was allowed behind-the-scenes access to the off-limits backstage areas, take in the amazing views of the track, and visit the secret and strategic places of the race.

Unexpected Moments

Stephanie’s husband sustained an injury to his thumb (pre-cruise) and had to get his stitches removed while onboard the Arvia, so they visited the cruise’s medical centre on Deck 3 and were thoroughly impressed with facilities and service. “It was like being in a fancy hospital”, Stephanie said. And although they had to pay a small fee, they had planned for it in advance. Our Stephanie is as meticulous as always!

Stephanie’s Top Tips for Future Cruisers

  • Book early — for the best cabins, connecting rooms, or child spots in the kids club.

  • Know your cabin numbers — some, like 14711, have bigger balconies than others.

  • Budget a little extra — for speciality dining, or treats onboard.

  • Try something new — like Stephanie’s excursion or vegan dining experience, even if you’re not vegan!

Final Thoughts

Stephanie came back from her second cruise just as thrilled as her first, proving that cruising really can be the perfect family holiday. Smooth sailing, great food, exciting ports, and a ship packed with activities — it’s easy to see why she’s already hooked.

Next summer, she’ll be back onboard again — but this time she wants to try P&O Avira’s sister ship, Iona.

Whether you’re planning a bucket-list world voyage, a family-friendly cruise at sea, or simply want to travel solo without compromise, there are clear advantages to planning early – and we are here to help you make the most of them, so please get in touch!

Give us a call on 01902 288104, send us an email or book an appointment here.