An estimated 5,000 passengers were expected to come ashore in Palma on Friday morning as Britain's biggest cruise liner, the P&O flagship Arvia, docked in Palma. With a displacement of 180,000 tons she was the biggest cruise ship in the port.
This is Arvia's second visit to the Port of Palma in less than three weeks. Not only is the P&O flagship Britain´s biggest cruise vessel she is also Britain's biggest ship, displacing far more than the Royal Navy's Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carriers.
Her keel was laid on 15 February 2022. The ship was built by German shipbuilder Meyer Werft in Papenburg and left the shipyard on 5 November 2022. She was delivered on 9 December 2022 to P&O Cruises. Construction officially started in February 2021.
Arvia has over 30 bars and restaurants and plenty other features including an on board spa and swimming pools. She has the capacity to carry up to 6,000 passengers.
Palma is an exceptionally popular port with cruise ships although government legislation has curbed the number of visits in recent years.