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P&O Cruises unveils Arvia’s Caribbean shore excursions

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Passengers will be able to create their own batik in ancestral home of Caribelle Batik and see artists at work
Arvia will offer a range of brand-new shore excursions in the Caribbean which are not available on any other ship in the fleet.

Arvia will set sail for its maiden season of seven and 14-night fly/cruises from the UK to the Caribbean on January 6, 2023. During the season, the vessel will explore eight of the region’s islands including: Antigua, Antigua and Barbuda; Bridgetown, Barbados, including an overnight stay; Curaçao; La Romana, Dominican Republic, a maiden port of call for P&O Cruises; Fort de France, Martinique; Basseterre, St Kitts; Castries, St Lucia; St Maarten, Saint Maarten.  

Big wheel electric scooters in St Lucia

Passengers will have the opportunity to explore St Lucia’s northern coastline by eco-friendly iRide scooter. Custom-built, they have powerful, fully electric motors that are charged by solar power. Sights include Rodney Bay Marina, the famous fishing village of Gros Islet and Pigeon Island National Landmark.

While in Cap Estate, passengers will be able to see views from the Cas-en-Bas Viewpoint before visiting the centuries-old pirate haven of Rodney Bay.

Dominican Republic’s Bayahibe beach resort

A leisurely day can be spent at the 5-star Be Live Collection Canoa resort in the fishing village of Bayahibe. In the well-manicured tropical setting, passengers will have full access to the facilities, including a swimming pool, volleyball nets and the white, powdery sand of the private 'Blue Flag' beach.

A beach towel, sun bed and lunch are all included, and there is an open bar available for cocktails and drinks.

Create your own batik at St Kitts  

Passengers can create their own batik in the famous, ancestral home of Caribelle Batik, which has a reputation for producing fine batik products made with quality one-of-a-kind fabrics. They use ancient, Indonesian dyeing methods to create distinctive and unique designs. Those participating in the excursion will have the chance to watch expert artists at work while hearing a full narration of the ancient art form and its history before they get the opportunity to roll up their sleeves and make their own souvenir.

Caribbean cuisine & rhum tasting on St Maarten

Caribbean cooking and speciality rhums can be tasted at the award-winning Topper's Rhum Distillery, St Maarten where passengers will be met with homemade rhum punch, before having the opportunity to taste over 20 samples of rhum on the distillery tour and 12 small-batch speciality rhums from the rhum tap.

In Emilio’s Kitchen, passengers can watch the chef prepare Caribbean-style cuisine, including breadfruit balls and fried local fish with Sauce Sousk, with all dishes fully explained. The cuisine will then be served in a rustic 17th-century wine cellar, while passengers sample a T’punch cocktail.

Bajan craft beer & rum tasting in Barbados

Passengers will head to the Foursquare Rum Distillery which is located on a former sugar plantation dating back to 1720. They will learn about the unique combination of artisanal processes and state-of-the-art techniques used to create the rich styles of rum, before embarking on a tasting session. A short drive will then guide passengers to DreadHop Brewing, a local beer brewery dedicated to creating distinctive hand-crafted ales. Those participating in the excursion will find out about the large selection of ingredients used from around the world to produce a variety of beer styles, before sampling the brews with snacks.