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The Retreat is an exclusive haven on board P&O Cruises Arvia. Delve into my comprehensive guide for everything you need to know about The Retreat experience on P&O Cruises newest ship and whether the upcharge is worth it
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What is the Retreat on P&O Cruises Arvia?
Located on Deck 18 right at the front of the ship, The Retreat is a sanctuary for relaxation on board Arvia. An outdoor refuge open from 8am to 8pm this venue is exclusively for adults. It’s a tranquil place to take in the fresh air with panoramic views.
How much is the Retreat on Arvia?
There is an additional cost for Retreat. The retreat on Arvia can be purchased per day or per cruise.
Currently (2025) the prices are:
- £499 per person for a 14-night cruise (which can be booked in advance or on board)
- £299 for a 7-day pass
- £59 per person per day – however you can only book day passes on board. Day passes are available on a first come first served basis and are only available if the Retreat is not already fully booked.
P&O Peninsular club members can also get a discount of between 5% and 10% on the retreat pass depending on their loyalty tier.
To access the Retreat, you are given a lanyard and card. The retreat is a designated as a quiet zone so using your mobile phone or other media without headphones is discouraged.
How to book the Retreat on Arvia?
If you want to book a pass for the entire cruise You can book the retreat on board or via your cruise personaliser. However, bear in mind that for popular cruises the retreat usually gets sold out and there may not be day passes available. So, it is best to book as soon as the booking window opens for your cruise which is usually 14 days in advance of embarkation day.
Day passes for the retreat are only available to book on board from the oasis spa reception and are subject availability on a first come first served basis.
When is the Retreat open?
While the retreat is open from 8am to 8pm, you can come and go as you please as much as you like during the day. Sunbeds cannot be reserved in advance and are available on a first come first served basis. Therefore, for the greatest choice, the key is to arrive early.
However, sunbed hogging is actively discouraged. For example, turning up at 8:00 AM to reserve your sunbed before heading off around for the rest of the day is a big ‘no-no’ and The Retreat Stewards will remove towels and belongings if this is the case. However, if you wish to go off to get lunch elsewhere on ship and think you will be more than 30 minutes then it’s worth mentioning this to the stewards before you leave.
It’s also worth noting that the retreat is sometimes closed when there is bad weather. On a warm weather cruise this is less likely (although not unheard of). While you won’t receive any refund for any days you don’t use the Retreat due to restricted access due to bad weather, you will be given access to the Thermal Spa instead.
What’s included on the Retreat on Arvia?
There are plenty of sun beds, and loungers available in the retreat along with relaxing chairs and tables. There are a few double sunbeds and there is a good variety of seating and sun loungers both in shaded areas and those in full sun.
One of the things to bear in mind is that there is no pool inside the retreat. However, there are two whirlpools.
If you do want to have a dip in the pool, then the nearest is the Beachcomber pool which is located just outside the doors to the Retreat. There are no toilets or changing facilities located inside the Retreat however the closest amenities are located near to the Beachcomber pool and bar.
Included in the retreat are a limited selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. You can ask the attentive waiters to get you any other drink from the pool bar menu or you can head to the nearby Beachcomber Bar yourself. However, any additional drinks are not included and must be paid for separately.
Access to the Retreat on Arvia includes:
- Two whirlpool hot tubs
- Complimentary alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks,
- Teas and bean to cup coffees (the same as the self-service coffee machines in the horizon restaurant)
- Healthy eating options served throughout the day and not available anywhere else on board.
- Bathrobes
- Towels
- Blankets
- Plenty of different seating options including day beds, sunbeds, cabanas, chairs and tables both in sun and in more shaded areas.
- A £30 spa voucher for the Oasis Spa (can only be used for full price treatments)
- 10% off shore experiences
- 20% off the ultimate Wi-Fi Package
What drinks are included in the Retreat on Arvia?
There is a small range of complimentary self-serve drinks available on The Retreat on Arvia
- Heineken
- Heineken Zero
- Sauvignon Blanc
- Malbec
- Rose
- Pepsi
- Diet Pepsi
- Aqua Libra Infused Sparkling Water
- Still and sparking water
- Frobishers Orange Juice
- Sugar free raspberry kombucha
- Health Shots
What food is included in the Retreat?
Food is available throughout the day. The emphasis is on healthy eating and top-quality ingredients. You won’t find the items available in the retreat anywhere else on board. If you fancy indulging – there’s also a delicious afternoon tea available. There are two menus available and these alternate throughout your cruise.
All items are pre prepared and are self-service.
➡️ WHEN IS FOOD SERVED IN THE RETREAT? ⬅️
Breakfast is available from 8am until 11am
The Day Menu is served from 12.00 noon
Afternoon tea is available from 3pm
Sample Menus on The Retreat:
BREAKFAST – Menu A
Serrano Ham Tortilla
(Sun-Blushed Cherry Tomatoes, Mozzarella and Chimichurri Dressing) (gluten free)
Superfruits
(Watermelon, Kiwi, Mango, Blueberries, Figs, Lychee and Ginger Syrup) (vegan friendly)
DAY MENU – Menu A
Devilled Tiger Prawn Caesar Salad
(Chilli Diablo Marinated Prawns, Gem Lettuce, Soft Quail's Egg, Bacon, Corn Purée, Chipotle Dressing and Cornbread Croutons)
Miso-Grilled Free-Range Chicken
(Fermented Red Kraut, French Beans, Red Rice, Red Chilli Cauliflower, Cider Vinegar Dressing)
Charred Mediterranean Vegetables with Harissa-Baked Sourdough Croutons
(Non Pareil Capers, Pomegranate, Coriander Labneh and Chermoula Dressing)
Heritage Beetroot, Pink Pepper Vegan Cheese and Pickled Blueberries
(Buckwheat, Cashew Nut Hummus, Sunflower Seeds, Shaved Zucchini and White Balsamic Walnut Dressing) (vegan friendly) (gluten free)
Koji Maple-Roasted Squash
(Quinoa, Korean Kimchi, Beetroot Borani, Tenderstem Broccoli, Nori Chimichurri, and Savoury Granola) (vegan friendly) (gluten free)
DESSERTS
Dark Chocolate and Avocado Brownie Tart
(Macadamia Praline, Alphonso Mango and Pistachio) (vegan friendly)
AFTERNOON TEA
Classic English Plain and Golden Raisin Buttermilk Scones
(Clotted Cream, Strawberry Jam and Orange Curd)
Lemon, Cardamom and Gin Drizzle Cake
(Candied Lemon, Coconut and Lavender Frosting) (vegan friendly) (gluten free)
DAY MENU – Menu B
Beef Teriyaki with Dressed Soba Noodles
(Edamame Beans, Charred Kombucha Watermelon and Ponzu Dressing)
Hot Smoked Hampshire Chalk Stream Trout
(Quinoa, Golden Kraut, French Beans, Beetroot, Dill Potato Salad and Sweet Mustard Mayonnaise) (gluten free)
Indonesian Crunchy Vegetable Salad
(Pindang Eggs, Seaweed and Radish Rice, Cucumber Pickles, Crispy Shallots and Peanut Dressing) (vegetarian)
Coronation Tofu
(Asian Salsa, Carrot and Cumin Pickle, Chickpea Mayonnaise and Cracked Black Pepper Mini Poppadoms) (vegan friendly)
Greek-Style Herbed Vegan Feta Cheese
(Chargrilled Vegetables, Za'atar Black Rice, Green Olives, Pomegranate, Maple Dressing and Cumin Yoghurt) (vegan friendly) (gluten free)
DESSERTS
Caramelised Pineapple and Coconut Puff Pastry
(Passion Fruit Gel) (vegan friendly)
AFTERNOON TEA
Classic English Plain and Blueberry Buttermilk Scones
(Clotted Cream, Black Cherry Jam and Raspberry Jam)
Courgette, Carrot and Cinnamon Cake
(Date Jam) (vegan friendly) (gluten free)
Is The Retreat on Arvia worth it?
This all depends on what type of cruiser you are. If you are prepared to pay a premium to secure a quiet adult-only space on board with some drinks included and attentive service (and a guaranteed sun lounger) then the cost will be worth it.
One thing to be aware of is that you can book the Retreat for just one adult person in your cabin – unlike the drinks package – but the pass is non-transferable.
The retreat will usually be the best value for money if:
- You like to stay in ship for port days or only spend the minimal time ashore on a port day.
- You drink wine and beer during the day.
- You tend to spend the most of your time on a sun bed on sea days.
- You are not purchasing the drinks package.
- You enjoy a quiet space on ship.
- You prefer an adult only space to relax on ship.
- Your cruise itinerary has a lot of sea days.
- Your cruise is in the school holidays.
- You value a guaranteed sun bed in a private area.
- You have a warm weather cruise.
- You intend to purchase the Ultimate Wi-Fi Package on board (there is a 20% discount with your pass)
- You intend to purchase shore excursion on board (there is a 10% discount with your pass).
- You intend to purchase a treatment at the Oasis spa.
- You don’t like spending your day on board around the pool.
On the other hand, you probably won’t get as much value out of the retreat if:
- You are likely to spend a lot of time ashore on port days.
- You don’t drink wine or beer during the day.
- You don’t tend to spend a lot of time on sunbeds on a sea day.
- You have purchased the drinks package.
- You are travelling with children and tend to spend a most of time with them throughout the day.
- Your cruise has a lot of port days.
- You are sailing on a cold weather cruise
- You don’t intend to purchase the Ultimate Wi-Fi Package on board.
- You don’t intend to purchase shore excursions on board.
- You don’t intend to purchase a treatment at the Oasis spa.
- You prefer to spend your day on board around the pool or elsewhere on ship.
My advice? How to get the best value out of the retreat.
If you want to get the best value out of the Retreat on Arvia, my tip would be to book an inside guaranteed cabin (which is usually the cheapest cabin you can book on Arvia), skip the drinks package and use the additional money you save for a pass to the Retreat. If you manage to score some additional on-board credit as part of a deal or have a P&O cruises Peninsular Club discount, then even better.
Fellow cruises who have previously taken advantage of the Retreat have commented how much space there is compared to other open decks, especially on a sunny sea day. It is a peaceful area with a delicious and varied food menu with vegan, vegetarian and gluten free options. Some passengers have even commented that the inclusive drinks seemed to be much better than getting a separate drinks package.
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