P&O Cruises has put a 126-night World Cruise at the center of Arcadia's farewell season, with Early Saver fares from £18,499 per person for a balcony cabin — the last chance for agents to sell the ship before it transfers to Holland America Line on August 21, 2029.

The World Cruise departs January 6, 2029, and carries the strongest selling points in the program: maiden calls at Nosy Be in Madagascar, Hiroshima, Mahé, Kochi, Osaka and Puerto Princesa, plus returns to Maputo and Puerto Vallarta, ports P&O Cruises has not visited in many years.

The transfer consolidates Arcadia under the Carnival Corporation umbrella — both P&O Cruises and Holland America Line sit within the group — but for UK sellers it removes a mid-sized, adults-focused ship from the P&O inventory and shifts that capacity to a brand sold largely through North American channels.

What does the farewell season include?

P&O Cruises has structured the final year around seven published itineraries:

• 126-night World Cruise — January 6, 2029, with maiden calls and long-absent ports
• 16-night Atlantic Islands cruise — December 21, 2028, covering Christmas and New Year, including a New Year's Eve call to Madeira for its fireworks display
• 21-night Western Mediterranean cruise — June 4, 2029
• 14-night Baltic cruise — June 25, 2029, calling at Northern Europe's capitals
• 16-night British Isles cruise — July 9, 2029
• 22-night Central Mediterranean cruise — July 30, 2029, the ship's final extended itinerary

All currently published Arcadia sailings will operate as planned, including the winter 2028-29 program, according to the cruise line.

When can customers book?

The sales window opens in two stages. Pre-registration for winter itineraries runs from 8.30 AM on October 13, 2026, to 8 PM on October 19, 2026. General sale opens October 21, 2026.

For sellers, the commercial incentives are time-limited. Bookings made by December 16, 2026, for departures on or after October 12, 2028, qualify for four offers:

• 10 percent launch discount on applicable Select Price winter 2028 holidays
• 5 percent Peninsular Club member discount, a further reduction on selected Select Price holidays, available until departure
• Free uppers on selected Select Price and Early Saver cruises
• 10 percent low deposit on Select Price and Early Saver bookings

Why the farewell framing matters for sellers

A ship's final season with a brand reliably drives demand from repeat passengers and collectors of maritime milestones, and the pricing reflects it: £18,499 for entry-level Early Saver balcony occupancy on the World Cruise sits well above typical P&O per-night averages for shorter itineraries.

The Peninsular Club layer also matters for retention. Loyalty members receive a 5 percent discount valid until departure on selected Select Price holidays — an incentive to keep P&O bookings within the brand after Arcadia leaves rather than following the ship to Holland America Line.

Agents holding clients on future Arcadia sailings can reassure them that nothing in the published schedule changes; the transfer takes effect only after the final Central Mediterranean cruise concludes in August 2029. The next actionable date in the calendar is October 13, 2026, when pre-registration opens and sellers can begin converting interest in the farewell program.