Ventura, P&O Cruises’ Southampton-based family ship.
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CruisePing verdict
Ventura is P&O’s practical Southampton family all-rounder: convenient, varied and easier to understand than the Excel-class ships, but no longer modern.
Ventura Cruise Ship at a Glance
| Cruise line | P&O Cruises |
|---|---|
| Ship class | Grand class, P&O variant |
| Entered service | 2008 |
| Gross tonnage | 116,017 GT |
| Length | 291 m |
| Guest capacity | 3,086 |
| Crew | 1,205 |
| Included dining | 5 |
| Alternative / speciality dining | 4 |
| Swimming pools | 4 |
| Hot tubs / whirlpools | 6 |
| Library | Dedicated library |
| UK departures | Regular |
Best suited to
Families, couples and first-time cruisers wanting a conventional no-fly P&O holiday with broad entertainment and regular Southampton departures.
Think carefully if
Passengers seeking a new ship, quiet school-holiday atmosphere, specialist adults-only cruising or the latest headline attractions.
The Ventura cruise ship is P&O Cruises’ long-serving Southampton family all-rounder. She carries just over 3,000 guests, offers four pools and a broad entertainment programme, and operates the kind of no-fly itineraries that make P&O convenient for British families and first-time cruisers.
Ventura does not have the novelty of Iona or Arvia, and she can feel busy around lifts, buffet routes and pools. Her advantage is balance: enough dining and entertainment for a family holiday, regular Southampton departures and a more conventional layout than the Excel-class ships.