Arvia’s crew have had an action-packed month, filled with social events, awareness campaigns, and Engine Room tours. Life at sea continues to offer fresh and exciting experiences every day – whether it’s discovering new places, learning something new, or even winning fantastic prizes along the way!
Exploring the Engine Control Room
The visit was hosted by Karol Trzciniski, First Engineer Officer ERM, who provided fascinating insights into the technology, systems, and teamwork required to keep the ship operating safely and efficiently. Crew members explored the heart of the vessel’s operations and learned more about the engineering functions that work around the clock behind the scenes.
The session concluded with an engaging question-and-answer discussion, giving attendees the chance to learn more about life in the engine department and the vital role it plays in delivering an exceptional guest experience.
A big thank you to Karol for sharing his expertise and helping make this a memorable and educational experience for the Arvia crew.
Raising Awareness During Melanoma Awareness Month
May marks Melanoma Awareness Month, an important opportunity to highlight the importance of skin health, sun safety, and the early detection of skin cancer.
Onboard Arvia, the Medical Team partnered with Crew Welfare Officer Caroline to host a lunchtime pop-up awareness event during a busy sea day. Positioned in a high-traffic crew area, the event gave crew members the opportunity to stop by, ask questions, and learn more about protecting their skin while working and living at sea.
To encourage participation, the first 50 visitors received a complimentary Malibu SPF 30 lip balm, generously funded by the SWC. The giveaway proved popular and helped spark conversations about the importance of daily sun protection.
Throughout the event, our nurses and doctors spoke with crew members about practical ways to reduce the risk of sun damage, including the regular use of sunscreen, protective clothing, and routine skin checks. The team also shared educational resources explaining the warning signs of melanoma and other forms of skin cancer, helping crew understand what changes to look out for and when to seek medical advice.
Working at sea often means increased exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation, making sun protection especially important. Early detection remains one of the most effective ways to improve outcomes, and simple habits such as checking your skin regularly can make a significant difference.
Pride Social
Crew members from across the ship came together for a Pride Social, welcoming LGBTQ+ colleagues and allies for an evening of fun, laughter, and new connections.
The event provided a relaxed and inclusive space where everyone could meet new people, catch up with friends, and celebrate the diverse community that makes Arvia such a special place to work. With games, conversation, and plenty of smiles, the atmosphere was warm, welcoming, and full of positive energy.
The evening closed with a Human Bingo challenge, where participants mingled and discovered interesting facts about one another in order to complete their bingo cards. It was the perfect icebreaker, encouraging everyone to step outside their usual circles.
Congratulations to Nurse Dynette, who completed her bingo card and took home the adorable P&O Cruises starfish plush!
Thank you to everyone who joined and helped make the Pride Social such a wonderful success.
Midnight Bingo
Crew and Officers came together in the Headliners Theatre for an unforgettable midnight Bingo event aboard Arvia, and what a night it was!
Hosted by our fantastic Entertainment Hosts, Olivia and Destiny, the evening was packed with energy, laughter, and excitement from start to finish. The theatre was full, creating an incredible atmosphere as hundreds of crew members gathered for one of the biggest social events of the voyage.
Thanks to the hard work of the Crew Office team, ticket sales were outstanding, resulting in an impressive top Bingo prize of £2,000 with other cash prizes for runners up. The excitement built throughout the evening as players eagerly awaited their chance to shout “Bingo!”
Crew also had the opportunity to take part in a huge raffle featuring 30 high-quality prizes. Lucky winners walked away with fantastic items including iPhones, laptops, Stanley Cups, and a variety of other technology products.
A special thank you also goes to the Production Team, who provided technical support throughout the event and helped get the crowd warmed up with a fun-filled Kiss Cam before the games began. Their efforts helped create a true game-show atmosphere that had everyone smiling.
The combination of great prizes, outstanding teamwork, and an enthusiastic audience made the event a tremendous success and one that will be remembered by Arvia crew for a long time to come.
Well done to everyone involved in making the night such a memorable occasion!
Promoting sexual awareness
The Medical Team, together with Crew Welfare Officer Caroline, recently hosted Arvia’s “Wrap It Up” Campaign – a fun, friendly, and informative event designed to promote sexual health awareness and encourage open conversations about safer sex.
The campaign was a fantastic success, with crew members from across the ship stopping by to test their knowledge, ask questions, and pick up useful information in a relaxed and welcoming environment.
As well as providing complimentary condoms during the event, the team took the opportunity to remind crew that free condoms are always available through the Medical Centre, at the Crew Hub and also Crew Office, ensuring everyone onboard has easy access to protection and can make informed choices about their sexual health.
One of the highlights of the campaign was the Fact or Myth Quiz, which got plenty of people talking and challenged some of the most common misconceptions surrounding sexual health. From STI facts to sexual wellbeing and contraception, the quiz was a great way to learn something new while having a bit of fun.
Senior Nurse Kallum and the Medical Team were on hand throughout the event to answer questions and provide practical demonstrations on the correct use of condoms. In true Arvia style, the demonstrations came with a creative twist, using a selection of fruit and vegetables kindly supplied by our fabulous Galley Team. Bananas, cucumbers, courgettes, and even an aubergine helped bring the demonstrations to life, creating plenty of laughs while helping to reinforce an important health message.
Thank you Arvia for sharing your life at sea stories! If you’ve taken part in an event recently, or you have some news for us, get in touch by submitting your story, here.