Jason Manford backs P&o Cruises comedy club with 140 shows
P&o Cruises will launch Manford’s Comedy Club on selected sailings aboard Iona and Arvia between May and October 2026. The adults-only event will run in the Limelight Lounge and sell tickets for a double bill of comedians.
Jason Manford will help select 70 stand-up comedians for the season, and they will perform 140 shows across 35 cruises. He will not appear on stage in the club.
Jason Manford and Paul Ludlow
Manford said, “I’m thrilled to be teaming up with P&O Cruises in 2026 to take Manford’s Comedy Club on the road – or rather, to sea.” He added, “Across 35 cruises to France, Spain, Italy and the Norwegian fjords, 70 comedians handpicked by me will perform 140 shows, giving guests the chance to experience top-tier live comedy as part of their holiday.”
Paul Ludlow, president of Carnival UK and P&O Cruises, said, “We are delighted to be partnering with Jason Manford to bring Manford’s Comedy Club on board Iona and Arvia.” He added, “Working with one of the UK’s best‑loved comedians allows us to offer our guests something truly special, which further strengthens the entertainment we offer on board.”
Iona and Arvia sailings
The comedy club will be available on a seven-night Norwegian fjords round-trip from Southampton on 4 July 2026, with fares starting from £849 per person. It will also feature on a 14-night summer holiday sailing from Southampton to Spain and France departing on 16 August, with fares starting at £1,229 per person.
The booking window gives passengers a specific choice: select summer sailings on both ships, or none at all. That keeps the offer limited to a narrow set of cruises rather than the wider fleet.
June 2026 bookings
P&O Cruises is also offering up to £800 onboard spending money on select cruises departing between June 2026 and November 2027, with bookings needed by 1 June 2026. The line is also offering new all-inclusive packages from £49 per person per day, covering drinks, wifi and speciality dining credit.
For passengers looking at the summer 2026 cruises, the practical choice is straightforward: book one of the named sailings if the comedy club is part of the trip, or miss this season’s run entirely. The adults-only format makes it a separate ticketed add-on, not a general shipwide show.
