Christmas at sea just picked up some serious star power. P&O Cruises has confirmed that Warwick Davis — the actor and presenter known to just about every British household — will join the Britannia for a seven-night entertainment residency over the festive season in 2026.
The format is called "An Audience with Warwick Davis," and it's exactly what the name suggests: an hour-long show each evening, where the man himself talks through his film and TV career, drops behind-the-scenes stories about working with some of the biggest names in the business, and then opens things up to a live Q&A. On top of that, guests will get meet-and-greet chances, which is a rarer perk than you might think for big-name performers on cruise ships.
The run spans seven consecutive nights, starting in St Lucia on December 19 and wrapping up in Bridgetown, Barbados on December 26. So the whole thing is folded neatly into a Caribbean sailing — meaning the days between shows are spent island-hopping rather than staring at open ocean. Paul Ludlow, president of P&O Cruises and Carnival UK, pitched the booking as a highlight of a "festive escape in the Caribbean," crediting Davis's warmth and storytelling as the draw.
For anyone weighing up a Christmas cruise, this is the kind of added-value entertainment that can tip a decision. Festive sailings often sell on sun and food alone; having a genuinely recognisable British entertainer performing exclusively for the ship, night after night, is a differentiator. Davis has spent decades in film and television and is one of the more likeable, anecdote-rich speakers you could hope for in a theatre at sea.
Practically speaking, the itinerary is a strong one in its own right. St Lucia and Barbados are two of the southern Caribbean's most reliable winter calls — the Pitons, rainforest and rum on one side; calm swimming beaches and a lively capital on the other. A round trip that stages shows in the evenings while daylight hours go to shore time is a neat way to balance the two.
Who is this for? Families with kids who know Davis from his TV work, film fans after some genuine behind-the-scenes gossip, and British travellers who want a Christmas break that doesn't feel anonymous — a shared week of shows gives a big ship a bit of a club atmosphere. Worth noting that December is peak season for Caribbean cruises, so cabins on a sailing with this kind of draw will likely move early. If the idea of Boxing Day in Barbados with a week of Warwick Davis on top appeals, booking ahead rather than waiting for a late deal is probably the smarter play.
