The ship officially entered service with the company in April 2005 and was named by Dame Kelly Holmes.

Arcadia uses the ABB Azipod system which is an azimuthing electric propulsion drive where the propulsion motor is installed inside a submerged azimuthing (unlimited 360 degrees) pod and coupled directly to an extremely short propeller shaft.

Rudders as well as stern thrusters are obsolete if an Azipod propulsion is installed astern as it is capable of providing full thrust in all directions by setting the unit's direction angle simply with the vessel's steering control.

[8] Arcadia underwent a scheduled, 24-day refit at Lloyd Werft shipyard in Bremerhaven, Germany in 2008.

During the 2020-21 coronavirus layoff, the vessel spent some time moored off Bournemouth, Southwold and Torbay.