Your questions answered

Delays

Delays to ships and flights, whilst very rare, do occasionally occur. In such situations P&O Cruises, in liaison with its supplier of services where appropriate, will use its best efforts to ensure the comfort of its passengers during the course of any such delay. Depending on the particular circumstances, refreshments, meals and accommodation may be provided as appropriate, subject always to the facilities and services locally available. P&O Cruises aim will always be to minimise the inconvenience of any delays.

How do I confirm my booking?

It really couldnt be simpler. Once you have selected the holiday you would like to take and wish to make a booking, go online at www.pocruises.co.uk, call us on 0845 3 555 333 or contact your travel agent. You will be asked to pay a deposit when the booking is made. Once youve booked your holiday, we will send you a confirmation showing the cruise and stateroom booked and fare payable. The balance of your fare must be received by P&O Cruises no later than 56 days before departure. If it is not received by P&O Cruises by the due date we reserve the right to end the contract between us and re-sell the accommodation held for you, which will also result in the forfeiture of your deposit. Around 2 - 3 weeks before you travel, we’ll send you your cruise tickets and, where applicable, your air tickets and an embarkation package including your luggage labels. On short cruises of 3 nights and under we do not include luggage labels with your tickets, as we find that most people prefer to carry their own luggage in order that they may unpack and enjoy the facilities that the ship has to offer. Our comprehensive guide to cruising with P&O Cruises will be sent with tour guides around 8 - 10 weeks before departure. Of course if you need further help with planning your holiday please feel free to call us.

Stateroom Changes

Just occasionally it may be necessary for us to change the stateroom that you have booked. Should this situation occur, you can rest assured we will move you to a higher grade of stateroom at no extra charge. If you have chosen your booked stateroom for a particular reason – for example a wish to be in a specific position on the ship – and would not want to be considered for a stateroom move, please let us know at the time of booking. Please note that any stateroom moves will be given only at the choice and discretion of P&O Cruises. We will, of course, continue to consider separately any waitlist requests for upgrades for extra payment.

Visa requirements - Russia, Far East, Australasia and Asia

For cruises calling at St. Petersburg, we expect to be able to arrange block visas for passengers travelling on organised shore excursions, however, if this is not possible we will advise you in good time to obtain a visa yourself. If you intend to go ashore independently in St Petersburg, a Russian Tourist Visa is required. This MUST be obtained before leaving home as visas cannot be granted during the cruise. Should you wish to obtain an individual Russian Tourist Visa, you will need to be sponsored by a licensed Russian Tour company. This company will provide you with the necessary documentation to obtain your individual Tourist Visa. After obtaining this information, you will need to contact a visa service or the Russian Embassy at www.rusemblon.org for the visa. You must bring a photocopy of the photograph / personal details page of your passport if you are intending to go ashore with an organised excursion or independently.

Australia, India and China- A visa will need to be purchased prior to travel, whether you are embarking, in transit or staying on board. Information on how to apply for your visa will be sent to you with your pre-cruise information, 8-10 weeks prior to departure.

Vietnam, Cambodia and Papua New Guinea- A visa for these countries will need to be purchased (approximately £20.00). These can normally be obtained on board and the fee will be charged to your on board account. Full details, including any changes or updates to this information, will be sent to you 8-10 weeks prior to departure.

Visa requirements - Libya

A Libyan visa will be required. Generally this visa can be organised on board for an additional fee. Everyone needs to buy a visa whether or not they are going ashore. Full details will be advised in the pre-cruise mailing 8 to 10 weeks before departure. Libya chooses to apply rigidly to the Arab League rulings regarding the boycott of Israel, and therefore does not recognise the state of Israel. As a result the following categories of person are not permitted to enter Libyan waters:-

Israeli Nationals
Persons travelling on other nationality passports containing Israeli stamps
Persons travelling on other nationality passports with stamps issued by the Jordanian, Egyptian or Lebanese authorities at any border crossing point with Israel

United States of America passport holders

At the time of writing, we are advised that all visitors to Libya, regardless of nationality, will require a certified translation of their passport into Arabic to allow them entry into the country. This will incur an additional charge of appoximately £30 per person. Further, updated information about this requirement will be provided in the pre-cruise information.

If you intend to travel on any of the above documents, please contact our preferred visa supplier, TLCS Global Services, prior to making your cruise booking, on 0845 899 7214.

Visa requirements for non-European passport holders

Non-European passport holders may require a Schengen visa for entry into Continental Europe. Please ensure you check your entry requirements for Europe prior to embarkation. The United Kingdom is not a Schengen State member. British Citizen passport holders will not need to obtain a Schengen visa. Schengen member states are; Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden.

Visa requirements - USA

The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has recently announced the Interim Final Rule for the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), a new online system that is part of the Visa Waiver Programme (VWP). ESTA is an automated system used to determine the eligibility of visitors to travel to the United States under the VWP and whether such travel poses any law enforcement or security risk. Please note that you will be unable to enter the United States under the VWP unless you have already obtained an ESTA prior to travel. You may check to see if you are eligible for the VWP programme by visiting the US Embassy website in the UK at www.usembassy.org.uk or by contacting them on (+44) 090 4245 0100 (premium call rate). Some of the conditions for entry into the VWP are listed below, however if you do not hold a full British Citizen passport or a passport from another country eligible for the VWP, your situation may be different and you should check to ensure you have the correct documentation for your holiday:

All VWP travelers, regardless of age or type of passport, must possess a machine readable passport.

All passports issued before 26 October 2005 must be machine-readable.

Passports issued between 26 October 2005 and 26 October 2006 must have a digital photograph (digital photos are printed on a page, not glued or laminated into the passport).

Passports issued on or after 26 October 2006 must be biometric for travel to the USA. If your passport is issued after this date and is machine-readable but not biometric, you will need a full US visa.

If any passenger has a police history or an arrest, even if the arrest did not result in a criminal conviction or a criminal record, a full US visa may be required.

If any passenger has any serious communicable disease or illness, a full US visa may be required.

If any passenger has been refused entry to the US on a previous occasion, including deportation, you must contact the US Embassy (+44) 090 4245 0100 (premium call rate).

Other important information for entry into the USA is as follows: British Subject passport holders must obtain a full US visa direct from the US Embassy.

Travellers born in the US or with dual US citizenship must enter and depart the US on US passports.

British Visitor passports are no longer valid
Passengers who hold B1/2 visas are advised they may be presented separately to US Immigration.

It is your responsibility to ensure that you comply with all the US entry conditions. Failure to meet these conditions will make you responsible for any repatriation costs or airline fines you may incur. If you are uncertain please contact the US Embassy helpline or our preferred visa supplier, TLCS Global Services, on 0845 899 7214. You will also be able to check if you require a visa for the USA at www.usembassy.org.uk/cons_new/visa/visa_wizard.html.

ESTA
Obtaining ESTA approval, for most travellers, will be simple and easy. To apply for your ESTA, please visit the ESTA website at https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov. A third party, such as a relative or Travel Agent, is permitted to submit an ESTA application on behalf of a VWP traveller. The ESTA requirement became mandatory on 12th January 2009 and all nationals or citizens of VWP countries who plan to travel to the United States under the VWP will be required to hold an ESTA prior to boarding a US bound aeroplane or vessel. The ESTA travel authorisation is NOT a visa. It does not serve in lieu of a US visa when a visa is required under US law. Individuals that possess a valid visa will still be able to travel to the United States on that visa for the purpose it was issued. Individuals travelling on valid visas will not be required to apply for an ESTA.

An ESTA approval only authorises a traveller to board a carrier for travel to the United States under the VWP. In the same way that a valid visa does not constitute a determination of admissibility, an approved ESTA is not a guarantee of admissibility to the United States at a port of entry. Once a traveller’s ESTA application has been successfully completed and submitted online, the application will be queried against appropriate law enforcement databases . In most cases, ESTA will provide an almost immediate determination of eligibility for travel under the VWP.

As part of your ESTA application, you will be required to provide (in English) biographical data including name, birth date, and passport information, as well as travel information such as the flight number and destination address in the United States.

For the purposes of this application, you will need to complete your address in the United States as follows:
Address Line 1: Ship name/hotel or address in the US
Address Line 2: Leave blank/hotel or address in the US
City: Point of entry into the US, for example first port or airport visited
State: Select correct state from dropdown list

You will also be required to answer VWP eligibility questions regarding communicable diseases, arrests and convictions for certain crimes, and past history of visa revocation or deportation, among others.

An approved ESTA travel authorisation is:
Valid for up to two years or until the traveller’s passport expires, whichever comes first
Valid for multiple entries into the US
Not a guarantee of admissibility to the United States at a port of entry. ESTA approval only authorises a traveller to board a carrier for travel to the US under the VWP. In all cases, CBP officers make admissibility determinations at our ports of entry. (For additional information, please visit Know Before You Go at www.cbp.gov/travel)
If any part of your stay in the US is affected by a change after your authorisation has been approved, you will need to update that information through the ESTA website. If you do not receive an ESTA approval, you may be denied boarding, experience delayed processing, or be denied admission at a US port of entry. Please note that if you have acquired a new passport or have had a change in name or other identifying biographical information, a new application must be submitted.

ESTA will provide validity dates upon approval of the application.
The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has recently announced the Interim Final Rule for the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), a new online system that is part of the Visa Waive.

Do I need a passport?

If you are a British Citizen, a full passport is required. If you DO NOT HOLD A BRITISH CITIZEN PASSPORT, your passport travel documentation/visa requirements may be different. You should check with your travel agent or our preferred visa supplier, TLCS Global Services, on 0845 899 7214 to ensure you have the correct documentation. The following passport and visa information is for British Citizens only.

You will need to have 6 months validity in your passport after your date of return (especially for Norway, Russia, and the USA). Children will need their own passports. If you are applying for a new passport, please leave adequate time to action your application. Please be aware that if you are applying for your first British Citizen passport, you may now be required to attend interviews prior to the passport being issued.

For this reason, we would advise all passengers in this situation to allow a minimum of six weeks to obtain their passports. For further information, please contact the Identity and Passport Service Adviceline on (+44) 0300 222 00 00 or visit the website at www.direct.gov.uk or email info@passport.gov.uk. Please note British Visitor Passports are no longer valid. British Subject passport holders requirements may differ: please ensure you obtain the necessary documentation.

How much baggage can I bring?

On cruises sailing from and returning to Southampton, you can bring as many bags as you can comfortably fit into your stateroom, but please restrict the weight of each item to no more than 23kg for handling purposes. Please note storage space on Artemis is restricted. On Artemis’, Oceana’s and Ventura’s fly cruises the baggage restriction will be 23kg per person. For cruises of 3 nights and under, passengers are required to carry their own luggage on board. If you would prefer to have your luggage delivered to your stateroom for you, our luggage handlers will be happy to provide luggage labels when you hand over your luggage at the terminal before proceeding to check-in.

What is included in my holiday fare?

Stateroom accommodation on board your ship, with facilities as per grade booked.

Meals on board as follows:

- Early morning fruit juice, tea or coffee plus continental breakfast in your stateroom
- Light or buffet-style breakfast from a choice of different venues or a full English breakfast in the restaurants
- Mid morning coffee
- Mid morning ice cream
- Buffet-style lunch or three course lunch in the restaurants or on some days a barbecue or speciality buffet
- Snacks throughout the day from any of the Select Dining venues
- Afternoon tea with sandwiches and delicious freshly-baked cakes
- A six course dinner in the restaurant.

Daytime activities:

- The ship’s newspaper, detailing the full day’s programme of entertainment and events.
- Sun loungers on deck for sunbathing and relaxing.
- Fresh towels supplied for sunbathing and drying off after swimming.
- The use of swimming pools, whirlpool spas, gymnasium, golf driving nets, table tennis, shuffleboard, short tennis, deck football and cricket
- Card games, chess, scrabble, backgammon and Trivial Pursuit.
- Interest talks on most cruises with help and advice from our specialist lecturers. They vary from painting to beauty demonstrations and a chance to improve your dancing.
- A library stocked with mysteries, histories, romances plus guides to some of the places you’ll be visiting.

All evening entertainment:

- Captain’s Reception - a glittering occasion and an opportunity for you to meet the Captain and his officers. Naturally the drinks are on us during the Captain’s Reception!
- Lavishly staged show spectaculars. There will be compilations of West End and Broadway shows and tributes to well known stars.
- Cabarets with singers, comedians and speciality acts.
- Classical recitals and concerts on most cruises.
- A cinema on Artemis, Aurora and Oriana showing feature films including recent releases.
- Quizzes and panel games - just a bit of a challenge with a prize for the best team effort.
- Dance music with live bands, playing a wide range of music from the 40’s to the present day, and disco.
- Special theme evenings selected from Tropical, 60s & 70s and Black & White Ball theme.

The Reef - our children and teenagers’ programme on board Aurora, Oceana, Oriana and Ventura:

- A Junior Club for 2 - 4 year olds & 5 - 8 year olds, staffed by our qualified Reef Rangers, with an extensive programme of play, sport and entertainment.
- For teens (9-12 years) and teenagers (13-17 years) a full programme of activities including quizzes, sports, pool games, competitions and discos.
- Special children’s tea.
- Captain’s ‘Coketail’ Party - a chance to meet the Captain and the drinks are on us!
- A night nursery for children up to 5 years (See ‘Families’)

All UK and overseas port taxes.

UK Air Passenger Duty on fly-cruise holidays.

Flights from/to the UK for all fly cruise holidays.

Coach transfers to/from the overseas port/airport for all fly cruise holidays, if taking flights on the dates shown in each itinerary.

Going Ashore: Ship-to-shore tenders for when you anchor off-shore.
- Port guides with details on the history and culture, places of interest, restaurants, transport and shopping details, plus a few words of the local language and a map
- Illustrated talks by experts on your ports
- Facilities for changing your money into local currency for most of the ports of call our ships visit, subject to on board exchange rates (buy/sell).

What is not included in my holiday fare?

- Travel Insurance.
- Travel to and from Southampton or the airport.
- Optional shore excursions at your ports of call.
- Coffee and drinks in the bars, all drinks and wines in the restaurant and in your stateroom.
- Cigarettes and tobacco though it’s worth remembering that these are at lower prices than at an equivalent standard hotel ashore.
- Dinner at the Select Dining venues is by reservation and a Select Dining charge will apply in the evening and at lunchtime in the Orchid Restaurant and Arcadian Rhodes on Arcadia, in The White Room, East and Ramblas on Ventura and at Oriana Rhodes.
- Balcony Dining on all ships.
- Tips at the end of your cruise.
- Any optional purchases made at the various outlets on board i.e. the ship’s shops, photo gallery, art auctions etc.
- Hairdressing, beauty and spa treatments on all ships.
- Kinesis gym and hydro pool on Arcadia and thermal suites on Arcadia and Ventura.
- Selected fitness classes and services.
- Telephone calls, faxes, Internet access (where applicable) and e-mails from the cyb@study.
- Laundry Service: though there are free launderettes available for your use on board.
- Room Service
A complimentary standard 24 hour room service menu is available. Charges apply to some premium items.
- All costs for medicines & treatment in the ships Medical Centre though you will find that these costs will generally be reimbursable under your holiday insurance subject to validity of cover and any excess.
- Any scheduled flight upgrades.
- Airport hotels for fly cruise holidays are offered at a special rate.
- Any vaccination or visa costs.
- Optional entertainment facilities including handicraft materials, bingo, golf simulator, souvenir programmes and computer services.
- Special shuttle bus and city transfer services.

Visa Information for non-British/European Passport holders

Non British Citizen/European Passport holders may require different visa/travel documentation, further information can be obtained from the relevant Embassies of the countries listed within the itinerary.