Your questions answered

How long will we be in port?

The time the ship will be in port will vary from cruise to cruise and port to port. For each cruise in our brochure we indicate under each port whether our port call will be a morning, an afternoon, a full day or longer. In this summary you will find a guide to how long the ship will usually be in port in each case.

Morning
A morning call will be between 4 1/2 hours and 6 1/2 hours, with the ship usually arriving between 8am and 9am and normally departing between 1pm and 2pm.

Afternoon
An afternoon call will be between 4 1/2 hours and 6 1/2 hours, with the ship usually arriving between midday and 2pm and normally departing between 5pm and 7pm.

Full Day
Normally a full day call will be between 7 hours and 10 1/2 hours, with the ship generally arriving between 7am and 10am and departing between 4pm and 6.30pm. However in certain cases where the main destination is further away than normal from where the ship calls (eg Cairo), the call will be longer - up to 15 hours.

Full Day & Evening
A full day call with an evening in port will be around 15 hours with the ship usually arriving between 7am and 8.30am and normally departing between 11pm and midnight.

Full Day & Morning
A full day call with an overnight and following morning in port will be around 28 hours with the ship usually arriving between 8am and 9am and departing between midday and 1pm.

Afternoon & Evening
Between 9 1/2 hours and 11 hours, with the ship usually arriving between 12.30pm and 2pm and normally departing between 11pm and midnight.

Afternoon & Full Day
Between 27 hours and 29 hours, with the ship usually arriving between 1pm and 2pm and normally departing the following day between 5pm and 6pm.

Two Full Days
Between 33 hours and 35 hours, with the ship usually arriving between 7am and 8am and normally departing the following day between 5.30pm and 8pm.

Please note that the timings given above are guidelines only for the time the ship will be in port and the actual times may vary. We will provide you with information on board so you are able to stay informed about our estimated times of arrival and departure each day.

In addition to the above call timings, there are occasions where our ships cruise past scenic points such as cruising in fjords, off the North Cape or through the Panama Canal. In these cases we give an approximate time of day that we would expect this to take place.

Is the main destination always the port?

Usually yes, but in some countries weve listed the main destination in the itinerary rather than the port e.g. Rome (from Civitavecchia). Please note that P&O Cruises takes you to the port advertised and then offers its shore excursion programme to reach the main destination. Where the ship berths some distance from the port centre, passengers who wish to go ashore independently of the P&O Cruises excursion programme will usually find local public transport connections and private taxis close to the ship.

At certain ports, taxis may not be available close to the ship and public transport connections may not be accessible on foot. Depending on the local circumstances, P&O Cruises will arrange for a bus service between the ship’s berth and a reasonably convenient location close to the port entrance. Where these services are chargeable to the passenger, tickets will be available for sale on board. In some cases the bus fare is payable directly to the coach operator upon boarding.

How will I go ashore?

Wherever possible, your ship will dock allowing you to come and go as you please via the ship’s gangway. Sometimes, in smaller ports, the ship will anchor at sea and tenders will offer a free and frequent service ashore which also allows you to come and go as you please, such ports are represented by the ‘Land by tender’ symbol. The ‘Ship usually berthed alongside’ symbol indicates ports that we usually berth alongside but at which, in exceptional circumstances, we may need to anchor the ship at sea. While the ship is in port, naturally the restaurants, bars and other facilities (except the shops) are available. The times of arrival at ports where we use tenders, as shown in the itineraries in this brochure, are the times that the ship arrives at anchorage, after which we will usually begin taking passengers ashore by tender. Depending on the number of passengers wishing to go ashore, you can normally expect to be ashore about an hour after the advertised time of arrival.

Should I take a shore excursion?

It’s your decision entirely. We offer a comprehensive range of full and half-day shore excursions at most ports. As a guideline, half-day shore excursions will cost £20-40 and full-days usually around £50-90 depending on the itinerary. Well send you a shore excursions guide containing full details of the shore excursion programme for your cruise around 8-10 weeks before you travel. The brochure descriptions set out to offer practical advice based upon our operating experience. We would strongly advise you to read the excursion descriptions to make sure that your chosen excursion is suitable for your individual personal requirements. The majority of our shore excursions use coaches. We use our best efforts to obtain appropriate transport although it is not always possible to secure fully accessible vehicles. Please note that taxis usually are available for hire close to the ship’s berth should passengers wish to travel independently.

To reserve your shore excursions simply book online at www.pocruises.co.uk/cruisepersonaliser or telephone our Reservations Centre on 0845 3 555 333 to make an advance booking. No payment is required at this stage.

Once booked, a shore excursion confirmation will be sent to you, which must be carried with you on your cruise. Your shore excursion tickets will be delivered to your cabin on board during your cruise and the charge for these will be applied to your on board account. We recommend advance booking to avoid disappointment, though naturally you can also book at the Shore Excursions desk on board. If you prefer to make your own arrangements, you’ll find a folder of port guides in your stateroom. Please note that some of the locations and sights mentioned in the cruise descriptions are not available on our shore excursions. In these cases it is possible to visit them independently.