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When choosing your cruise please bear in mind that it may not be possible for wheelchair users to go ashore in all ports of call.

Staff will be able to provide wheelchair or arm assistance from the top to the bottom of the gangway only where safe to do so. Guests must make their own way to and from the terminal, shuttle bus, tour buses etc. Please note that, if your shore experiences are operated by minibus, there will be no storage space for mobility scooters or wheelchairs.
Please be aware that, in consideration of health and safety, tour providers and coach operators reserve the right to refuse carriage to any guest who is unable to negotiate the steps of the coach independently.

OFFER ENDS 26 AUGUST 2025

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Captain talking to boy on deck on board a P&O Cruises cruise ship

In some ports it is necessary to anchor offshore rather than alongside the dock or quay. When this is the case, we use a tender to take you ashore. A tender is a small vessel that carries around 100 passengers. Any guest wishing to use the tender will need to take a mobility assessment beforehand.

Getting to shore when a gangway can't be used

If you have notified us that you walk with or use a mobility aid, we’ll invite you to a briefing on board and give you the opportunity to complete the mobility assessment for tenders in advance. Guests who are a full-time wheelchair or mobility scooter user will be unable to use a tender. This must be completed independently, without any assistance, to demonstrate that you can step unaided over a distance of 45cm/18 inches, including a step up of 20cm/8 inches high.
If an officer decides it is not safe for you to board a tender, please respect their decision – it’s taken to ensure your safety.
Children who are unable to step across a gap of this size will be permitted to use the tender service provided their parent or guardian is able to demonstrate that they can carry or pass them safely across the mobility test gap.

There will be crew members to guide and steady you as you get on or off the tender, but they cannot support, carry or lift guests on board the tender for safety reasons. Please wear appropriate, flat and securely attached footwear.
If you use a wheelchair or mobility scooter, please note that you (or your travelling companion) are responsible for assembling and disassembling your wheelchair or mobility scooter. The crew will endeavour to assist where practical and safe to do so, providing that no individual part weighs more than 20kg/40lb.

You will need to make your own way to/from the terminal, shuttle bus or tour bus etc. Where shuttle buses are supplied, every effort is made to provide an accessible bus; however, for reasons out of our control, this may not always be possible. If you have booked on a P&amp;O Cruises Select Price holiday, where shuttle buses are included in your fare, in ports where a shuttle bus is provided but an accessible service is unavailable, you are invited to use a taxi service as an alternative. The taxi should take the same route, and drop off and collect, at the same point as the shuttle bus service. Please keep the receipts and speak to Reception when you arrive back on board where the expenses will be refunded to your on-board account.
Please be aware that in consideration of health and safety, tour providers and coach operators reserve the right to refuse carriage to any guest who is unable to negotiate the steps of the coach independently. Please note if your shore excursions are operated by minibus, there will be no storage space for mobility scooters or wheelchairs.

At some ports, access to shore will be by either a long straight shore gangway fitted with self-levelling steps to consider the tidal conditions or, in some cases, wooden batons for foot grips. The baton type can be quite steep at times due to tidal conditions.
The ship may also use its own narrow stepped gangway (the ‘accommodation ladder’), which also features&nbsp;self-levelling steps to take account of the tide.

Certain ports have a big tidal range. This means there can be a large height difference between the quay and the gun-port doors, making the gangway too steep for the safe passage of wheelchairs or mobility scooters. These ports include (but aren’t limited to): Bilbao, La Coruña, Le Havre, La Rochelle, Lisbon, Zeebrugge, Malaga, Cádiz, Madeira, Rotterdam, Cherbourg, Hamburg, Boston, Halifax, Portland, Quebec and San Francisco. This means there is a strong chance that guests who use a wheelchair or mobility scooter will have to stay on board at these ports. We apologise if this is disappointing, but we hope you appreciate that it’s in the interest of safety.

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Yes, guests can take alcohol on a mini cruise from southampton.
What drinks can you take on P&amp;O Cruises short breaks?
Each guest aged 18 years (21 years in United States of America ports) and older may bring up to one litre of wine or Champagne on board when they embark the ship for the first time only. Wine or Champagne over the one-litre limit will be stored and returned to the guest prior to the end of the cruise. If this alcohol is consumed in the dining rooms, bars, restaurants or lounge areas, it will be subject to a corkage fee of £20* per bottle, per occasion, which will be charged to the guest’s on-board account.&nbsp;
Other alcohol types such as spirits are considered restricted items and guests are prohibited from bringing them on board when they first embark the ship.
*prices subject to change

Can I take alcohol on a Short Break cruise holiday?

Amsterdam is famous for its art galleries and museums (from the Van Gogh Museum to the Anne Frank house), beautiful canals, interesting architecture and lively nightlife. You’ll also find a deliciously innovative food scene and, in the spring, thousands upon thousands of tulips covering the city in a kaleidoscope of colours.

What is Amsterdam known for?

It’s always worth checking the local weather before you head off on a Short Break, but in the summer you’ll generally need to dress for the heat (think dresses, shorts, t-shirts, sandals – and don’t forget your swimming costume) while the winter usually calls for layers and thick coats.
During your days on board, you can dress in whatever you like. However, on all our ships, we have two dress codes that apply in the evenings: Evening Casual and Black Tie. For nights when the dress code is Evening Casual, you can bring out your best shirt, dress and smart, dark denim. For nights where the dress code is Black Tie, make sure you pack your best tux, suit or cocktail dress.
There are some venues on each ship where dress codes don’t apply, so make sure you check your Horizon paper that’s delivered to your cabin each day to check where these are, as they vary ship by ship. For those travelling on family-friendly ships, dress codes also don’t apply to children aged 17 and under.

What should I pack for a Short Break cruise holiday? 

The best time of year to cruise to Amsterdam depends on what you’d like out of your holiday. Do you prefer the sun or a winter chill? Do you want to see the Light Festival and wander Christmas markets? Or would you rather see the world’s largest flower garden (think miles of tulips, daffodils and hyacinths) in bloom in the spring? How about cruising the canals in the heat of the summer sun, cocktail in hand? We visit Amsterdam almost year-round so that no matter your holiday style, you’ll find a Short Break cruise holiday to suit you.

What’s the best time of year to cruise to Amsterdam?

The best time of year to go on a mini cruise to Bruges is up to you – what do you want from the weather? What activities do you fancy doing? We’ve got Short Break cruise holidays that visit Bruges (from Zeebrugge) almost year-round. If you’re dreaming of walking around a chilly Christmas market with a hot chocolate (or mulled wine) in hand, December is the month for you. Or, if you’d rather be a bit warmer as you cycle through the countryside or wander medieval streets, April or May might be a better choice. A visit in October will add autumnal magic to a stroll along the canals as the leaves fall around you.&nbsp;

What’s the best time of year to cruise to Bruges (from Zeebrugge)?

Summer brings warmth and sunshine to Amsterdam (with an average temperature of around 23°C) while winters are cold and bring a likely chance of snow. Amsterdam’s spring is fairly mild, heating up and drying out as it gets closer to summer, while autumn brings a good chance of rain as it cools down towards the end of the year.

What's the weather like in Amsterdam?

We tend to visit Hamburg in December on our Short Break holidays when it’s fairly frosty. Hamburg usually has highs of 5˚C and lows of 1˚C in December, with an average of 12 days of rain – but you might be lucky enough to be there when it snows.

What’s the weather like in Hamburg?

On our Short Break holidays, you might visit:
Amsterdam in the Netherlands
Bruges (from Zeebrugge) in Belgium
Cherbourg in France
Hamburg in Germany
Le Havre in France
Rotterdam in the Netherlands
St Peter Port, Guernsey, in the Channel Islands

Which countries does P&O Cruises visit on Short Break cruise holidays?

On our mini cruise holidays, you might visit:
Amsterdam
Bruges (from Zeebrugge)
Cherbourg
Hamburg
Le Havre
Rotterdam
St Peter Port, Guernsey

Which ports does P&O Cruises visit on mini cruise holidays?

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