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<h4><a href="https://www.pocruises.com/content/dam/po/pdfs/PO%20Cruises%20Assistance%20Dog%20Fact%20Sheet%20-%20Nov%2024.pdf" target="_blank">Assistance dog general information and Terms and Conditions</a></h4>

We welcome registered assistance dogs on board our sailings as long as they have specifically been trained to assist a disabled person either by carrying out tasks on behalf of the owner or performing functions that address the needs of a disabled person arising out of their disability. This definition accords with the definition of an assistance dog set out in the Equality Act. Please note that we do not accept dogs that solely provide emotional support or any other Assistance Animal. This is due to our licence requirements for the carriage of assistance dogs.
The dog must be certified by an organisation that is a full member of Assistance Dogs International (ADI) or International Guide Dog Federation (IGDF), the accrediting bodies for assistance dog organisations worldwide or In case the dog is owner-trained dogs they have received accreditation from the Assistance Dogs Assessment Association (ADAA) and have the necessary documentation to verify this accreditation. This is in line with our licence issued by DEFRA.
Assistance dogs may not be permitted ashore in certain ports of call, in line with the current DEFRA regulations that apply in the UK or in line with the countries requirements. If you indicate on your <a href="https://my.pocruises.com/mycruise/onboardNeedsQuestionnaire">on-board needs questionnaire</a> that you will be taking an assistance dog on board, we will send you the relevant paperwork to complete and return to us with any supplementary information that is required.

OFFER ENDS 26 AUGUST 2025

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Lady with hat looking over Santorini in Greece

Once you have presented your confirmation letter to our check-in staff, a member of the ship's crew will check your assistance dog’s paperwork. Providing this is satisfactory, you will then be escorted through security to board the ship. Your cabin steward will lead you to the relief area and arrange for your dog's food to be stored, if necessary.

An assistance dog owner is not required to travel with a companion provided they are able to undertake day-to-day tasks independently. Our ship’s crew are unable to assist with any day-to-day personal care tasks, including movement around the ship. Should it become apparent that during the cruise you are not managing independently, we reserve the right to refuse future travel unless you are accompanied by a carer or travelling companion who can provide this assistance for you.

If you plan to go ashore at ports of call with your assistance dog, you will need to research in advance the local government regulations for each country you are visiting.
It is the responsibility of the owner to research each country's individual regulations, including re-entry to the UK if appropriate, to be able to go ashore with their assistance dog. P&amp;O Cruises cannot be held responsible if your dog is denied entry upon disembarkation &nbsp;for not following DEFRA or the relevant countries regulations.
Port authorities have and may exercise their right to deny an assistance animal landing at any given port.&nbsp; This is outside of any cruise companies’ control, and if this happens the handler would need to stay onboard to look after the assistance dog.
If travelling to Mexico, dogs must have had an ecto-parasite and endo-parasite treatment applied no more than 15 days prior to arrival to port. This information should be included in the health certificate.

Assistance dogs are welcome in all areas of the ship except for:
<ul>
<li>Designated children’s areas</li>
<li>Swimming pools</li>
<li>The ‘beach’ area surrounding the pool (where water may flow freely in and out of the pool)</li>
<li>Whirlpools</li>
<li>Crew areas (unless the spending area is located here and only with assistance)</li>
<li>Galley visits</li>
</ul>
Owners are required, when using the buffet area, to leave their dog at the table for health and safety reasons. Our staff will assist you with your food selection and carrying this back to your table.
Your assistance dog must always remain with you.

We currently do not offer the service of a vet on board any of our ships, and the ships’ doctors are unable to assist should your dog be taken ill on board. Therefore, it is imperative that you consult your vet for advice prior to your cruise to ensure your dog is fit to travel. It may also be a good idea to talk to your vet about motion sickness. Please also advise your vet of your planned holiday dates and carry their contact details with you.

Our ships are only permitted to carry assistance dogs on itineraries that start and finish in Southampton and we are therefore unable to accept an assistance dog on a Caribbean or Mediterranean fly-cruise.

You may bring your assistance dog on a full world cruise provided you have researched which countries fall within the DEFRA guidelines, and you have checked the various countries’ individual regulations.&nbsp;

Carriage of an assistance dog is subject to the conditions set by DEFRA (Department for Environment, Food &amp; Rural Affairs). Please refer to the DEFRA website for the most up-to-date information. As the DEFRA requirements are different from other forms of travel, it is essential owners understand the conditions that the dog must travel under.
The information provided is taken from the Government guidance. To view more information on this and for the most up-to-date information, please <a href="https://www.gov.uk/taking-your-pet-abroad/getting-an-animal-health-certificate-#:~:text=You%20must%20take%20your%20pet,can%20issue%20animal%20health%20certificates.">click here.&nbsp;</a> 
 

Due to national regulations in certain ports, guests with assistance dogs may be required to remain on board. If you intend to travel with an assistance dog, please notify us in advance and at least 48 hours prior to departure.
All assistance dogs are carried free of charge.
Once your booking has been made and your paperwork has been checked, all DEFRA conditions have been met and you have completed and signed P&amp;O Cruises terms and conditions, we will send you a confirmation letter. This letter confirms your assistance dog has been given permission to travel and the letter must be produced at check-in. Failure to produce this letter may result in your assistance dog being denied boarding. We would also advise all owners to carry their dog's identification card, or similar, with them at all times in case local authorities require proof.
If we do not receive a completed and signed copy of P&amp;O Cruises terms and conditions, we regret we are unable to allow your dog to travel.&nbsp;

If returning to the UK, your assistance dog is required to undertake tapeworm treatment 24-120 hours (1-5 days) prior to arrival. This treatment will need to be carried out by an authorised veterinarian in a port of call that meets the above timescales. Owners are responsible for locating a vet and ensuring the correct treatment has been carried out and the pet's passport is updated correctly.
It is the responsibility of the owner to research the itinerary in full. On occasion, ports of call may be missed, replaced or cancelled for reasons beyond P&amp;O Cruises’ control. We would therefore advise you to check your itinerary carefully to ensure the tapeworm treatment can be offered in more than one port and within DEFRA's timing guidelines to re-enter the UK.
Please note that if your last port falls on a weekend or bank holiday, or the tapeworm treatment cannot be administered within DEFRA guidelines at the penultimate port of call, we suggest planning for the treatment to be carried out prior to the last call if possible. Should your chosen itinerary be of 3 or 4 nights in duration, the tapeworm treatment can be carried out on the morning of embarkation by an authorised veterinarian and your dog is able to disembark at EU ports of call.
Treatment during the voyage is not needed if the ship calls only at ports in Great Britain, Northern Ireland, Finland, the Republic of Ireland, Norway, or Malta.
If the tapeworm treatment is not carried out, or the documentation is incorrect, your dog may be placed into quarantine on your return to the UK.
We do not offer the service of a vet on board any of our ships, and the ships’ doctors are unable to assist should your dog be taken ill on board. Therefore, it is imperative that you consult your vet for advice prior to your cruise to ensure your dog is fit to travel. It may be a good idea to talk to your vet regarding motion sickness.

From 1st August 2024, the CDC updated guidance and requirements regarding dog travel to the US, the CDC has issued regulations to control the entry of dogs into the United States from other countries. These rules apply to all dogs, including puppies, service animals, and dogs that left the United States and are returning. They also apply whether you are a U.S. citizen, legal U.S. resident, or foreign national.
Please use the link below to determine what rules apply to your dog based on the dates of travel and where your dog is traveling from.
<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/importation/dogs/?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/importation/bringing-an-animal-into-the-united-states/dogs.html">Bringing a Dog into the United States | Bringing an Animal into U.S. | Importation | CDC</a>

For assistance dogs joining and or disembarking a cruise outside of the UK it is the guest’s responsibility to check on the requirements for that country and to make the necessary arrangements with the airline if appropriate. The dog will still need to meet the requirements of the PETS Travel Scheme detailed above and provide the necessary paperwork to embark the ship.
&nbsp;
For fly-cruises it is the guest’s responsibility to contact the airline to gain approval for the animal to travel. This will be at the airline’s discretion and subject to their requirements. This is in addition to proving the information to P&amp;O Cruises.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Your dog must always wear its harness when not in the cabin. Due to the nature of cruising, we are unable to provide a safe off-leash area for assistance dogs..

Please ensure that you bring a suitable supply of all dry dog food, food and water bowls, plus any applicable blankets and bedding. Dogs can only be fed in the cabin and under no circumstance should your dog be fed food or treats in any public area.
We do allow assistance dogs into our buffet restaurants; however, your dog must remain at the table. Should you be travelling alone, our crew will be happy to assist you with your food selection and carrying this back to your table.

Assistance Dog spending areas
<table border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0">
<tbody><tr><td width="200" valign="top">Ship
</td>
<td width="200" valign="top">External Area
</td>
<td width="200" valign="top">Internal Area
</td>
</tr><tr><td width="200" valign="top">Arcadia
</td>
<td width="200" valign="top">Deck 4 Forward
</td>
<td width="200" valign="top">Deck 3 Forward
</td>
</tr><tr><td width="200" valign="top">Arvia
</td>
<td width="200" valign="top">Deck 7 Port Side – next to lifeboat 8
</td>
<td width="200" valign="top">Deck 11, Stair 15 – opposite crew lift or Deck 9 Stair 15 – opposite crew lift
</td>
</tr><tr><td width="200" valign="top">Aurora
</td>
<td width="200" valign="top">Deck 9 Forward
</td>
<td width="200" valign="top">Deck 9 Forward
</td>
</tr><tr><td width="200" valign="top">Azura
</td>
<td width="200" valign="top">Deck 8 Forward
</td>
<td width="200" valign="top">Deck 8 Forward
</td>
</tr><tr><td width="200" valign="top">Britannia
</td>
<td width="200" valign="top">Deck 7 Aft Port side
</td>
<td width="200" valign="top">Deck 15 – Midship Oscar staircase
</td>
</tr><tr><td width="200" valign="top">Iona
</td>
<td width="200" valign="top">Deck 7 Zone 4 Port side
</td>
<td width="200" valign="top">Deck 11 Midship Stair 15 or Deck 9 Midship Stair 15
</td>
</tr><tr><td width="200" valign="top">Ventura
</td>
<td width="200" valign="top">Deck 8 Forward
</td>
<td width="200" valign="top">Deck 8 Forward
</td>
</tr></tbody></table>
We ask owners to clean up after their dog. Our ship’s crew will advise you once you are on board where to dispose of your dog's waste. The box will be emptied and replenished by our crew every day.

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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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Assistance dog general information and Terms and Conditions

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