Your holiday experience

Your holiday experience

As of 20 October 2021

Before you board

We can’t wait to welcome you on board. To ensure check-in is as quick and easy as possible, we’ve a few new measures in place. Prior to your departure, we’ll provide pre-cruise information about mitigating the risk of COVID-19 and we will ask you to complete a Health Declaration questionnaire. Please read this pre-cruise information carefully as this will include what to expect when you arrive at the terminal/airport, your time on board, any country specific requirements to be aware of and other relevant protocols while you are travelling with us.

If you’re booked on a fly-cruise and/or have a City Stay, please refer to your airline/hotel for their latest protocols and travel advice. You can take a look at the government’s safer aviation guidance including how to travel safely in airports and on aircraft here.

Boarding your ship

Before your holiday can begin, we’ve enhanced our boarding procedures working with our partners in the ports. In the cruise terminal you will be required to wear a face mask and maintain social distancing, in accordance with all current guidelines.

All guests will need to provide proof of vaccination and the dates given, or in some cases proof of a negative PCR test. You can find full details of our COVID-19 vaccine and testing requirements here.

You will also be required to take a pre-departure COVID-19 test at the terminal/airport. This will be provided on a complimentary basis.

Cleanliness and care

We have always taken great pride in our standards of cleanliness on board. Our enhanced measures ensure all areas of the ship are even more thoroughly and regularly cleaned, with products which have proven effectiveness against COVID-19. There's also added hand sanitiser and hand washing facilities available throughout the ship, reduced occupandy to aid social distancing and guests are required to wear face masks in specific areas. You can find out more here.

All P&O Cruises ships are already fitted with HEPA air filtration in appropriate areas, but we've further enhanced existing filtration, further maximised fresh air circulation and also fitted ultraviolet light disinfection across all our ships. These ship-wide upgrades to on-board air systems are based on the latest indoor air quality guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), and the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE).

Eating and drinking

All of our restaurants and bars are open and we can’t wait to dazzle you with our tempting menus. From fine dining to a light lunch, stopping for ice cream or grabbing a slice of poolside pizza – there’s a world of variety on board. You will just need to pre-book a table in the restaurants or join a virtual queue while we prepare your table. This will also apply to the buffets and deck grills which will now be served by our team. You can dine with guests travelling in other cabins if you wish to but please note, shared tables will only be available when requested, otherwise you will have a table to yourself. 

Entertainment

One of the best things about a P&O Cruises holiday is the chance to be entertained around the clock. From theatre shows to live bands, you’ll find the show will go on! All of our entertainment venues will be open throughout your holiday, and while you will need to pre-book some performances, we’ll have plenty of show times to ensure you don’t miss out. To protect the well-being of everyone on board, our performances will be adapted so that artistes and audience adhere to the latest guidance.

Activities and leisure

All of your favourites – shops, spa, salon, gym, pools, casinos, activities and children’s clubs* are operating. Fancy a soothing spa treatment or a yoga class? A wander in the boutiques or a flutter in the casino? It’s all waiting for you. We have new measures in place to minimise contact, reduce the number of guests in each area and maintain the highest levels of cleanliness. Only activities or areas of the ship that would make social distancing difficult will not be in operation. For example, you can dance with someone you’re travelling with as part of a hosted dance class, however the dance floors in our lounge bars/night clubs will not be open. 

* Important information about the children's club

Children attending one of our children’s clubs will be allocated a cohort, with scheduled sessions they can attend throughout the cruise. Each child will attend the club with the same group of children and will only be able to attend the sessions scheduled for their cohort. Our numbers will be limited in the clubs at any one time, so we recommend registering on My P&O Cruises before your holiday to avoid disappointment. To register your child to use the children’s club, please complete the form here.  Please note, registration will be available from 15 days before your cruise. The nursery and night nursery will not be in operation. For children attending Splashers aged between two and four, we require one parent or guardian to supervise their child whilst using these facilities to protect their health and safety whilst on board. All children aged five years and above will be required to wear a face mask when using the children’s clubs and our teams will regularly encourage social distancing and regular hand washing

Your
accommodation

Your cabin steward will maintain the cleanliness and tidiness of your accommodation to our enhanced standards although we would ask that you are not in your cabin at the same time as the steward. We’re also introducing an enhanced in-cabin television service providing essential updates and an extended room service menu for you to enjoy as you relax in your cabin.

Seeing the sights
on shore

You can explore our amazing destinations and relax and roam, knowing every measure has been taken to protect your health and well-being. In all destinations we offer an incredible choice of experiences ashore. 

Guest will be able to go ashore independently but must adhere to the specific COVID-19 protocols in each destination. However, as restrictions in each destination are changeable, and some destinations may only allow cruise line organised experiences ashore, we highly recommend you purchase P&O Cruises shore experiences prior to travel to ensure you always have the option to explore each destination.We will arrange options for organised P&O Cruises shore experiences and health protocols such as social distancing, face masks and sanitising will be in place to protect the well-being of all guests and crew.

A-Z destination entry requirements guide

For information on the COVID-19 requirements for specific destinations, please see our A-Z destination requirements guide here. 

For your peace of mind, we will not visit a country on the UK government’s red list at the point of travel. 

We always do our best to visit all of the destinations on our itineraries but if for any reason we’re unable to visit, we will either spend an additional day in another port, add in a new port, or if neither is possible, you’ll get to enjoy an additional day at sea where you can soak up the charms of your ship as well as unbeatable sea views.

Time to go home –
Test and Trace

All guests will need to adhere to UK regulations after disembarking their ship, including completion of the Passenger Locator Form (PLF) to adhere to the UK government’s Test and Trace initiative. Local country initiatives may also apply at the time of sailing.

Solo travellers

Solo travellers are able to enjoy delicious dining, world-class entertainment and adventures ashore. We know solo travellers love to make friends on board and we’re pleased to say guests travelling alone are welcome to join others for dining and all hosted activities such as workshops, dance classes and shore experiences.