Code of conduct – ensuring your time on board feels special

Our policies explained

We have a few policies in place to ensure your time on board feels special. All guests are required to adhere to them and this will guarantee plain sailing, allowing you to simply get on with enjoying your holiday.

At all times while on board and during shore experiences, guests are expected to conduct themselves in an appropriate manner and with due regard to the health, safety and enjoyment of all other guests, crew and shore experience guides. Failure to comply with the code of conduct, disrespectful or offensive behaviour may result in individual guests or whole parties having their holiday terminated and having to make their way home at their own cost.

Guest safety and muster drills

It is mandatory for all guests to attend the guest safety and muster drill before sailing on embarkation day. Guests will need to bring along their cruise card to the guest safety and muster drill as the card will be scanned to confirm attendance. Due to the critical importance of your own safety, drills must be attended in a timely manner. Due attention must be given throughout and the use of mobile phones and consumption of alcohol is not permitted during the guest safety and muster drill.

Large groups

We understand that some guests are looking for a break that lets them mark a special occasion and whilst large groups are welcome, noise must be kept to a reasonable level in all venues and behaviour must not adversely affect other guests’ cruise experience. Inappropriate behaviour of any sort – including gestures, dress, stunts, practical jokes or language used – is not acceptable in the cruise terminal, during shore experiences or while on board the ship.

As previously mentioned, disrespectful or offensive behaviour may result in the termination of your holiday with any onward travel to be arranged at your own cost.

Dress code

Dressing up at night is one of the many highlights of your P&O Cruises holiday. We have two evening dress codes for guests aged 18 years and over from 6pm: ‘Evening Casual’ and ‘Black Tie’. The only exception to these are tropical nights on our Caribbean holidays and seasonal events such as Halloween and Christmas. And if you feel like keeping things casual, you’re free to wear more relaxed clothing in the buffet.

Evening Casual

After a busy day of exploring (or lazing by the pool), there’s plenty to look forward to on board. For Evening Casual nights, dress as you would for dinner in a nice restaurant; smart dark denim or trousers and a nice top, open-neck shirts, skirts and dresses (but no tracksuits, football shirts, shorts or trainers please).

Black Tie

Our Celebration Nights, or Black Tie nights, offer a chance to get dressed to the nines in glamorous evening wear. Don your favourite cocktail dress, tuxedo, ballgown or dinner jacket, or alternatively a dark business suit and tie. You may also wear formal national dress or military uniform.

Theme nights

Theme nights are great fun, though it’s up to you whether you’d like to dress up. From tropical nights to black and white nights, you can have a ball crafting your perfect outfit. If you decide not to dress in line with the theme, please follow the ship’s general dress code for that evening.

Children

For children aged 17 years and under, the dress code in the evening is Evening Casual, regardless of the adult dress code. We do ask for no denim on Black Tie nights please.

Fancy dress

We don’t want to dampen anyone’s fun, but fancy dress and novelty items or clothing are not permitted on our ships; the only exceptions to this are clothing for official P&O Cruises theme nights and seasonal events. Any clothing that features inappropriate or offensive language, including novelty clothing with printed images or slogans, will not be allowed on board. We reserve the right to deny embarkation to guests who are inappropriately dressed. This policy does not apply to children aged 17 or under.

Alcohol policy

We believe that responsible drinking is a valued and enjoyable part of a holiday. However, we ask that our policy for the responsible consumption of alcohol is adhered to at all times. We reserve the right to deny access to the ship to anyone who appears to be heavily under the influence of alcohol. We may also confiscate alcohol in the terminal and at the gangway. The age required to purchase or consume alcohol and tobacco on board is 18 years (21 years in the United States of America and UAE).

Each guest aged 18 years (21 years in United States of America and United Arab Emirates ports) and older may bring up to 1 litre of wine, Champagne, beer, spirit or liqueur on board as they embark the ship for the first time only. Alcohol over the 1 litre limit will be stored and returned to the guest prior to the end of the cruise.

Wine brought on board may be consumed in the bars or restaurants, but will be subject to a corkage fee of £25 per bottle*, per occasion which will be charged to the guest’s on-board account. Spirits, beer or liqueur brought on board can only be consumed in guests’ cabins.

All alcoholic beverages purchased mid-cruise in ports of call cannot be consumed on board. Guests will need to declare and hand over any alcohol bought in port at the gangway. It will be stored and returned to the guest prior to the end of the cruise, at no charge.

If a bottle of wine/Champagne has been bought for a guest through P&O Cruises gifts, guests will need to ensure they carry the gift card with them to avoid having the corkage charge applied to their on-board account.

On eligible cruises, guests are welcome to buy duty free alcohol to take home via the on-board shops. It will be stored until the end of their cruise.

Should guests wish to enjoy a drink in their cabin, they will be able to refer to the in-cabin directory which has a selection of spirits and wines which can be purchased by the bottle, as well as our extensively-stocked minibars in all cabins**.

The consumption and enjoyment of alcohol in a public area will always be subject to our responsible drinking policy. Bar staff may refuse service if a guest appears to be inebriated. Any offensive or unruly behaviour may result in individuals or the whole group being asked to leave the venue. Dangerous or violent behaviour is not acceptable and may result in individual guests or whole parties having their holiday terminated and having to make their way home at their own cost. Anyone under the age of 18 will not be served alcoholic beverages on board and must not be in possession of alcohol. Please don’t be offended if we ask you to verify your age.

It is prohibited to attempt to purchase alcohol for those under 18 in the bars and shops on board, although 16 and 17 year olds may be bought modest amounts of beer, cider or wine to drink with a meal in the restaurants when accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.

*Price subject to change

** The contents of your cabin may vary in accordance with enhanced health and well-being measures.