Joining and leaving your ship
Online check-in
You can check-in online ahead of your holiday via my.pocruises.com or by clicking the link in the email that you’ll receive. By checking in before departure day, you’ll spend less time in the terminal and start your holiday sooner. Online check-in opens 21 days before your holiday begins and closes 10pm GMT the day before your holiday. Here’s how to check-in online:
- Log in to my.pocruises.com using your name, date of birth and booking reference.
- Once logged in, you will need passport information, payment card details and passport-style photos for each person travelling to complete online check-in.
- If you have trouble uploading photos, your photo can be taken at the terminal. However, by uploading yours online, it will speed up your check-in process and avoid any delays at the terminal.
- Once you have completed online check-in and printed your boarding pass(es), you will need to print your luggage label(s). Printing your luggage label(s) and (s) in advance will make embarkation for your holiday even quicker and easier.
If you have flights booked for your holiday, you are still advised to follow the check-in process as detailed by your air carrier. Your boarding pass will show your embarkation time, so you know when to arrive at the terminal.
To find out more about the online check-in process, visit my.pocruises.com
Embarkation
You will be allocated an arrival time for embarkation on your boarding pass. To ensure we keep congestion and queues in the terminal to a minimum and get you on board as soon as possible, we kindly ask that you adhere as closely as possible to your allocated arrival time. If you are unsure of your arrival time, please go to my.pocruises.com to print out your boarding pass, or ask your travel agent for assistance. In the spirit of fairness, we will be giving priority to those who arrive at their allocated arrival time. As part of our Peninsular Club benefits, Suite and Ligurian tier guests will be automatically allocated the earliest possible arrival time. Baltic and Caribbean tier guests will be allocated the next early arrival time. If you are travelling on our official partner’s coach service, you may notice that your arrival time doesn’t match your coach’s arrival time. Don’t worry; in this case your coach’s arrival time will override the time on your boarding pass.
Flights
Flight prices
Flights from London are available on all our fly-cruise holidays. In addition, flights from a range of regional airports are available on selected cruises. The prices of our fly-cruise holidays include economy class flights for the day of embarkation/disembarkation as well as transfers between the overseas airport and the ship. The inclusive airport varies by cruise and departure date. For the latest airport availability and prices please call our Customer Contact Centre, consult our website or contact your travel agent.
All flights are subject to availability.
Your flight details
Flight times can be found on your My Cruise booking. Flight times are always subject to change. P&O Cruises has no control over changes airlines may make, but will inform you should these occur.
Pre-book your seat
Choose your preferred seat on selected Caribbean and Mediterranean charter flights. Seats on scheduled flights can usually be purchased through the airline’s own website. Some airlines require tickets to be issued before they allow you to pre-book seats. In most cases tickets are issued at D-60 days before departure. Call our Customer Contact Centre or your travel agent for more information. Alternatively most airlines allow you to check-in online 24 hours prior to departure, at which time seat reservations are usually free of charge, though this does vary by airline.
Caribbean fly-cruises
Flights are available from a range of UK airports, which vary by ship and cruise itinerary. Available airports may include: Belfast, Birmingham, Bournemouth, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Glasgow, London, Manchester and Newcastle.
Most airlines are able to cater for specific dietary needs and special meals for children and infants. If you have any such requirements, please let us know as soon as possible to ensure that your needs are passed to the airline and adequately catered for. Please note that not all requests can be guaranteed. Any request must be made no later than 48 hours prior to your flight departing.
Caribbean flight upgrades
On our charter flights we are pleased to be able to offer flight upgrades for an additional supplement. The benefits of upgrading vary by airline, but include the following:
- Increased baggage allowance~
- Increased seat pitch
- Priority check-in and fast-track (where available) through security at the UK airport
- Complimentary drinks (excluding Champagne and sparkling wine)
- Amenity kit on the outbound flight
Upgrades can be purchased at the time the cruise is booked, but are subject to availability and must be bought on a return basis (with the exception of transatlantic crossings). To book your premium economy seats, contact your travel agent, or call our Customer Contact Centre on 03453 555 111 (local call charges apply).
If, for any reason, the upgraded cabin is withdrawn from a particular flight, the upgrade supplement for that flight sector will be refunded in full. Supplements for seats in upgraded cabins are payable in addition to any applicable regional supplements.
~Please note that where the upgraded baggage allowance is greater than 23kg, the weight of each individual bag must not exceed 23kg for safe handling by our ships’ crew and airline baggage handlers, but your overall allowance can be spread over more than one bag.
Flights to/from Antigua and Barbados include complimentary in-flight meals.
The majority of our flights are on chartered aircraft. For this reason, the services offered may differ slightly from the airline’s standard service or from your own experience if you’ve previously flown with them. However, guests travelling in either economy or premium economy class can purchase airport lounge access with Holiday Extras via my.pocruises.com.
Mediterranean fly-cruises
We are pleased to be able to offer return flights from several UK air cities on all holidays which start and end in Valletta: Belfast, Birmingham, Bristol, East Midlands, Glasgow, London, Manchester and Newcastle.
For cruises between Valletta and Tenerife, flights are available from Belfast, Birmingham, Bristol, East Midlands, Glasgow, London, Manchester and Newcastle. We use a range of charter and scheduled carriers. If you want to extend your holiday to make the most of Malta, we can tailor your flights. All flights are subject to availability.
Most airlines do not include complimentary catering on their short-haul flights. You will be able to purchase snacks and refreshments on board the aircraft.
Canary Islands fly-cruises
We are pleased to be able to offer return flights from the following UK air cities on our Canary Island fly-cruise holidays: Belfast, Birmingham, Bristol, East Midlands, Glasgow, London, Manchester and Newcastle. Most airlines do not include complimentary catering on their short-haul flights. You will be able to purchase snacks and refreshments on board the aircraft.
Classic Southern Hemisphere Journeys and Exotic fly-cruises
As you are travelling further afield, we want to be as flexible as possible so you can make the most of your holiday. Our prices include flights from/to London for day of embarkation/disembarkation, but we also offer a Cruise Only option so that you’re able to make your own travel arrangements. Please note, there is no reduction in price between Flights Included and Cruise Only options.
Should you wish to extend your holiday and explore independently, we can book flights so you arrive early (or fly home later). You can book a stopover on selected routes, or if it better suits your travel plans, you can fly to/from an alternative air city. A supplement may apply.
Where flight schedules permit, we can offer flights from alternative UK airports – a supplement may apply.
Scheduled flight details and upgrades are available approximately 11 months prior to departure.
We’d recommend that you take our Flights and Transfers option to ensure that you arrive at the ship on time.
Tailored flight quotations
Please either contact your travel agent or call our Customer Contact Centre on 03453 555 111 (local call charges apply).
All flights
a) All flight times, air carriers and flight routings are subject to change. Flights will not necessarily be direct or non-stop. P&O Cruises has no control over changes airlines may make, but will inform you should these occur.
b) Full details of air travel arrangements will be available via my.pocruises.com as soon as they have been finalised.
c) When we charter aircraft from an airline we tailor the services offered for our guests, so these may differ from the airline’s advertised services.
d) P&O Cruises will determine the city airport e.g. for London: Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Luton or London City airports may be used. All services are sold subject to availability.
e) You may have to transfer, under your own arrangements, between London airports depending on flight allocations obtained by P&O Cruises.
f) Occasionally international flight timings necessitate a pre-/post-cruise overnight stay and included in your cruise fare is a hotel room in the international port of embarkation and disembarkation for the night before or after your cruise. This accommodation will not be assigned until 30 days prior to your sailing and for operational reasons will be subject to change right up until the date of your stay. Airport hotels may be used, avoiding long transfer times and allowing you the chance to rest before or after a long flight. You will not be eligible for compensation in the event of a change in hotel and our cancellation terms will apply as per the cruise Booking Conditions.
g) Airlines reserve the right to refuse travel on medical grounds. You must notify us of any medical or mobility requirements such as airport assistance (only available after check-in) or taking your own mobility aid. In addition to completing our medical and mobility questionnaire, you may be required to provide additional information directly to the airline in order that they can assess your fitness to fly. Several airlines are unable to carry passengers who require additional oxygen for medical reasons during part or all of the flight. Those airlines that can offer this service need to have advance notification to make the appropriate arrangements and you may need to pay for any additional costs.
h) In order to comply with Civil Aviation Authority regulations, you must advise us at the time of booking if you plan to carry an electrical mobility aid on board your flight(s). These include, but may not be limited to, electric wheelchairs, electric scooters and CPAP machines. Information you provide will be passed to the airline so that assessments can be made as to the safety of carrying the equipment on board the aircraft. The airline may require additional information directly from you in order to complete their assessment. Failure to follow this procedure may result in the electric mobility aid not being allowed on the aircraft.
i) On selected charter flights, specific seats can be purchased approximately 14 weeks prior to departure. You will be sent an email with details of how to book. Seat bookings close approximately 8 days prior to departure. All other seats will be allocated by the airline at check-in. When travelling on scheduled flights, it may be possible to pre-book seats subject to each airline’s policies, over which P&O Cruises has no control. Due to the configuration of the aircraft, it may not always be possible to obtain seats together.
j) Airlines have entered into codeshare agreements, so you may find that one or more of your flights is operated by one of their partner airlines. We will advise you if this is the case.
k) For long haul flights, if you have any special dietary requirements, including child meal requests, please advise us at the time of booking or at least 7 days prior to travel. We are unable to guarantee that all requests can be met.
l) Any amendment or cancellation made prior to departure will incur an administration fee of £20 per person plus any costs charged by the airline. Costs vary depending on the airline and the change(s) you want to make.
m) When you or your travel agent make a booking on one of our fly-cruise holidays, you may be offered the ‘Guaranteed Flight’ option, which means that you will have a confirmed booking, including flights, but the specific UK airport will be allocated at a later date. All people booked under the same booking reference in a single cabin will be allocated the same flights; however we may not be able to allocate the same flights to groups who have booked multiple cabins. Flights will be allocated to your booking at least 7 days prior to departure and the price you have been quoted will not change. We will do our best to allocate flights from your preferred UK airport, but we cannot guarantee this.
n) If for any reason, upgraded seats are withdrawn from a particular flight, any upgrade supplement paid for that flight sector will be refunded in full and no compensation will be offered.
o) Baggage allowances vary by airline, route and class. Details will be available to view via my.pocruises.com once all flights in your itinerary have been finalised. Excess baggage can be pre-purchased on some airlines. Please note that the weight of each bag must not exceed 23kg for safety and handling purposes.
p) To comply with immigration rules, you must ensure that the name on your booking matches the name in your passport. You will be responsible for all costs associated with failing to comply with this requirement, such as amendment charges. Please note, it is normal for some boarding passes to only include first and surnames.
q) If you choose to make your own travel arrangements to join your ship, any flights you take will not form part of the package provided by us and will not be covered by our ATOL protection. You will also need to ensure that you leave sufficient time in your itinerary to reach the cruise terminal by the check-in time stated on your e-ticket as our transfers will not be included.
r) Please visit your airline’s website for their most up-to-date travel policies and protocols.
Regional departures – please note
a) International flights from regional airports may be indirect. If a same day connection is not possible, the cost of overnight accommodation will be at your own expense.
b) Flights are offered subject to airline schedules available at the time of booking. Should subsequent schedule changes result in no regional service being available from a particular airport, no alternative transport will be provided.
c) Complimentry coach transfers are only available on embarkation day for cruises departing from Southampton or on disembarkation day for cruises arriving into Southampton. If you are extending your holiday and either flying out early or home later, then this service is not available.
d) Where domestic flights to/from Southampton do not connect with our sailing times, we can book flights on an alternative date. In this case, accommodation in Southampton is available to purchase through Holiday Extras via my.pocruises.com.
Parking at the airport
Details of airport parking facilities can be found and booked through Holiday Extras via my.pocruises.com.
One way fly-cruises
We offer a complimentary coach service between the airport and the port of Southampton on selected cruises. Please inform us or your travel agent at the time of booking if you wish to book this service – places are limited and must be booked in advance.
Whether you are sailing from Southampton or flying from the airport, you can park your car at the airport at the start of your holiday. On one-way fly-cruises sailing from Southampton, a coach will then take you directly from the airport to board your ship in Southampton and you’ll fly home following your cruise to find your car waiting. On one-way fly-cruises starting in the Caribbean, you’ll fly from the airport to board your ship and sail back to Southampton at the end of your holiday, transferring to a coach that takes you to the airport to collect your car. Car parking is at your own expense.
On one way fly-cruises sailing from Southampton, a coach will take you directly from the airport to board your ship in Southampton and you’ll fly home following your cruise to find your car waiting. The details of when and where the coach transfer will depart from will be viewable on your My P&O Cruises in the 'Full Itinerary View' tab approximately 30-35 days prior to departure as this is when the details are confirmed with the coach company.
On one way fly-cruises starting in the Caribbean, you’ll fly from the airport to board your ship and sail back to Southampton at the end of your holiday, transferring to a coach that takes you to the airport to collect your car. Full details of your transfer will be given to you once onboard the ship.
Please inform us or your travel agent at the time of booking if you wish to book this service – places are limited and must be booked in advance. You will be given instructions on how to join your coach prior to departure once onboard the ship. If you are booking your cruise through our website and wish to add the coach transfer, please contact our Customer Contact Centre once you have made your booking on 0344 338 8003 (local call charges apply).
These coach transfers are not available on our Exotic fly-cruises.
Delays
Delays to ships and flights, whilst rare, do occasionally occur. In such situations we liaise with the supplier of our services where appropriate, and will ensure your comfort during the course of any such delay. Depending on the particular circumstances, refreshments, meals and accommodation may be provided as appropriate, subject always to the facilities and services locally available. Our aim will always be to minimise the inconvenience of any delays.
Luggage
Sailings from/to Southampton
You can bring as many bags as you can comfortably fit into your cabin, but each item of luggage should weigh no more than 23kg for safety and handling purposes. If an item exceeds 23kg at embarkation you will be recalled to the terminal and asked to remove items or repack your bags. Your baggage may also be delayed at disembarkation if you exceed this limit. You may also wish to use our luggage courier service – see below for details.
Suit carriers
We would suggest you carry on your suit carrier to avoid any accidental damage during the loading process along conveyor belts where straps, handles or the bag itself may get caught and tear. Suit/dress carriers form part of your flight luggage allowance where applicable.
Coach transfers
Cruise Connect restrict passengers to a luggage allowance of two ‘medium’ cases weighing no more than 23kg per piece plus one item of hand luggage per person. For further details, visit my.pocruises.com, contact Cruise Connect directly on 0344 338 8690 (local call charges apply) or visit www.intercruises.com/cruiseconnect
Fly-cruises
On fly-cruises, both the charter and scheduled flight luggage restrictions vary, but are usually between 20kg and 23kg per person. Log into my.pocruises.com and visit the Flights page to view your air carrier baggage allowances. Please note that if your airline allowance is greater than 23kg, we ask that no individual item of luggage weighs more than 23kg, in order to be safely handled by the ship’s crew and airline baggage handlers.
Flights between Tenerife and Valletta
Whether you fly to Tenerife and fly home from Valletta, or vice versa, you must adhere to the luggage allowance on your Valletta flight, as the smaller aircraft is unable to carry more than the specified allowance. Once your flights have been confirmed, visit my.pocruises.com to view your airline baggage allowances.
Luggage courier service
For convenience, you may wish to arrange to have your luggage sent to the ship if you are departing from Southampton. The Baggage Handling Company offers a convenient service collecting your luggage from your home and transporting it to the port up to 96 hours before your cruise departs, so you don’t have to worry about your luggage until you reach your cabin. Safely sealed and stored in a secure facility before departure, the service guarantees complete peace of mind over the security of your luggage once in the possession of The Baggage Handling Company. On return from your holiday, you will be met by a representative in the terminal, who will reseal your luggage and return it to you on the date agreed. The service is available from £36 per bag each way, dependent on location.
To find out more or to book this service visit www.thebaggagehandlingcompany.com or call the P&O Cruises customer line on 0844 8094661. Calls cost 5p per minute plus your telephone company’s network access charge.
Sailing from Southampton
Coach travel
For sailings from Southampton, Cruise Connect offers coach transfers to and from your ship from 50 collection and drop-off points throughout the UK^. You can book a comfortable and spacious coach or privately hire from a range of different sized vehicles. The prices shown below apply to the lowest available price in each region. For applicable prices and to book, please contact the coach operator on 0344 338 8690 (local call charges apply) or visit www.intercruises.com/cruiseconnect†
Wales from £84 per person
Midlands from £80 per person
South East from £79 per person
North from £94 per person
Scotland from £145 per person
^Coach collection/drop-off point may not be central to town or city indicated. Service is subject to minimum numbers and Cruise Connect reserves the right to cancel the service 28 days prior to embarkation if deemed necessary. Cruise Connect is operated by Intercruises.
†Your contract will be with the coach service provider. Price shown applies to one departure point in each region.
Valet car parking
If you’re driving to your ship in Southampton, a full valet parking service is available at our home port. When you arrive, porters will be on hand to take care of your luggage while you check your car in with representatives from Cruise and Passenger Services Ltd. From that point on, their careful drivers will park your car for you, and it will be kept in a safe and secure car park until your return. Prices range from £9.50-£20◊ per day depending on the duration of your cruise. For full prices and to book, call 0345 071 3939 or visit www.cruiseparking.co.uk
For more information about parking in Southampton, click here.
◊Prices as at January 2020 and are subject to change.