0 Results
Filter By
Frequently Asked Questions
Access
Page 1 of 1
Filter By Close
Answer
If you or a member of your travelling party tests positive for COVID-19 during your cruise, we’ll take care of you
Similar to the protocols for all international travel, if you test positive for COVID-19 whilst on-board, you and your close contacts will need to isolate for your well-being and the well-being of other guests. We’ll help you move to a dedicated cabin with a balcony, where possible, and we’ll make sure you’re well looked after with full room service, a menu choice of three meals a day, free access to TV channels and laundry service. Our dedicated medical experts will also be on hand to take care of you as you cope with the symptoms of COVID-19. This will be for either the duration of the required isolation, until the next port of call, or until the scheduled port of disembarkation.
Any instances of positive tests on board will be managed by our on-board medical teams in conjunction with local port authority / Port Health requirements and protocols to determine the best course of action. The framework of protocols for cruise ships can differ slightly to those on land or to other forms of travel. Some ports may require guests and their close contacts who have tested positive to disembark their ship and continue their period of isolation ashore in that country.
If you’re required to disembark the ship, we’ll always work with the local authorities to secure the most appropriate accommodation for your period of isolation. In most instances, these will be pre-determined hotels which have been identified as ones able to accommodate positive cases of COVID-19. Our dedicated support team will help you to contact your travel insurance provider. However, if your insurance doesn’t cover your required disembarkation arrangements, we will organise and pay for your isolation stay and journey home*.
All UK resident guests who test positive for COVID-19 and are in isolation on their return to Southampton will be able to travel home to isolate after disembarkation. This can be in your own car (if you parked in Southampton) or via a private hire car which would be organised by us. We’d ask that you check with your insurance provider as they may reimburse for travel costs associated with a positive COVID-19 test. If your provider won’t cover the cost of the journey home, we’ll take care of it for you.
If you're required to isolate/quarantine, or in some cases disembark the ship, due to testing positive for COVID-19 during your holiday, you'll be given a non-refundable Future Cruise Credit (FCC) pro-rated for the duration of days lost from your booked holiday with P&O Cruises. This FCC (which for UK guests is not ABTA or ATOL protected) can be used on any new booking and is valid for two years from the date of issue.
*Per our booking conditions it is mandatory to have travel insurance with COVID-19 cover. If you unfortunately test positive during your holiday, you should let your insurance company know immediately and keep them updated throughout your period of isolation. If you’re required to disembark the ship, we will look after you by providing all of the following free of charge: calls from the ship to your insurance provider to let them know of your disembarkation (and we will work with them to support any claims), hotel accommodation with standard meals, non-alcoholic drinks during the period of isolation, flights from the isolation destination to your country of residence, and associated airport transfers.
Answer
No, From 4am on 11th February, guests arriving in the UK will no longer require a COVID-19 test upon arrival.
To ensure you are compliant with the UK Government’s guidance on re-entering the UK, please check the latest guidance here.
Answer
For information on the COVID-19 requirements for specific destinations that you are travelling to, please see our A-Z destination requirements guide here.
Please note this is an ever-changing situation and we will do all we can to keep you updated if or when any of this information changes. This guide is updated weekly.
Answer
For information on the COVID-19 requirements for specific destinations that you are travelling to, please see our A-Z destination requirements guide here.
Please note this is an ever-changing situation and we will do all we can to keep you updated if or when any of this information changes. This guide is updated weekly.
Answer
Unfortunately, we are unable to accept guests who test positive for COVID-19 or are self-isolating within 14 days of travel and there is no exception to this policy.
Answer
All holidays departing from 1 May 2022 are for all guests (not just UK resident guests).
Answer
Guests are permitted to go on back to back sailings on different ships. As the guests will need to change ship and terminal, these must be treated as two individual holidays and therefore guests will be required to take a COVID-19 lateral flow/antigen test and complete the health declaration before both cruises.
Answer
All guests aged 12 years and over need to be fully vaccinated* with an approved COVID-19 vaccine a minimum of 14 days prior to travel. For guests aged 16 years and over, if more than 270 days (calculated from the last day of the cruise) have passed since the full completion of a vaccination course, a booster vaccine will also be needed and must be administered a minimum of seven days prior to travel. Guests under 12 years of age are exempt from vaccination.
There are currently no exemptions to this vaccination policy.
We will continue to review this on a regular basis as the global situation continues to evolve.
*The definition of ‘fully vaccinated’ is having completed a two-dose COVID-19 vaccination course or single-dose Janssen COVID-19 vaccine (plus a booster if applicable) approved by the MHRA, EMA or WHO EUL.
Answer
All guests aged 12 years and over need to be fully vaccinated* with an approved COVID-19 vaccine a minimum of 14 days prior to travel. For guests aged 16 years and over, if more than 270 days (calculated from the last day of the cruise) have passed since the full completion of a vaccination course, a booster vaccine will also be needed and must be administered a minimum of seven days prior to travel. Guests under 12 years of age are exempt from vaccination.
There are currently no exemptions to this vaccination policy.
We will continue to review this on a regular basis as the global situation continues to evolve.
*The definition of ‘fully vaccinated’ is having completed a two-dose COVID-19 vaccination course or single-dose Janssen COVID-19 vaccine (plus a booster if applicable) approved by the MHRA, EMA or WHO EUL.
Answer
All guests aged 16 years and over need to be fully vaccinated* with an approved COVID-19 vaccine a minimum of 14 days prior to travel. If more than 270 days (calculated from the last day of the cruise) have passed since the full completion of a vaccination course, a booster vaccine will also be needed and must be administered a minimum of seven days prior to travel.
At this time, a second booster vaccination is not required, however, we strongly recommend all guests to have booster vaccinations at the earliest opportunity, should they be available to them, in order to comply with evolving vaccine policies from the countries we visit.
All guests aged 12 to 15 years need to be fully vaccinated* with an approved COVID-19 vaccine a minimum of 14 days prior to travel. A booster vaccine is not required.
Guests aged five to 11 years need to be fully vaccinated* with an approved COVID-19 vaccine at least 14 days prior to travel (a booster vaccine is not required) or must provide two negative COVID‑19 test results prior to sailing.
Guests under five years of age are exempt from pre-travel vaccination and testing.
*The definition of ‘fully vaccinated’ is having completed an approved (by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), European Medicines Agency (EMA) or the World Health Organization’s Emergency Use Listing (WHO EUL)) two-dose COVID‑19 vaccination course, or the approved single-dose Janssen COVID‑19 vaccine (plus a booster if applicable).
Answer
If you are unlikely to meet the vaccine policy at time of departure, please refer to our flexible booking options.
Answer
These have been developed with guidance from our global medical and public health experts and scientists and in close coordination with UK government agencies.
Answer
It is mandatory for all UK guests to take out comprehensive travel insurance for their holiday with us and it is essential that you let your insurer know you are taking a cruise holiday. Your policy must include medical cover of £2 million minimum and cover for emergency evacuations and medical expenses related to COVID-19. You must also ensure your policy includes cover for repatriation, cancellation and curtailment and full cover for any and all pre-existing medical conditions worldwide, or as a minimum, in the countries you are due to visit.
You will be asked to confirm you have travel insurance at the terminal and you may need to provide proof of your policy. Unfortunately you will be denied boarding, at your own expense, if you have not arranged insurance. P&O Cruises has partnered with Holiday Extras to offer appropriate, comprehensive travel insurance cover for our holidays. To find out more, visit www.holidayextras.com/pocruises or phone 0800 093 3070 and quote PAOHX. Holiday Extras offer three levels of cover to choose from: bronze, silver and gold. All of these available options meet our minimum requirements for travel insurance.
Answer
It is understood that those with certain pre-existing medical conditions or of a certain age may experience more severe symptoms should they contract COVID-19 (coronavirus). We strongly recommend that you review the UK government guidance prior to making travel arrangements; this can be found at:
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/people-at-higher-risk/whos-at-higher-risk-from-coronavirus/
Unfortunately we will be unable to accept guests who require supplementary oxygen, medical ventilatory support or dialysis.
We are so sorry to have to make this change, but we need to follow new industry procedures for the protection of everyone on board. If you are unsure or have concerns, we’ve produced a medical advisory note for you to discuss with your GP.
Supplementary oxygen (including via oxygen concentrator) – To comply with health and safety regulations there is a limit on board for how much oxygen we can store. Unfortunately as we will be increasing our own supply of oxygen on board, we will be unable to carry additional supplies for individual guests.
Mechanical ventilatory support (except for overnight CPAP for sleep apnoea, guests who only require overnight CPAP for sleep apnoea can travel) – The mechanical ventilators that we hold in the medical centres on board need to be retained for medical centre use, therefore we would not be able to support if the guest’s equipment fails.
Dialysis – This requirement presents a time critical need for treatment. If we are not able to access replacement dialysis equipment/fluids this brings about a significant risk to the guest.
If you have any existing medical conditions, we advise you to discuss your travel plans with your doctor.
Answer
These protocols will be in place until government guidance changes and we will adapt and evolve accordingly. We'll keep this page up to date with the latest guidance. We will update this website page as necessary and update all guests prior to their holiday departure date of any changes.
Please do ensure that your preferences and details are up to date in My Account.
Answer
Guests 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 may be in place to protect the well-being of all guests and crew.
Answer
Whilst we highly recommend that guests wear masks on board, they are only required in the theatre, cinema, or if you visit the medical centre. Your mask must cover your nose and mouth and be of a good quality (ideally medical grade). Re-usable masks should be washed regularly, and visors and face shields aren’t accepted as a substitute for a face mask.
Off the ship, masks are required during embarkation, disembarkation and when using tender boats*. Some destinations may also require you to wear masks when ashore and we recommend taking one with you whenever you disembark the ship.
Please note that visors and face shields will not be accepted as a substitute for a face mask.
Answer
If you have a booking and no longer wish to travel due to the changes on board, normal cancellation terms apply. If you wish to transfer your booking, you can do so using our flexible transfer policy if outside of the balance due date. As published, our protocols are evolving with the aim of protecting the wellbeing of all crew, guests and at the destinations we visit.
Answer
The protocols on board will be clearly set out, easy to follow and are for the protection of all guests and crew.
These have been developed with guidance from our global medical and public health experts and scientists and in close coordination with UK government agencies.
Answer
You must complete a Health Declaration between one and three days before your holiday via My P&O Cruises and present this at the terminal (this can be printed or via your mobile). All guests will receive an email to confirm their status as to whether or not they can travel.
Answer
The FCC can be used on any new P&O Cruises booking made, and will be valid for 2 years from the date of issue.
Answer
For guests travelling from Southampton
Terminal checklist
You must have the following items with you when you arrive at the terminal:
· Evidence of COVID-19 vaccination status (up-to-date NHS Covid Pass or valid vaccination certificates issued by your local health authority)
· Evidence of travel insurance
· Passport
· Boarding pass or travel documents
· Negative lateral flow/antigen test certificate for all guests aged five years and above
For guests travelling on a Mediterranean fly-cruise holiday
Airport checklist
You must have the following items with you when you arrive at the airport to fly to Malta:
· Passport
· Ship e-ticket downloaded from My P&O Cruises
· Evidence of COVID-19 vaccination status (up-to-date NHS Covid Pass or valid vaccination certificates issued by your local health authority)
· Negative lateral flow/antigen test certificate for all guests aged five years and above
· Negative PCR test certificate for unvaccinated children aged between 5 and 11 years old
· Evidence of valid travel insurance
Answer
There will be a P&O cruises representative on hand at the terminal to support any guests who are denied boarding, however for any costs incurred you will need to contact your travel insurance provider as these will be at your own expense.
Answer
To travel please ensure that the name detailed on your booking, passport and the one registered against your vaccination is the same. If this is not possible as you have perhaps recently got married or changed your name by deed poll, please bring your marriage certificate / deed poll document as evidence of your name change.
Answer
Yes. If you have been a participant in a vaccine trial you are eligible to sail with us. You will need to show your letter sent to you by the Chief Investigator of each trial that confirms you were part of the vaccine trials. The UK Government have advised that these letters are currently being distributed to all participants in advance of the NHS app being updated by the end of July.
Answer
Regardless of Port of embarkation, all guests aged 12 years and over must have completed an approved (by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), European Medicines Agency (EMA) or the World Health Organization’s Emergency Use Listing (WHO EUL)) two-dose COVID‑19 vaccination course, or the approved single-dose Janssen COVID‑19 vaccine, at least 14 days prior to travel.
Currently approved vaccines are:
· Comirnaty (Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine)
· Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine, including formulations Vaxzevria or Covishield
· Moderna (Spikevax ) vaccine, including formulation Moderna Takeda
· Janssen vaccine
· Sinovac
· Sinopharm Beijing
· Covaxin
· Nuvaxovid (Novavax)
For guests aged 16 years and over, if more than 270 days (calculated from the last day of the cruise) have passed since the full completion of a vaccination course, a booster vaccine will also be needed and must be administered a minimum of seven days prior to travel.
At this time, a second booster vaccination is not required, however, we strongly recommend all guests to have booster vaccinations at the earliest opportunity, should they be available to them, in order to comply with evolving vaccine policies from the countries we visit.
Guests who travel internationally are responsible to ensure that they meet all entry requirements to travel from their home country and the destinations they plan to visit, including where health authorities may require pre-travel COVID-19 testing. If you embark the ship at a port outside of the UK, please ensure that you meet all entry requirements for that country at the time of sailing.
Details continue to be updated regularly; official websites and apps developed by government agencies and tourism ministries are the recommended resources.
We cannot accept responsibility if you are denied entry to a country because you do not meet its entry requirements and or, you are required to quarantine.
Answer
Regardless of Port of embarkation, we will accept ‘Covishield by Serum Institute of India’, the batch of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine manufactured in India.
However, Guests who travel internationally are responsible to ensure that they meet all entry requirements to travel from their home country and the destinations they plan to visit, including where health authorities may require pre-travel COVID-19 testing. If you embark the ship at a port outside of the UK, please ensure that you meet all entry requirements for that country at the time of sailing.
Details continue to be updated regularly; official websites and apps developed by government agencies and tourism ministries are the recommended resources.
We cannot accept responsibility if you are denied entry to a country because you do not meet its entry requirements and or, you are required to quarantine.
Answer
NHS tests are not recognised for any border entry requirements. Our government approved third-party tests, will be available to purchase on board, at a cost of £18 per antigen test per person and £25 per PCR test per person.
If you wish to bring your own test, as per the government website, you will need to find a private test provider for this test. For more information, please see here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-testing-for-people-travelling-to-england
Answer
Rest assured our focus is always to protect the health and well-being of our guests, crew, and the communities we visit and we are actively monitoring any reported cases as we continue to have a vaccination and testing policy in place and our crew undergo regular testing whilst on board.
Answer
Any instances of positive tests on board will be managed by our on-board medical teams in conjunction with local port authority / Port Health requirements and protocols to determine the best course of action. The framework of protocols for cruise ships can differ slightly to those on land or to other forms of travel. Some ports may require guests and their close contacts who have tested positive to disembark their ship and continue their period of isolation ashore in that country.
If you’re required to disembark the ship, we’ll always work with the local authorities to secure the most appropriate accommodation for your period of isolation. In most instances, these will be pre-determined hotels which have been identified as ones able to accommodate positive cases of COVID-19. Our dedicated support team will help you to contact your travel insurance provider. However, if your insurance doesn’t cover your required disembarkation arrangements, we will organise and pay for your isolation stay and journey home*.
All UK resident guests who test positive for COVID-19 and are in isolation on their return to Southampton will be able to travel home to isolate after disembarkation. This can be in your own car (if you parked in Southampton) or via a private hire car which would be organised by us. We’d ask that you check with your insurance provider as they may reimburse for travel costs associated with a positive COVID-19 test. If your provider won’t cover the cost of the journey home, we’ll take care of it for you.
If you're required to isolate/quarantine, or in some cases disembark the ship, due to testing positive for COVID-19 during your holiday, you'll be given a non-refundable Future Cruise Credit (FCC) pro-rated for the duration of days lost from your booked holiday with P&O Cruises. This FCC (which for UK guests is not ABTA or ATOL protected) can be used on any new booking and is valid for two years from the date of issue.
*Per our booking conditions it is mandatory to have travel insurance with COVID-19 cover. If you unfortunately test positive during your holiday, you should let your insurance company know immediately and keep them updated throughout your period of isolation. If you’re required to disembark the ship, we will look after you by providing all of the following free of charge: calls from the ship to your insurance provider to let them know of your disembarkation (and we will work with them to support any claims), hotel accommodation with standard meals, non-alcoholic drinks during the period of isolation, flights from the isolation destination to your country of residence, and associated airport transfers.
Answer
All UK resident guests who test positive for COVID-19 and are in isolation on their return to Southampton will be able to travel home to isolate after disembarkation. This can be in your own car (if you parked in Southampton) or via a private hire car which would be organised by us. We’d ask that you check with your insurance provider as they may reimburse for travel costs associated with a positive COVID-19 test. If your provider won’t cover the cost of the journey home, we’ll take care of it for you.
For international cruises which end in Barbados or Malta for example guests would be required to isolate in an approved hotel until they have completed the specified quarantine period and are certified fit to fly home.
Answer
To read CLIA's latest statement (issued 30 December 2021), please click here.
Answer
All of our adult guests and crew are fully vaccinated and tested.
In addition crew undergo regular testing during their time on board.
Our top priority is compliance, environmental protection and the health, safety and well-being of our guests, crew members, shoreside employees and the people in the places we touch.
Answer
This would not be accepted. Evidence of previous infection is not currently accepted in lieu of full course of vaccination. All guests must meet our vaccination policy and have a negative test before sailing.
Answer
For guests travelling from Southampton
Pre-cruise checklist
Please remember to do the following before you travel:
• Check your details are up to date in My P&O Cruises
• Link your booking with your travelling group (if relevant)
• Obtain evidence of your COVID-19 vaccination status (up-to-date NHS COVID-19 Pass or valid vaccination certificates issued by your local health authority)
• Organise and pay for a COVID-19 lateral flow/antigen test for all guests aged five years and above (NHS tests are not accepted). The negative antigen test certificate must be presented at the terminal
• Arrange appropriate travel insurance and have proof of your policy
• Pre-book on-board activities in My P&O Cruises
• Complete the Health Declaration in My P&O Cruises between one and three days before your holiday
• Check the entry requirements for your itinerary (including any passenger locator forms to complete)
• Print e-tickets, boarding passes and luggage labels
• Pack face masks and hand sanitiser
• Pack black tie evening wear for Celebration Night
For guests travelling on a Mediterranean fly-cruise holiday
Pre-cruise checklist
Please remember to do the following before you travel:
· Check your details are up to date in My P&O Cruises
· Link your booking with your travelling group (if relevant)
• Arrange evidence of your COVID-19 vaccination status (up-to-date NHS COVID-19 Pass or valid vaccination certificates issued by your local health authority)
· Organise appropriate travel insurance and have proof of your policy
· Organise and pay for a COVID-19 lateral flow/antigen test for all guests aged five years and above (NHS tests are not accepted). The negative antigen test certificate must be presented at the terminal
· Organise and pay for a COVID-19 PCR test for all unvaccinated children aged between five and 11 years old (NHS tests are not accepted). The negative PCR test certificate must be presented at the terminal
· Pre-book on-board activities in My P&O Cruises
· Complete the Health Declaration in My P&O Cruises between one and three days before your holiday
• Check the entry requirements for your itinerary (including any passenger locator forms to complete)
· Print e-tickets, boarding passes and luggage labels
· Pack face masks and hand sanitiser
· Pack black tie evening wear for Celebration Night
Answer
From 4am on 18 March, guests arriving into the UK won’t have to complete a UK passenger locator form anymore.
Answer
Vaccine policy:
All guests aged 16 years and over need to be fully vaccinated* with an approved COVID-19 vaccine a minimum of 14 days prior to travel. If more than 270 days (calculated from the last day of the cruise) have passed since the full completion of a vaccination course, a booster vaccine will also be needed and must be administered a minimum of seven days prior to travel.
At this time, a second booster vaccination is not required, however, we strongly recommend all guests to have booster vaccinations at the earliest opportunity, should they be available to them, in order to comply with evolving vaccine policies from the countries we visit.
All guests aged 12 to 15 years need to be fully vaccinated* with an approved COVID-19 vaccine a minimum of 14 days prior to travel. A booster vaccine is not required.
Guests aged five to 11 years need to be fully vaccinated* with an approved COVID-19 vaccine at least 14 days prior to travel (a booster vaccine is not required) or must provide two negative COVID‑19 test results prior to sailing (see testing requirements below).
Guests under five years of age are exempt from pre-travel vaccination and testing.
*The definition of ‘fully vaccinated’ is having completed an approved (by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), European Medicines Agency (EMA) or the World Health Organization’s Emergency Use Listing (WHO EUL)) two-dose COVID‑19 vaccination course, or the approved single-dose Janssen COVID‑19 vaccine (plus a booster if applicable).
Fly-Mediterranean – testing policy:
From 29 April 2022 onwards:
To embark the ship in Malta, all guests aged five years and over will need to organise and pay for a private lateral flow/antigen test, to be taken within one day prior to embarkation of the ship (NHS tests will not be accepted). Guests will need to present their valid negative antigen test certificate, often referred to as a ‘fit to fly’ certificate, at the ship's terminal in Malta and, for those flying into Malta on our TUI charter flight, at the UK airport check-in desk.
In addition to the above lateral flow/antigen test, all unvaccinated guests aged five to 11 years will also be required to have a negative PCR test, organised and paid for by the guest, taken within 72 hours prior to arrival in Malta; the negative PCR certificate must be presented at the airport. This is an entry requirement for Malta.
Our vaccination and testing policy is reviewed on a regular basis as the global situation continues to evolve. The vaccination policy may be changed or enhanced for specific cruises at any time. In this instance, impacted guests will be contacted directly. At the time of travel, some ports may stipulate specific vaccine or testing policies for guests going ashore that differ from this policy.
Answer
Guests must meet all travel requirements communicated prior to their holiday. Guests that are unable to provide proof of vaccination status and a valid negative antigen test certificate (and PCR if applicable) will unfortunately be denied boarding.
Answer
In order to comply with the P&O Cruises Fly-Mediterranean testing policy, all unvaccinated guests aged between five and 11 years old will need to organise and pay for a private lateral flow/antigen test within one day prior to embarkation. To meet the Malta entry requirements, these unvaccinated guests must also organise and pay for a private PCR test within 72 hours prior to arrival in Malta.
Answer
No - All guests aged five years and over will need to organise and pay for a private lateral flow/antigen test. You can order your lateral flow/antigen test kit online through any government approved testing provider in advance. You will need to take the test at home within one day prior to embarkation of the ship. This test doesn’t need to be medically observed. Guests will need to submit their negative result online to their chosen testing provider and will then be sent a ‘fit to fly’ certificate within a couple of hours. Please note, NHS tests will not be accepted. To help, we’ve listed a few suppliers below (subject to availability).
Prenetics: www.projectscreen.co.uk
Collinsons: www.collinsongroup.com/en/covid-19-testing
Randox: covid.randox.com
Express Test: www.expresstest.co.uk/book-a-test/
Alternatively, guests can book an in-person test if they so wish, taken within one day prior to travel.
Guests will need to present their negative fit to fly/travel certificate at the ship’s terminal.
Answer
All guests aged five years and over will need to organise and pay for a private lateral flow/antigen test, to be taken within one day prior to embarkation of the ship (NHS tests will not be accepted). Guests will need to present their valid negative antigen test certificate, often referred to as a ‘fit to fly’ certificate, at the ship's terminal. This means the lateral flow/antigen test can be taken at any time during the day before or day of embarkation of the ship.
Answer
For guests aged 16 years and over, if more than 270 days (calculated from the last day of the cruise) have passed since the full completion of a vaccination course, a booster vaccine will also be needed and must be administered a minimum of seven days prior to travel. At this time, a second booster vaccination is not required, however, we strongly recommend all guests to have booster vaccinations at the earliest opportunity, should they be available to them, in order to comply with evolving vaccine policies from the countries we visit. We will continue to review our vaccination policy on a regular basis as the global situation continues to evolve.
Answer
All guests aged five years and over will need to organise and pay for a private lateral flow/antigen test. You can order your lateral flow/antigen test kit online through any government approved testing provider in advance. You will need to take the test at home within one day prior to embarkation of the ship. This test doesn’t need to be medically observed. Guests will need to submit their negative result online to their chosen testing provider and will then be sent a ‘fit to fly’ certificate within a couple of hours. Please note, NHS tests will not be accepted. To help, we’ve listed a few suppliers below (subject to availability).
Prenetics: www.projectscreen.co.uk
Collinsons: www.collinsongroup.com/en/covid-19-testing
Randox: covid.randox.com
Express Test: www.expresstest.co.uk/book-a-test/
Alternatively, guests can book an in-person test if they so wish, taken within one day prior to travel. Here’s a couple of in-person testing suppliers based in Southampton (subject to availability):
Express Test: Southampton Eastleigh Drive Through Antigen Lateral Flow | ExpressTest
The Regenerative Clinic: Southampton Covid-19 Testing (theregenerativeclinic.co.uk)
Guests will need to present their negative fit to fly/travel certificate at the ship’s terminal.
Answer
Guests may be required to take a complimentary lateral flow/antigen test whilst on board at the end of their first cruise. Guests will be informed during their first cruise if a test is required.
If a test is required, guests will be permitted to remain on board once they receive a negative test result. Guests who test positive for COVID-19 will be denied boarding on the next cruise. If you’re denied boarding, yourself and any guests travelling from your household will be given a non-refundable Future Cruise Credit to the value of your holiday (which is not ABTA or ATOL protected). This can be used on any new P&O Cruises booking, valid for two years from the date of issue, and any pre-cruise purchases made through My P&O Cruises will be refunded.
Answer
There is no need to disembark if you are doing back to back cruises. Simply visit Reception to re-register and activate your on board account for the second cruise.
You can of course, disembark in Southampton should you wish, to take in the sights or do a little shopping before returning to the ship and setting sail on your second cruise.
You should collect your new cruise card from Reception on board the ship first, and ensure you show this at the cruise terminal once you return. You will still be required to go through a security check every time you board.
In the interests of safety on board, you will be asked to attend both muster drills at the beginning of each cruise.
International Ports
If the embark/debark port is overseas, some ports require a face to face Immigration Inspection. These will either be conducted on board the ship or ashore, details of this will be provided once you are on board and are subject to operational requirements.
US Ports
All guests must disembark regardless of Nationality and whether they are In-transit or not, to pass through the Immigration and Customs Inspection with CBP (Customs and Border Protection). CBP relates to US cruises only.
The zero count, requiring everyone to disembark is a CBP requirement.
Answer
Any luggage that has been left on board will be landed in Southampton at the end of the cruise and then transferred to the Baggage Handling Company in Southampton, where it will be safely stored in their warehouse until further notice.
To arrange delivery or collection please contact 02380 873111 between 8.00am-6.00pm or alternatively, you can email: info@thebaggagehandlingcompany.com.
Please note, delivery charges are the responsibility of the guest.
Answer
As soon as you are aware of the problem, please report it to a member of staff, either on board or at the cruise terminal so that you may obtain a damage report. This should then be submitted to your travel insurance company.
Answer
If your car is parked at Cruise and Passenger Services, please contact them directly to arrange a convenient time for collection.
CPS - 0345 071 3939
info@cruiseparking.co.uk
If you are unable to collect your car on your original disembarkation date, please be reassured that your car will be safely stored in the car park until you are able to make further arrangements.
Answer
We do not arrange transfers between the different terminals in Southampton. If you have arranged car parking with Cruise & Passenger Services, they will deliver your car to the terminal you are returning to.
Answer In the Cruise Terminal
On-Board
On your final night on-board you will be asked to pack your luggage and leave it outside your cabin.
We recommend that you do not pack valuables, fragile items and medication. Your luggage will be taken from outside your cabin and will be waiting for you to identify and reclaim in the cruise terminal.
In the Cruise Terminal
Arriving into Southampton:
Your luggage will then be transferred ashore and will be placed in deck order making it easy to locate. There will be porters available to assist you and there will also be trolleys for you to use.
When travelling on a back to back cruise:
The Deck Manager will co-ordinate with you and provide assistance to move your luggage from one cabin to another. Your clothes from the wardrobe are transferred on a clothes rail so that there is no hassle of packing and unpacking.
Fly-Cruises
If you are travelling on one of our fly-cruises, please visit the question - On a fly-cruise how do I get my baggage between the aircraft and the ship?
Answer
We do not offer this service however, you can contact a courier and make your arrangements directly through them.
If you are doing part of a World Cruise please see question: Can I pre board my luggage? or Can I leave my luggage on board if I am doing part of a world voyage?
Answer
Yes, by logging into 'Your Account' you can regularly check on your points or total nights spent on board.
It is not possible to register an email address more than once on the site, for example if a husband and wife share an email address they will only be able to register online using one of their Unique Reference Numbers.
Once signed in by clicking on 'Your Cruises' you will see a list of P&O Cruises taken, your points total and tier level.
Answer
The loyalty scheme for P&O Cruises is the P&O Cruises Peninsular Club.
Membership of the Peninsular Club is automatically granted once you have accumulated the entry requirement of 150 points.
Guests are able to check their loyalty level by logging into "My Account" you can regularly check on your points or total nights spent on board.
It is not possible to register an email address more than once on the site, for example if a husband and wife share an email address they will only be able to register online using one of their Unique Reference Numbers.
Once signed in by clicking on "Your Cruises" you will see a list of P&O Cruises taken, your points total and tier level.
Your membership number (also known as your URN or Unique Reference Number) consists of two letters, five numbers and one letter at the end eg, FA00000A. Your membership number will be quoted at the top of any mailings that we send. When logging in online (https://www.pocruises.com/myaccount/) membership number will be displayed under "manage your details".
If you are unable to locate this number please contact us on 0345 355 5111 (local call charges apply) with your full name (as per passport) and your full address.
Duplicate membership numbers can occur when your membership number has not been applied when making future bookings and the system will automatically generate a new membership number.
This could result in your benefits not being received on board and your cruise history will be incomplete. Please ensure you always quote your membership number at the time of booking, if booking with a Travel Agent ensure you ask for your membership number to be applied to your booking. If you do notice that you have two membership numbers please call our Contact Centre who will be more then happy to assist you.
| Tier Name | Points Threshold | Benefits of Tier |
| Pacific | 150 - 500 points | Peninsular Club Magazine Dedicated hotline - 0345 3 576 969 (local call charges apply) Exclusive cruise discounts of 5% (on selected Peninsular Club cruises) 5% on-board spend discount Dedicated Loyalty Manager Gifts for guests under 17 |
| Atlantic | 501 - 1000 points | Peninsular Club Magazine Dedicated hotline - 0345 3 576 969 (local call charges apply) Exclusive cruise discounts of 5% (on selected Peninsular Club cruises) 7.5% on-board spend discount Dedicated Loyalty Manager Gifts for guests under 17 Glass of Champagne Lapel pin |
| Mediterranean | 1001 - 2000 points | Peninsular Club Magazine / Dedicated hotline 0345 3 576 969 (local call charges apply) Exclusive cruise discounts of 5% (on selected Peninsular Club cruises) 8.5% on-board spend discount Dedicated Loyalty Manager Gifts for guests under 17 Glass of Champagne Cocktail party (on cruises of 8 nights or more) P&O Cruises slippers Lapel pin |
| Caribbean | 2001+ points | Peninsular Club Magazine Dedicated hotline - 0345 3 576 969 (local call charges apply) Exclusive cruise discounts of 5% (on selected Peninsular Club cruises) 10% discount on bespoke P&O Cruises travel insurance Priority booking during launch Annual gift Priority arrival time allocation Priority check-in Welcome on board reception 10% on-board spend discount Dedicated Loyalty Manager Gifts for guests under 17 Glass of Champagne A complimentary half bottle of Champagne (per cabin) Officer-hosted fine dining event (on cruises of 8 nights or more) Cocktail party (on cruises of 8 nights or more) P&O Cruises slippers Lapel pin |
| Baltic | 2501+ points plus 80-200 nights spent on board in the three years preceding the start of their next cruise |
Peninsular Club Magazine Dedicated hotline - 0345 3 576 969 (local call charges apply) Exclusive cruise discounts of 5% (on selected Peninsular Club cruises) 10% discount on bespoke P&O Cruises travel insurance Priority booking during launch Priority disembarkation Priority to book preferred seats on Caribbean fly-cruise flights Annual gift 10% on-board spend discount Dedicated Loyalty Manager Gifts for guests under 17 Glass of Champagne A complimentary half bottle of Champagne (per cabin) Officer-hosted fine dining event (on cruises of 8 nights or more) 50% discount on machine washable laundry Cocktail party (on cruises of 8 nights or more) P&O Cruises slippers Lapel pin |
| Ligurian | 2501+ points plus 201 or more nights spent on board in the three years preceding the start of their next cruise |
Peninsular Club Magazine Dedicated hotline - 0345 3 576 969 (local call charges apply) Exclusive cruise discounts of 5% (on selected Peninsular Club cruises) 10% discount on bespoke P&O Cruises travel insurance Priority booking Priority to book preferred seats on Caribbean fly-cruise flights Invitations to events Annual gift Priority arrival time allocation Priority check-in/ Hospitality lounge Welcome on board reception Priority disembarkation 10% on-board spend discount Dedicated loyalty manager Gifts for guests under 17 Glass of Champagne A complimentary half bottle of Champagne (per cabin) Officer-hosted fine dining event (on cruises of 8 nights or more) 50% discount on machine washable laundry Complimentary formal attire pressing Cocktail party (on cruises of 8 nights or more) P&O Cruises slippers Lapel pin |
Benefits
The P&O Cruises Peninsular Club benefits can be found on our dedicated Loyalty page.
Please note that gift credit is deducted from on board account totals, prior to any applicable Peninsular Club discount.
For example: If you on board account total is £150 and you have £50 gift credit available, the Peninsular Club discount will be deducted from the remaining £100.
World Cruise
On a World Cruise members will receive one of each of their entitled benefits for the total duration of their time on the cruise and not per sector.
At the end of each financial sector, your loyalty tier will be recalculated and your benefits updated if applicable.
Loyalty/Peninsular Club Discount Queries
If the guest is entitled to a loyalty discount, please advise the guest the refund will be credited back to the card they settled their on board account with within 4-6 weeks. To request a refund please contact Loyalty with as much information as possible (including booking references, names and Peninsular Club numbers).
The guest must be a member of the Peninsular Club in order to receive on board spend discount and have their membership number entered at the time of booking. This would ensure any on board spend discount is applied to all applicable purchases.
The Peninsular Club on board spend discount is applied to purchases after any non-refundable on board spending money allocated to the on board account and/or to all linked on board accounts, where relevant, has been used.
Children
Children aged 16-18 years olds are entitled to the same benefits as adults, with the exception of alcohol being substituted by a non- alcoholic alternative.
Children aged 15 and under will receive a gift designed specifically for their age group. They will also receive the on board spend discount appropriate to their tier level.
A child’s on board discount cannot be transferred to their parent or guardian.
Contacting the Loyalty Club
You can contact the P&O Cruises Peninsular Club via telephone: 0345 357 6969 (Local call charges apply) or by email - loyalty@pocruises.com. Please include your landline or mobile number, name of last ship or cruise date , full name and name of person you last travelled with.
Answer
If you would like to keep a regular check on your points and total nights spent on board then simply visit 'Your Account' where you can obtain and update information.
When travelling on board you can visit your Loyalty Manager.
Answer
Peninsular Club points will be awarded as standard, except in cases where passengers are travelling as a guest of P&O Cruises, are working on board or where the cruise is booked under a special concessionary rate.
Answer
If you have a future booking then please visit 'My P&O Cruises' where you can make the amendments.
However, if you do not have a future booking please visit the 'Your acount' page and once signed in you can amend your address under the 'manage your details' tab. Please note you will need to register for an account the first time you use the online members area.
Alternatively please call the Customer Contact Centre (please see our website for contact details) who will be able to make the amendments to your records.
Answer
For each night you spend on board, we award you 10 loyalty points which are applied at the end of your cruise. Once you have 150 points (by spending at least 15 nights on board), you automatically become a Pacific Tier member of the Peninsular Club.
As the number of nights you spend on board with us increases over subsequent holidays so, too, does your tier status.
Please see our Peninsular Club page for full information about the tiers and each of their benefits.
Answer
Yes. You can register a different credit card for each passenger, or just use one card for all members in your party. The value of your on board account(s) will be automatically charged to the registered credit card(s) at the end of your cruise.
Answer
Will I be charged VAT and TAX?
Passengers are advised that on intra EU cruises (when all of the ports you visit are inside the EU) government regulations prohibit the sale of duty free items. This means that UK VAT at the appropriate rate will be added to goods purchased in the shops and boutiques. Prices displayed in the gift shop are exclusive of UK VAT. The UK VAT charged will be identified on your receipt. For example, if you are on a Round Britain cruise that only visits England, Ireland Scotland and Wales, duty free items will not be available. If your cruise takes in another port (such as St Peter Port or Gibraltar) then duty free items will be available and UK VAT will not be applied.
Can I claim VAT on duty free shopping?
You can speak to the gift shop operator on board as they manage the retail export scheme for goods purchased on board by International residents during Intra-EU cruises (non British citizens). On an international cruise, tax will not be added on board and there is no tax to claim back. Purchased goods in an intermediate EU port where local tax is charged passengers needs to discuss that countries claim procedures before they leave that country. You cannot claim in the UK for tax paid in another country.
Can I claim back VAT?
Each Terminal in Southampton has a TAX refund post-box where guests can drop in their claims.
All receipts need to be fully completed with all details and then dropped in the box in an unsealed envelope. Customs clear the box several times a week, stamp all receipts and they then get sent on for reimbursements to the credit card details provided on the claim.
The boxes are located between security screening and the air bridge. Therefore you must have the envelope ready when going through check-in and security.
P&O Cruises have no involvement in this process. You should ensure that all parts of the form are correctly completed (it’s always best to check with retailers when purchasing goods to confirm they participate in the scheme) as corrections cannot be made afterwards. Any issues arising must be taken up directly with HMRC. We cannot help with enquiries on completed forms that have been posted.
Our on board retailers have their own arrangements in place for purchases made on taxable cruises and they can assist guests with these specific queries.
Answer
David Dingle is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Carnival UK.
All correspondence should be directed to either Guest Relations or directed to David Dingle's PA.
Answer
A P&O Cruises holiday is a truly bespoke experience. And, on top of the enchanting destinations, sumptuous food, dazzling entertainment and attentive service that’s all included, there are lots of ways to further personalise your holiday for a little extra.
Join a shore experience and discover your perfect adventure. From wine tasting in idyllic vineyards and sightseeing in art-drenched cities to hands-on cooking classes and adrenaline-fuelled action sports – there’s an unforgettable experience with your name on it.
Fancy an extra special meal to celebrate a certain occasion? Reserve a table in one of our Speciality Dining restaurants. Or if you’d simply like to spoil yourself, you could indulge in a soothing treatment at the Oasis Spa or do a little duty-free shopping in the on-board shops. And don’t forget, when on board you can treat yourself to all this, and more, using on-board spending money.
On-board spending money may be used against:
- Items purchased from any of the shops
- Spa, & salon treatments and services (when booked on-board and not prior to embarkation via My P&O Cruises)
- Photography prints, products, workshops and services
- Laundry & dry cleaning
- Internet and telephone charges
- Shore Experiences (when booked on-board and not prior to embarkation via My P&O Cruises)
- Beverages from the bar and restaurants (where applicable)
- Drinks packages (when booked on-board and not prior to embarkation via My P&O Cruises)
- Restaurant cover charges (when booked on-board and not prior to embarkation via My P&O Cruises)
- Artwork from the Gallery
- Gift items such as Celebration Packages, flowers and cakes (when booked on-board and not prior to embarkation)
On-board spending money may not be used against:
- Purchasing Shore Experiences prior to embarkation via My P&O Cruises
- Purchasing restaurant cover charges prior to embarkation via My P&O Cruises
- Purchasing Spa treatments and services prior to embarkation via My P&O Cruises
- Visas that require payment
- Medical charges (including services, prescriptions and supplies)
- Cash back
- As full or part payment against a future cruise or charter flight seat reservations and upgrades.
- Ad hoc gratuities
- Foreign currency
- on-board gaming (including the casino)*
- Charitable donations
- Shore Experience cancellation charges
*With the addition of the Arcade on board Ventura, this falls under the jurisdiction of the casino, therefore the use on on board credit is not permitted.
Please note on-board spending money is non refundable and no cash alternative available. It may not be spent prior to embarkation.
Gift credit is deducted from on-board account totals, prior to any applicable Peninsular Club discount.
For example: If you on-board account total is £150 and you have £50 gift credit available, the Peninsular Club discount will be deducted from the remaining £100.
Answer
Prices and Menus
The cost of the Speciality Restaurants can vary. Please see How much are the cover charges in the speciality restaurants? for details.
Examples of menus can be found under the question Can I see an example of a menu?
For details on all speciality restaurant venues on each ship, please see What are the alternative dining venues on-board?
Answer
The Olive Grove - on board Iona
Speciality dining venues offer alternative dining locations during your time on board.
A specific style of cuisine such as Indian at Sindhu on Azura is available to you or for a more intimate experience, why not try The Epicurean on Ventura. More details below:
The Beach House (Evening only) – on board Aurora, Azura, Britannia, Iona & Ventura
The Beach House offers great ocean views to go along with a casual menu of grills and seafood. Fun, informal and great value, The Beach House brings you regional speciality dishes and ingredients from around the globe in addition to an exclusive range of milkshakes and cocktails.
The Epicurean - on board Azura, Britannia, Iona & Ventura
The Epicurean gets straight to the heart of fine dining. With an emphasis on grand style and flawless service, classic dishes inspired by British ingredients are given a modern makeover. With time to thoroughly appreciate each course, you can relax and revel in the restaurant’s special atmosphere.
The Glass House – on board Aurora, Azura, Britannia Iona and Ventura
If you enjoy a glass of wine with your meal you'll want to visit The Glass House.
Take you pick from a wide variety of global wines, handpicked by award-winning wine expert, and passionate foodie Olly Smith, and complimented by an exciting menu of small bites, hearty mains and sharing plates.
On the venue's signature menu, every course will come with the option of a different glass of wine, expertly matched by our expert, Olly Smith. With a handsomely stocked wine cellar and mouth-watering daytime and evening menus, The Glass House will be a relaxed, informal haven of good food and fine wine. What's more, selected bottles will be available by the glass, so there's no need to order the whole bottle to sample a particular vintage.
The Market Cafe - on board Britannia
Settle into a world of temptation at The Market Café. With a menu created by master pâtissier and P&O Cruises Food Hero Eric Lanlard, this luxurious haven in the heart of Britannia’s atrium offers something sweet for every palate. And it’s the only place in the world you can taste Eric’s toffee apple and cherries & clotted cream ice creams, made in collaboration with the Hampshire dairy, Jude’s.
Tuck into tasty crêpes and luscious waffles or choose from crunchy handmade biscuits and delectable cakes. Fancy something a little finer? Try Eric’s range of pâtisserie, unwind with a Costa coffee and enjoy the delicious views out to sea.
Sindhu – on board Azura, Aurora, Arcadia, Britannia, Iona and Ventura
Visit Sindhu and you’ll be treated to authentic Indian cuisine with a British twist. Showcasing a menu which is a triumph of perfectly balanced spices, delicate flavours and wonderful aromas, this restaurant has become a firm favourite with many. So why not take a seat amidst its sumptuous fabrics and opulent décor to experience a treat for your senses? Dishes such as pan-roasted beef tenderloin, spiced mash, garlic spinach purée and masala sauce vie for your attention alongside ginger and mint tiger prawns and the signature dish - a trio of fragrant curries. All meticulously crafted with high quality produce and served with a flourish.
Ocean Grill – on board Arcadia
Sumptuous steak and seafood restaurant, brought to you in the spirit of a relaxed, yet sophisticated London grill restaurant, and given the Marco Pierre White twist; skillfully prepared and presented with his trademark flare.
Ocean Grill continues his exceptional standard – expect dishes like baked portobello mushroom with spinach leaf and pecan salad and salt marsh lamb rack with dauphinoise potatoes, crushed minted peas and a romarin scented jus. And of course no self-respecting grill would be complete without succulent steaks – ours come from Casterbridge Grass-fed English beef, dry aged for a minimum of 28 days.
The Keel and Cow - on board Iona
The Keel and Cow is an unpretentious gastropub. It’s perfect for a quick and easy breakfast, top-quality lunch and hearty dinners with steaks straight from the dry-ageing fridge. Guests can watch the chefs at work in the open galley or enjoy gorgeous sea-views or the action in the Grand Atrium. It’s a fabulous place for a relaxed meal and a craft ale (or two).
The Olive Grove - on board Iona
With a strong focus on food provenance, it’s time to taste your way around the southern and eastern Mediterranean with authentic dishes and sharing platters at The Olive Grove. Mouth-watering aperitifs and a well-chosen list of regional wines complete the menu and add to the relaxed experience. The Olive Grove is the ideal venue for intimate dinners or a celebratory meal – with options to eat in the restaurant or in the conservatory area.
The Limelight Club (adult only) - on board Britannia and Iona
The Limelight Club brings you a dining experience that has more than great food on the menu. A feast for the senses in every respect, we're reigniting the tradition of the supper club, bringing you the finest food to tantalise your taste buds and entertainment worthy of the world stage. Prepare for and evening of great conversation, convivial company and delicious dining.
Afternoon Tea
The Market Café (Britannia) Settle into a cosy world of temptation at Market Café. With a fresh menu full of delectable treats, this luxurious haven in the heart of Britannia’s atrium offers something sweet for every palate. Market Café is home to its very own flavours of Jude’s ice cream from the award-winning, family-run dairy in Hampshire. Why not try Cherries & Clotted Cream in a decadent sundae? Tuck into tasty handmade biscuits and exquisite cakes, including gluten-free options. Fancy something a little finer? Eat like royalty with an indulgent dish from our Fine Pâtisserie range. Unwind with a Costa coffee and treat yourself to wow-factor food as you enjoy glorious views out to sea.
Afternoon Tea at The Epicurean (Azura, Iona, Ventura, Britannia) Head to The Epicurean to feast on playfully decadent delights and treat yourself to an afternoon of delicious indulgence. We’ve taken classic afternoon tea to unexpected new heights with sweet and savoury surprises, served with a wide array of speciality teas.
Afternoon Tea at Ocean Grill (Arcadia) Head to The Epicurean to feast on playfully decadent delights and treat yourself to an afternoon of delicious indulgence. We’ve taken classic afternoon tea to unexpected new heights with sweet and savoury surprises, served with a wide array of speciality teas.
Answer
Please note all times may vary, particularly on port days information will be provided in your Horizon newsletter which is delivered to your cabin each evening. Please refer to your copy of ‘Horizon’.
Where indicated, it is possible to pre-book a restaurant for dinner via My P&O Cruises around three months prior to embarkation.
Please note that charges apply for Speciality Dining and Room Service.
Answer
Tables for two people in any of the freedom and club dining rooms are on a request only basis.
Tables in speciality dining venues are allocated on a first come, first served basis and we will always try to accommodate a table suitable for your requirements. In buffet restaurants, you are free to sit at any table with suitable availability.
Pre booking Speciality Dining venues
You can pre purchase a table, selecting the date and time, at one of the on board Speciality Dining venues. Bookings can be made through My P&O Cruises at around three months prior to departure. Simply log on using your first name, surname, booking reference and date of birth. Once you have logged in you should visit the Dining heading on the menu ribbon and click on Speciality Dining.
Answer
There are a number of different restaurants guests can enjoy on-board our ships.
All restaurants on-board are wheelchair accessible (table and chairs can be moved if additional space is required once inside the restaurant). Please note there may be some areas within the restaurants that cannot be accessed i.e due to a step.
There are 6 restaurants on Arcadia.
The Freedom + Club restaurant is the Meridian Restaurant. The Upper Meridian Restaurant on Prom Deck offers Club dining and the Lower Meridian Restaurant on F Deck offers Freedom dining.
The buffet restaurant is Belvedere which can be found on Lido Deck. You can also enjoy light snacks from two restaurants; Neptune Grill on Lido Deck and Cafe Vivo located on Prom Deck.
Speciality dining venues, offering a more intimate dining experience include; The Ocean Grill which is on F Deck and Sindhu located on Sky Deck; please note there are cover charges at these speciality dining restaurants.
There are 7 restaurants on Aurora.
The Freedom & Club restaurants on Aurora are both located on E Deck. The Alexandria Restaurant offers Club dining and The Medina Restaurant offers Freedom dining.
The restaurant for buffet dining is The Horizon Restaurant, which can be found on Lido Deck.
Speciality dining includes three restaurants. These are the Beach House on Lido Deck and Sindhu and The Glass House found on D Deck. Please note there are cover charges at these speciality dining restaurants.
If you are looking for a light snack, you can visit the Sidewalk Cafe which also features a Costa and a 'Grab and Go' counter on Lido Deck.
There are 10 restaurants on Azura.
The Freedom & Club restaurants include The Peninsular Restaurant and The Oriental Restaurant which are located on F Deck. The Meridian Restaurant can be found on P Deck. The Peninsular and Meridian Restaurants offer Freedom dining. The Oriental Restaurant offers Club dining.
There are also buffet restaurants, Verona and Venezia which are on Lido Deck.
Alternate dining areas available, include; The Beach House (evening only) Sindhu and the Glass House which are located on Prom deck and Epicurean is found on Sun Deck. Please note there are cover charges at these speciality dining restaurants.
For lighter options, there is also a Pizzeria and Grill located on Lido Deck.
There are 10 restaurants on Britannia
The Freedom & Club restaurants are The Meridian and Peninsular which offer Freedom dining and The Oriental which offers Club dining. Located on decks 5 and 6.
You can enjoy buffet dining in The Horizon or opt for light snacks at the Grab and Go outlets on deck 16.
The Market Cafe by Eric Lanlard on deck 5.
For speciality dining, you can visit The Beach House on Lido deck, Sindhu and The Glass house on deck 7, The Limelight Club on deck 5 or our fine dining restaurant The Epicurean deck 16, Lido deck. Please note there are cover charges at these speciality dining restaurants.
There are 14 restaurants on Iona
The Freedom dining restaurants are the Aqua, Opal, Coral (located on Deck 6) and Pearl (located on Deck 7).
The Horizon buffet restaurant is located on Deck 16.
The Quays is a foodie piazza offering a great range of self service and takeaway venues with a lively atmosphere of street-food dining located on Deck 8.
The Keel and Cow (Gastro pub located on Deck 8), The Olive Grove (Mediterranean theme also on Deck 8), The Skydome on Deck 16 offers Pizzeria and Grill style food.
Sindhu (Deck 8), Epicurean (Deck 17), The Beach House (Deck 16) The Glass House (Deck 7), The Limelight Club (Deck 6), are also on-board.
Ripples - P&O Cruises exciting collaboration with Snowflake Luxury Gelato. Ripples will provide the perfect setting for a well-earned treat, day or night. A relaxed and family-friendly venue, it’s perfectly located at the top of the atrium with access to Promenade Deck if you’d like to savour the view as well as your gelato.
Al fresco dining:
The Olive Grove and Sindhu will have conservatory eating spaces but these will not be outside, There is an outside area at the aft of the ship next to the Horizion Restaurant (buffet).
There are 12 restaurants on Ventura.
On Ventura, there are three Freedom and Club dining restaurants. These are The Cinnamon Restaurant found on P Deck, The Saffron Restaurant and The Bay Tree Restaurant both located on F Deck. The Cinnamon and Saffron Restaurants offer Freedom dining and the Bay Tree Restaurant offers Club dining.
There are two buffet restaurants on Ventura, these are The Beach house and The Waterside. These are both located on Lido Deck.
Select restaurants include Epicurean on Sports Deck, Sindhu and The Glass House both found on Prom Deck and the Beach House on Lido Deck. Please note there are cover charges at each of these restaurants.
For light snacks, Tazzine located on P Deck, Frankie's Grill and Frankie's Pizzeria both found on Lido Deck.
Please see Example menus and Opening Times for further details.
Children Dining Options
Children are welcome to dine in any of the dining areas on-board. Meals are not provided in the children's facilities however, snacks are provided in the playrooms.
Children’s Tea
A designated children's tea will be provided in one of the restaurants on-board, with parental supervision required. Further details and menus will be available on-board.
A child's menu is also available in the Freedom and Club dining rooms.
Children's tea parties take place at the following locations at the approximate times:
Azura 17:00 - 18:30 - Venezia (Starboard side)
Britannia 17:00 - 18:00 - The Horizon Buffet
Ventura 17:00 - 18:30 – Waterside
The above timings/locations may change due to operational reasons.
Full details will be supplied to you once on-board.
Speciality Dining
Children are more than welcome to dine in our Speciality Dining Restaurants.
A children’s menu is not standard in these restaurants however please speak to the restaurant manager should your child have any special requirements.
Breast Feeding
As a family friendly organisation, we recognise the benefits of breast feeding to mothers and infants therefore breast feeding is welcome on board.
Baby / Infant Food
Please see question: Can you provide food for babies and infants?
Baby/Infant Equipment
For items such as bottle warmers, sterilisers and bed rails please see question: Can you provide baby/infant equipment?
Pre Booking Speciality Dining venues
Bookings will be available to make through My P&O Cruises from around 14 days prior to embarkation. This is currently being rolled out across the fleet and will soon be available across all ships. For the rollout schedule, please see the My Cruise Resources page.
Simply log on using your first name, surname, booking reference and date of birth. Once you have logged in you should visit the Dining heading on the menu ribbon and click on Speciality Dining.
All prices are subject to change and are per person, per occasion dining in a Speciality Dining restaurant.
Please note: Speciality Dining venues can be very popular restaurants with a high demand for bookings. If you feel you may be unable to meet your dinner reservation, please notify us at least 24 hours before the time of your booking, to avoid the cancellation charge. A cancellation charge will not be applied if transferring to a different time / date.
Booking On-board
You can also make your reservation once on-board by speaking to the Maître d of the Speciality Dining venues. Please see Can I pre-book dining? for details.
Whichever way you choose to make your reservation we suggest you make your booking as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.
Answer
You can book our speciality dining venues from 14 days before your holiday right up to midnight before you sail. You can book and pay for your meal at most of our venues before your holiday, while some restaurants are priced by dish and charged at the end of your meal. By booking early you can take advantage of our exclusive pre-cruise savings. If you have booked a cruise with us, you can make dining reservations by logging into My P&O Cruises here.
Answer
Important information: In light of current restrictions, we have currently stopped sending pre-cruise booklets. Please visit My P&O Cruises for information on shore experiences or to download e-tickets and luggage labels. Please note, only the lead guest on a booking with receive pre cruise information.
Pre-cruise information is only sent to the lead guest of a booking made under the P&O Cruises Select Fare and should be received approximately 8/9 weeks prior to departure.
If there are two guests who live at different addresses against one booking reference, an additional copy can be posted to guest two, to request this please contact the Customer Contact Centre (please visit our website for contact details).
Please note guests travelling on an Early Saver Fare, Late Saver Fare or other promotional fares will not receive the pre cruise information via post, all of the relevant information can be found in this website.
Answer
Once you have made your booking you can only cancel your order through this website. If you want to make any amendments to any products you must cancel and re-book.
Answer
Together with our preferred visa provider CIBT we are pleased to provide you a simple online solution to all your World Cruise visa requirements at www.cibtvisas.co.uk/pocruises.
The online portal will provide you with:
- Detailed visa information specific to your cruise
- Details of required documentation needed to support your applications
- Application forms available for you to print out and send to CIBT
Please note the online portal will replace our previous postal information pack and this information applies to British passport holders who reside in the UK at the time of the application. Your visa requirements may differ if you do not hold a British Citizen passport, should this be the case, you can contact the relevant embassy or consulate for advice. Alternatively you can contact our recommended visa service CIBT on 0207 620 6487. Be sure to advise that you are travelling by sea, as your visa requirements may be different to the standard advice supplied for air travel.
Fines may be imposed if you travel without the correct documentation and it is important we point out that it is your responsibility to ensure you have the correct documents prior to travel or when in transit to the countries included in your itinerary. Failure to have the correct documents will result in denial of boarding or repatriation, in line with government regulations. Please be sure to check your itinerary and obtain the visas required for the specific countries you will be visiting during your cruise. Visas are required when embarking/ disembarking or staying on board.
Visa requirements for British Citizens in possession of a full British Citizen Passport
The below is correct at time of publishing and pertains to UK and Republic of Ireland (ROI) passport holders and should be used for guidance only. Please note, some "British Isles" passports issued in the Isle of Man or the Bailiwicks of Jersey or Guernsey, do not have the same visa exceptions as a full UK passport and guests holding either of these passports should check this with CIBT specifically for the countries they are visiting on their itinerary.
CIBT are experts in visa and passport arrangements and can provide visas online at www.uk.cibt.com/pocruises or by phone 0207 620 6487.
Any visa that is obtained on board are charged in dollars, this will be converted to Pounds Sterling (and charged at the conversion rate of the day) to your on-board account.
Visa Information - Your Responsibilities
Please note that there may be a visa requirement for your cruise and it is the responsibility of each guest to ensure that they are in possession of all travel documents required for their itinerary. Guests who do not possess the proper documentation may be prevented from boarding their flight or ship or from entering a country. In some cases this may lead to large fines which you will be required to pay and/or immediate repatriation to your home country at your own expense. Please ensure you check your requirements carefully before you travel to avoid unnecessary expense and inconvenience. Please also ensure you read the Important Information below:
Important Information
- When applying for your visa you must ensure that all guests' full names are exactly the same as they appear as in their passport. If there is any difference, you may be refused entry onto your flight/cruise.
- Passport and visa requirements may change and vary by destination. We regret we cannot accept any liability if you are refused entry onto any flight, cruise or into any country, or otherwise suffer any difficulties or incur any costs as a result of not having the correct passport and/or any required visa(s).
- It is your responsibility to ensure that you are in possession of all necessary travel and health documents before departure. You must pay all costs incurred in obtaining such documentation. Certain Port Authorities may require photo identification when you depart the ship during the cruise. We strongly suggest that you take photocopies of your passport information page with you in addition to but separately from your passport itself and that you carry the photocopy with you each time you depart the ship in order to minimise any inconvenience this may cause and to provide an official means of identification whilst ashore in case it is required or due to loss/theft of your passport.
- The information is correct at time of publishing and is subject to change at any time. UK passport information applies to British Citizens, holders of another UK passport must check with the relevant authority. There is often a stipulation on having a minimum amount of validity left on your passport and a number of clear pages in order to gain entry, which can be up to a 6 month requirement. Again, please check with the relevant authority.
- With the exception of Russia (St Petersburg), please note that if there is requirement to obtain a visa prior to travel for a particular country, and a guest chooses to not disembark the ship, then the guest is still required to obtain the necessary visa.
Schengen Visa - Non-European passport holders may require a Schengen Visa for entry into Continental Europe. The United Kingdom is not a Schengen State member*. British Citizen passport holders do not require a Schengen Visa. Please ensure you check your entry requirements for Europe prior to embarkation.
* Schengen State members are: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden.
For all other countries, please contact the relevant embassy for details.
Visas obtained on arrival:
| Country | Approximate cost (where applicable) |
| Egypt | No charge |
| UAE | No charge |
Visa application time scales
Visa time scales may be longer during periods such as Christmas and/or when embassies are closed. In addition, your own personal circumstances may affect timescales quoted. We recommend that you obtain your visa as early as possible.
Disclaimer
Visa and passport information can change so it is important that you recheck your passport and visa requirements no later than 3 weeks prior to your holiday departure. The information provided on this site was correct at the time of publishing and is subject to change at any time. It is your responsibility to travel with the correct travel documentation.
Australia
If your itinerary includes Australia, you will be required to obtain an e Visitor or Electronic Travel Authority (ETA). Whether you are staying on board, going ashore, in transit, embarking or disembarking. You must ensure your Australian visa is valid for your entry into Australia.
Please note - the Australian Government require the majority of guests over the age of 75 years to partake in a medical before issuing any visa. Our recommended visa service, CIBT are unable to assist you in your application if you fall into this age group and you will therefore need to send your passport and medical reports directly to the Embassy.
Canada
British citizen passport holders who travel to Canada by AIR will need an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA).
Entry requirements for other methods of travel (land, sea) have not changed. If you are travelling by land or sea, you won’t need an eTA when you enter Canada, therefore this will not apply to our guests calling at Canada on one of our cruises.
However, if you are joining in Canada and arriving by air you should visit the dedicated website (http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/visas.asp) to check if an eTA will be required.
Cape Verde
If arriving by sea no visa is required for the visit to Cape Verde as the ship is classed as 'in transit'. If you are embarking/disembarking in Cape Verde you must obtain a visa prior to travel.
China
A 15 day free visa stay is available to all in transit guests (guests who sail in and out of Shanghai on the same vessel). Please note that restrictions apply:
- Guests have to participate in a tour (at least 2 people) organised by travel agencies that are legally registered in China. These can be ship organised tours or independent tour agencies. The ship will apply for the 15 day free visa stay for tours booked on-board. If you have booked an independent tour please ensure your travel agency applies on your behalf. Please note: guests are not allowed to leave the tour group (even to join another vehicle) and special approval will have to be obtained in case of an emergency.
- The visa free stay is valid for the duration of the tour(s) and you will have to leave Shanghai on the same day with the vessel.
If you wish to go ashore independently in Shanghai a Chinese visa is required. Guests without a valid Chinese visa and without an organised tour booking will be detained on-board for the duration of our stay in China.
Hong Kong Land Tours - Guests embarking or disembarking in Hong Kong after (or before proceeding with) an overland excursion into China must apply for a Chinese tourist visa prior to arrival.
Coastal guests who travel from Hong Kong to Shanghai only (starting their holiday in Hong Kong and finally disembarking in Shanghai) are required to obtain a Chinese visa and are not able to make use of any visa waivers.
All guests must bring a photocopy of the photograph/personal details page of your passport.
Please note: China has introduced the collection of fingerprints for those guests wishing to obtain a Chinese visa, therefore a visit to the Chinese Embassy is required when obtaining a Chinese visa.
Those guests (of 51 different nationalities) starting their cruise or ending their cruise in Shanghai are entitled to make use of the 144 hour Chinese visa exemption but only if the following conditions are met:
- Your stay in China is within Shanghai city, Jiangsu province or Zhejiang province, and not exceeding 144 hours (6 Days). You either have an onward flight confirmation to a 3rd country (outside China) or a cruise ticket confirming that the next port of call is outside China
- Your arrival/departure is via one of the below mentioned entry/exit points and you are able to hand-over a copy of your onward travel arrangements to the Chinese Officials on arrival or the Ship staff when finally disembarking (Ship staff are required to present documentation 48 hours in advance to our Shanghai agents)
Shanghai Pudong international airport
Shanghai Hongqiao international airport
Shanghai railway station
Shanghai Wusongkou international cruise terminal
Shanghai port international cruise terminal
Nanjing Lukou international airport
Hangzhou Xiaoshan international airport
Remember that the 144 hours is from the moment you arrive in China to the moment you leave Chinese Territories. If you have any pre or post cruise hotel stays booked in China or your onward itinerary includes additional Chinese ports, you will need to make sure that your time shoreside, and on board does not take you over the 144 hour limit, if it does you will require a visa.
Please note: If you are not staying in one of the above mentioned areas or not arriving/leaving from the mentioned exit/entry points you will need to obtain a Chinese visa.
Also this exemption does not apply to guests travelling in and out of Shanghai on the same vessel. (In transit guests) as those guests will be able to make use of a 15 day free visa stay, but only when booked on an organised tour.
Dominican Republic
If entering Amber Cove by sea there are no visa requirements. If entering the Dominican Republic via air, a tourist card must be obtained.
Egypt
A Quick Stamp visa for Egypt will be issued upon the ship’s arrival in Egypt. Therefore you are not required to obtain an Egyptian visa in advance of your cruise. There is currently no charge for the Quick Stamp Egyptian visa.
India
Guests visiting India by ship are required to have a valid Indian visa, whether you intend to go ashore or remain on board the ship. India has introduced electronic visas (E-visas) which are now accepted at the ports visited by P&O Cruises. To obtain your E-visa, please visit https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/evisa/tvoa.html.
Please bring a print out of your E-visa confirmation showing ‘GRANTED’ at check-in for immigration purposes. You will also be required to show the print out when attending immigration checks on arrival into India. Please ensure the information on your E-visa confirmation matches your passport information. Guests who arrive without a valid Indian visa will be denied boarding.
Please note: P&O Cruises require all guests visiting India to obtain a visa in advance whether they intend to go ashore or remain on board the ship. This position has been taken to protect guests from any restrictions that are imposed by the Indian authorities, in the unlikely event of having to disembark the ship in India due to an emergency or for any other reason.
An Indian tourist visa (sticker in passport) is also acceptable should you wish to obtain this instead, however the E-visa is easier to obtain and less expensive.
Please be aware that visas will be processed by Indian Immigration officials on arrival into your first Indian port which may delay going ashore. Please allow time for this when planning your day.
Oman
Visa stamps for Oman are compulsory and will be issued upon the ship’s arrival by the local Port Authorities, whether you are staying on board or going ashore. There is currently no charge for the visa stamp.
New Zealand
From 1 October, International travellers, who are Visa Waiver nationals, may enter New Zealand without a visa after obtaining an approved New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA).
Please note that all guests travelling with an NZeTA must present a print out of a successful NZeTA application at check in
Obtaining NZeTA approval, for most travellers, will be simple and easy. To apply for your NZeTA, please follow this link to the NZeTA application website https://nzeta.immigration.govt.nz/.
The cost of obtaining an NZeTA is currently NZ$12.00 (however this is subject to change at any time) and payable during the application using a credit or debit card.
Approved NZeTA applications are valid for a period of two years or until the passport expires, whichever comes first, and multiple trips to New Zealand without the traveller having to reapply for another NZeTA.
When applying for you NZeTA, a tourism levy of NZ$35 must also be paid which is valid for the same length of time as the NZeTA.
Should you require assistance applying for your NZeTA, our preferred Visa provider, CIBT are available on 0207 620 6998.
South Africa
Although visas are not required please note that your passport should contain two blank passport pages for the South African entry and exit stamps. Prior to applying for visas for other countries, please ensure you have adequate blank pages to allow for these stamps. Should you have limited blank pages, P&O Cruises strongly suggest you obtain a replacement passport before applying for your visas.
Parents travelling with children into or out of South Africa will be asked to show the child’s unabridged (full) birth certificate. Where only one parent is accompanying, parental or legal consent for the child to travel (e.g. an affidavit from the other parent, a court order or – if applicable – a death certificate) will be required. Further requirements for children travelling unaccompanied or with adults who are not their parents may apply, for more information; contact the South African High Commission or the South African Department of Home Affairs.
Sri Lanka
If you are starting or ending your holiday in Sri Lanka, an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) must be obtained online (www.eta.gov.lk) prior to arrival/departure. A fee will apply if obtaining a Tourist ETA.
If you are visiting Sri Lanka as part of your cruise itinerary (arriving and leaving Sri Lanka with the ship), you are required to obtain a Transit ETA online (www.eta.gov.lk). A Transit ETA is free of charge.
Please note, the Transit ETA confirmation states that you may only transit and are not permitted to enter Sri Lanka. This is acceptable for cruise lines as you are classed as 'in transit' providing you enter and leave Sri Lanka with the ship. This will not restrict you in going ashore during the call.
When completing your application, please note the following:
- "Port of Departure" is the previous port you are scheduled to visit prior to arrival in Sri Lanka
- "Final Destination" is the port where you will be ending your cruise
- "Vessel Number" is the cruise number
- "Address in Sri Lanka" is the ship name (if applying for a Transit ETA)
St Petersburg, Russia
If you are planning to stay on board whilst in St Petersburg or if you are participating in an organised P&O Cruises shore excursion, we will arrange a group visa to cover you for the duration of your excursion/time on board:
If you intend to go ashore independently in St Petersburg, a Russian visa is required. To apply for a Russian Tourist Visa, you must possess a visa support letter to accompany your application.
All persons now applying for a Russian visa, with the exception of those under the age of 12, will now be required to attend one of two application centres to have their bio-metric data (fingerprints) captured as part of the visa application process.
This is not optional; any person refusing to undergo this procedure will not be issued a visa.
Bio-metric data will not be stored and subsequent applications for visas to this destination will unfortunately require the traveller to once again have to travel to have their fingerprint data captured.
Edinburgh and London are the nominated locations of the two Visa Applications Centres where bio-metric data will be taken. There is no formal appointment system and applicants will be required to turn up on a first come first served basis.
Russian Tourist visas can be obtained through the Russian embassy or through our recommended visa provider CIBT. To apply for your visa and / or support letter through CIBT please contact 0207 620 6487 or visit www.uk.cibt.com/pocruises.
Turkey
Cruise ship guests who are joining the ship in Turkey or are leaving the ship in Turkey to travel home are required to obtain an e-visa prior to travel. If you are visiting Turkey as part of your cruise itinerary but are not joining the ship in Turkey or disembarking to travel home, a visa is not required.
To obtain an e-visa for Turkey please visit https://www.evisa.gov.tr/en/ for further information and the official channel for applying for the e-visa
Guests of all nationalities are required to have at least 60 days validity on their passport from the day they enter Turkey.Guests who are either embarking or disembarking (beginning or ending) their cruise in Turkey and therefore require a visa, need to ensure their passports have at least 180 days validity otherwise the visa will not be issued.
United Arab Emirates
Transit Visa stamps for Dubai are compulsory and will be issued upon the ship’s arrival, whether you are staying on board or going ashore. You do not need to obtain these visas in advance of the cruise. If you are joining your cruise in the United Arab Emirates you may need to purchase a visa on arrival at the airport.
United States of America (and territories)
International travellers, who are nationals of Visa Waiver Program (VWP) countries, may enter the USA without a visa after completing an Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) – please see the instructions for how to apply at the end of this section. You may check to see if you are eligible for this programme by visiting https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta/. Some of the conditions for entry into the VWP are listed below, however if you do not hold a full British Citizen passport or a passport from another country eligible for the VWP, your situation may be different and you should check to ensure you have the correct documentation for your holiday.
Obtaining ESTA approval, for most travellers, will be simple and easy. To apply for your ESTA, please follow the link to the ESTA application website at https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta. A third party, such as a relative or Travel Agent, is permitted to submit an ESTA application on behalf of a VWP traveller. The cost of obtaining an ESTA is currently USD$14.00, this is subject to change at any time. All payments must be made directly to the official Department of Homeland Security ESTA website above using a credit card or debit card. Please do not use any other website as they may charge you a higher fee for the same service.
Please note a biometric passport is required when applying for an ESTA. Kindly present at check-in a copy of your ESTA confirmation as evidence for Immigration purposes. Please ensure the information on your ESTA confirmation matches your passport information.
British Subject* passport holders are required to obtain a full US visa prior to travel.
* These are mostly people who were born in British India before 01/01/49 and did not become citizens of India, or who were citizens of Eire and British subjects before 01/01/49 and have made a claim to retain British Subject
Answer
Yes, you may cancel your booking at any time. If you have booked with a Travel Agent you must call them to discuss changes and cancellations. Please visit our booking conditions page on our website.
If you have made your booking directly with P&O Cruises please call our Customer Contact Centre on 0345 355 5111 (calls charged at local rate). Please note that this is for direct bookings only, and any booking that has been made through a travel agent you will be asked to contact them to discuss any changes or cancellations.
As per our Booking Conditions, P&O Cruises shall be entitled to levy a cancellation charge as a percentage of the price paid in accordance with the following scales.
P&O Select Fare and Early Saver:
Period before departure within which notice of cancellation is received by P&O Cruises |
Cancellation Charges (% of price) |
From date of booking until 91 days before departure |
Loss of Deposit |
90 to 57 days |
50% |
56 to 42 days |
60% |
41 to 16 days |
75% |
15 to 6 days |
90% |
Less than 6 days before departure or failure to embark. For fly cruises, departure day is the date of the flight departure. |
100% |
Late Saver:
Period before departure within which notice of cancellation is received by P&O Cruises |
Cancellation Charges (% of price) |
From the date of booking until departure, including failure to embark. |
100% |
Flights
Any amendment or cancellation made more than 61 days prior to departure will incur a charge of £20 per person.
Changes made within 61 days of departure will incur both a £20 charge per person and the full cost of the amended ticket.
Should you incur cancellation charges, you may be able to claim these back from your travel insurance company depending on your circumstances and your level of cover. Please check with your insurer for full details. You should always ensure that you have adequate travel insurance when you have made your booking so that you are covered for such eventualities.
Answer
Yes, military benefits are applicable to UK citizens only.
We are pleased to offer on board spending money to:
- Current serving personnel
- Veterans
- Reservists
- MOD Civil servants
- NATO personnel in the UK
for the following service divisions:
- British Army
- Royal Navy
- Royal Air Force
- Reserves
- Royal Marines
- Merchant Navy
- Home Guard
Military Promotions are not combinable with certain promotional fares including, Early Savers, Savers, On-board booking, Thank You For Cruising promotions, Ship Visit and partnership benefits, if you have any queries on combinability, please call our Customer Contact Centre.
As of the 1st March 2018 Military Benefits can only be applied to a booking if you are registered with Defence Discount Service and have a Defence Privilege Card.
This offer is available to Military guests who are members of the Defence Discount Service (the official MOD discount scheme) and have a Defence Privilege Card. This is a paid for membership, the cost for which is £4.99 for 5 years membership. The offer is available to those that are currently serving in the HM Armed Forces and those that have previously served within the HM Armed Forces. Guests will need to quote their Defence Privilege Card membership number for the Military On-Board Credit to be added to their booking.
In order to apply the Military Benefits you would need to supply your Defence Privilege Card Number to our Customer Contact Centre either directly or via your travel agent, either at the time of booking, or no later than 7 days before departure, along with the promotion code MLT. This will then be noted on your booking. You may also be asked to present your card at the check-in desk on the day of embarkation, so please make sure you have this with you when travelling.
Guests can register through www.defencediscountservice.co.uk . You will be asked for service details and then to get the Defence Privilege Card will need to upload a copy of documentation such as a certificate of discharge or Armed Forces Pension document. Alternatively you can call Defence Discount Services directly on 01509 233446 ( Open Monday – Friday 09.00 – 17.00) where you can arrange for an application form to be sent out in the post (Option 1) or speak to a member of the DDS Team to arrange (Option 3).
The amount of on board spending money is applicable for the 1st and 2nd passengers in a cabin only and depends on the grade of cabin booked and the duration of the cruise:
| Nights | Sea View / Inside | Balcony | Suite |
2-6 |
£10 | £15 | £20 |
| 7-13 | £20 | £30 | £40 |
| 14-21 | £50 | £65 | £75 |
| 22+ | £75 | £90 | £100 |
Please note the latest this benefit can be applied is 7 days before departure and it is not possible to apply the Military benefit once you are on-board.
Answer
No. Points can only be awarded to members travelling on board a P&O Cruises ship.
Answer
The legislation related to the charging of credit card fees changed on 13 January 2018.
As a result, guests will not be charged a credit card fee on payment transactions made from 11 January 2018.
Answer
Yes, you are able to make a partial payment. You can make payments online here where you can choose whether you want to pay the full balance or a different amount of your choosing.
Answer
If your booking has been made through one of our travel agent partners please contact them to settle the outstanding balance of your holiday.
Answer
Yes, you can use a different card to the one you used to pay your deposit.
Please see the question What method of payment is accepted?
Answer
You will be asked to pay a deposit at time of booking. For some of our fares, full balance may be requested at time of booking.
We accept Mastercard, Visa, American Express and Diners Club International cards. We do not accept Solo, Maestro, JCB, or pre paid cards.
We must receive the balance of your fare no later than 90 days before departure*. If you are booking through a travel agent they may request payment of the balance in advance of this date in order to ensure that your monies reach us by the balance due date. If we do not receive the balance by the due date, we reserve the right to end the contract between us and re-sell the accommodation held for you, which will also result in the forfeiture of your deposit.
*Please note, for cruises departing on or before 30 June 2020 the balance due date is reduced to 30 days. This policy modifies the cancellation policy in our Booking Conditions and may be changed or withdrawn at any time without notice.
Deposit:
A deposit of 15% is required on all bookings.
For bookings made within 90 days of departure and some other fare types, the full balance will be requested at time of booking.
For our direct guests, you can visit our website (https://www.pocruises.com/balance), where you can log in and pay your balance via our secure, online, payment facility. This facility is available 24/7, offering a quick and convenient way to pay your balance.
If you are unable to pay your balance online please call us. Please visit our website for contact details.
If your booking has been made through one of our travel agent partners please contact them to settle the outstanding balance of your holiday.
Answer
P&O Cruises recently launched a pilot for you to have the facility to check in for your cruise online.
After a successful pilot and in order to enhance the efficiency of the check in process, P&O Cruises will be rolling out the enhanced online check in facility which you can complete prior to departure.
You will be able to log in and fill out their passport details and also register a payment card for their cruise. You will have the flexibility to register one card for all guests travelling, or a different card for each guest in the booking.
We are constantly looking at ways to enhance the guest experience and believe that by enabling guests to check in online prior to departure; this will reduce the time spent in the terminal, allowing you to start enjoying your holiday on board with us even quicker!
You will be asked to visit checkin.pocruises.com and enteryour log in details. These are first name, surname, date of birth and booking reference to log in.
Once logged in you will need to:
- Enter Passport information for the guests you wish to check in
- Enter payment card information
- Select which guests the payment card will be applied to. All children must also have a card added.
- Guests with passport information completed and a payment card applied to them are now checked in.
- Download Boarding Pass for completed guests.
Answer
Yes. All our ships feature accessible cabins which are suitable for wheelchair and mobility scooter users, guests can navigate the ships via the accessible routes to public venues and the majority of deck areas.
Our accessible cabins feature wide doorways, sufficient floor space for wheelchair manoeuvrability and accessible balcony cabins feature ramped access to the balcony. The bathroom is a wet room style shower room with a flush threshold, grab rails for the shower and toilet and pull down shower chair.
Arcadia offers a number of partially accessible cabins, these cabins have a wet room with the above features) however the cabins are smaller and have less floor space than an accessible cabin so would not suitable for someone confined to their mobility aid.
Assisted listening is available within a number of our show lounges and theatres, and we can supply an in cabin visual alert systems with textphones. In addition, key on board literature is available in Braille and we welcome certified assistance dogs on board.
When sailing from Southampton, we can offer wheelchair assistance for embarkation and disembarkation. Assistance will start once inside the terminal building where members of the mobility assistance team will escort you on board either in a ships wheelchair or using your own mobility aid.
Help with disembarkation can be arranged on board the ship. If you have any questions please contact Reception.
If you require assistance with daily living, such as washing, toileting, eating, movement around the ship or disembarking in ports of call etc, you will need to travel with a companion/personal assistant who can provide this for you; the ship’s crew are unable to assist with these tasks.
Please let us know at the time of booking, or by calling our Customer Contact Centre (please visit our website for contact details) if you have a medical or mobility request or requirement to ensure we can meet your needs.
Answer
Yes, Azura, Arcadia, Aurora, Britannia, Iona, and Ventura have single cabins for solo cruisers.
Single cabins are graded as:
Single Inside Cabin (Arcadia, Azura, Britannia, Iona & Ventura)
SC grade (Arcadia, Azura & Ventura)
SF (Britannia)
SZ (Iona)
Single Sea View Cabin (Aurora, Azura & Ventura)
RE grade (Aurora)
RC grade (Azura & Ventura)
Single Balcony Cabin (Arcadia, Aurora*, Britannia and Iona)
QF grade
QZ (Iona)
* Aurora will have single balcony cabins after her move to adult only post refit April 2019
Arcadia - There are four single inside, and two single balcony cabins, these are located on Sun Deck
Aurora - There are four single sea view cabins, two are located on A deck, and two on C deck. Six single balcony cabins will be added post refit in April 2019.
Azura - There are six single inside cabins, and 12 single sea view cabins, all located on F deck
Britannia - There are 12 inside single cabins, and 15 single balcony cabins, all located on Lido deck
Iona - There are 10 inside single cabins, located on decks 12, 9 and 5 and 12 balcony single cabins, located on decks 14, 11 and 9.
Ventura - There are six single inside cabins, and 12 single sea view cabins, all located on F deck
For further details please see our deck plans or to make a booking please visit our Find and Book page, call our Customer Contact Centre, please visit our website for contact details, or contact your preferred travel agent.
Answer
If you are travelling with children or teenagers our family prices on Arvia, Azura, Britannia, Iona and Ventura offer generous reductions, utilising the extra beds that are contained in a number of cabins. Infants aged 1 and under will also pay a reduced rate, which will remain the same no matter what cabin grade is booked, from Inside cabin, all the way up to a Suite.
Please note, if a child is booked into a lower berth, (i.e. the first two beds in the cabin) there isn’t a reduced rate and the standard double rate will be charged.
Family reduction can vary by cruise, please check our Find & Book page, call our Customer Contact Centre please visit our website for contact details, or speak with your preferred ABTA bonded travel agent for the reduction amount of a specific cruise.
For further information regarding cruising with children, please visit our dedicated family page and question What facilities are available for children on board?
Answer
For guests travelling from Southampton
Terminal checklist
You must have the following items with you when you arrive at the terminal:
· Evidence of COVID-19 vaccination status (up-to-date NHS Covid Pass or valid vaccination certificates issued by your local health authority)
· Evidence of travel insurance
· Passport
· Boarding pass or travel documents
· Negative lateral flow/antigen test certificate for all guests aged five years and above
For guests travelling on a Mediterranean fly-cruise holiday
Airport checklist
You must have the following items with you when you arrive at the airport to fly to Malta:
· Passport
· Ship e-ticket downloaded from My P&O Cruises
· Evidence of COVID-19 vaccination status (up-to-date NHS Covid Pass or valid vaccination certificates issued by your local health authority)
· Negative lateral flow/antigen test certificate for all guests aged five years and above
· Negative PCR test certificate for unvaccinated children aged between 5 and 11 years old
· Evidence of valid travel insurance
Answer
When you book speciality dining in advance you can take advantage of our exclusive pre-cruise savings. Make sure you plan ahead and secure the venue, date and time that you’re after so that your holiday can start the minute you step on board. You can make reservations by logging into My P&O Cruises here.
Answer
As the leading UK cruise operator, Carnival UK is at the forefront of shipbuilding technology, delivering unique vessels for the enjoyment of our guests. Our brands are committed to a pathway to decarbonisation, which involves significant investment in carbon efficient technologies, energy efficiency activity and emission reduction initiatives. The use of LNG fuel as an alternative fuel source for the cruise industry is one of these innovations along with a number of other energy efficient technologies and initiatives that support our sustainability goals and reduces greenhouse gas emissions.
Both Arvia and Iona are powered by Liquefied Natural Gas.
Answer
Although our ships are registered in Bermuda we have written permission from Bermuda Maritime Administration to fly the Red Ensign as we do on all our ships.
By having our ships being registered in Bermuda (excluding Britannia and Iona) this allows us to carry out weddings at sea.
Answer
This registry has been chosen so that we can offer our passengers a "Weddings at Sea package", a service that is not possible on ships registered in the UK.
Please note that as Britannia and Iona are registered in the UK we will not be conducting weddings on board.
The demands of the Bermudan registry are as strict as those of the UK. The British Maritime and Coastguard Agency, the UK regulatory body, provides day to day advice and guidance to the Bermudan registry and monitors its performance in common with the registries of all United Kingdom Overseas Territories.
Answer
The following information is dependent on any potential restrictions that may be in place on board at the time of sailing.
Yes, for events such as:
Parties e.g. birthday celebrations and wedding anniversary
Meetings eg. masonic and cruise community
There is no charge to book a room, however any food and beverage requests will be charged to the on-board account of the person arranging the cocktail party.
If you wish to arrange an event, please speak to a member of our contact our Customer Contact Centre (please visit our website for contact details).
Enquiries for day usage will be discussed on a case-by-case basis. Please be aware, we are unable to accommodate functions on our 2, 3, 4 or 5-night cruises.
Answer
For our most up to date information on our Weddings at sea package, please visit our website - www.pocruises.com/ceremonies-at-sea
Getting married on board is a wonderfully unique experience. We’ll make every moment feel special so that you can enjoy a day of love, laughter, and celebration. Should you choose to hold your wedding celebrations with us, Weddings at Sea are available across all our ships with the exception of Arvia, Britannia & Iona, where non-legal weddings (commitment ceremonies) are available.
Cruises must be a minimum of seven nights in duration and the ceremony will take place on a selected Sea Day. A minimum of 90 days notice is required to arrange a Wedding on board.
Once you’ve booked, the cost of your Weddings at Sea Package will not change. We have two to choose from:
Wedding at Sea – From £2,200
Pre-cruise wedding planner
On-board wedding planner
Priority check-in for whole wedding party**
Up to 10 guests in attendance
Complimentary Bridal hair and make up
Complimentary pressing of couples attire
Bridal bouquet and groom’s buttonhole
Private venue
Ceremony conducted by the Captain
Pre-recorded ceremony music
Two tier cake
Tattinger for toasting
Dinner for couple at a speciality restaurant
Keepsake certificate
Breakfast in bed the morning after
Please note, in addition to your P&O wedding package, a Marriage Licence fee of £650 is required for couples wishing to get married on board (Azura, Ventura, Arcadia and Aurora only). If you would like to bring more than 10 guests, there will be an additional charge of £100 per group of 10.
‘Just the Two of Us’ - From £1,800
Pre-cruise wedding planner
On-board wedding planner
Priority check-in**
Personal introduction and consultation with the ship’s photographer
Complimentary Bridal hair and make up
Complimentary pressing of couples attire
Bridal bouquet and grooms buttonhole
Pre-recorded ceremony music
Private venue
Ceremony conducted by the Captain
One tier cake
Tattinger for toasting
Dinner for couple at a speciality restaurant
Keepsake Certificate
Breakfast in bed the morning after
**For Southampton only cruises
Please note, in addition to your P&O wedding package, a Marriage Licence fee of £650 is required for couples wishing to get married on board (Azura, Ventura, Arcadia and Aurora only).
If you need further information please contact our Ceremonies at Sea department on 0344 33 88 595 (calls cost 3p per minute plus your telephone company's network access charge open Monday to Friday 09:00 to 17:00) or email ceremonies@carnivalukgroup.com. Ceremony availability should always be checked with the ceremonies team before booking your cruise.
Answer
In some ports it is necessary to anchor offshore rather than alongside. When this is the case, we use a tender to take you ashore. A tender is a small vessel with a capacity of around 100 people. The tenders are usually our own, manned by our crew, but sometimes they are chartered through a trusted external provider.
Embarking and disembarking the tender safely
In some ports it is necessary to anchor off shore 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 guests. In order to board the tender, please note that you will be required to use steps (up to 20cm/8 inches high) and navigate the gap between the platform and the tender (of up to 45cm/18 inches).
In the interests of safety, we require all guests wishing to use the tenders to have sufficient independent mobility to negotiate steps and traverse a gap of up to 45 cm/18 inches. Anyone wishing to board the tender will need to demonstrate this ability via a mobility test prior to tender embarkation by stepping unaided over a distance of 45 cm/18 inches. Children who are unable to step across a gap of this size will be permitted to use the tender service provided their parent/guardian is able to demonstrate that they can carry or pass them safely across the mobility test gap.
There will be crew members there to guide and steady you as you embark, but they cannot support, carry or lift guests on board the tender for safety reasons. Please wear appropriate, flat, and securely attached footwear, when embarking and disembarking the tender.
If you use a wheelchair or mobility scooter, please note that you or your travelling companion are responsible for assembling and disassembling your wheelchair/mobility scooter. The crew will endeavour to assist where practical and safe to do so, providing that no individual part weighs more than 20kg/40 lb.
If you have notified us that you have reduced mobility you will be invited to a tender briefing on board and given the opportunity to take part in the mobility assessment (described above) in advance. This must be completed independently, (deletion), without any assistance. If an officer decides it is not safe for you to board a tender, please respect their decision as this decision is taken to ensure your safety, in accordance with health and safety law.
Safety while on board the tender
Once you have embarked the tender, please follow the instructions given by crew members and find a seat as soon as possible. Do not get in or out of the tenders until told to do so.
Shore excursions
Priority will be given to you if you are on a shore excursion. Please see the mustering details in the Horizon newspaper for more details.
How do the tenders run?
Tenders are run on a continuous loop, please see the Horizon paper for times and frequency. As mentioned above, we will embark shore excursion guests first, then all other guests.
Naturally, most guests will want to disembark as early as possible, so we do expect a very busy period in the morning. Therefore, we will stagger disembarkation and ask you to collect a ticket at a particular venue and then wait for your group to be called before making your way down to the tender platform. Public announcements will be made throughout the morning, so please listen carefully.
Once the busy period is over we will make an announcement and you will be free to use the tender without a ticket.
Cost
The tender is free of charge all day.
Accessibility
For all ships, you walk straight out to the boarding platform and therewill be a couple of steps into the launches. If you are unable to negotiate these steps you will be unable to access the launch area.
Answer
If you book a fly-cruise with P&O Cruises economy class flights from/to the UK are included. The inclusive airport varies by cruise and departure date, you can find the latest fares and availability online, via your travel agent or by calling our Customer Contact Centre on 03453 555 111 (local call charges apply). If you are flying on the day of embarkation/disembarkation, transfers to and from the ship will also be provided. Please note that unless otherwise stated infants are required to pay for flights. Full details will be provided at time of booking.
Upgrading and tailoring your flights
Whichever fly-cruise holiday you book, we can tailor your flights to meet your needs. Many guests choose to upgrade to premium, business or first class on their preferred airline.
Our charter flights on our Caribbean fly-cruises are especially popular, and usually go on sale at the same time as our cruises.
On selected Dubai & Arabian Gulf fly-cruises departing between January and March 2019, we can offer flight upgrades from Manchester on our Virgin Atlantic charter flight.
We can provide a quote for upgrades with other airlines or for our other fly-cruises from 11 months before departure, once airlines release their flight schedules.
We can also offer flights from a range of UK departure points. Just let us know your preferred departure point when making your booking. Please note that additional supplements may apply. If you would like more information you may find the following question useful: Where do you fly from?
If you would like to extend your holiday we can also help. Whether you choose one of our City Stays, one of our Land Tours or just want some extra time to explore independently, we can help with arranging flights to fit in with your plans.
For a tailored quotation please contact your travel agent or call our Customer Contact Centre on 03453 555 111 (local call charges apply).
Answer
It is the discretion of the Restaurant Manager to allow passengers to enter the Freedom and Club restaurants after their allocated early dining time. The waiters may wait for 15 minutes to allow for late diners, however, after this time they will continue to take the other table companions orders. If you are not back to the ship at your allocated dining time, you will be able to dine in the self service buffet restaurant or make a reservation in advance to dine in one of the Speciality Dining Restaurants. Alternatively, if most passengers are going to be late back to the ship because of shore excursion timing's, then the Restaurant Manager may change the early sitting to start later to accommodate this. If this is this case, you will be notified on board via the daily newspaper.
Answer
If a shore excursion is fully booked, you will have the option of registering interest for your chosen excursion. You may also opt to book an alternative excursion in the event that you are unsuccessful.
Answer
If you have a hotel stay booked the day before you join the ship, but the ship is in port, it is not possible to take an organised excursion from the ship.
Answer
We certainly recommend that you leave 45 minutes to 1 hour between two excursions. However if for any reason, the morning excursion is delayed and returns to the ship late and subsequently you are too late to take the afternoon excursion, you will still be charged for the tour (this is because the tour agent will be expecting certain numbers of passengers as the ship provide them with these details 48 hours prior to arrival).
Excursions can be late back for many reasons - traffic congestion being the main one and large cities can be very busy so your tour could run over the scheduled time. At some ports of call, immigration may also ask to see your passport or tour tickets and potentially this can delay the excursion departure time.
Answer
Should you be able to board a coach the most suitable shore excursions will be those labelled with the symbol of 'low' activity. These are likely to be titled 'Panoramic'.
Answer
When pre booking shore excursions pre-cruise, you will now be required to pay for these by card at time of booking.
Alternatively, you may book shore excursions once on board, subject to availability, which will then be charged to your on-board account.
If you wish to book an accessible shore excursion, this will be charged to your on-board account as it is not possible to book these online.
Your on-board account is settled at the end of the cruise. If you do not have a credit card that is recognised on board, you may pay your on-board account in cash by putting money up front.
Answer
Shore excursions give you the opportunity to see places you have always dreamt of and try things you have never done before. Tours vary in length so you can opt for a brief introductory tour or an in-depth full days exploration.
Answer
Approximately 12 weeks prior to the cruise departure date.
Shore excursions are available to pre-book and pay for online up to 3 days prior to sailing. Within 3 days of sailing, you will be able to join a waitlist for your chosen excursions. Alternatively you may book on-board. Waitlist requests will be processed prior to on-board bookings being taken.
Answer
Yes we do, some shore excursions have a minimum age to participate, which is either set out in the tour description or will be made known to you when booking.
Child prices are for those aged 3 to 12 inclusively.
Passengers over the age of 12 will require an adult ticket.
Infants aged 2 and under (on the date of sailing) can travel on the excursion free of charge, as long as they are seated on your lap. Please note there may be occasions when this is not possible and this will be detailed on the Shore Excursion description.
Please ensure that you book a tour ticket for your infant.
Note that all minors (those under 18) must be accompanied by an adult on shore excursions.
We ask parents and guardians to note that children under 16 must not be left unaccompanied on the ship whilst the ship is in port. There is no facility offered on-board to look after your children if you go ashore.
You are welcome to bring your own safety seat since these are not provided due to different laws being applicable in other countries.
If you are bringing a car seat for an infant (aged 2 or under) you cannot purchase a seat when booking your excursions. This is because infants are not charged.
You will need to speak to the Shore Excursion Team once you are on-board to advise you are bringing an infant and a car seat. Please be aware that the size and safety fittings of coach seats may vary between excursions and we cannot guarantee that safety seats will fit in all coaches. In some instances we are unaware what coach is provided until on the day of the shore excursion.
Answer
How you pre-purchase flight seats varies depending on whether you are travelling on a chartered or scheduled flight.
Flight Seat Booker on selected charter flights
If you are booked on one of our TUI chartered flights, you will be able to pre-purchase your seats through My P&O Cruises. Flight Seat Booker will open approximately 14 weeks prior to departure and close approximately one week prior to departure.
To access Flight Seat Booker log on to My P&O Cruises using your cruise booking reference. At the top of the page you’ll find an option called "Flights", from there you need to go to the bottom of the page and select "TO BOOK YOUR SEATS, PLEASE CLICK HERE". You will now need to log into the flight seat booking tool using your cruise booking reference. If flight seat booker is not available to book when you click on the login button it will tell you. This will show your flight details and the "Book Seats" button will be displayed. You will then be able to select and purchase your seats.
Flight Seat Booker prices
The costs for pre-purchasing seats on our chartered flights are shown below. All seats are subject to availability.
Prices are per person and per one way flight. At the bottom of this page is a table showing the Flight Seat Booker On Sale dates.
Season |
Start Date |
End date |
Standard seats |
Emergency Exit Seats |
Mediterranean (TUI Airways) |
31 Mar 22 |
13 Oct 22 |
£17.50 per person, per way |
£25 per person, per way |
|
Refunds
No refunds are available on seats purchased via Flight Seat Booker.
Chartered Flights - Infants 0-2 years
An infant on a charter flight who is under the age of 2 years will always be assigned a seat next to an adult under the same booking reference and will receive the full baggage allowance.
Emergency Exit seats
These are subject to availability and are only available to those guests who are fully mobile and over 16 years of age. You will be asked to confirm that you comply with the relevant terms and conditions prior to booking your seats. The airline reserves the right to move guests from Emergency Exit seats if they feel that the safety of guests and crew may be compromised.
Changes to your booked seat
You can amend seats booked through Flight Seat Booker up until 8 days prior to departure. If your new seats are of greater value than your original seats selection, you will be required to pay the difference. No refunds will be given for seat selection of a lesser value.
If you have pre-booked seats on a scheduled flight and wish to amend your selection, please contact the airline directly for assistance.
Reduced Mobility Seating
Our chartered flights have a limited number of seats which are designated for those guests with reduced mobility. These seats are assigned one week prior to departure. Once we have received all Medicla and Accessibility questionnaires they will be reviewed and priority will be given to those with the greatest need.
Should you require a questionnaire please call our Customer Contact Centre on 03453 555 111 (local call charges apply), or contact your travel agent. Mobility questionnaires must be returned no later than 14 days prior to departure.
Seating Information below for other airlines
Scheduled flights
Your flight seats can only be reserved via the airline’s website.
For scheduled flights this is only possible once flight tickets have been issued, which usually happens between 6 weeks and 10 days prior to departure. Ticket issue dates vary by airline and route.
Your flight details can be found on your E-Ticket or call our Customer Contact Centre on 03453 555 111 (local call charges apply).
British Airways (BA) - All programmes
Pre-purchasing seats depends on the ticket type which can be identified on your E-Ticket. If your flight information includes an “airline locator” (airline booking reference), you will be able to pre-purchase seats from approximately 30 days prior to travel. To pre-book your seats, visit ‘Manage My Booking’ on the British Airways website and follow the instructions. Please note that additional charges may apply.
If your flight details do not include an airline locator, then you will be booked on a British Airways “group seat”, in which case we can reserve your flight seats approximately four days prior to departure. If you have any specific requests, please call our Customer Contact Centre who will be able to assist you, otherwise seats will be allocated when you check-in at the airport.
Answer
UK
SOU - Southampton
LHR – London Heathrow
LGW – London Gatwick
STN – London Stanstead
MAN – Manchester
BHX – Birmingham
EMA – East Midlands
BRS – Bristol
BOH – Bournemouth
LBA – Leeds Bradford
CWL - Cardiff
GLA – Glasgow
EDI – Edinburgh
ABZ – Aberdeen
BHD – Belfast City
BFS – Belfast International
Europe & Africa
MLA- Valletta (Malta)
BCN- Barcelona
MAD - Madrid
CDG- Charles de Gaulle (Paris)
VCE – Venice (Marco Polo)
FCO – Rome (Leonardo da Vinci)
AMS - Amsterdam
HAM – Hamburg
MUC – Munich
FRA - Frankfurt
ATH – Athens
TFS – Tenerife
CPT – Cape Town (South Africa)
The Americas & Caribbean
BGI – Bridgetown (Barbados)
UVF – St Lucia
ANU- Antigua
JFK- John F Kennedy (New York)
EWR – Newark (New Jersey)
MIA- Miami
LAX – Los Angeles
SFO- San Francisco
BOS- Boston
YQB – Quebec
YVR – Vancouver
YYZ –Toronto
YUL – Montréal
GIG – Rio de Janeiro
SCL – Santiago (Chile)
Middle East, Asia and Australia
DXB – Dubai (UAE)
DOH – Doha (Qatar)
AUH – Abu Dhabi
SIN – Singapore
HKG – Hong Kong
PVG – Shanghai
HND – Haneda (Tokyo)
NRT – Narita (Tokyo)
KIX – Osaka
SYD – Sydney
MEL – Melbourne
BNE – Brisbane
PER- Perth
AKL – Auckland
Answer
If you book a fly-cruise with P&O Cruises economy class flights from/to the UK are included. The inclusive airport varies by cruise and departure date, you can find the latest fares and availability online, via your travel agent or by calling our Customer Contact Centre on 03453 555 111 (local call charges apply). If you are flying on the day of embarkation/disembarkation, transfers to and from the ship will also be provided. Please note that unless otherwise stated infants are required to pay for flights. Full details will be provided at time of booking.
Upgrading and tailoring your flights
Whichever fly-cruise holiday you book, we can tailor your flights to meet your needs. Many guests choose to upgrade to premium, business or first class on their preferred airline.
Our charter flights on our Caribbean fly-cruises are especially popular, and usually go on sale at the same time as our cruises.
On selected Dubai & Arabian Gulf fly-cruises departing between January and March 2019, we can offer flight upgrades from Manchester on our Virgin Atlantic charter flight.
We can provide a quote for upgrades with other airlines or for our other fly-cruises from 11 months before departure, once airlines release their flight schedules.
We can also offer flights from a range of UK departure points. Just let us know your preferred departure point when making your booking. Please note that additional supplements may apply. If you would like more information you may find the following question useful: Where do you fly from?
If you would like to extend your holiday we can also help. Whether you choose one of our City Stays, one of our Land Tours or just want some extra time to explore independently, we can help with arranging flights to fit in with your plans.
For a tailored quotation please contact your travel agent or call our Customer Contact Centre on 03453 555 111 (local call charges apply).
Answer
You can find information about your flight:
On your flight confirmation
On your E-Ticket
By calling our Customer Contact Centre please visit our website for contact details, or by contacting your booking agent
Flight Confirmations
A flight confirmation should be sent to you if booked direct or your travel agent via email when your flights are confirmed. If you are travelling on one of our dedicated charter flights you should receive this from 180 days prior to your departure, and if you are travelling on a scheduled flight you should receive this from 300 days prior. If you do not receive a flight confirmation, please contact our Customer Contact Centre who will be able to assist you.
If you make any changes, such as upgrading your flight, a new confirmation will be issued straight away and you should receive this via email the following day. At this stage information will also be available via My P&O Cruises on the itinerary pages.
For further information you may find the following question useful: How do I know if I am travelling on a charter or scheduled flight?
E-Tickets
Your E-Ticket will be available via My P&O Cruises, from approximately 45 days before departure. It contains both your flight and cruise ticket information and can be accessed by selecting E-Tickets from the "Travel Documents" menu. Your E-ticket contains:
Your airline and flight number
Class of travel
Departure and arrival times
Departure terminal information
Baggage information
E-Tickets can be downloaded from My P&O Cruises and printed by you up to two days prior to departure. We advise that you print your E-Tickets as close to departure as possible as this will ensure they contain the most up to date information about your journey. It is important that you carry these with you as proof of onward travel is required to enter some countries.
Secure Guest Data
We are required to provide airlines with Secure Flight Guest Data for guests with air travel as part of their booking. This is applicable for flights into, out of, within and over the United States of America and all information is collected by the TSA (Transport Security Administration). The information required is full names of all guests as they appear on their passport (including middle names), date of birth and gender.
Secure Flight is a behind-the-scenes program that enhances the security of domestic and international commercial air travel through the use of improved watch list matching. By collecting additional guest data it improves the travel experience for all airline guests, including those who have been misidentified in the past.
Answer
We can add your airline frequent flyer numbers to your airline booking but you will need to contact Avios directly to advise them of your flight details.
While most of our airline agreements allow you to collect frequent flyer points, they do restrict you from using any additional incentives, vouchers or discounts towards your flight, including seat upgrades. To find out if your flight qualifies for frequent flyer points please contact your airline.
Some airlines allow you to upgrade your flight booked with us using frequent flyer points. To find out if your flight qualifies for an upgrade using frequent flyer points please contact your airline.
Should you wish to provide us with your airline specific frequent flyer numbers, please call our Customer Contact Centre on 03453 555 111 (local call charges apply) or contact your travel agent.
Answer
Airlines have different travel policies for adults, children and infants:
Those under the age of 2 years at date of travel are classed as an infant. Passengers aged between 2 and 11 years are classed as children, and anyone who is aged 12 years and over are classed as an adult.
Are flights for children and infants included in the cost of the cruise?
If you book a fly-cruise holiday with us, economy class flights from/to the UK are included for children and infants. Please note that unless otherwise stated, children and infants are required to pay for flights and any applicable regional flight supplement. Full details will be provided at time of booking.
Aircraft Seating
The seating of children and infants close by thier parents or guardians is the aim of seat allocation procedures for family groups. Should you wish to choose your own seats, then we recommend that, where possible, you pre-purchase your seats for your whole party. Please see the information below, and if you require further information that's specfic to your flight, then call our Customer Contact Centre.
Charter Flights
Infants travelling on one of our charter flight will be assigned a seat next to an adult within the same booking. If you would like to take a car seat on board, please check with your airline's website for the latest information. Skycots and bassinets are unavailable on our charter flights. All infants are allocations their own seat, however, they must be sat on their parent's lap for takeoff and landing.
Infant Car Seats - TUI Airways Flights
As all infants are allocated a seat on the aircraft, you may take a car seat onboard providing it meets the following criteria:
- Must be less than 16 inches wide
- Must have label certified for use on board an aircraft (most common reference is ECER44-03)
- Good working order and fitted with a single release type harness
- Only aft facing car seats are permitted on board TUI Airways aircraft
Scheduled Flights
Seating for infants varies by airline, route and ticket type.
Scheduled airlines will often allow infants to travel on an adult’s lap instead of having their own seat, though there are some restrictions; for example, the passenger holding the infant must be at least 15 years of age, and a passenger can only have one child on their lap – a seat must be purchased for each additional infant.
If you would like to book an additional seat for an infant, please us advise at time of booking. If your booking has already been confirmed, please call our Customer Contact Centre immediately on 03453 555 111 (local call charges apply). Additional fees may apply.
For scheduled flights please refer to the airline’s individual website for information on car seats, sky cots and bassinets.
Luggage Advice for Charter and Scheduled Flights
Baggage Allowance
You can find your baggage allowance on your Flight Confirmation or on your cruise E-Ticket.
Hand Luggage
Hand baggage restrictions vary by flight. Please ensure that you adhere to your airline’s guidelines which can be found on their website. Failure to comply may result in your hand baggage being transferred to the aircraft hold (in which case additional charges may apply).
If you are travelling with children, please note that restrictions may vary from the airline’s standard allowance.
Airlines must adhere to government issued regulations. If you need to carry specific items in your hand luggage, we recommend that you check with your airline to get the most up to date information and advice.
We have given a guide to hand baggage restrictions below, however, please note that this is subject to change and P&O Cruises has no control over the regulations which can be updated regularly.
Liquids
Wherever possible you should pack liquids in your hold luggage as containers taken in hand luggage must not hold more than 100ml. Liquids include (and are not limited to) all drinks, some foods, pastes, make-up and a variety of other solutions.
Baby Foods
You are permitted to take enough baby food, baby milk and sterilised water in your hand luggage required for your trip. Specific allowances vary by airline and we recommend you check with them before you travel.
Pushchairs
You are permitted to take a pushchair on your flight. They are classed as "free baggage" and can be taken in addition to your baggage allowance. The pushchair will be taken from you at the gate and stored in the aircraft hold. After you land, the pushchair will either be returned with your luggage or taken out of the hold and returned to you on the tarmac. If you are travelling on one of our charter flights where your baggage is taken directly from the aircraft to the ship, then you will either be able to collect the pushchair from the tarmac, or it will be taken to the ship with your hold luggage. For clarification we recommend you discuss this with check-in staff when you check-in for your flight.
Answer
We use a range of airlines to operate our fly-cruise holidays.
Mediterranean fly-cruises:
Whether you're on a charter or scheduled flight, you will need to collect your luggage from the carousel in arrivals before joining the coach transfer to the ship.
Caribbean fly-cruises:
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.
We supplement our chartered flights with seats on existing scheduled flights during peak periods and as and when required.
We are pleased to be able to offer upgrades to premium economy on our charter flights. These upgrades are available to book when you book your cruise (on scheduled flights you would need to wait until 11 months prior to departure before flight schedules are confirmed and before you can upgrade).
Classic Southern Hemisphere Journeys and Exotic fly-cruises:
All seats will be booked on scheduled flights. The carrier will vary depending on the route, date of departure and availability. Should you wish to travel with your preferred airline, upgrade your flight or amend your flight dates, we will be able to provide a tailored quote from 11 months prior to departure.
For more information you may find the following question useful: Which airlines do you use?
If you have a specific flight requirement, please ask at time of booking.
More information, by airline:
TUI Airways – all flights are operated on a chartered aircraft
Jet2 – we purchase seats on existing scheduled flights:
EasyJet – we purchase seats on existing scheduled flights:
For our Mediterranean fly-cruises, we also book scheduled seats on a range of airlines, including, but not limited to:
British Airways
Air Malta
KLM, Lufthansa and Air France (regional, indirect flights from around the UK)
Additional Information
You might find that some services you are looking for are dependent on the flight type. For example if you are travelling on a charter flight you can pre-purchase your flight seat via My Cruise, and if you’re booked on a scheduled flight, you may be able to book seats through the airline’s own website.
Please note that all charter flights operate on the day of embarkation/disembarkation . If you have decided to extend your holiday you will be travelling on a scheduled flight.
Answer
We offer a complimentary coach service between selected UK airports and the port of Southampton on selected one way fly-cruises.
Please note that the one way fly-cruise coach operation is not available on the following Oceana cruises; E007P, E007C.
Whether you are departing the UK from the port by ship or flying from the airport, you can leave your car at the airport at the start of your holiday. 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 Cruise Personaliser 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 Mediterranean or 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.
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. 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 03453 555 111 (local call charges apply). Coach times are usually available three months prior to departure.
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 flying out early (or home later), then this service is not available.
These coach transfers are not available on our Exotic fly-cruises.
Answer
If you have any mobility or medical requirements, we kindly ask that you complete our Accessibility & Medical questionnaire so that we can ensure that your travel arrangements run smoothly.
It is important that you complete the questionnaire fully and accurately, as we will need to liaise with the airlines on your behalf to ensure your needs can be met.
In some situations, the airline will request that you contact them directly to go through your needs in more detail; especially when travelling with battery operated mobility equipment as some carriers have limited storage capacity on board the aircraft.
To request a questionnaire please call either our Customer Contact Centre on 03453 555 111 (local call charges apply) or contact your travel agent.
Completed questionnaires should be sent to accessibility@carnivalukgroup.com or Guest Support, Carnival House, 100 Harbour Parade, Southampton SO15 1ST.
We ask that the forms are returned to us as soon as possible, but no later than 14 days prior to departure.
Below are some of the most common medical and mobility questions we get asked:
Can I fly if I am pregnant?
Airlines may be less restrictive than our ships, so we suggest that you review the following question: Can I travel when I am pregnant?
Do you suffer from any life threatening allergies?
Please provide details on the questionnaire so that we can pass the information to the airline. We cannot guarantee a nut-free environment or prevent other guests from bringing their own food on their flights or on the ship.
If you have any special meal requests, you should be aware that airlines have limited options and therefore it may be necessary for you to supply your own food.
We also recommend that you speak to your airline’s welfare/special assistance team (details can usually be found on their website).
Guests with Reduced Mobility
If you need any mobility assistance at the airport or on your flight, please make this clear on your Accessibility & Medical questionnaire.
Three types of airport mobility assistance are available (summarised below) - please select one option ONLY.
Assistance type available |
Description |
Can ascend and descend aircraft steps |
Can make own way to your seat |
Can walk long distances |
Check-in to gate |
Guests who can manage steps and seat themselves, but cannot walk long distances |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Check-in onto aircraft |
Guests who can seat themselves but cannot manage steps or walk long distances |
No |
Yes |
No |
Check-in to seat |
Guests who are completely immobile and may require lifting into their seat |
No |
No |
No |
Guests travelling with a wheelchair, mobility aid or medical equipment
If you intend to bring your own wheelchair, mobility aid or medical equipment, please make this clear on your Accessibility & Medical questionnaire and ensure you provide all relevant information, including dimensions and weight where necessary.
In order to comply with Civil Aviation Authority regulations, you must advise us at 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 and electric scooters. Assessments will then be made as to the safety of carrying an electric mobility aid on-board the aircraft.
Electrical equipment must be battery operated, as airlines cannot provide a power supply.
When travelling with electric wheelchairs or scooters, airlines will require that you contact them directly so to run through their screening process to ensure the equipment meets their own regulations and can be carried on the flight(s).
All mobility scooters must be checked in with your baggage and will be transported to and securely stored in the aircraft hold.
Wheelchairs may either be checked in with your baggage or taken from you at the aircraft gate, this varies by airline and departure airport – you will be advised by the airline.
At those airports where it is not possible to take your wheelchair/mobility aid to the departure gate, the airline may have to secure the item at check-in and return it to you when you land at your destination. In these circumstances another wheelchair will be provided to transport you from check-in to the aircraft and from the aircraft to the baggage hall upon arrival.
Do you have any pre-existing medical conditions or have been hospitalised within the last 6 months?
For some medical conditions, you will need to get medical clearance before you can fly; examples include, but are not limited to:
recent illness, hospitalisation, injury or surgery
existing unstable medical condition
need for additional oxygen or use of medical equipment on board
If you have recently experienced any of the above or are about to undergo treatment, then we recommend that you contact our Customer Contact Centre on 03453 555 111 (local call charges apply) as soon as possible. Please note that airlines may request a Fit To Fly Certificate and may also wish to speak with you directly to confirm that you are able to travel.
If you are required to wear a plaster cast, you are permitted to travel providing it is a split plaster cast and is not been fitted or changed within 48 hours of departure. Casts fitted within 48 hours will need to be split by your doctor or hospital. For further advice we recommend that you liaise directly with your GP.
Guests who require additional oxygen during their flight
Should you require additional in-flight oxygen, please call our Customer Contact Centre on 03453 555 111 (local call charges apply) as soon as you have a confirmed booking, then we will send you an Accessibility & Medical questionnaire for completion.
Some airlines are not able to provide in-flight oxygen on all their flights. If you have already confirmed your booking with flights prior to notifying us that you require oxygen, we may have to amend your flights to an alternative airline.
Please refer to your airline’s website for their most up-to-date information.
Answer
You can book airport hotels through Holiday Extras via My P&O Cruises in the 'Getting there and Back' section.
Once you have made a booking, Holiday Extras will email a booking confirmation confirming the hotel details, directions, dates and times booked.
Answer
Please ensure the names on your travel documents are correct. If you need to make any changes, please call our Customer Contact Centre. Incorrect name details could result in you being denied boarding by the airline, as security checks are usually carried out 24-48 hours in advance of flight departure.
You should also ensure that your passport details are entered into My P&O Cruises to avoid any delays at check-in.
Charter Flights check-in
Check-in for our charter flights is available at the airport on the day of departure only. Please be aware that it is not possible to check your baggage in the night before you travel on any of our charter flights, even if it is a service usually offered by the airline.
Check-in opens approximately three hours prior to flight departure and closes approximately one hour before departure.Please be aware that even if you have pre-booked your seats using Flight Seat Booker, you are still required to check in at the airport.
Scheduled Flights check-in
Check-in times vary between airlines; we recommend that you check with the airline before you travel. Your flight details can be found either on your Flight Confirmation or on My P&O Cruise.
It may be possible to check-in online for your flight, depending on the airline you are flying with. Online check-in usually opens around 24 hours before departure, but Jet2 and easyJet open their online check-in sooner. Please note that some airlines charge for airport check-in when an online option is available.
If you are travelling with British Airways and have received your flight booking reference, you can check-in online prior to travel. You can obtain this by speaking to our Customer Contact Centre please visit our website for contact details.
British Airways:
visit "Manage my booking" on the BA website to check-in, alternatively you can check-in at the airport.
easyJet:
all customers should check-in online;
Visit easyJet.com and enter your flight booking reference (airline locator) which can be found on your on your E-Ticket. Please ensure that you check in for both your outbound flight and your inbound flight (if applicable) as there may be different airline booking references for each flight. You may be travelling on an easyJet scheduled reservation or a easyJet group allocation. If you are travelling on an a easyJet group allocation, your locator will generally be available in Polar from approx. 14 days prior to flight departure. To establish your booking type (if not already advised at time of booking) please call our Customer Contact Centre on 03453 555 111 (local call charges apply.)
Jet2:
all customers should check-in online; check-in online via jet2.com/pocruises from 28 days prior to departure; you will need your PO Cruises booking reference to access the website. There may be a charge for checking-in at the airport. Please ensure that you check-in online in advance of your flight to avoid charges at the airport.
Answer
The in-flight service offering varies depending on carrier, route and whether you are travelling on a charter or scheduled flight. For further information you may find the following question useful: How do I know if I am travelling on a charter or scheduled flight?
Mediterranean fly-cruises
A buy on-board service will be available for drinks and snacks during your flight.
In-flight meals are pre-bookable on short-haul flights with Jet2. Airlines advise guests to pre-book meals in advance to avoid disappointment.
Jet2:
The majority of guests travelling on a Jet2 flight will be booked on a “group”. The airline has made special arrangements to allow online check-in, pre-purchase your meals, seats and excess baggage via a dedicated P&O Cruises link on their website. You will be able to pre-book in-flight meals via the Jet2 website from approximately 60 days prior to departure. Visit Jet2.com/pocruises, quoting your surname and cruise booking reference, and follow the links (please note that this is a dedicated P&O Cruises link, and you will be unable to use the standard ‘Manage My Booking’ section of Jet2’s website).
If you book your holiday within 60 days prior to departure, please allow 7 days before attempting to access the Jet2 website.
Some guests will be booked separately from the P&O Cruises group seats, and although you’ll be on the same flight as other P&O Cruises guests, you will need a Jet2 booking reference to log into their Manage My Booking section of their website. The booking reference can be found on your E-Ticket or by calling our Customer Contact Centre on 03453 555 111 (local call charges apply).
Caribbean fly-cruises - TUI Airways charter flights
Economy class: You will receive a main meal, after which, tea and coffee will be served. You will also be served a snack on your outbound flight and breakfast on your inbound flight. Any additional beverages will be at an additional charge.
Premium economy class: A complimentary in-flight bar (excluding Champagne) is available throughout the flight. You’ll also receive an enhanced meal choice for your complimentary main meal, plus a snack on your outward flight and breakfast on your inbound flight. Tea and coffee will also be served following your in-flight meals.
Please be aware that 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.
Dubai & Arabian Gulf fly-cruises
The majority of flights will be on scheduled airlines and so the in-flight catering will be the standard service for the airline.
Dietary requirements on charter flights
Airlines can provide the following meal types only:
- Vegetarian
- Vegan (lactose/dairy free)
- Diabetic meal
- Gluten free
- Child meal
Please note that only one request per person can be made and that meal types cannot be combined. It is not possible to request anything other than the above meal types as the charter airlines are unable to provide alternatives.
Scheduled flights
The on-board service offered will vary depending on airline, cabin type and route. Please visit your airline’s website for further information.
Exotic fly-cruises
Meals and drinks are included on long-haul flights with P&O Cruises. You will usually receive complimentary drinks and hot meal, followed by a lighter snack or breakfast just before landing. Please note that not all snack offerings are complimentary. The on board service offered will vary depending on airline, class of service and route. Please visit your airline website for further information.
Dietary requirements on scheduled flights
Some airlines are able to cater for specific dietary needs. If you have any such requirement, we recommend that you liaise directly with the airline to ensure that your needs can be adequately catered for. Please note that not all requests can be guaranteed and requests must be made at least 48 hours before your flight. You will need your ‘airline locator’ to make your request which can be found on your E-Ticket or by calling our Customer Contact Centre on 03453 555 111 (local call charges apply).
Answer
The baggage allowance varies by airline, destination, class of travel and ticket type (in some instances your baggage allowance may differ from the airline’s standard amount due to the agreements we have with the airline).
Please be aware that your baggage allowance may not always be the same for all flights in your itinerary and that allowances on UK domestic routes may be less than on international routes.
Your baggage allowance can be found on My P&O Cruises.
In most cases, any person (including infants and children) who occupies a seat on a flight is entitled to a baggage allowance.
If your baggage exceeds the maximum allowance you may be liable for an excess baggage fee. Please note that unless otherwise stated, handbags and laptop bags are classed as one piece of hand luggage. Suit carriers form part of your baggage allowance.
British Airways (BA)
Economy hold baggage: 23kg per person
Hand baggage: 1 item per person only with a maximum weight of 23kg, plus 1 additional handbag/laptop bag. The maximum weight per bag is 23kg and you must be able to lift your bag unaided into the overhead locker. Please refer to the British Airways website for dimension guidelines or if you are travelling with infants.
easyJet (EZY)
Economy hold baggage: 23kg per person
Hand baggage: No weight restriction, 1 item per person only. Please refer to the easyJet website for the latest dimension guidelines. You must be able to lift your bag unaided into the overhead locker.
Jet2 (LS)
Economy hold baggage: 22kg per person
Hand baggage: 10kg per person, 1 item only. For the latest dimensions please visit the Jet2 website.
TUI Airways (short-haul flights to Malta)
Economy hold baggage: 23kg per person
Economy hand baggage: 5kg per person, 1 item only. Maximum dimensions are 55cm x 40cm x 20cm.
TUI Airways (long-haul flights to the Caribbean)
Economy hold baggage: 23kg per person. TUI Airways will accept multiple bags, but the combined weight must not exceed 23kgs per person.
Economy hand baggage: 5kg per person, 1 item only. Maximum dimensions are 55cm x 40cm x 20cm. For Winter 21 / 22 season only, TUI had baggage allowance has been increased to 10kgs per person
Premium economy hold baggage: 28kgs per person. Please note that individual bags should not weigh more than 23kgs for safety and handling purposes. TUI Airways will accept multiple bags, but the combined weight must not exceed 28kgs per person.
Premium economy hand baggage: 5kg per person, 1 item only. Maximum dimensions are 55cm x 40cm x 20cm. For Winter 21 / 22 season only, TUI had baggage allowance has been increased to 10kgs per person
TUI Airways – Sports Equipment
Golf Clubs: please arrange with the airline at least 7 days prior to departure
Scuba equipment: you may be able to carry 5kg of scuba equipment in your hold luggage, providing you have a valid scuba qualification or PADI certificate. Please contact our Customer Contact Centre on 03453 555 111 (local call charges apply).
TUI Airways – Weddings
If you are getting married on board one of our ships and are travelling on one of our TUI Airways, then you are entitled to an additional hold luggage allowance of 5kg per person. This allowance applies to the wedding couple only and wedding dresses cannot be carried as hand luggage. Please call our Customer Contact Centre on 0345 355 5111 so we are able to notify the airline of this request.
Travel Agents please call 0344 338 8005.
If you are travelling on a flight other than TUI Airways, an additional wedding baggage allowance cannot be guaranteed by P&O Cruises. Please check with the airline directly for their policy on taking wedding items on a flight.
TUI Airways – Excess Baggage
To arrange excess baggage, contact TUI Airways directly on 0203 636 1309, 3-5 days prior to departure. You will need to provide your flight details and your P&O Cruises booking reference. Please be aware that any additional charges are set by the airline and are subject to change.
Excess Baggage
If your baggage exceeds the maximum allowance you may be liable for an excess baggage fee.
Excess baggage rules vary considerably, therefore we recommend you call our Customer Contact Centre on 03453 555 111 (local call charges apply) for clarification on your individual booking.
Hand Baggage Advice
Put any valuables and essentials in your hand luggage, plus swimwear and a change of clothes should you arrive on board the ship before your suitcase – as it can take some time to deliver all those bags to the cabins on board! Remember to pack carefully, as the hand baggage allowances vary considerably by airline. Some airlines allow a small handbag or laptop bag in addition to the defined cabin bag, but other airlines only allow one piece per person.
Hand baggage restrictions vary by carrier and flight. Please ensure that you check the weight limit and the maximum dimensions on your airline’s website. Failure to adhere to their allowances may result in your hand baggage being transferred to the aircraft hold (in which case additional charges may apply).
If you are travelling with children, hand luggage restrictions may vary from the standard allowance, so we recommend that you check with the airline directly.
Airlines must adhere to government issued regulations. If you need to carry specific items in your hand luggage, visit the Gov.UK website: gov.uk/hand-luggage-restrictions for the most up to date information and advice, to ensure that you don’t carry any restricted items through airport security.
Below is a summary of hand baggage restrictions, please note that all information is subject to change and P&O Cruises has no control over such restrictions:
Liquids
Wherever possible you should pack liquids in your hold luggage as containers taken in hand luggage must not hold more than 100ml. Liquids include (and are not limited to) all drinks, some foods, pastes, make-up, medicines and a variety of other solutions.
Baby Food
You are permitted to take enough baby food, baby milk and sterilised water in your hand luggage required for your trip. Specific allowances vary by airline and we recommend you check with them before you travel.
Insulin, Pen Injection Device or Needles and Medication
If you need to carry insulin, needles or a pen injection device on board the aircraft, please call our Customer Contact Centre on 03453 555 111 (local call charges apply).
Please note:
Insulin should be carried as hand luggage and not in the aircraft hold where it may become frozen
Insulin and all other medicines should be identifiable, preferably in its original packing
You should carry a prescription or a supporting written statement from your doctor to avoid problems with security or customs.
Most airlines are able to provide a sharps box on board for disposal of needles, lancets, syringes or empty insulin cartridges. Should you require a sharps box, please ask the cabin crew and they will provide one for you.
There are no conventional fridges on board the aircraft. Should you need to take medication which needs to be stored in a cool place, we would recommend you bring a cool bag with you. Airlines may be able to provide additional ice on board.
You may also find the following question helpful, Can I take medications on board or into foreign countries?
Electronic devices
The UK government has advised that guests must ensure that any electronic devices taken on board a flight in hand luggage are fully charged before embarking the aircraft. If you are unable to demonstrate that your phone or other electronic device can be switched on, you risk having the device confiscated at the airport which could also result in you missing your flight. You are also advised to switch on your electronic devices before you reach the security check areas to cut down on potential delays.
Pushchairs
You are permitted to take a pushchair on your flight. They are classed as "free baggage" and can be taken in addition to your baggage allowance. The pushchair will be taken from you at the gate and stored in the aircraft hold. After you land, the pushchair will be either be returned with your luggage or taken out of the hold and returned to you on the tarmac. If you are travelling on one of our charter flights where your baggage is taken directly from the aircraft to the ship (bonded baggage), then you will either be able to collect the pushchair from the tarmac, or it will be taken to the ship with your hold luggage. For clarification we recommend you discuss this with check-in staff when you check-in for your flight.
Answer
We offer a complimentary coach service between selected UK airports and the port of Southampton on selected one way fly-cruises.
Whether you are departing the UK from the port by ship or flying from the airport, you can leave your car at the airport at the start of your holiday. 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 Mediterranean or 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.
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. 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). Coach times are usually available three months prior to departure.
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 flying out early (or home later), then this service is not available.
These coach transfers are not available on our Exotic fly-cruises.
Spring 2022 |
Southampton to airport coach transfer |
B207 / B207A: end of cruise – 08 April |
Birmingham, London, Manchester |
Answer
This depends on whether you are travelling on a chartered or scheduled flight. You may find the following question useful: How do I know if I am travelling on a chartered or scheduled flight?
Charter flights
We’re pleased to be able to offer a seamless service known as ‘bonded baggage’ on selected chartered flights.
You should ensure that all of your baggage has a P&O Cruises luggage label attached before you check-in at the airport, because once you check-in, the next time you see your bags will be in your cabin on board your ship!
Scheduled flights
If you’re travelling on a scheduled flight, when you arrive at your destination you will need to pass through immigration, collect your luggage from Baggage Reclaim then proceed through to Arrivals. If you booked your flight through P&O Cruises and are arriving on the day of sailing, or have booked a hotel stay through us, there will be a P&O Cruises representative to meet you who will give you instructions for joining your coach transfer to the cruise terminal.
If you have arranged your own flights, or have arranged to fly out to your destination early, then you will need to make your own way to the cruise terminal.
The baggage arrangements for your inbound flight will be confirmed during your cruise. Baggage is usually collected from outside your cabin the night before you disembark.
Answer
All fly-cruise holiday prices include economy class flights from/to London and transfers between the overseas airport and your ship on the day of embarkation/disembarkation.
Mediterranean fly-cruises
We are pleased to be able to offer return flights from eight UK air cities on all cruises: Belfast*, Birmingham, Bristol, East Midlands, Glasgow, London, Manchester and Newcastle.
*Please note that Belfast flights are only available on cruises which start and end in Valletta.
We use a range of charter and scheduled carriers, including TUI Airways, easyJet, Jet2 and Air Malta.
Caribbean fly-cruises
Flights are available from a range of UK airports, which vary by ship and cruise itinerary. You'll find further details of available departure airports when you select the 'See available airports' option, after selecting your desired cruise on our website.
We use reputable charter and scheduled carriers, such as TUI Airways, Virgin Atlantic and British Airways.
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.
Where flight schedules permit, we can offer flights from any UK airport. Additional supplements may apply.
When you make your booking, simply advise your booking agent which airport you would like to fly from and whether you would like one-way or return flights, and your preferred departure airport.
Should you wish to extend your holiday or explore further we'll arrange flights to fit around a Land Tour or City Stay or, should you wish to explore independently, we can book flights so you arrive early (or fly home later), you can book a stopover on selected routes, or if you prefer, you can fly to/from an alternative air city.
Flights are offered subject to availability and airline schedules available at the time of booking.
Domestic Flights to/from Southampton
We can book domestic flights with Flybe to/from Southampton from a range of UK departure points. The fare includes a transfer between the airport and the cruise terminal and vice versa. Domestic flight availability varies by departure date and all flights are subject to the latest airline schedules.
Airline schedules are usually released between four and six months prior to departure; at this time you can check availability by calling our Customer Contact Centre on 03453 555 111 (local call charges apply). We will be happy to answer any questions you have.
If you would like more information, you may find the following question useful: Can I book flights to and from Southampton?
Guaranteed Flight Option
When you or your travel agent books one of our fly-cruise holidays, you may be offered the 'Guaranteed Flight' option, which is also referred to as air city 'QQQ'. This means that you will have a confirmed booking, including flights, but the specific UK airport will be allocated at a later date. Flights will be allocated to your booking at least 7 days prior to departure and the price you have been quoted will not increase. It is recommended you waitlist your preferred UK airport at time of booking. We will do our best to allocate flights from your preferred UK airport, but we cannot guarantee this.
All people booked under the same booking will be allocated the same flights; however we may not be able to allocate the same flights to groups who have booked multiple cabins.
Answer
If you find you are missing your luggage, you should firstly seek assistance from staff in the baggage hall who will try to locate your luggage. If your luggage has not been located then proceed to the baggage enquiries office (within the baggage hall) and complete a missing baggage form.
After disembarkation is completed we will then look at the luggage that is leftover and the reports of missing baggage and try to work out who has taken the wrong luggage. The guests concerned will be contacted to advise them they may have taken the wrong luggage home.
If you take an item of luggage that is not yours, please contact The Baggage Handling Company who will arrange for the item to be returned to the correct guest. If you have left your luggage at the terminal, The Baggage Handling Company will return your item at a cost at the same time.
Should you have any further queries regarding missing luggage in Southampton please contact the The Baggage Handling Company or email: info@thebaggagehandlingcompany.com.
If you have lost / left luggage at an overseas cruise terminal please contact our Customer Contact Centre (please see our website for contact details).
Answer
When it's time to return to your cabin you will want it to be a stylish, comfortable home from home.
Standard cabin facilities in all accommodation:
- Daily steward service
- TV, radio and telephone
- Hairdryer
- Refrigerator
- Safe
- Tea/coffee making facilities
- Air conditioning
- Vanity/writing desk and chair
- Wardrobe and drawer space
- Toiletries pack
You’ll find a multipurpose desk with chair for writing a postcard home or getting ready for the black tie evening along with wardrobe and drawer space for all your clothes.
Included in your toiletries pack in a standard cabin will be:
- 100ml Shampoo
- 100ml Conditioner
- 100ml hand and body moisturisng lotion
- 40g P&O soap
- Fixed 300ml bottle of bath and shower gel
- Shower cap (on request only)
Iona specific:
- 300ml Shampoo (in dispenser)
- 300ml Bath & Shower Gel (in dispenser)
- 300ml Hand wash (in dispenser)
- 100ml Conditioner (on request only)
- 100ml Hand and body moisturising lotion (on request only)
- Shower cap (on request only)
In Penthouse Suites and Mini Suites:
- 150ml Shampoo
- 150ml Conditioner
- 150ml hand and body moisturising lotion
- 150ml bath & shower gel
- 2 x 50g White Company soap
- Vanity kit
- Shower cap
- Mending kit
- Shoe mitt
Bathroom Amenities:
- Towels
- Face cloths
- Pool towels
- A rubberised bath mat (on request only)
- Towel bath mat
- Fixed 300ml bottle of bath and shower gel
Please note that if travelling on consecutive (back to back) cruises some elements of your initial cabin set up will only be provided when you embark on your first of the consecutive cruises.
Answer
There are a number of pools on our ships please see details below:
Arcadia
- Neptune pool - (Indoor / outdoor pool with retractable roof) - 8.6 metres x 4 metres, 1.8 metres deep. Located on Lido Deck. Has 2 steel ladders with 4 wooden steps for each ladder
- Aquarius pool - (Outdoor pool) - 7.2 metres x 4.2 metres, 2.2 metres deep. Located on Lido Deck. Has 2 steel ladders with 5 wooden steps for each ladder.
- Hydro Pool - (Indoor pool, part of the spa). Located on Lido Deck. Has 8 steps leading down into the pool.
Aurora
- Riviera pool - (Outdoor pool, adults only) - 8.45 metres x 5.7 metres, 1 metre deep. Located on A Deck. Has 2 ladders with 5 steps for each ladder.
- Crystal pool - (Indoor / outdoor pool with retractable roof) - 8.2 metres x 5.7 metres, 1 metre deep. Located on Lido Deck. Has 2 ladders with 4 steps for each ladder and 10 steps into the water.
- Terrace pool - (Outdoor pool- reserved for families) - 7.7 metres x 4 metres, 1.2 metres deep. Located on D Deck. Has 2 ladders with 4 steps for each ladder
Azura
- Oasis pool - (Outdoor pool, adults only) - 1 metre to 1.8 metres deep. 9.5 metres long x 6 metres wide. Located on Aqua Deck. Has 2 sets of 8 steps into the water.
- Aqua pool - (outdoor pool) - 1.6 metres to 2.2 metres deep. 11 metres long x 4.6 metres wide. Located on Lido Deck. Has 2 ladders, 1 with 7 steps and 1 with 5 steps
- Coralpool - (Outdoor pool) - 1.6 metres to 2.2 metres deep. 10.5 metres long x 4.6 metres wide. Located on Lido Deck. Has 1 ladder with 7 steps
- Terrace pool - (Outdoor pool, adults only) - 1.7 metres deep. 6 metres long x 6 metres wide. Located on Riviera Deck. Has 7 steps into the water.
- Children's splash pool - 0.38 metres deep. Located on Aqua Deck. Has 1 ladder with 3 steps up and 3 steps down into the pool.
- Paddling pool - 0.25 metres deep. Located on Aqua Deck. Has 2 ladders with 4 steps up and 4 steps down on each.
Britannia
- Riviera pool - (Outdoor pool). 1.65 metres to 2.25 metres deep. Located on Lido Deck. Has two ladders, one with 5 steps and another one with 7 steps.
- Lido pool - (Outdoor pool). 1.65 metres to 2.25 metres deep. Located on Lido Deck. Has 10 downwards steps and a ladder with 7 steps.
- Serenity pool - (Outdoor pool). 1.65 to 2.25 meters deep. Located on Sun Deck - adult only. Has 7 steps.
- Terrace pool - (Outdoor pool). 1.1 meters deep. Located on Sun Deck aft. You have 7 steps to climb to reach the pool then has ladder with 5 steps to get in.
- Hydro therapy pool (Charges apply) - (Indoor pool part of the spa). 1.15 metres deep. Located on Deck 5. You have 2 steps to get up to the pool and then 9 steps to get into the pool.
Iona
There will be four swimming pools on Iona, excluding the spa. In general the deep end of the pool will be 94cm when at sea/140cm when in port. The shallow end will be 84cm when at sea/130cm when in port.
- Beachcomber pool - (Outdoor pool) - 6.95 metres x 3.4 metres.
- Panorama pool - (Outdoor pool) - 6.9 metres x 3 metres
- Skydome pool - (Indoor pool) - 11.5 metres x 3.8 metres
- Infinity pool - (Outdoor pool) - 8 metres x 3.8 metres
With the exception of the thalassotherapy pool, all pools are accessed via ladders (all pools are fitted with pool hoist sockets).
The Skydome pool will be covered for special staged events.
Ventura
- Oasis (Endless) pool -(Outdoor pool, exclusively for adults which has a current which you can swim against. There is no need to book as the pool can be accessed from the Sun deck) - 1 metre to 1.8 metres depth. 9.5 metres long x 6 metres wide. Located on Sun Deck. Has 8 steps into the water.
- Laguna pool - (Outdoor pool) - 1.6 metres to 2.2 metres depth. 11 metres long x 4.6 metres wide. Located on Lido Deck. Has 1 ladder with 7 steps.
- Beechcomber pool - (Indoor / outdoor pool with retractable roof)- 1.6 metres to 2.2 metres deep. 10.5 metres long x 4.6 metres wide. Located on Lido Deck. Has 1 ladder with 7 steps.
- Terrace pool - (Outdoor pool)- 1.7 metres deep. Located on Riviera Deck. Has 7 steps into the water.
- Plunge pool - (Children's pool) - 1.1 metres deep. Located on Sun Deck. Has 1 ladder with 4 steps.
- Splash pool -(Children's pool) - 0.25 metres deep. Located on Sun Deck. Has 1 ladder with 1 step.
Adult Pools
The minimum age to use adult only pools is 18.
Children
Children are welcome to use the friendly family pools. Due to public health regulations, children in nappies, swim nappies, pull ups, or who are not completely toilet trained are only permitted to use designated pools, which are:
- Azura - Children’s pools (Aft) and the Coral Pool
- Britannia -The Reef Adventure Zone and the Lido Pool
- Ventura -Children’s pool (Aft) and the Beach comber Pool
Temperature
The temperature of the swimming pools are monitored and we maintain the pool temperatures at an average of 24°C. As with swimming pools ashore we use fresh water, although there is generally less chlorine in the pools found on board.
Opening Hours
Pools and Jacuzzis opening hours will be confirmed on-board.
Please note during maintenance and heavy seas pools and Jacuzzis will beclosed.
General
Whilst we do allow the use of pool inflatable's such as lilos, we do ask that these are not used if the pool is busy to allow room for other passengers.
Paddling pools are not permitted on board.
You may find the following question useful - Is there a hoist available for pool use?
Answer
Arcadia
- Deck 2 - Forward | Midship
- Deck 3 - Midship
- Deck 9 - Forward | Aft
- Deck 10 - Forward | Midship
Aurora
- Deck 6 - Midship | Aft
- Deck 7 - Forward | Midship | Aft
- Deck 8 - Midship | Aft
- Deck 12 - Forward | Aft
- Deck 13 - Forward
Azura
- Deck 5 - Midship
- Deck 6 - Forward | Midship | Aft
- Deck 7 - Forward | Aft
- Deck 15 - Forward | Aft
- Deck 16 - Forward | Aft
- Deck 17 - Aft
- Deck 18 - Aft
Britannia
- Deck 5 - Midship
- Deck 6 - Forward | Midships | Aft
- Deck 7 - Forward | Midships | Aft
- Deck 16 - Forward | Midships | Aft
- Deck 17 - Forward | Midships | Aft
Ventura
- Deck 5 - Midship
- Deck 6 - Forward | Midship | Aft
- Deck 7 - Forward | Aft
- Deck 15 - Forward | Midship | Aft
- Deck 16 - Forward | Aft
- Deck 17 - Aft
- Deck 18 - Aft
Answer
Yes, there are a number of sun loungers available for you to relax on out on deck.
- Arcadia has approximately 920
- Aurora has approximately 740
- Azura has approximately 1546
- Britannia has approximately 1520
- Ventura has approximately 1546
All sun loungers are available on a first come first served basis and are complimentary with the exception of the loungers in the Retreat and spas. You may find the following question helpful - What facilities and services does the spa and salon offer?
Answer
Use of the main pools are complimentary.
On Azura and Ventura the Oasis pool and Endless pool respectively are in The Retreat. Whilst use of these pools are complimentary, the other facilities in The Retreat are chargeable. Full details are available on board from the Spa Reception.
On Arcadia the hydropool is part of the Thermal Suite and is therefore, not complimentary. The cost of this will be confirmed once you are on board.
On Britannia the hydropool is part of the Thermal Suite and is therefore, not complimentary. The two jacuzzis within The Retreat will incur a charge. Full details are available on board from the Spa Reception.
The following question may be of interest: What facilities and services does the spa and salon offer?
Answer
Yes. Butlers are available in all Suites, including family suites.
Answer
There is an air conditioning control panel in each cabin which allows you to control the temperature in your own cabin between approximately 18 and 28ºC with slight variances between ships.
The average temperature of the interior areas of the ship is around 19ºC (66ºF).
The conservatory part of the Conservatory Mini-Suite is not temperature controlled, however it is ventilated.
Answer
Due to safety regulations we can not allow passengers to bring microwaves on-board and the microwaves we have are not suitable for domestic use. We can provide hot water and you may ask a crew member if they are able to assist you in heating something.
Answer
Yes, a number of coat hangers are provided in the wardrobes - the amount of which can vary, however you are welcome to bring your own should you wish.
Answer
There is a retractable drying line in the shower of each cabin.
Answer
Yes, you will find a small refrigerator in all grades of cabin on board and are normally below four degrees Celsius.
The dimensions of the fridges are approximately: Width 34cm Height 45cm Depth 25cm
Please note, some exceptions may apply on dimensions.
Answer
There are no weight restrictions on the upper pullmans, however there is a weight restriction on the bunk ladder of 130 kg which is approximately 20 Stone.
The upper pullmans are "shock tested" to approximately 300 kg.
Any passenger can sleep in a upper pullman, please bear in mind the bed is elevated therefore a lower berth/cot may be suitable for children/babies.
You will be unable to have a queen bed configuration in the cabin if any of the upper pullmans are in use.*
*The exception to this is will be Iona inside cabins where there are no safety issues when pullmans are in use.
Answer
We supply the type of mattress protector that fit over the top of the mattress. These are on all beds as standard when they are made. We can't supply the type that provides a seal against liquid and air.
Answer
All bath linen is supplied by Calderon.
Bathrobes are supplied by Richard Haworth and can be bought directly from Housekeeping on-board.
Answer
Aurora is the only ship to feature automatic doors on accessible cabins, (the doors open into the cabin). All other ships are fitted with manual doors on all cabins.
You may find the following question useful: What does a wheelchair adapted cabin look like?
Answer
Bathrobes are offered in a large or small size for adults and are not supplied for children.
The same applies for slippers.
Answer
Family suites are available for a minimum of 4 guests and up to a maximum of 6 guests.
The Family Sea View Suites on Iona, can accommodate a maximum of 4 guests.
Answer
All of our 3/4 berths are in the form of a sofa bed or an upper pullman. Please see below for which cabins have sofa beds:
Arcadia
Suites - B1 | B2 | B4 grades
Mini Suites * - CA | CB | CE grades
Deluxe Balcony * - EA | EB | EC | EE | EF grades
Sea View* - LB | LC | LE | LF grades
Larger Inside * - OA | OB** | OC | PA | PE grades
**OB Grade cabins on G-Deck only. C-Deck cabins are now 3 berths with an upper pullman.
Aurora
Suites- B1 | B2 | B5 grades
Mini Suites* - CB | CD grades
Deluxe Balcony* - EA | EB | ED | EE grades
Balcony* - GA | GB | GD grades
Outside* - KB | KD grades
Inside* - OA | OE grades
Azura
Suites - A1 | B2 | B4 | B5 grades
Superior Deluxe Balcony* - DA | DB | DD | DE grades
Britannia
Suites - B1 | B2 | B4 | B5 grades
Superior Deluxe Balcony * - DA | DB | DC grades
Balcony * - GB | GC | GD | GE | GF | IC | IE | IB grades
Iona
All 3 berth cabins in all cabin grades are in the form of a single sofa bed.
All 4 berth cabins in all cabin grades are in the form of a single sofa bed and an upper pullman.
Ventura
Suites - A1 | B2 | B4 | B5 grades
Superior Deluxe Balcony * - DA | DD | DB | DE grade
*Selected cabins on these grades do not have sofa beds, please check the deck plan notes for further information.
Answer
Children bed rails/guards are available on all ships apart from Arcadia and Aurora.
Bed rails/guards can be requested on board, via your travel agent, or by calling our Customer Contact Centre.
We do not offer bed rails/guards for adults.
Answer
The cots are supplied with a fitted sheet covering the mattress and also one small cellular blanket.
Answer
The beds in most cabins on each ship can be converted from two twins to a double (queen) bed or vice versa. There are however, some exceptions as detailed below:
Arcadia
There are no cabins with fixed beds on Arcadia.
Aurora
C124 & C127 on Aurora have fixed double beds.
Azura
D101, D102, P211, P214, P217, P218, P221, P222, P225, P226, P229, P230, P233, P234, P323, P324, P325, P328 all have fixed twin beds.
Britannia
All inside 4 berth cabins on grades PA | PB | PC | PD | PE | PF have fixed twin beds.
A120, A121, A124, A125, A244, A249, A528, A541, B244, B249, B526, B531, B611, B612, B616, B617, B618, B619, B707, B708, C118, C119, C248, C249, C316, C317, C322, C323, C539, C545, C615, C619, C623, C627, C714, C715, D122, D123, D248, D249, D438, D439, D442, D443, D539, D545, D724, D725, D730, D731, E130, E131, E248, E249, E344, E345, E348, E349, E438, E439, E442, E443, E531, E537, E716, E717, E722, E723, F426, F427, G434, G435, G533
Iona
There are no fixed berths on Iona.
Ventura
The following cabins have fixed twin berths:
D101, D102, P201, P202, P203, P204, P205, P206, P207, P208, P209, P210, P211, P214, P217, P218, P221, P222, P225, P226, P229, P230, P233, P234, P323, P324, P325, P328
Please note that in some cases where additional berths can be used in cabins, it may not be possible to configure the lower berths as a double where available.
Answer
Bathrobes and Slippers are available in Suites (all ships), Mini-Suites (Arcadia and Aurora) and Superior Deluxe Balcony cabins (Azura, Britannia and Ventura). These should not be taken off the ship and are not supplied in any other cabin.
Bathrobes and slippers are 'one size fits all' adult sizes and are supplied for each adult in the Suite / Mini-Suite / Superior Deluxe Cabin.
Answer
There are radios* in some of the suite cabins on board:
Arcadia
Available in all Suites.
Aurora
Does not have radios in Suites.
Azura
Does not have radios in Suites.
Britannia
Available in the Roberts Suite only.
Iona
A Bose radio system with bluetooth functionality available in all Suites.
Ventura
A Bose Wave CD Radio player available in all Suites. The radio will only work in port.
*Please note the signal may be weak whilst at sea.
Answer
Your cabin will have air conditioning in your cabin which you can adjust, therefore a fan is not necessary.
If you still want to bring your own you must make this known when boarding the ship so that we can carry out essential electric testing on the appliance.
Answer
All suites (excluding Arcadia, Britannia and Iona) have a curtain/partition which can be drawn that will allow the living area to be separated from the sleeping area.
Britannia's Superior Deluxe Balcony has a curtain/partition which can be drawn that will allow the living area to be separated. Arcadia's Balcony Cabins have small curtains which can be drawn that will allow the living area to be separated.
Iona has been designed with furniture dividers for privacy. Aft Suites will have separate bedrooms and living spaces.
In addition, these are also available in Mini Suites on Aurora and Deluxe Balcony cabins on Aurora and Arcadia.
Dividing curtains/partitions are not available in any other cabin type.
Answer
The majority of balconies are interconnecting and can be opened by your cabin steward upon request.
There may be some instances where this may not be possible. Your cabin steward will be able to confirm this for you.
All balcony cabins on Deck 5 of Iona are unable to be connected.
Answer
There are various places within your cabin to store your luggage.
Many cases will fit underneath the bed or alternatively there are storage areas in the wardrobe or by the closet area.
Answer
The height of the balcony railings are approximately 110cm high.
Answer
Yes, this is available for all suite guests.
If you are travelling in a alternative cabin and would like an ice bucket and additional glasses, these can be requested from your cabin steward once on-board.
Answer
Hand Rails
Some cabins with a shower or a bath feature a small grab rail to assist with getting in and out. To check if this applies to a specific cabin please call our Customer Contact Centre, contact details can be found on our website. All wheelchair accessible cabins feature a roll in shower with a hand rail by the toilet and shower with a fixed shower seat.
Shower / Bath Mats
Each bath and shower has a non-slip floor. Shower/bath mats are available to request once on-board via your cabin steward. These are available on a first come first serve basis.
Answer
Yes. You will find a Bible in your bedside table drawer.
Answer
On Britannia, Azura, Iona and Ventura there are locks on the balcony doors, the rest of the fleet do not have locks, but can be securely closed by puling the handle up.
Answer
Ventura
Bath and shower dimensions are approximate and may vary on each ship.
Arcadia
In cabins A62A | B60A | B107A | E129A - there is a step up into the bathroom of 26cm. When exiting the bathroom there is a step up of 7.5cm before a drop down of 26cm.
Shower dimensions
| Cabin | Height | Length | Width |
| Inside single | 199cm | 86cm | 70cm |
| Inside | 199cm | 90cm | 67cm |
| Inside large | 199cm | 90cm | 67cm |
| Mini Suite | 199cm | 71cm | 70cm |
| Suite | 199cm | 71cm | 70cm |
Bath dimensions
| Cabin | Height | Length | Width |
| Seaview Partly/Fully obstructed | 37cm | 116cm | 55cm |
| Seaview | 37cm | 116cm | 55cm |
| Balcony single | 37cm | 116cm | 55cm |
| Balcony Deluxe | 37cm | 116cm | 55cm |
| Mini Suite | 37cm | 143cm | 61cm |
| Suite | 37cm | 143cm | 61cm |
Aurora
Shower dimensions
| Cabin | Height | Length | Width |
| Inside | 200cm | 70cm | 77cm |
| Inside large | 200cm | 69cm | 76cm |
| Seaview | 200cm | 69cm | 76cm |
| Balcony | 200cm | 69cm | 76cm |
| Suite | 200cm | 68cm | 84cm |
| Penthouse Suite | 200cm | 69cm | 78cm |
Bath dimensions
| Cabin | Height | Length | Width |
| Seaview | 37.5cm | 122.5cm | 56.25cm |
| Balcony | 37.5cm | 122.5cm | 56.25cm |
| Suite | 37.5cm | 144cm | 57.5cm |
Azura
Shower dimensions
| Cabin | Height | Length | Width |
| Inside single | 199cm | 76cm | 68cm |
| Inside | 199cm | 76cm | 68cm |
| Inside large | 199cm | 76cm | 68cm |
| Seaview full/part obstructed view | 199cm | 76cm | 68cm |
| Seaview | 199cm | 76cm | 68cm |
| Balcony | 199cm | 76cm | 68cm |
| Superior Deluxe Balcony | 199cm | 76cm | 68cm |
| Suite | 199cm | 89cm | 73cm |
Bath dimensions
| Cabin | Height | Length | Width |
| Superior Deluxe Balcony | 42cm | 110cm | 40cm |
| Suite | 42cm | 110cm | 40cm |
| Penthouse Suite | 42cm | 110cm | 40cm |
Britannia
Shower dimensions
| Cabin | Height | Length | Width |
| Suite | 198cm | 108cm | 71cm |
| Balcony | 199cm | 92cm | 64cm |
| Inside | 199cm | 92cm | 64cm |
Bath dimensions
| Cabin | Height | Length | Width |
| Suite | 47cm | 162cm | 67cm |
| Superior Deluxe Balcony | 40cm | 143cm | 63cm |
Iona
Complete dimensions are yet to be confirmed. In standard cabins there will be a step of approximately 5cm into the shower. Showers in accessible cabins are wet rooms, so there will be no step.
There is a step of approximately 15-17cm into the bathroom of standard cabins and no step in accessible cabins.
Ventura
Shower dimensions
| Cabin | Height | Length | Width |
| Inside single | 203cm | 75cm | 63cm |
| Inside | 203cm | 75cm | 63cm |
| Inside large | 203cm | 75cm | 68cm |
| Seaview full/part obstructed view | 203cm | 75cm | 68cm |
| Seaview | 203cm | 75cm | 68cm |
| Balcony | 203cm | 75cm | 68cm |
| Superior Deluxe Balcony | 203cm | 75cm | 68cm |
| Suite | 201cm | 89cm | 73cm |
Bath dimensions
| Cabin | Height | Length | Width |
| Superior Deluxe Balcony | 42cm | 110cm | 40cm |
| Suite | 42cm | 110cm | 40cm |
| Penthouse Suite | 42cm | 110cm | 40cm |
Answer
Sheltered Balconies
Aurora
This example is taken from Aurora and is typical for most cabins in the GA GF graded balconies. Arcadia Partially Shaded Azura The following cabins have balconies which benefit from partial shade created by the deck above. Lido Deck - cabins L218 to L312 and L219 to L311 Riviera Deck - All cabins on port and starboard sides A Deck - A101, A102, A103 A104 have shaded balconies Ventura The following cabins have balconies which benefit from partial shade created by the deck above. Lido Deck - All cabins with the exception of cabins L106 L107 have shaded balconies Riviera Deck - All cabins on port and starboard sides have shaded balconies A Deck - All cabins with the exception of cabins A752 A753 have shaded balconies B Deck - All cabins on port and starboard sides have shaded balconies D Deck - CabinsD735, D737, D734 D736 have shaded balconies E Deck - Cabins E720, E722, E724, E726, E728, E730, E732, E734, E721, E723, E725, E727, E729, E731 E733 have shaded balconies.
Britannia
The following cabins have balconies which benefit from partial shade created by the deck above.
Lido Deck - Cabins L201 to L255
A Deck - Cabins A302 to A722 and cabins A301 to A723 have shaded balconies.
B deck - Cabins B726, B724, B723 and B725
Following Britannia's refit in October 2019 all aft balcony cabins on deck A & B now have a glass canopy above. (Image below)
Iona
The following cabins have balconies which are shaded:
Deck 5 - balcony cabins 5320 to 5661 (excluding 5516, 5519, 5520, 5522, 5523, 5525, 5528 & 5531)
Deck 15 - balcony cabins 15514 to 15733
Ventura
The following cabins have balconies which benefit from partial shade created by the deck above.
Lido Deck - cabins L218 to L312 and L219 to L311
Riviera Deck - All cabins on port and starboard sides have shaded balconies
A Deck - Cabins A201, A202, A205 and A206 have shaded balconies
Answer
Shower & Bath
The following grades of cabin have a bath as well as a shower. All other grades of cabin have a shower only.
Arcadia - B1, B2, B4, CA, CB CE, EA, EB, EC, ED, EF, LB, LC, LF, NB or NC grades
Aurora - A1, B1, B2, B5, CB, CD, EA, EB, ED, EE, GA, GB, GC, GD, GE, GF, KB, KD, LB, LC, LD, LE or LF grades
Azura - A1, B2, B4, B5**, BE, DA, DB, DD or DE grades
Britannia - B1, B2, B4, B5, DA, DB DC grades
Ventura - A1, B2, B4, B5**, BE, DA, DB, DD or DE grades
Iona - B4, B5 & B6 grades
Separate Shower & Bath
In the below grades, you will find a separate bath and shower.
Arcadia - B & Cgrades
Aurora - A & B grades
Azura - A & B grades
Britannia - A & B grades
Iona - B grades
Ventura - A & B grades
Exceptions
**B5 grades on Azura & Ventura - Cabins L106 & L107 have a shower over the bath.
To make a booking on any cruise for any of these or any other grade of cabin, please visit our Find & Book page, call our Customer Contact Centre (please visit our website for contact details) or speak with your preferred ABTA bonded Travel Agent.
Answer
Adapted cabins are available on all ships across the fleet, allowing those who are confined to a wheelchair easy access to all the facilities within the cabin. Arcadia, Iona and Arvia also features a number of partially adapted cabins which have wider door widths and a wheelchair accessible wet room (roll in bathroom). Partially adapted cabins may not have sufficient manoeuvring space, within the cabin and bathroom. Therefore, partially adapted cabins are not suitable for passengers who are fully confined to a wheelchair.
All adapted cabins and partially adapted cabins are shower only. Please note that on Iona PB, PC and PF adapted grades are partially adapted cabins. On Arvia PB, PC, PD, PE and PF adapted grades are partially adapted cabins. These are standard cabins that have accessible elements and are suitable to guests bringing non-motorised upright assistive mobility device and who do not require the use of a wheelchair, scooter, or other similar assistive devices.
Arcadia
Arcadia features a number of partially adapted cabins which have wider door widths and a wheelchair accessible wet room (roll in bathroom). Partially adapted cabins may not have sufficient manoeuvring space, within the cabin and bathroom. Therefore, partially adapted cabins are not suitable for passengers who are fully confined to a wheelchair.
Partially adapted cabins on Arcadia are:
C1, C2, C194, C203, E95, E96, G11, G12, G74, G81, G82 and G100
C2 has a support pillar near the doorways - this may prove to be difficult to navigate around if you are confined to a wheelchair.
Arvia and Iona
All PB, PC and PF grade 'accessible cabins' are partially accessible. This means that they are standard cabins that have accessible elements, e.g. adapted bathroom with flush threshold and grab rails, and are suitable to guests bringing non-motorised upright assistive mobility device (rollators, walking stick or frames as examples) and who do not require the use of a wheelchair, scooter, or other similar assistive devices whilst inside the cabin.
Partially adapted cabins on Iona are:
10327, 10331, 15322, 15323, 15326, 15327, 16326, 16327, 16330, 16331, 8327,8331,9326, 9327, 9330, 9331, 9222, 9223, 9228 and 9229
Partially adapted cabins on Arvia are:
10327, 10331, 15322, 15323, 15326, 15327, 16326, 16327, 16330, 16331, 8327, 8331, 11743, 11744, 12742, 9743, 9748, 9222, 9223, 9228 and 9229
Guests can bring a small device into these cabins (See below), as the inside ADA cabins are long and narrow in shape, this means the available floor space within these cabins is limited, making it difficult to manoeuvre, turn and store larger mobility aids.
|
Door Width |
Gap b/w end of bed – desk/ chair |
Gap b/w bed and wet room wall |
Gap b/w bed and other wall |
PB Grade |
79cm |
105 cm |
74cm |
Queen bed 74cm, Twin Beds 28cm |
PC Grade |
79cm |
102 – 105cm |
72 – 74cm |
Queen bed 74cm, Twin Beds 28cm |
PF Grade |
79cm |
105cm |
72cm |
Queen bed 72cm, Twin Beds 26cm |
A guide to smaller mobility aids:
We would advise that a smaller device is less than 100cm in length and less than 60/65cm in width (see cabin door width and gap at end and side of bed) when in use and can fold down as one piece (no removable parts) to less than 50cm so that it can be stored safely within the cabin, away from cabin door for emergency exit reasons, these are maximum dimensions. If guests are intending to use the device in the cabin, again the turning circle needs to be considered as the available floor space is limited. If in any doubt please reach out to the Guest Support, Accessibility Team to discuss further.
Walking frames (providing width is within 50cm), walking sticks, rollators are also all examples of smaller mobility aids as well as some makes and models of electric wheelchairs and mobility scooters (these will need to be checked).
Please note for any motorised equipment the batteries should be dry, gel or lithium cell.
Answer
All of our accessible cabins feature wide doorways into the cabin and bathroom, (minimum 80cm) as well as sufficient floor space for wheelchair manoeuvrability. All accessible balcony cabins feature ramped access to the balcony. The bathroom in all accessible cabins are a wet room style shower room with a flush threshold into the cabin and grab rails for shower and toilet, as well as a pull down or fixed shower seat.
For further information on a specific cabin number i.e location of grab rails please call our Customer Contact Centre, please visit our website for contact details.
On Arcadia, please note the accessible balcony cabins have limited manoeuvring space within the cabin and wet room, particularly when passing by the foot of the bed. The balcony doors in Arcadia's accessible cabins are heavy and opened manually, they require the help from a travelling companion, especially in adverse weather conditions.
Answer
Standard UK three pin plug sockets are used on all ships across the fleet. Shaver points are also located in the bathrooms.
Britannia shaver sockets have US 2 pin sockets (which require an adaptor) to be able to use a UK 3 pin plug.
The standard electrical supply in the United Kingdom is 50HZ (cycles) and 240V. The supply on board is:
Arcadia - 220V / 110V / 60HZ
Aurora - 220V / 60HZ
Azura - 230V / 115V / 60HZ
Britannia - 230V / 120V / 60HZ
Iona - 230V / 60HZ
Ventura - 230V / 115V / 60HZ
The above voltage is sufficient to charge electrical equipment such as laptops and cameras.
Location of plug sockets
Typical location of plug sockets on all ships are:
Bathroom Shaver 1 x socket (Multiple - 110 220v)
By the dresser table and near the telephone X 2 sockets (220v / 240v)
By the TV near the bed x 3 sockets (110v)
By the TV near the sofa x 2 sockets (110v)
By the tea tray set-up and near the fridge x 1 socket (220v)
Britannia
Around the cabin 4/5 sockets - 230V
Dresser table 1 socket - 125V
Bathroom shaver socket - 120V / 230V
There are some variations on this depending on the ship and type of cabin.
Answer
Yes, you will find a kettle, cups, saucers and teaspoons as well as teabags, various coffee sachets, sugar and milk in your cabin. This will be stocked up when necessary by your cabin steward. Complimentary tea and coffee is also available from the buffet area.
A full description of facilities in your cabin can be viewed in the question What facilities are in my cabin?
Answer
Please find below the approximate cot sizes used on board:
When assembled, the dimensions are: (L) 103cm , (W) 72cm , (D) 79.5cm
When folded away, the dimensions are: (L) 25cm , (W) 25cm , (D) 79.5cm
They weigh approximately 8kgs.
Answer
Our boutique style cabins are more stylish and comfortable than ever... Sumptuous accommodation with soothing colours, bespoke artworks from British artists and large flatscreen TVs for films on demand. We've ensured that all the sea view rooms have balconies and we've included 27 single cabins, many of which will have balconies. Bathrooms have glass shower screens and pamper packs from The White Company.
Inside cabins
Variations: Inside with shower | Larger inside with shower
Britannia’s boutique style cabins feature a large flat screen TV for films on demand, pamper packs from The White Company, bathrooms with glass shower screens and bespoke artworks from British artists
Single cabins
Variations: Single inside with shower | Single balcony with shower
Single inside with shower
The perfect bijoux retreat with a single bed, all the usual amenities and luxuries including a large flat screen TV for films on demand, pamper packs from The White Company, bathrooms with glass shower screens and bespoke artworks from British artists.
Single balcony with shower
The perfect bijoux retreat with a single bed, all the usual amenities and luxuries including a large flat screen TV for films on demand, pamper packs from The White Company, bathrooms with glass shower screens and bespoke artworks from British artists. And with some single cabins you’ll have your own balcony.
Balcony cabins
Balcony (obstructed view) with shower (without sofa) | Balcony (obstructed view) with shower and sofa | Balcony with shower (without sofa) | Balcony with shower and sofa | Superior Deluxe Balcony | Single balcony (with shower)
All of Britannia’s sea view cabins come complete with a balcony. Amenities include a large flat screen TV for films on demand, pamper packs from The White Company, bathrooms with glass shower screens, plus somewhere to soak up the views and some sun, it’s the perfect retreat.
Superior Deluxe Balcony
Amenities include a large flat screen TV for films on demand, pamper packs from The White Company, bathrooms with glass shower screen plus a greater square footage than Britannia’s balcony cabins. Luxuriously appointed and cleverly designed.
Suites
Designed by Richmond International Britannia’s suites offer the latest in luxury including their own butler and separate living areas these generous spaces are holiday heaven. As well as all the standard amenities: a large flat screen TV for films on demand, pamper packs from The White Company, bathrooms with glass shower screens.
Please refer to Britannia's deck plans for more information.
Answer
Arcadia & Aurora: The upper berths fold up in to a recess in the ceiling.
Azura, Ventura & Britannia: There are both types of upper berths - some will fold up against the wall and some rise into a ceiling recess.
Britannia: All the balcony cabins have upper pullmans which pull down from the ceiling. All inside cabins have hinged pullmans which fold up against the wall.
Iona: The pullmans come down from the ceiling in the Sea View cabins, and from the wall in the Inside cabins. All 4 berth cabins on Iona can be made up as either a twin bed or a double bed.
Please note that where berths rise into a recess, they still extend approximately 9cms from the deck head (ceiling) when not in use.
Cabin shown above is an inside cabin, size approximately between 137-181 square feet.
Family Suites
These images are taken from Ventura's BE grade family suite and are similar to the family suites on Azura.
The first four people occupying this type of cabin will pay adult fares unless promotional fares are in place which would be discussed with you at time of booking.
Restrictions
There are no weight restrictions on the upper pullmans, however there is a weight restriction on the bunk ladder of 130 kg which is approximately 20 Stone.
The upper pullmans are "shock tested" to approximately 300 kg.
Any passenger can sleep in a upper pullman, please bear in mind the bed is elevated therefore a lower berth/cot may be suitable for children/babies.
You will be unable to have a queen bed configuration in the cabin if any of the upper pullmans are in use.*
*The exception to this will be Iona inside cabins where there are no safety issues when pullmans are in use.
Answer
Yes you have the ability to order from the main restaurant menu for breakfast, lunch and dinner*. Outside of these hours you may order from the room service menu**.
Arcadia
- In the Suite you can seat four people, they have a conversion top that turns a coffee table into a dining table.
Aurora
- In the Penthouse suite you can seat six people
- In Suites you can seat four people
- In the Mini-Suite you can seat two people
Azura
- Penthouse suite can seat four people
- Suites on Riviera deck have a balcony dining table with two recliners
- All other suites on B4 B5 grades have balcony dining table with four chairs
Britannia
- You are able to dine in all suites. Suites have a Tea / Coffee table
Oceana
- All six suites have a coffee table which can be raised and lowered, this is also the default dining table. We have 'table top extensions' for each of these tables which can extend the table to seat four.
Oriana
- All 8 of the suites have a dining table. These are actually coffee tables that convert to dining tables, the tables seatfour using a combination of the sofa, two armchairs and either the writing desk or dresser table chair
Ventura
- Have 26 dining tables which are conversion tops that turn a coffee table into a dining table in their regular suite cabins. These have a capacity of seating four and are only within Suites.
- They also have two permanent dining table in both penthouse suites which can seat six has seating capacity of six.
*In conjunction with the dining times as advertised in the Daily Horizon newspaper. You will not be charged on standard food items, however there will be an extra charge for drinks.
**Charges apply. Prices will be indicated on the menu available in your in-cabin directory.
Answer
No. Your on-board account is charged in sterling and this will be the amount placed against your credit card.
If you are settling your account with a non UK account, e.g. in Dollars or Euros, then your credit card company will charge a conversion rate. Please contact your card issuer for how much this would be.
Answer
Should you have a problem with a purchase, please contact Ocean Books in Romsey on 01794 830 663.
Answer
Our Medical teams on each ship closely monitor levels of illness. As soon as we see any evidence of raised levels of illness on-board, we immediately take appropriate steps depending on the nature of the illness involved. For example where Norovirus is suspected we initiate an extensive and thorough environmental sanitation programme and provide help and advice to everyone on-board. In order to prevent the spread of any such outbreaks we ask affected people to remain in their cabins while infectious and emphasise the importance of regular and thorough hand washing especially before eating. In addition you will notice that before embarking the ship or entering dining venues on-board, we ask everyone to use the hand sanitising gels provided. In some instances we also serve food in order to reduce the risk of transmission from person to person.
Answer
The exchange rate is set once a week on-board.
Further information is available in the ship's daily news paper, a copy of which will be delivered to your stateroom daily during your time on-board.
Answer
Whilst we are unable to put a limit on any on-board account prior to boarding, you are able to set a limit on any account by visiting Reception once on board.
You may set a daily or total limit and once the limit has reached, no further spending will be allowed on the card until the limit amount is changed or cleared.
Answer
Yes, we carry life jackets for all ages.
Answer
Cabins that can be viewed from the main passenger areas do have a mirrored finish applied to them to restrict visibility from outside.
However this does depend on light levels, for instance at night it may still be possible to see into the cabin from outside if the cabin lights are on.
Answer
Britannia/Azura: These are supplied by Harding Retail who stock and operate our shops on board.
Arcadia/Ventura/Aurora: These are supplied by Dufry who stock and operate the shops
Official scale models of the ships are only available to purchase on board each particular ship, so for example, should you wish to purchase a scale model of Azura, you will need to sail on Azura where you are able to purchase one. (subject to availability)
Answer
A traveller crossing the International Date Line eastbound subtracts one day or 24 hours, so that the calendar date to the west of the line is repeated after the following midnight.
Crossing the International Date Line westbound results in 24 hours being added, advancing the calendar date by one day.
The International Date Line is necessary to have a fixed, albeit arbitrary, boundary on the globe where the calendar date advances in the westbound direction.
Please see your cruise itinerary to see if and how you are affected by the International Date Line.
Answer
There is a small range of over the counter medications available from the Emporiumon-board each ship suchas Paracetamol and Sea sickness tablets. Should you require more specific medication there is a medical centre located on board.
Answer
No. We are unable to accept travellers cheques on-board.
Answer
The make-up* you can purchase in our shops on-board are:
Estee Lauder
Clinque
L'Oreal
Dior
Chanel
Touche Eclat
Revlon
Benefit
*varies by ship.
Mirbella is used in our salons for makeovers only.
Answer
Yes, this popular tour lasts approximately three hours and costs £75.00 per person (subject to change) and can be booked at reception desk on-board.
The tour is hosted by a Senior Staff member and gives guests the chance to get 'up close and personal' with departments and staff they would not normally get a chance to meet. There are various displays, information and fun events, including going down to the Engine Control Room, through the galley and theatre and up to the Bridge with many places in between (due to numbers allowed into the Engine Control Room at one time, groups may be split)
You will be required to sign a waiver form. Please note you must wear sensible footwear, cannot take photos/video and are advised to wear something warm if the weather is cold on the Mooring Deck.
The tour is completed on the bridge where, hosted by the Captain, champagne and small snacks are served.
If you are interested in joining the Behind The Scenes tour, please visit Reception to book. A confirmation letter will be sent to your cabin, inviting you to meet at a certain time and location, usually on a sea day in either a morning or afternoon slot.
The Ship's Photographer will join the group during the tour to take photos of the event. You will receive a complimentary gift including a photograph and ‘Back Of House’ tour pin badge with the opportunity to purchase additional photos from the photo gallery.
A Minimum of approximately eight people is required to run the tour, with a maximum of 16 people being accommodated. The tour is run once per cruise or twice for longer cruises or if there is popular demand. The tour may not be run on cruises shorter than 7 nights in duration.
Please note, there may be some differences between ships. Prices and gifts are subject to change.
Answer
At the onset of an emergency all cabins are checked by the Cabin Stewards. Any passenger requiring assistance will be taken to their Muster Station by a trained Crew Member from the Passenger Assistance party via utilisation of an evacuation chair.
Answer
If you are joining the ship on a Fly Cruise and would like to have time to see the port of call on your embarkation day this is possible however, the length of time you get to look around the port of call will depend on what time your flight arrives, transfers and how long embarkation takes.
Once you have checked in on-board you are welcome to disembark to look around the port.
Please be aware that if your flight were to be delayed or the ship brought the muster drill forward this would need to be taken into account and will affect how much time you will have to look around the port.
Disembarkation
Guests who have their flights booked with us, have the privilege of staying on-board until nearer to their flight departure time.
You will still have access to all outlets on-board like the restaurants and bars however the shops will be closed.
You will then be picked up by organised coaches and taken to the airport.
Guests who have made independent flight arrangements will be required to disembark the ship in accordance with your disembarkation time which will be provided a few days prior to the end of your cruise.
Answer
If you wish to settle your account using cash then please note that there are limits on the amount of cash that can be deposited on your account, which vary by cruise length. Please note that you will not be permitted to deposit cash as payment for any goods totalling €9,000 or more (equivalent in the ship’s currency) and these transactions must be settled using your registered card.
You still need to register a credit or debit card at check-in, even if you intend to settle your on board account in cash. Please note you will be asked to enter your 4 digit pin number for verification.
Your on board account must be kept in credit at all times.
Should your account no longer be in credit, any outstanding balance will be charged to your card unless further cash is provided.
We are unable to accept:
- money transfers to the ship (other than gift credits, however these are non refundable and cannot be taken out as cash) either prior to embarkation or whilst on-board.
- personal cheques, traveller’s cheques or prepaid credit cards
Any unused cash on your account can be refunded back to you at the end of the cruise by you visiting the reception desk prior to disembarking. Any credit due to be returned to you will be clearly shown on you final statement which will be delivered to your cabin on the last night of the cruise.
Answer
Electronic cigarettes, including those which do not emit smoke, can be used in designated smoking areas only.
Although we recognise that electronic cigarettes are not covered by the UK legislation we have taken the decision to prohibit their use in all public areas and cabins in the same way as real cigarettes for the benefit of all of our guests.
Travelling to the United Arab Emirates
Please note that the use and possession of electronic cigarettes is illegal in the United Arab Emirates. If you are arriving and/or leaving the country by plane, please be advised that any electronic cigarettes will be confiscated at the airport and you may face a penalty. If you are visiting any UAE ports as part of your cruise, please do not take electronic cigarettes ashore.
Answer
For the safety, comfort and enjoyment of all of our guests, and in view of the UK legislation banning smoking in public spaces, our policy on smoking on-board our ships is as follows:
General
Smoking is not permitted in cabins, on cabin balconies or in public rooms, but will be permitted in designated areas of the open deck. E-cigarettes, including those which do not emit smoke/vapour, are permitted in designated smoking areas only.
E-cigarettes are illegal or banned in some countries and governments are changing their laws as new research is revealed so always check where you can use them before you sail.
You may find the following question useful: Do you allow the use of electronic cigarettes in non smoking areas on your ships?
Travelling to the United Arab Emirates
Please note that the use and possession of electronic cigarettes is illegal in the United Arab Emirates. If you are arriving and/or leaving the country by plane, please be advised that any electronic cigarettes will be confiscated at the airport and you may face a penalty. If you are visiting any UAE ports as part of your cruise, please do not take electronic cigarettes ashore.
Answer
Security will mean the protection, guarding or defence of persons, property from threats posed by crime, terrorism, or business malpractice. It is the business of dealing with the risks presented by such threats and the creation of a response and/or defence to them.
It will encompass everything that works towards the provision of protection, guarding or defence, including intelligence gathering, research and information technology.
Cruising is a safe holiday and the company, the Captain and crew take comprehensive precautions and measures to ensure the safety and security of passengers.
Cruise ship security standards are strictly guided by Flag state requirements, internationally approved standards, and all individual cruise lines also have well established security policies and procedures.
Cruising is therefore recognised as a very safe form of travel and the safety and security of our ships is paramount. Our fleets are equipped with a comprehensive series of protective measures and devices which are activated in accordance with the ship’s security plan.
We are guided by government travel advisories, one of which is the United Kingdom, Foreign & Commonwealth Office. We take all necessary precautions, maintain close contact with all other relevant authorities and closely monitor all aspects of security risk throughout the world.
Answer
A selection of items such as sunglasses, hats, bags, snorkels and masks (not flippers) are usually available in the on board shops.
Other essential items such as sun cream are also available.
Answer
The tap water on our ships is drinkable however, should you prefer, there is also a variety of bottled water available to buy on board.
Answer
All ships within the fleet have enough safety equipment to support all guests and crew sailing at full capacity, should the need ever arise.
On Arcadia there are:
- 18 life boats which can carry up to 150 people each - located on Deck 4
- 46 life rafts which can carry up to 35 people each - located on Decks 3
- 2 fast rescue craft
There is usually no more than 2016 guests and 820 crew members on board.
On Aurora, there are:
- 14 life boats which can carry up to 150 people each - located on Deck 8
- Two MES (Maritime Evacuation System) chutes which can carry up to 430 people each located on Deck 7
- 16 life rafts which can carry 37 people each. - located on Deck 7
There is usually no more than 1870 guests and 820 crew members on board.
On Azura and Ventura there are:
- 24 life boats which can carry 150 people each - located on Deck 8
- Four MES (Maritime Evacuation System) chutes which can carry up to 430 people each located on Deck 8
- Seven life rafts which can carry up to 109 people each. - located on Deck 7
There is usually no more than 3100 guests and 1170 crew members on board Azura, usually no more than 3078 guests and 1160 crew members on board Ventura.
On Britannia there are:
- Eleven life boats which can carry up to 305 people each - located on Main deck 7
- Five tender life boats which can carry up to 242 people each - located on Main deck 7
- Two MES stations which can carry up to 632 people each - located on Main deck 7
- Nine life rafts which can carry up to 158 people each - located on Main deck 7
- 2 fast rescue craft
There is usually no more than 3600 guests and 1360 crew on board.
In addition, there are enough life jackets for each guest in each cabin when operating at full capacity with additional life jackets located at or near the muster stations, plus enough life jackets for every crew member on board each ship.
In the event of an emergency, please go to your dedicated station on board. Details of how to locate your muster station are are found on the back of your cabin door.
Answer
If on-board spending money is only on one booking and not the other it can not be transferred to the next cruise. It must be used on the cruise that the credit has been applied to.
Answer
You can track our ships using our Ship Tracker which details where in the world each ship is.
Webcams are subject to satellite signal so will not show as a live feed, and may not transmit or be weak in certain areas.
Answer
For queries regarding incorrect charges, overcharges, pre authorisation holds andrequests for copies of on board account please contact our Customer Contact Centre on 0344 338 8003 (local call charges apply), or please visit our website for contact details.
For P&O Cruises Peninsular Club discount queries please visit our website for contact details.
Answer
You will able to see where your cabin is located by viewing the appropriate deck plan.
For example, if your cabin number is A106, the 'A' relates to the deck, therefore, select the view of the deck plan on A deck.
Please see the deck plans below:
Arvia: https://www.pocruises.com/cruise-ships/arvia/overview#deck-plans
Answer
You can exchange your money on-board into local currency for most ports of call. There are however certain ports when the ship is unable to carry local currency. In such cases, the ship will advise which currency is best to take ashore.
We can only accept back the currencies the we sell on-board and only in the denominations that we sell. Foreign currency can be charged to your account if you have a credit or debit card registered or if your account has sufficient cash credit to cover the transaction.
There is a daily limit on all currency transactions of £250, and weekly limit of £1250 against a registered credit or debit card. We are unable to accept either personal cheques or traveller’s cheques. We are unable to accept €500 notes at any time for currency exchange transactions.
Please note that, as part of the fight against terrorism, international crime and money laundering, EU regulations require all guests entering or leaving the European Union with €10,000 or more in cash (or its equivalent in other currencies or easily convertible assets – e.g. bonds, shares, traveller’s cheques etc.) to declare the sum to the customs authorities of the Member State which he/she is entering or leaving. If you are likely to need to make a declaration under this regulation please contact the HM Revenue Customs National Advice Service on 0845 010 9000 (Calls cost 3.19p per minute plus your telephone company’s network access charge) or visit www.hmrc.gov.uk for further information on how to comply.
Answer
There are many different words used to describe sight loss and people with sight loss including: blind, sight impaired, partially sighted and visually impaired. If someone registers their sight loss with the local authority, there are two groups of terms used to refer to their sight loss:
Severely Sight Impaired (SSI) or blind
Sight Impaired (SI) or partially sighted
What can blind people see?
Just because someone is blind, doesn't mean they can't see anything. In fact, 93 per cent of people who are registered blind or partially sighted can see something.
Guests are able to notify us that they are blind or visually impaired using the Accessibility and Medical questionnaire. Guests can request large print documents via the questionnaire, however an option to request Braille is not on the questionnaire.
Should the guest require Braille please email accessibility@carnivalukgroup.com where this will be arranged.
Braille
Safety information and tender safety information is supplied in Braille.
The ‘Horizon/Daily Programme’ is written and produced onboard and subject to constant change, so regrettably it is not available in Braille.
Large print documents
Large print documents can be requested by the guest via the Accessibility and Medical questionnaire. As a minimum they should receive the following documents in large print, font size 18:
Safety and Emergency Drill Information
Horizon daily newspaper
Main Dining Room and Bar Menus
Other literature that can be produced in large print should be provided at the guests request if it is possible.
Orientation tour
After embarkation guests can request a brief orientation tour of the ship via Reception. A crew member will be able to take the guest around the ship to give the guest the opportunity to familiarise themselves with the location of key areas in relation to the position of their cabin.
Safety
On embarkation, when the Cabin Steward is introducing themselves to a guest who is blind or visually impaired, they must verbally advise the guest of their allocated Muster Station and asked if they require assistance to locate this Muster Station. Guests must also be verbally advised of their restaurant name, table number and table size at this time.
In the event of an emergency on board, specially trained crew members from the Passenger Assistance Party will be sent to assist the guests in their cabin should it be required.
Answer
The following balconies are obstructed:
IB Grade
G330 | G331 | G332 | G333 | G334 | G335 | G401 | G402 | G403 | G404 | G405 | G406 | G407 | G408 | G409 | G410 | G411 | G412
IC Grade
G324 | G325 | G326 | G327 | G328 | G329 | G507 | G508 | G509 | G510 | G511 | G512 | G514 | G515 | G516 | G517 | G518 | G519 | G520 | G521 | G522 | G523 | G611 | G612 | G614 | G615
IE Grade
G616 | G617 | G618 | G619 | G620 | G621 | G622 | G623
JB Grade
G414 | G415 | G416 | G417 | G420 | G421 | G424 | G425 | G428 | G429 | G432 | G433 | G436 | G437 | G438 | G439 | G440 | G441 | G442 | G443 | G444 | G445 | G501 | G502 | G503 | G504 | G505 | G506
JC Grade
G226 | G227 | G228 | G229 | G230 | G231 | G301 | G302 | G303 | G304 | G305 | G306 | G307 | G308 | G309 | G310 | G311 | G312 | G314 | G315 | G318 | G319 | G322 | G323 | G524 | G525 | G526 | G528 | G529 | G530 | G531 | G5353 | G601 | G602 | G603 | G604 | G605 | G606 | G607 | G608 | G609 | G610
JE Grade
Answer
The links below are typical menus offered on-board our ships and the below listed restaurants can be pre-booked via My P&O Cruises or by calling our Customer Contact Centre (please visit our website for contact details).
Please note, these are examples only and the menus can change regularly. We cannot guarantee that any particular menu or dish would be available on any given cruise. Where there are two example menus listed below these menus are alternated throughout your cruise.
Applicable To All Ships:
Typical Breakfast menu
Dinner menu
Chaine Dinner menu
Chef Dinner menu
Themed Dinner menu
Celebration Dinner Menu - designed and developed by Marco Pierre White
Vegetarian/Vegan Menu
In addition, a range of "Always Available" will also feature on every menu each day. These options include the following dishes:
| Atlantic Prawn Cocktail with Marie Rose Sauce and Brown Bread |
| Cream of Tomato Soup with Basil Oil and Croûtons (v) |
| Grilled Salmon Fillet with Potato Wedges, Seasonal Vegetables and a Lemon Hollandaise Sauce |
| Pan-fried Chicken Breast with Potato Wedges, Roasted Root Vegetables and a Garlic and Thyme Butter |
| Sirloin Steak with Thick Cut Chips, Seasonal Vegetables and Béarnaise Sauce |
| Fresh Seasonal Fruit Salad with Cream |
Room Service menus
Aurora, Azura, Britannia and Ventura Room service menu
Arcadia room service menu
Arcadia
Sindhu example 1*
Sindhu example 2*
Ocean Grill example 1*
Ocean Grill example 2*
Eric Lanlard's Afternoon Tea example 1 (only available on selected sea days)
Eric Lanlard's Afternoon Tea example 2 (only available on selected sea days)
These restaurants can be pre-booked.
Aurora
The Glasshouse example 1*
The Glasshouse example 2*
Glasshouse Tasting menu*
Glasshouse Vegetarian Tasting menu*
The Beach House example 1*
The Beach House example 2*
Sindhu example 1*
Sindhu example 2*
The Beach House restaurant can be pre-booked.
Azura
Glasshouse example 1*
Glasshouse example 2*
Glasshouse Tasting menu*
Glasshouse Vegetarian Tasting menu*
Sindhu example 1*
Sindhu example 2*
The Epicurean Restaurant example 1
The Epicurean Restaurant example 2
The Beach House example 1*
The Beach House example 2*
The Beach House - NEW MENU FROM 5 OCT 2019
Eric Lanlard's Afternoon Tea example 1 (only available on selected sea days)*
Eric Lanlard's Afternoon Tea example 2 (only available on selected sea days)*
Sindhu, The Epicurean and Eric Lanlard's Afternoon Tea can be pre-booked via My P&O Cruises.
Britannia
*The Limelight Club example 1
*The Limelight Club example 2
*The Limelight Club example 3
*The Limelight Club example 4
The Epicurean Restaurant example 1
The Epicurean Restaurant example 2
Sindhu example 1
Sindhu example 2
Glasshouse example 1
Glasshouse example 2
Glasshouse Tasting menu
Glasshouse Vegetarian Tasting menu
Eric Lanlard's Afternoon Tea example 1 (only available on selected sea days)*
Eric Lanlard's Afternoon Tea example 2 (only available on selected sea days)*
The Beach House example 1*
The Beach House example 2*
The Limelight Club, The Epicurean Restaurant, Eric Lanlard's Afternoon Tea and Sindhu can be pre booked.
*If you see multiply shows in the Limelight Club. there will be a different menu applicable to each act.
Iona
The Olive Grove Menu example
Eric Lanlard's Afternoon Tea Menu example
Sindhu Menu example
The Beach House Menu example
The Epicurean and Kjartan Skjelde Taster Menu
The Glass House Menu example
The Keel & Cow Menu example
The Limelight Club Menu example
Ventura
The Beach House example 1*
The Beach House example 2*
Sindhu example 1*
Sindhu example 2*
The Glasshouse example 1 *
The Glasshouse example 2 *
Glasshouse Tasting menu*
Glasshouse Vegetarian Tasting menu*
The Epicurean Restaurant example 1*
The Epicurean Restaurant example 2*
Eric Lanlard's Afternoon Tea example 1 (only available on selected sea days)*
Eric Lanlard's Afternoon Tea example 2 (only available on selected sea days)*
The Epicurean Resturant, Eric Lanlard's Afternoon Tea and Sindhu can be pre-booked via My P&O Cruises.
* Charges apply, please see How much are the cover charges in the speciality restaurants? for details.
** Pre booking of select dining venues on My P&O Cruises can be made around three months prior to embarkation.
Late Night Buffet Choices
On all ships, late night snacks are available from buffet restaurants between 10pm to 6am (these times may vary). The menu for these late night buffet options changes each day however, examples of options available may include:
Self Service Sandwich Bar with a tempting range of breads, fillings, spreads or ready made paninis, a selection of homemade cakes, biscuits and pastries.
Children's Menu
A typical children's menu would consist of the following: The Restaurant staff can also provide small portions and amend the main adult menu items to suit as well. Please note, all details are subject to change.
| Beef Burger in Buns | Pizza Margherita (V) | Mini Minced Beef And Onion Pasty |
| Spaghetti Bolognaise | French Fries | |
| Chicken Nuggets | Fresh Vegetables of the Day | Selection of Ice Creams with Sweet Sauces |
| Grilled Chicken Breast Grilled | Stir Fried Vegetables | Sorbet of the Day |
| Poached Salmon | Mashed Potato | Fruit Jellies |
| Pork Sausages | Potato Smiley Faces | Cupcake |
| Fish Fingers | French Fries | Creamed Corn |
| Pasta with Tomato Sauce | Spaghetti Hoops | Chocolate Cookies |
| Beef Burger | Garden Peas | Chocolate Brownies |
| Hot Dog | Carrots | |
| Fried Egg, Cheese and Tomato Omelette/Plain Omelette |
Answer
Via Mobile Phone
A mobile phone service is available on-board our ships while we’re out at sea (subject to connectivity). When the ship approaches port the land based mobile phone service will become available and the ship’s service will be switched off. Most mobile phone providers have agreements with the ship’s service provider (Telenor). Costs are usually higher than making an international call to or from a mobile phone.
Further details are available via "Can I use my mobile phone whilst on board?".
Via Email
Guests on-board can access their own personal email account connecting to the Internet while on-board using either their own mobile device/tablet/laptop via WiFi; or using a computer in the ship’s Internet Centre. Accessing the internet on-board incurs charges whether using WiFi facilities or using the ships Computer Centres.
There are costs involved in accessing the Internet and these are the same whether using WiFi or a ship’s Internet Centre computer.
If you do not have a personal email address and want friends and family back home to be able to contact you, you can give them one of the below email addresses and we will pass the message on to you. A small charge (approximately £1) will be applied to the on-board account.
The email needs to include your name and cabin number within the subject line of the email.
arcadia@pocruises.com
aurora@pocruises.com
azura@pocruises.com
britannia@pocruises.com
iona@pocruises.com
ventura@pocruises.com
Contacting Crew Via Email
Please note these email addresses cannot be used to contact any crew members. If you are a friend or relative of a crew member please contact them via their personal email account.
Via Ship's Satellite Telephone
It is very easy to call all of our ships at sea from the UK. Calls may be received any time whether the ship is in port or at sea, as long as there is a satellite connection. Please be aware that it may take some time to locate the passenger and bring them to a phone. If the passenger is not in their cabin, a message can be taken and delivered to their cabin.
Please call:
0800 917 1584 If calling from the UK
+1732 335 3264 If calling from outside of the UK
+1877 266 1019 If calling from the US
Callers will be asked for their credit card number and the card's expiry date, along with the name of the family member or friend and their stateroom number will need to be provided in order for the call to be connected. Charges will commence once the phone starts ringing. If the family member or friend is not available, a message will be taken and delivered to their stateroom.
*All prices listed below are subject to change. Please check with your service provider for accurate costs.
Calls will be charged at £5* per minute no matter where the ship is in the world (when calling from the UK). Due to the demands placed upon our satellite network, calls will be limited to a maximum duration of 10 minutes.
An American Call Charge is applied in addition to the £5* per minute call charge.
You will also be required to "press the pound sign on your keypad" when entering details. For those based in the UK, the pound sign is equivalent to the hash (#) key.
In an emergency they can also contact our Customer Contact Centre (please visit our website for contact details), who will contact the ship on their behalf.
If you don't have access to a credit card, then you can use the Inmarsat numbers as detailed below. These lines are charged at approximately *£7.20 per minute, however this may vary between providers so please check with your telephone provider first. The ocean code should be dialled first followed by the number(s) below:
Connection to the ship is via satellite and is therefore dependant on an available signal.
Generic Ocean Code: 00870
Arcadia |
773238012 / 783254634 |
Aurora |
764906755 / 764906754 |
Azura |
765050836 / 765050839 |
Britannia |
773929606 / 773929608 |
Iona |
773258564 |
Ventura |
764843559 764843562 |
There may be times where the ship is not receiving a satellite signal which may result in you being unable to contact the ship for a short period.
If you experience difficulties contacting the ship, in case of emergencies, you may call our Customer Contact Centre (please visit our website for contact details), where a message can be passed on.
Via Fax
To fax the ship, please dial:
Arcadia - 02380 657558
Aurora - 02380 657563
Ventura - 02380 657547
Azura, Britania & Iona do not have a fax facility.
Answer
Dress Codes By Cruise
We have two evening Dress Codes on-board all our ships; Evening Casual and Black Tie. Details of these, by cruise, can be viewed via the links below. We also host Theme Nights where guests are invited to dress up in line with the theme.
We don’t want to dampen anyone’s fun but as of 1 January 2018 we no longer allow fancy dress, novelty items or inappropriate personalised clothing to be worn on-board. Any clothing that features inappropriate or offensive language, including novelty clothing with printed images or slogans and accessories, will not be allowed. We reserve the right to deny embarkation to guests who are inappropriately dressed.
* This policy does not apply to children 16 and under.
Details of dress codes can be obtained via My P&O Cruises.
Suggested Attire for Black Tie and Evening Casual nights
Details of suggested attire for Black Tie and Evening Casual nights can be found under the question "Is there a dress code on board?"
Further Information
Further information can also be obtained via the following questions: Does the dress code apply to all areas of the ship?
Answer
There’s a wide variety of dining on board in our Fresh & Informal venues such as our buffet and poolside snacks venues or The Beach House and The Olive Grove on-board Iona. For Contemporary Flavours, head to the Freedom or Club restaurants, explore Indian cuisine with a British twist at Sindhu or enjoy a meal at The Glass House on-board Aurora, Azura, Ventura, Britannia and Iona. You can also have extra-special foodie experiences in our Chic and Special venues, including Ocean Grill on Arcadia and The Epicurean on Azura, Ventura, Britannia and Iona. Taste great food and sample unique flavours that are Served with Entertainment in venues like The Cookery Club on Britannia and The Limelight Club on Britannia and Iona.
Answer
National and Religious dress including headdress' are allowed on-board. Depending on the amount of the face covered by the headdress, guests may be asked to unveil for a security photo at check in and passing through security check points ashore and on-board during the cruise.
Some items of national dress such as ceremonial blades or swords are not permitted and guests should check our list of prohibited items.
Answer
We do cater for disabled children in terms of accessibility however we do not offer one to one care and if the child needs this then a parent or carer needs to be present at all times. Disabled children are more than welcome to join in with all activities and events run by the youth department.
Answer
If your child has a birthday whilst on-board, please inform the Youth Manager who can be found at The Reef so they can help celebrate your child’s special day.
Answer
Children are welcome to dine in any of the dining areas on-board. Although meals are not provided in the children's facilities, snacks are available in the playrooms and we offer a designated Children's Tea in the buffet restaurants. A children’s menu is not offered in our Speciality restaurants, however should your child have any special requirements, the restaurant manager on board will be happy to assist.
Breast Feeding
Breast feeding is welcome on board. As a family friendly organisation, we recognise the benefits of breast feeding to mothers and infants.
Answer
Our family-friendly ships Azura, Britannia, Iona, Arvia and Ventura are perfect for our younger travellers. Each ship offers a dedicated children’s club, The Reef, for all ages. In addition to The Reef, a children’s tea and countless activities are all included in your holiday. Activities for Children (over the age of 2 years)*
A full programme of age-appropriate activities will be provided for 2-17 year olds in our children’s club (The Reef). It’s split into five distinct age groups so that the needs and level of play in each group can be met. There are a whole host of exciting activities organised daily by our qualified and enthusiastic DBS-checked Reef Rangers to keep children of all ages entertained safely and to ensure that they have the chance to make friends of their own age.
All activities are age-appropriate for our separate clubs and include arts and crafts, quizzes, challenges, sports and much more. There‘s also plenty of time for children to simply relax and meet people of a similar age.
In normal service we operate the Night Nursery and activities for under 2 year olds but we are currently unable to offer these services as we respond to the latest guidance. These services will resume as soon as possible.
Games Consoles:
Relevant age-appropriate games consoles such as PlayStations and fixed tablets, are located in each of the clubs.
Things to note:
Opening times for The Reef are subject to change dependant on the itinerary of the cruise and the seasonal period. They will be clearly advertised and made available on board.
To make use of our children’s clubs, you must register and book a place for your child/ren attending on of the registration sessions held on embarkation day.
To protect the health of everyone on board, the following protocols are in place:
We are currently limiting numbers in the facility at any one time
Children will be allocated cohorts with fixed sessions they can attend throughout the cruise, therefore we recommend booking as early as possible to avoid disappointment.
Children aged 2-4 years must be accompanied by a parent/guardian when using the children clubs.
In line with our new health protocols, children who are not toilet trained can participate in the children’s clubs, however parents/guardians will be contacted to attend if assistance is required.
To make use of the youth facilities on board, you must complete a registration form for your child/ren. This can be completed prior to your voyage by going on-line and using My P&O Cruises
NORMAL SERVICE – CURRENTLY NOT IN OPERATION
Nursery for 0-2 years
With age-appropriate toys and games, plus bespoke themed Turtle Tot activities, the Nursery offers a safe environment where your children can have great fun and meet new friends. Children must be accompanied by a parent/guardian at all times.
NORMAL SERVICE – CURRENTLY NOT IN OPERATION
Night Nursery 2-4 years
The Night Nursery can help you can enjoy your evenings safe in the knowledge that your little ones are in good hands. Operating each night, your children can dream sweet dreams in the quiet area, and we’ll page you if they wake up.
'Splashers' for 2-4 year olds
Soft play area, outdoor play areas and fun activities such as glove puppet shows and creative play combine to make Splashers a great place for children who are at that age when they are constantly on the go.
'Surfers' for 5-8 year olds
From imaginative play to fun and games and sports challenges, our 5-8 year old guests can be kept endlessly entertained. They can enjoy outdoor play, exciting theme days, tabletop games, game consoles and active games such as parachute games.
'Scubas' for 9-12 year olds
With music, consoles and fun game shows there’s something for everyone in Scubas. The fun continues with games, quizzes and karaoke. We also organise a whole host of arts and crafts and competitions so our younger guests will never be short of something to do.
'h2o' for 13-17 year olds (This is called The Scene on Iona)
We are confident that the mix of music, game shows and quizzes will keep our teenage guests occupied for the whole holiday. For the more active, we also have table tennis and much more.
The exact age groupings for older children will depend on the number of children travelling on any particular cruise.
Please note that at least one parent or guardian must remain on board with your child at all times.
Children's clubs will be open regardless of the number of children on board except during staff training or if the occasion should arise that there are no children on board.
Children may only participate in the club designated for their age group; it is not possible to join a club for a different age group.
There is no additional charge for the children's clubs, however booking in advance is essential, and walk-ins will not be permitted into the children’s facility.
Infants
We do not operate a babysitting or in-cabin listening service. We also recommend that children 12 years and under must not be left alone in the cabin.
Children under the age of two cannot be signed into the supervised daytime activities.
It is important to note that we will not be providing the Night Nursery or any facilities for the under 2s at the moment due to the latest guidance.
Who looks after the children?
Our Youth team, the Reef Rangers, have extensive experience of planning and facilitating activities for 2-17 year olds, as well as having an enhanced DBS check.
Security Features
Our clubs feature secure entry systems to allow authorised entry only. Children 12 years and under are required to be checked in and out of their age-specific club by their parent or guardian or authorised adult. This means that only pre-authorised adults will be able to collect your child/ren from the club. Please make sure parents/guardians who are collecting the child have their ship ID available for inspection.
Children under the age of 18 may NOT sign out your younger children.
Answer
In Azura's Planet Bar the following themes are shown on the video wall:
Australia
Europe
Africa
India
Orient
America
Wonders Of The World
Elements
There are themed cocktails in the Planet Bar to match these themes. In Ventura's Metropolis bar, the following themes are shown on the video wall and themed cocktails are alsoavailable below: London - Pimms Cup (Pimms No 1 mixed with a refreshing ginger ale and a splash of lime)
Sydney - Australian Evenings (Baileys & Kahlua shaken with Creme de Cacao & a dash of lime)
Las Vegas - Rat Pack (A perfect Manhattan - Jim Beam, Martini dry & Rosso with a Grand Mariner twist)
Hong Kong - Sloe Boat to China (Gin, Vodka mixed with Cointreau & topped up with Orange Juice)
New York - Bronx (Gin, Martini Dry & Martini Rosso Shaken & Strained with Orange Juice)
Paris - Grand Mimosa (Champagne & Orange with a Grand Mariner Float)
Shanghai - Asian Daisy (Gin shaken with Kiwi Liqueur) The themes displayed in these bars are changed on a daily basis. Information as to which theme will be played on which night will be provided to you in the Horizon daily newspaper supplied to you on board.
Answer Restaurants on-board all ourships are wheelchair accessible.
Table and chairs can be moved if additional space is required once inside the restaurant. Please note there may be some areas within the restaurants that can not be accessed i.e due to a step.
Answer
Yes, on all P&O Cruises Ships there will be a Liquor and Tobacco shop that will offer a far more comprehensive range of spirits, cigarettes and tobacco than we have ever offered on a P&O Cruises ship. Not only will you be offered significant savings over UK high street pricing, but the shop will guarantee to be cheaper than any comparable outlets - including any shops you many encounter ashore during your cruise. Internet pricing is not included in the guarantee.
Duty Free Liquor products sold via the shops will only be available to take home. You may order via the shops (detailed below) at any time throughout the cruise and orders will be available for collection at the end of your cruise (you will be given details where and when you can collect your orders). The shops are shut when the ship is in port.
Tobacco and Cigarette products can be bought via the shops at any time and taken away immediately.
Duty free shops are located in the below locations by ship:
Azura - Emporium - Deck 6
Arcadia - Emporium - Deck 3
Aurora - Piccadilly Court - Deck 6
Britannia - Deck 6
Oceana - Bond Street Shops - Deck 6
Oriana - Liquor and Tobacco Booth - Deck 7
Ventura - Emporium - Deck 6
If you would like to purchase a bottle of spirits for in cabin consumption during your cruise you may do so by ordering via room service (also, from May 2017 we are introducing an exciting new range of chargeable items to the menu).
Intra EU Cruises (Cruises visiting only Countries within the European Union)
On intra EU voyage we are unable to sell any duty free liquor or tobacco for on board consumption or to take ashore from the shops on board.
Price Guarantee
The shops will offer a price guarantee on liquor and tobacco purchases for take ashore purposes. We guarantee the shop will be cheaper than any comparable outlets - including any shops ashore during the voyage. You will need to be able to provide proof of the cheaper price from recognised retailers. Online price comparisons are not included. If you have already purchased on board the shop will refund you the difference back onto your on board account. If you have not yet purchased and have proof of the cheaper price ashore the shop will price match for you.
Answer
Arcadia's buffet restaurant is The Belvedere, located on Lido deck.
Aurora's buffet restaurant is The Horizon restaurant, located on Lido deck.
Azura's buffet restaurants are the Verona and the Venezia restaurants, located midships and on Lido deck.
Britannia's buffet restaurant will be called The Horizon, located on Lido deck
Ventura's buffet restaurant is the Waterside, located on Lido deck.
Answer
Yes, you can order beverages and food to your cabin 24 hours a day from Room Service. Prices and availability are subject to change.
Answer
Yes, cigarettes, cigars and tobacco are available to purchase from most bar areas. We stock the following range of tobacco brands across all ships, prices available on-board*: Golden Virginia (250gm) Drum (250gm) Amber Leaf (5x50gm) Additionally, tobacco products are available from the Duty Free shop. There are some areas of the ship where smoking is prohibited.
Answer
If you are in the mood for a continental, a full cooked British breakfast or just a cup of coffee and a pastry, you will find this and more in one of our restaurants for breakfast.
Breakfast can be enjoyed in any of our buffet or main dining restaurants* or in your cabin. Please see What are the restaurant opening hours? for opening times and What restaurants are on each ship? for restaurant details.
See the breakfast menu for the main dining restaurants.
Suite Passengers (excluding Conservatory / Mini Suites)
In addition to the main or buffet restaurants, passengers travelling in a Suite (excluding Conservatory / Mini Suites ) may also take advantage of enjoying breakfast in the restaurants on-board the below ships only, at no extra charge. This is available on every cruise, regardless of the duration.
Arcadia - Sindhu
Aurora - Glasshouse
Azura - The Epicurean
Britannia - The Epicurean
Ventura - The Epicurean
Iona - Epicurean
Family Suite Passengers
Ventura - The Epicurean
Azura - The Epicurean
See the suite guests' breakfast menu.
Please see What are the restaurant opening hours? for individual restaurant opening time.
Please book your suite breakfast to avoid disappointment.
*If you have chosen Traditional Club Dining you have the opportunity to sit at a different table to the one you dine at in the evening, with other guests or on your own. This applies to breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea.
Answer
We would recommend you make alternative dining arrangements for that evening to ensure you do not need to rush to dinner.
Answer Due to the Captain's responsibilities he may not always be available to dine in one of the main restaurants, therefore we can no longer request a seat at the Captain's table.
Answer
Duty-free Liquor products sold via the shops will only be available to take home. You may order via the shops (detailed below) at any time throughout the cruise and orders will be available for collection at the end of your cruise (you will be given details where and when you can collect your orders). Tobacco and Cigarette products can be bought via the shops at any time and taken away immediately. The Liquor and Tobacco shops on all P& O Cruises Ships offer a comprehensive range of spirits, cigarettes and tobacco. Not only will you be offered significant savings over UK high street pricing, but the shop will guarantee to be cheaper than any comparable outlets - including any shops you may encounter ashore during your cruise. Internet pricing is not included in the guarantee. The shops are shut when the ship is in port. If you would like to purchase a bottle of spirits for in-cabin consumption during your cruise you may do so by ordering via room service (also, from May 2017 we are introducing an exciting new range of chargeable items to the menu). Intra EU Cruises (Cruises visiting only Countries within the European Union) On an intra EU voyage we are unable to sell any duty free liquor or tobacco for on board consumption or to take ashore from the shops on board. Please Note: The Channel Islands is not part of the EU for VAT and Excise duty purposes. Cruises calling at St Peter Port are therefore NOT Intra-EU cruises. Price Guarantee The shops will offer a price guarantee on liquor and tobacco purchases for take ashore purposes. We guarantee the shop will be cheaper than any comparable outlets - including any shops ashore during the cruise. You will need to be able to provide proof of the cheaper price from recognised retailers. Online price comparisons are not included. If you have already purchased on board the shop will refund you the difference back onto your on-board account. If you have not yet purchased and have proof of the cheaper price ashore, the shop will price match for you.
Answer
Guests under the age of 18 (under 21 when in United States of America waters and in the United Arab Emirates) will not be permitted to purchase duty-free alcohol or cigarettes.
Guests may be asked to verify their age. It is prohibited to attempt to purchase alcohol for those under 18 in the shops on-board.
Please Note: The Channel Islands is not part of the EU for VAT and Excise duty purposes. Cruises calling at St Peter Port are therefore NOT Intra-EU cruises.
Please see "Can I purchase Duty Free Liquor and Tobacco on board?" for further information.
Answer
Freedom Dining is perfect if you'd rather go with the flow and be flexible as you can dine anytime from 6.00-9.30pm. Table sizes range from two to eight people, which are provided on a first come, first serve basis. At peak times, we'll give you a pager to let you know when your table is ready, so you can sit back and relax with a drink in the bar.
Freedom dining is available in the following restaurants:
- Arcadia - The Meridian Restaurant (Upper tier)
- Aurora – The Medina Restaurant
- Azura - The Meridian and The Peninsular Restaurant
- Ventura - The Cinnamon and The Saffron Restaurant
- Britannia -The Peninsular and Meridian Restaurant
- Iona - Aqua, Coral, Pearl and Opal Restaurants
- Arvia - Zenith and Meridian Restaurants
Answer
Afternoon tea at sea is a daily treat on-board our ships. Partake in the quintessentially British tradition in the main restaurants and savour a classic selection of finger sandwiches, freshly baked scones and delectable cakes, all served at your table with a choice of thirst-quenching hot drinks. For a more relaxed affair, help yourself to a casual afternoon tea at the buffet restaurants.
Answer
There are cinemas on all the P&O Cruises ships.
On Ventura films will be played in the theatres (Prom and F deck)
On Britannia, films are shown in The Studio (Deck 7)
Azura has an outdoor cinema Sea Screen (Aqua deck). Films are also shown on a screen in Malabar (Prom deck)
Arcadia has a boutique cinema, The Screening Room (Prom deck)
Ocean Studios (Deck 6) on board Iona has four screens showing the latest films and old classics.
On Aurora the cinema is called The Playhouse (D deck)
Details of which films will be shown in the cinemas can be viewed under the question "What films are shown on-board?"
Show times will be detailed in the Horizon newspaper on-board.
A selection of movies can be watched in all cabins on-board via the in cabin televisions with an additional wide range of movies available on demand on the Britannia, Ventura and Azura. A small charge may be applicable for some of these movies though many are free. Details of all in cabin movies will be made available to you once on-board.
Answer
As we return to sailing, we have new health protocols in place to protect the well-being of everyone on-board and things will look and feel a little different. For our entertainment venues and shows, we’ll be limiting capacity and so you’ll need to book your seat in advance. We’ll be offering more show times throughout the day in the theatres. You’ll be able to view the bookable events via My P&O Cruises before your holiday and book Signature performances from 14 days prior to departure. You may also book once you’re on-board. Some events can be booked by turning up on the day and this will be managed on-board. Please refer to your daily Horizon paper when you get on-board for the booking details of each event.
Answer
On-board gaming
You’ll find a casino on board all our ships and all offer numerous ways to chance your hand with lady luck.
*With the addition of the Arcade on board Ventura, this falls under the jurisdiction of the casino, therefore the use on on board credit is not permitted.
Table games
From Roulette to Three Card Poker and Blackjack, join our dealers at a hosted table and try your luck. Casino Chips can be purchased from your dealer. If you’re new to gaming, pop along during the day for a fun and complimentary lesson.
Slot machines
You’ll find a large assortment of the most popular reel and video slot machines. Simply insert your cruise card or cash into the machine to begin. If you need assistance, casino staff are on hand to help. On all ships, receive a £5 free play slot bonus for your first £20 played. You will also earn free house beverages while you play (speak to a member of the casino team for more information).
Bingo
For some light-hearted fun, seek out the jackpot in an exciting game of bingo. You can win one of five cash prizes at every sea day session whilst the Mega Jackpot is in play. Bingo cards can be purchased from the Casino Cashier or at the venue.
Scratch Cards
Our range of scratch cards offer the opportunity to win up to £20,000. Scratch cards can be purchased from the Casino Desk.
Virtual Horse Racing
Cheer your favourite filly across the line as you watch all the action unfold on the big screen. Bets can be placed with cash or charged to your on board account.
Payment Options
Casino Chips can be purchased in cash from the Casino Dealers at any table or charged to your on-board account.
Slot machines can be played with cash or by inserting your cruise card directly into the machine.
Note: All winnings must be cashed out onto your cruise card. On-board spending money cannot be used in the casino.
Location and facilities
- Arcadia - F deck. 1 x Three Card Poker table, 2 x Roulette table and 1 x Blackjack tables
- Aurora – Prom deck. 1 x Three Card Poker table, 1 x Blackjack table and 2 x Roulette tables
- Azura – F deck. 1 x Three Card Poker table, 1 x Blackjack table, 1 x Fun 21 table and 2 x Roulette tables
- Britannia - Tween deck, deck 6. 2 x Three Card Poker table, 2 x Blackjack table, and 2 x Roulette table
- Iona - Parade deck (Deck 7). More informartion TBC
- Ventura - F deck. 1 x Three Card Poker table, 1 x Blackjack table, 1 x Fun 21 table and 2 x Roulette tables
Age Limits
Only those over the age of 18 may use the casino facilities.
Opening Times
Sea day: Slot machines; 10am until late. Tables; 12pm until late
Port day: Approximately 30 minutes after sailaway until late.
Note: The gaming facilities within the casino are only available when the ship is in international water, opening times may vary by jurisdiction.
Unused Casino Chips
Casino Chips must be cashed in on board. If you take chips home at the end of your cruise they will be valid next time you sail.
If you accidentally forget to do this and take them home then please send them recorded delivery to:
Guest Relations
P&O Cruises
Carnival House
100 Harbour Parade
Southampton
SO15 1ST
Please note, once received, we will carry out investigations to ensure legitimacy with a view to refunding the value to you. This may take some time, therefore it is preferable to cash in any unused chips before disembarking.
Player Balance Refunds
Outstanding Player Balances of £10 or greater may be refunded by cheque by contacting Guest Support.
Answer
During days at sea, there is wide range of activities available on-board such as guest speakers, quizzes, dance lessons, fitness classes, sports tournaments, galley walk-throughs, cinema screenings, spa seminars and craft classes. Of course, you may just prefer to relax on deck with a cocktail and a book; you can do as little or as much as you choose. On port days, should you wish to stay on-board, you can still take advantage of a reduced range of activities. We cannot confirm exactly which activities will be available on your particular cruise, but there willalwaysbe plenty to do. Please refer to your daily Horizon paper when you get on-board for details.
Answer
There is a dedicated sports channel - Sport 24, which offers coverage of major sporting events. Unfortunately, due to International law we are not able to purchase the rights to show the Sky Sports channel on our ships.
Answer
Yes, there is a theatre on board each of our ships.
Arcadia - The Palladium – Located on the promenade,F & G decks with 736 seats Take a"http://www.pocruises.com/cruise-ships/arcadia/">virtual tour of Arcadia - select either Prom, F or G deck and then Palladium
Wheelchair Spaces - There isaccess on all our decks to the Palladium Theatre where youcan enjoy the evening entertainment. However, the designated area for the wheelchairs is on Deck 2 along with signs for wheelchair companions. There is also signs down on the starboard and port side of Deck 1, if youfeel more comfortable entering the Palladium Theatre that way.
Aurora - The Curzon Theatre - Located on the promenade deck with 668 seats Take a "http://www.pocruises.com/cruise-ships/aurora/">virtual tour of Aurora - selectPromdeck and then The Curzon Theatre
Wheelchair Spaces -There isone ramp that allowsaccess to the port and starboard side of Deck 7 with parking access for fourwheelchairs and three seats on each side. These seats are labelledas reserved. Deck 6 has direct access from the port and starboard side and has 12 seats with space to fit a wheelchair next to each seat. These seats will be labelled as reserved.
Azura - The Playhouse – Located on the promenade and F deck with 788 seats Takea "http://www.pocruises.com/cruise-ships/azura/">virtual tour of Azura - selectF deck and then The Playhouse
Wheelchair Spaces -There isone ramp that allowsaccess to the port and starboard side of Deck 7 with parking access for four wheelchairs and three seats on each side. Deck 6 has direct access from the port and starboard side and has 12 seats with space to fit a wheelchair next to each seat.
Britannia - Headliners Theatre - Located on Deck 6 and 7 with 980 seats
Wheelchair Spaces - Deck 7 port side and starboard there is one ramp each for parking wheelchairs and watching the show, having signed as reserved for wheelchair. Deck 6 forward there are 16 seats which are reserved for wheelchair users.
Ventura - Arena Theatre; Located on the promenade and F deck with 788 seats
Wheelchair Spaces - Deck 7 there is a centre ramp to access port side and starboard side with three wheelchair spaces either side with three accompanying seats either side (6 wheelchairs in total). The back row has twosteps to negotiate on starboard and port side are reserved for passengers with limited mobility. Deck 6 has no stairs. The end seat of each row is reserved for passengers with wheelchair companions.
Iona - Headliners Theatre; Located on deck 6 & 7 with 950 seats.
Wheelchair spaces - All entrances to the theatre have wheelchair access and there are designated wheelchair places on the front row, accessed from Deck 6 and next to the entrances on Deck 7.
Wheelchair spaces are available on a first come, first served basis. It is not possible to pre book these spaces or any of the seats in the theatre.
The Theatre companies perform West End style shows regularly throughout each cruise. On a regular 14 night cruise, up to 7 production shows may be performed. Full details of the performances will be made available once on board and vary by ship.
There is no set opening time for the theatre, it will openfor individual events which can vary day to day. Please see the daily horizon, your on board news paper for entertainment events and times.
Answer
Yes, you may purchase a camera from our Ship's Photographer on-board. We stock a number of Nikon cameras, the full range and costs can be obtained from the photography desk on-board.
Answer
Arcadia - The Globe, situated on F deck.
Aurora - Masquerade situated on the Promenade Deck.
Azura - Manhattansituated on the Promenade Deck.
Britannia - The Live Lounge situated on Deck 7.
Ventura - Havana situated on the Promenade Deck.
Iona - The Club House, situated on Deck 7.
Answer
There is a sports channel on allships called 'Sport 24' whichoffers coverage of major sporting events including:
- FIFA World Cup Play Offs
- FIFA World Cup Qualifiers
- ATP Masters Tennis
- ATP World Tour Finals
- Augusta Masters
- Australian Open Tennis
- Bundesliga
- Euroleague Basketball
- European Rugby Champions Cup
- Motogp
- NBA
- NHL
- National Rugby League
- PGA Championship
- Premier League
- Roland Garros
- State Of Origin Series
- T20 Big Bash League
- The Open Championship
- UEFA Champions League
- UEFA Europa League
- US Open Golf
- US Open Tennis
- Wimbledon
- Winter Olympics
- Ryder Cup Golf
- 2018 FIFA World Cup
Full details of the sporting events shown on-board can be viewed via http://www.sport24-tv.com dedicated websitefor this channel which includes both a regularly updated news page and a full four week schedule so you will know exactly what sporting coverage you can expect whilst on-board. Please ensure you click on the "AT SEA" tab on the website to ensure you are seeing the correct schedule.
Please note inclusion on the list does not guarantee coverage on-board and we are not able to guarantee coverage of any specific match or event.
Sport 24 will be shown in selected bars and lounges around each ship.
Answer
There are coffee mornings for guests travelling by themselves. These are advertised in the daily Horizon newspaper. These coffee mornings are not available 2 or 3 night cruises.
Answer
There are provisions for card games to be organised on all the P& O Cruises ships.
On cruises with seven days or more at sea, games such as bridge feature on all cruises except Azura and Ventura. Britannia offer bridge without an instructor and can be played in the Marlow suite (subject to availability).
The Bridge classes are organised by instructors, in the morning there will be a beginner class followed by an Improverclass, both approximatelyone hour. In the afternoon a duplicate session is held. All cards and equipment are provided on board.
Tournaments will be advertised in the daily Horizonpaper, other card games can be arranged upon request.
The following games are available on each ship:
Arcadia
- Chess
- Scrabble
- Dominoes
- Cribbage
- Rumikub
- Various puzzles
Aurora
- Countdown
- Draughts
- Trivial Pursuit
- Monopoly
- Scrabble
- Mah-jong
- Chess
- Backgammon
- Various jigsaws
- Checkers
Azura
- Monopoly
- Rummikub
- Dart board (Brodie's pub, deck 6 F Deck)
Britannia
- Cribbage Set
- Game Backgammon
- Board Cludeo
- Boggle
- Catch Phrase
- Chequers
- Chess
- Connect 4
- Countdown Board Game
- Draughts
- Frustration
- Indoor Rummikub
- Jenga
- Ludo
- Mah-jong Set
- Monopoly
- Pass the Pigs
- Pictionary Party
- Playing cards
- Scrabble
- Soundtracks
- Tell Me
- Trivial Pursuit
- Uno card Game
- Who Wants to be a Millionaire
- Yahtzee Milton Bradley
- Yahtzee Score Pad
Ventura
- Scrabble
- Backgammon
- Pictionary
Answer
Full details on what treatments and services are available and costs can be viewed in the Oasis Spa brochure. In addition you may purchase spa/retreat day passes, details of which are available once on-board.
Answer
Prior to Cruise: Should you wish to amend or cancel a Spa Treatment or Services prior to your cruise you can do so by logging onto My P&O Cruises and visiting 'Your Spa Reservations' from the 'Spa' option on the menu ribbon. Cancellations can be made via My P&O Cruises up until 3 days prior to departure free of charge. If you are sailing on the Azura , Ventura or Britannia and have purchased a Spa package and wish to amend or cancel a Spa appointment prior to your cruise you can do so by contacting the Oasis Spa Package Reservation Desk via email or by telephone 0800 369 9901. If you wish to change your Spa Package (i.e from Spa Sampler to Refresh package) please call our Customer Contact Centre. Please note that refunds will be applied to the card originally used to purchase the treatment or service and you will receive confirmation of your amendment / cancellation.
On Board: Spa treatments and services can also be amended or cancelled on board, however for cancellations made at this late stage, a penalty charge may be applied. Cancellation made on board within 24 hours of your appointment will incur a 50% cancellation charge*. Please note this is subject to change.
Answer
P&O Cruises do not currently offer this service.
Answer
As a general rule, there is approximately 2 Black Tie nights during a 7 night cruise and 4 during a 14 night cruise. This can vary from cruise to cruise. Full details will be provided to you before you travel.
Answer
The Dress Code applies to a majority of public areas after 6pm.The following venues are exclusively Black Tie venues when Black Tie is the Dress Code of the ship.
- Arcadia: Intermezzo, The Crow's Nest, Meridian, Sindhu and Ocean Grill restaurants.
- Aurora: Anderson’s, The Crow's Nest, Alexandria, Medina, Sindhu and The Glass House restaurants. Azura Blue Bar, Planet Bar, Meridian, Peninsular, Oriental, Sindhu, The Glass House and The Epicurean restaurants.
- Britannia: The Crow’s Nest, The Epicurean, Meridian, Peninsular, Oriental, Sindhu and The Glass House restaurants.
- Ventura: Red Bar, Metropolis, Cinnamon, Saffron, Bay Tree, Sindhu, The Glass House and The Epicurean restaurants.
Answer
For a hassle-free holiday, all our ships are able to cater for most allergies and intolerances including Vegetarian, Vegan, Pescetarian, Low fat, Low salt, Lactose intolerant / Dairy free, Gluten free / Wheat free, Low cholesterol, Diabetic, Kosher.
Please call our Customer Contact Centre on 0345 355 5111 or your local Travel agent with details of your allergy or intolerance and we will notify the onboard team prior to your cruise.
Answer
Yes, decaffeinated tea is available in the club and freedom restaurants, along with a wide selection of TeaPig decaffinated and herbal teas for purchase.
The bars serve decaffeinated coffee and decaffinated Costa coffee is available for purchase. If you require decaffeinated coffee in your cabin, this can be requested on board.
Suitable alternatives are supplied if the above is not available.
Answer
Wherever possible, fresh milk (full fat, semi skimmed and skimmed) is served. Long life milk is served when fresh milk is not available.
Answer
Each guest aged 18 years (21 years in United States of America 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 dining rooms, bars, restaurants, or lounge areas, but will be subject to a corkage fee of £20 per bottle, per occasion which will be charged to your on board account. Spirits or liquor brought onboard can only be consumed in guests' cabins.
Any alcoholic beverages purchased mid-cruise in ports of call cannot be consumed on-board. You will need to declare and hand over any alcohol bought in port at the gangway. It will be stored and returned to you prior to the end of the cruise, at no charge.
If a bottle of wine/Champagne has been bought for you through P&O Cruises gifts, you will need to ensure you carry the gift card with you to avoid having the corkage charge applied to your on board account.
On eligible cruises, you are welcome to buy duty free alcohol to take home via the on-board shops. It will be stored until the end of your cruise.
Should you wish to enjoy a drink in your cabin, please 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 mini bars in all cabins.
Guests are expected to drink responsibly. This applies at the terminal, on-board and on-shore excursions. We reserve the right to deny access to the ship to anyone who appears to be heavily under the influence of alcohol.
Answer
Complimentary Bewley's brand coffee is available in the buffet restaurants 24 hours a day.
In addition, tea and coffee facilities can be found in your cabin. You may find the following question useful - Can I make tea and coffee in my cabin?
In addition, each ship has at least one Costa coffee bar on board which sells the Costa coffee range.
Answer
Drinks prices are very similar to those on the high street with the added advantage that we’ll bring them to you, waiter service is standard on-board!
There’s a comprehensive cocktail list and a superb selection of wines from around the world, alongside popular spirits, beers and ciders.
You can also enjoy savings with one of our Drinks Packages. Something for all tastes.
Complimentary tea and coffee is supplied in your cabin and is refreshed regularly and is available from our buffet restaurants 24 hours a day. Complimentary drinking water and fruit juice (during breakfast hours) is also available from the buffet restaurants and room service.
Answer
Yes we do offer vegan and vegetarian wines on-board our ships, which are available to purchase on-board via your wine waiter. Unfortunately these are not available to pre-order. All wines listed are subject to change and availability.
Answer
Costa Coffee is sold in the various coffee shops and bars on-board. Costa Ice is also available to purchase - A range of iced coffees, creamy coolers and fruit coolers are on offer to help quench your thirst in the heat of the sun. Further details on these products are available on-board.
Answer
Yes, both male and female therapists are on-board some of our ships, although majority are female.
The male therapists that we have are either hairdressers, nail technicians, fitness instructors, acupuncturists, or Medi Docs - we do not have male massage or facial therapists.
Answer
Spa treatments and services are available to book from approximately 120 days prior departure.
If you have an enquiry regarding a service or treatment you have booked please speak to our Customer Contact Centre on 0345 355 5111
Post Cruise enquiries: (including home deliveries) Please write to our Customer Services department: Customer ServicesP&O CruisesCarnival House100 Harbour ParadeSouthamptonHampshireSO15 1ST
If you wish to purchase any products from the spa after your cruise please visit www.timetospa.com
Answer
The steam rooms are complimentary on-board Aurora. Britannia has two steam rooms on-board, the one steam room outside the gym changing rooms are complimentary.
On-board Arcadia, Azura, Britannia and Ventura the steam room is part of the Thermal Suite / Hydropool* area and as such, charges apply. (*Hydropool on Arcadia & Britannia only. Endless Oasis pools on Ventura & Azura do not incur a charge).
The sauna is complimentary on board Arcadia, Aurora, Azura and Ventura.
Answer
Yes, though the card holder must be present at check-in. The alternative to this is to purchase on-board spending money prior to cruising.
Answer
To help you tailor your holiday just the way you like it, we’ve created three drinks packages that offer unbeatable choice and value on board:
- The Ultimate Drinks Package - £39.95pp per day - Available to Adults.
- The Non-alcoholic Drinks Package - £19.95pp per day - Available to Adults and Children.
- The Children’s Drinks Package - £7.95pp per day - Available to Children and Infants.
What's included
| Suitable for children | Alcoholic drinks (up to £6.95) | Draught soft drinks | Long life juices | Bottled water (500ml) | Primo Costa Coffee | Hot chocolate | Tea | Non-alcoholic cocktails | Squash/ cordial by the glass | |
The Ultimate drinks package £39.95pp per day |
No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
The Non-alcoholic drinks package £19.95pp per day |
Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
The Hot drinks package £10.95pp per day |
Yes | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
The Children's drinks package £7.95pp per day |
Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | No | No | Yes |
Important to know
- Drinks packages are available on cruises of five nights or more and must be purchased for every day of your cruise.
- You can buy packages at any bar on board until midnight on night two of your cruise and you can use your package in all the restaurants, bars and cafés on board.
- Packages are available to purchase pre-cruise via My P&O Cruises. Each adult assigned to the same cabin must purchase the same drinks package. Sharing is not permitted.
- Children can have the Children's package independently of their parents. There is no requirement for adults in the same cabin to also purchase a package.
- When an Ultimate Package is purchased, a free Children`s package will be offered for all the children travelling in the same cabin only (aged 17 and under*).
- Any loyalty discount will be applied when purchasing a drinks package.
- The reservation will only show in 'my orders' sections for the guest who made the order, even if a guest made a reservation for multiple guests on the booking.
Wine Packages
Various wine packages are available and can be redeemed in any venue on board. However, please note the following:
- Redemption within the main dining restaurants can easily be accommodated. Simply ask your Waiter for your bottle of choice that evening
- If you are dining in one of our Select Dining venues and wish to have a bottle of wine from your package made available to you, please let a member of the restaurant staff know and they can arrange this for you.
- Regrettably, due to limited storage in some of our bars, we may not have a specific wine available in every bar. If there is a particular bar you wish to have the wine available in, please ask to speak with the Bartender to request this and they will do what they can to accommodate your request.
Alternatively, you can arrange to have your wine package delivered to your cabin. Please note loyalty discount will not be applied when purchasing wine packages.
For more information about bringing you own wine onboard please see Will a corkage fee apply if I bring my own alcohol on board?
Please note that these packages are non-refundable and may not be exchanged for another item, or for on board credit.
Self and Room Service
'Self Serve Wine' (by the glass) is available in the buffet restaurants on Aurora, Azura, Britannia and Ventura. Please see How does the enomatic wine system work in Ventura's Waterside buffet restaurant? for details.
On Aurora, Azura and Britannia you can use your cruise card with the Enomatic wine systems for greater ease.
Single bottles of wine or Champagne can be pre ordered via our gift catalogue and spirits can be ordered via room service
For details of all drinks available from bars please see the question How much are drinks on-board?
Answer
Drinks prices are very similar to those on the high street with the added advantage that we’ll bring them to you, waiter service is standard on-board!
There is a comprehensive cocktail list and a superb selection of wines from around the world, alongside popular spirits, beers and ciders.
You can also enjoy savings with one of our drinks packages which are available for wine, soft drinks and coffee. Something for all tastes.
Soft Drinks & Coffee
Soft drinks - You may also take advantage of a soft drinks package.
Coffee - A coffee card is available to purchase that allows 10 Primo (12oz) Costa coffees (Americano, Latte,Cappuccino or Iced Coffee's) once on-board. You can purchased prior to embarkation by calling our Customer Contact Centre (please visit our website for contact details) or once on-board.
A range of iced coffees, creamy coolers and iced teas to help quench your thirst in the heat of the sun from Costa Coffee. Further details will be available on-board.
Bottled Water
Bottled water can be purchased from the in cabin menu and from all bars around the ships.
In Cabin
In Cabin Spirits are available for you to purchase on-boardvia room service (also, from May 2017 we are introducing an exciting new range of chargeable items to the menu).
Complimentary tea and coffee is supplied in your cabin and is refreshed regularly or is available from our buffet restaurants 24 hours a day.
Non Alcoholic
We offera selection of non alcoholic beverages including:
Soft drinks
Mocktails
Becks non alcoholic larger
Nonalcoholic wines
General
Complimentary drinking water and fruit juice (during breakfast hours) is also available from the buffet restaurants and room service (Also, from May 2017 we are introducing an exciting new range of chargeable items to the menu).
Answer
All of our ships are Wi-Fi enabled so you can access the internet on your own devices or via our PC terminals in the Library. Satellite internet packages are available to purchase pre cruise or once on board.Pay As You Go is available to purchase once on board.
You can also use your roaming partner - when near shore - or the Telenor Maritime network - when at sea. Charges for these connections will be added to your mobile bill rather than your on-board account. Please contact your normal service provider for data allowance and costs.
More flexible. More focused. Always-on satellite internet
It's great being able to stay in touch with loved ones back home while you're away with us. This is why our satellite internet service is easy to access and tailored to how you like to use the internet.
Our satellite internet puts you in complete control of the services you use, with a connection that's available 24/7 (satellite reception permitting). There are three packages to choose from, alongside Pay As You Go:
> The Connect Package - Stay in touch with family and friends. £6.75 per 24 hours with a full Cruise Plan. £7.75 for a single 24 hour period (internet messaging, social media)
> The Browse Package - browse as you would usually (with the exception of video streaming), plus email and social networks. £10 per 24 hours with a full Cruise Plan. & £12.50 for a single 24 hour period. (web browsing, email, internet messaging, social media).
Additional savings can be made on The Browse Package when purchased pre cruise see How to purchase Satellite Internet below for further details.
> The Works - stream YouTube, Spotify and Apple Music, video call, browse, email, and share via social networks. £20 per 24 hours with a full Cruise Plan. £24.95 for a single 24 hour period.
> Pay As You Go - a flexible alternative to a 24 hour package. 65p per minute (To help keep an eye on costs, we'll automatically log you out after 30 minutes)
With our packages, you can upgrade any time you like. If you try to use a service from an alternative package, a prompt will appear to point you in the right direction. Then, it's just a few clicks to upgrade, and you're away.
You can purchase per 24 hours, for your full cruise or on a remainder of cruise basis. There is no activation fee.
On-board, there are two ways to buy a satellite internet package. Open a browser on your device, log on to the ship's Wi-Fi and type 'login.com'; into your browser. Alternatively, pop along to the Library; a good option if you need a little help.
You can use your satellite internet package on any device, but not simultaneously on multiple devices. It is not possible to wire your device into an internet connection on-board.
How to purchase Satellite Internet
When you buy The Browse Package before you sail, you can save up to 15%*. You are able to purchase pre cruise on a single 24 hour period basis and as a full Cruise Plan. Multiple purchases of the single 24 hour option can be made should you require a shorter duration than your full cruise.
> Daily Internet Browse Package - £10 per 24 hours
> Full Cruise Plan Browse Package - From £28 for a 3 day duration up to £246 for a 30 day duration.
To purchase and to find out more, please visit our website for contact details. If you would prefer to use The Connect Package or The Works, these can be purchased on board your ship.
Once on-board, there are two ways to buy a satellite internet package. Open a browser on your device, log on to the ship's Wi-Fi and type 'login.com' into your browser. Follow the on screen instructions and choose a daily or full Cruise Plan for your preferred package. Alternatively, pop along to the Library; a good option if you need a little help.
If you are on a back to back cruise (two or more consecutive cruises) please note that the satellite internet service may be unavailable during turnaround days when the ships changes from one cruise to the next.
Internet questions....... here are the answers!
Connection speed
Being able to access the internet in the middle of the ocean is quite the technological accomplishment. However, due to the fact that the internet signal has to travel via satellites over 20,000 miles above the earth, service speeds are significantly impacted. Even the geographical location of your ship (mountainous landscapes in particular) and the weather can affect the on board service. To maximise your satellite internet service speeds, you will find the strongest Wi-Fi signal in public venues. You may also find that off peak periods - early morning, late evening and port days - provide a better service.
Access to email
Access to email services are available though both The Works and The Browse satellite internet packages, available to purchase pre cruise and once on board. Should your email service provider have enhanced security processes in place such as validation of your account via text, an alternative email account or a series of pre-determined questions, please familiarise yourself with these before you board to ensure ease of access once at sea.
Printing and scanning
Should you wish to print pages in the Library, this will be charged at 30 pence* per black and white page. If you require a document to be digitally scanned, please speak to reception. (*Prices are subject to change)
PC internet station opening hours and locations
The PC internet stations are open 24 hours a day. Assistance is available at various times throughout the day and evening.
PC internet stations are located in the following areas:
Aurora - The Library, Forward on Sun Deck
Azura - The Library, Midships on P Deck
Britannia - The Library, Forward on Lido Deck
Ventura -The Library, Midships on P Deck
VAT on internet services on-board
The charges on-board our ships are currently treated as inclusive of any VAT that is payable to the UK or other European Tax Authority.
Stay Connected - calling home
Most people find their mobiles work well at sea. Signal strength can vary a bit, but you should be able to do all the usual things-make and receive calls, send text messages and photos. You will see Telenor Maritime or 90112 on your mobile's display. This means you are using International Marine Roaming and the cost of making and receiving calls and texts will be added to your mobile bill, not your ship account. Your service provider should be able to give you a breakdown of all charges. Please note that charges for "pay as you go" can vary to those of contract phones on the same network. Due to the ship's location, there may be occasions where your phone is unable to find a signal.
We are happy to offer a full 3G service on board Britannia.
Skype and video calling connections
These services are available with The Works package, however please be aware that unpredictable satellite connectivity can impact the quality of the service.
Answer
Great service comes as standard.
While tipping isn’t required or expected on-board, rest assured good service and good times are all part and parcel of your P&O Cruises holiday.
On other holidays you’ll tip the waiter after a fabulous dinner, the bar staff for your tropical cocktails, housekeeping for your fresh towels and inviting beds… On a P&O Cruises holiday, you’ll enjoy the same levels of fantastic service but tipping isn’t required or expected. Instead, you can relax and soak it all up, knowing good service and good times are all simply part and parcel of your experience.
What does great service mean to you? We take thousands of guests away each year and know everyone wants something slightly different from their holiday. We take care of every little detail so you can enjoy an effortless time; free to relax, recharge and experience countless ‘this is the life’ moments. We’re proud that two out of three guests choose to holiday with us again and are committed to providing great service and exceptional holidays at no extra cost.
Answer
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 dining rooms, bars, restaurants, or lounge areas, but will be subject to a corkage fee of £20 per bottle*, per occasion which will be charged to the guests' on-board account. Spirits or liquor brought on board can only be consumed in guests' cabins.
*Price subject to change
You’re welcome to buy bottles of alcohol at ports along the way, but you won’t be able to drink it while on board. We’ll look after it until your cruise comes to an end and return it to you. Please also refer to the question 'What are the duty free limits set by customs when travelling outside the EU?'
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 mini bars in all cabins.
Anyone under the age of 18 (under 21 when in United States of America waters) 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 16 and 17 year olds may be bought beer, cider or wine to drink with a meal in the restaurants when accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.
We believe that responsible drinking is a valued and enjoyable part of a cruise however, 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.
We encourage you to read our Code of Conduct: pocruises.com/code-of-conduct
Fly Cruise
If you are taking a flight prior to your cruise, the litre limit bottle applies.
For details of duty free limitations at destination airports please click here http://www.iatatravelcentre.com/home.htm#
You are able to purchase duty free tobacco and liquor on board.
Answer
We do not encourage food and drink to be brought on-board, as we would like to think that all your culinary desires are more than adequately catered for on our ships. However, we recognise that there may be particular favourites or special dietary requirements that you may need to enjoy a holiday.
In limited circumstances we would allow you to bring food and beverages on-board but please note the following:
Perishables are not permitted: although there are fridges in cabins these are not temperature monitored and we cannot guarantee that they will keep foods at the correct and safe temperature.
All items must be strictly for personal consumption, kept wrapped or sealed and not allowed to create any risk to health or likelihood of pest infestation in cabins or any other areas.
Personal items may not be cooked for you on board, stored in the main stores or in any food room refrigerator or freezer.
There is a limit to the amount of alcohol you can bring on board. Each guest aged 18 years (21 years in United States of America 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.
Answer
Speciality Dining is wonderfully flexible, allowing you a change of scene and the opportunity to dine with different people. These are bookable either before you sail on My P&O Cruises, or once you arrive on board.
Please see our question 'Can I pre book dining?' for details of which restaurants can be booked on board or before you sail.
All prices are subject to change.
Arcadia
Ocean Grill - additional supplements apply to selected dishes
(Cruise Length 1-2 Days) Dinner - £22.95
(Cruise Length 3-7 Days) Dinner - £17.95
(Cruise Length 8+ Days) Dinner - £15.00
Sindhu at East-
(Cruise Length 1-2 Days) Dinner - £25.00
(Cruise Length 3-7 Days) Dinner - £20.00
(Cruise Length 8+ Days) Dinner - £17.50
Aurora
The Glass House - All day dining
All items are individually priced on the menu. No booking required.
*The Beach House - Additional Supplements apply to selected dishes
(Cruise Length 1-2 Days) Dinner - £10.00
(Cruise Length 3-7 Days) Dinner - £7.50
(Cruise Length 8+ Days) Dinner - £7.50
* there may be additional supplement charges for some items on the menu
Sindhu -
(Cruise Length 1-2 Days) Dinner - £25.00
(Cruise Length 3-7 Days) Dinner - £20.00
(Cruise Length 8+ Days) Dinner - £17.50
Azura
The Epicurean at Seventeen
(Cruise Length 1-2 Days) Dinner - £30.00
(Cruise Length 3-7 Days) Dinner - £28.00
(Cruise Length 8+ Days) Dinner - £28.00
The Glass House
All day dining – All items are individually priced on the menu. No booking required
*The Beach House - No booking required - Additional Supplements apply to selected dishes
(Cruise Length 1-2 Days) Dinner - £10.00
(Cruise Length 3-7 Days) Dinner - £7.50
(Cruise Length 8+ Days) Dinner - £7.50
* there may be additional supplement charges for some items on the menu
Sindhu
(Cruise Length 1-2 Days) Dinner - £25.00
(Cruise Length 3-7 Days) Dinner - £20.00
(Cruise Length 8+ Days) Dinner - £20.00
Britannia
The Epicurean Restaurant
(Cruise Length 1-2 Days) Dinner - £30.00
(Cruise Length 3-7 Days) Dinner - £28.00
(Cruise Length 8+ Days) Dinner - £28.00
Sindhu
(Cruise Length 1-2 Days) Dinner - £25.00
(Cruise Length 3-7 Days) Dinner - £20.00
(Cruise Length 8+ Days) Dinner - £20.00
*The Beach House - No booking required - Additional Supplements apply to selected dishes
(Cruise Length 1-2 Days) Dinner - £10.00
(Cruise Length 3-7 Days) Dinner - £7.50
(Cruise Length 8+ Days) Dinner - £7.50
* there may be additional supplement charges for some items on the menu
The Limelight Club (adult only)
(Cruise Length 1-2 Days) Dinner - £25.00
(Cruise Length 3-7 days) Dinner - £25.00
(Cruise Length 8+ Days) Dinner - £25.00
The Glass House
All day dining – All items are individually priced on the menu. No booking required
Market Cafe
Day Menu - All items are individually priced. No booking required
Iona
Sindhu
A La Carte - All items are individually priced.
Starters from £5.50
Mains from £9.00
Desserts from £3.50
The Beach House
Cover charge from £7.50
The Glass House
A La Carte all day dining - All items are individually priced.
Starters from £2.75
Mains from £8.00
Dessert from £4.50
The Epicurean
Cover charge from £28
The Limelight Club
Cover charge from £25
The Keel & Cow
A La Care all day dining - All items are individually priced.
Starters from £4.00
Mains from £5.50
Desserts from £3.00
The Olive Grove
Charges apply to selected dishes:
Middle Eastern Beef Kota Hanging Kebab - £4.50
Fritto Misto - £4.50
Seafood, Chicken and Chorizo Paella - £4.50
Slow-cooked Moroccan Lamb Tagine - £4.50
French Fries - £1.00 (Parmesan Cheese or Truffle Oil for an extra £0.50)
Handcrafted Turkish Baklava £2.00
Eric Lanlard's Afternoon Tea
Cover charge from £17.50
Local Food Hero Taster Menu - Kjarten Skjelde
Cover charge from £30
Ventura
The Epicurean at The White Room
(Cruise Length 1-2 Days) Dinner - £30.00
(Cruise Length 3-7 Days) Dinner - £28.00
(Cruise Length 8+ Days) Dinner - £28.00
*The Beach House - No booking required - Additional Supplements apply to selected dishes
(Cruise Length 1-2 Days) Dinner - £10.00
(Cruise Length 3-7 Days) Dinner - £7.50
(Cruise Length 8+ Days) Dinner - £7.50
* there may be additional supplement charges for some items on the menu
Sindhu
(Cruise Length 1-2 Days) Dinner - £25.00
(Cruise Length 3-7 Days) Dinner - £20.00
(Cruise Length 8+ Days) Dinner - £20.00
The Glass House
All day dining – All items are individually priced on the menu. No booking required
Pre Booking Speciality Dining venues
Bookings can be made through My P&O Cruises from around three months prior to embarkation and for any duration of cruise.
Simply log on using your first name, surname, booking reference and date of birth. Once you have logged in you should visit the "Dining" heading on the menu ribbon and click on Select Dining.
All prices are subject to change and are per person, per occasion dining in a Speciality Dining restaurant. Although children are welcome to dine in these restaurants, there are no child menus and no child prices.
Please note: Speciality Dining venues can be very popular restaurants with a high demand for bookings. If you feel you may be unable to meet your dinner reservation, please notify us at least 12 hours before the time of your booking, to avoid the cancellation charge. A cancellation charge will not be applied if transferring to a different time / date.
You may find the following questions useful, What restaurants are on each ship? and What is included in the fare?
Answer
The following items are prohibited and their possession is not allowed on-board any Company ship by passengers or crew without a valid lawful reason, unless required in direct support of ship operations, as part of a crew member’s official duties, and only with consent of the Ship’s Captain.
1. Any illegal narcotics/drugs including synthetic, designer drugs, and medical marijuana.
2. All firearms including replicas, imitations and their components 1
3. Air, BB or pellet pistols or rifles
4. Any other projectile-weapon (e.g., paint ball guns)
5. All ammunition
6. All explosives, including imitation explosives 2 and devices
7. Fireworks, flares, pyrotechnics (excluding those which are part of the vessel’s lifesaving equipment and which have been properly manifested) 2
8. Sharp pointed weapons including throwing stars
9. Knives with a blade longer than 4 inches / 10.16 cm, any blade length that is prohibited by local laws/regulation and all concealed bladed weapons such as belt buckle knives, cane and umbrella knives/swords, pen knives, credit card knives, etc. 2, 3
10. Open razors or scissors with a blade longer than 4 inches / 10.16cm.
11. Skean Dhus or Kirpans 2,4
12. Spears or spear guns
13. Crossbows, crossbow bolts and long bow arrows
14. Blunt weapons including knuckle dusters, brass knuckles, clubs, coshes, batons, flails or nunchaku
15. Items containing incapacitating substances (e.g. gas guns, tear gas sprays, mace, phosphorus, acid and other dangerous chemicals that could be used to maim or disable) 2
16. Flammable substances and hazardous chemicals unless carried in limited quantities and in accordance with company instructions (e.g., charcoal, petrol, methylated spirits, paint thinners etc.) 2,5,6
17. Any other item made, adapted or intended for use as an offensive weapon
18. Stun devices
19. Handcuffs
20. Items brought on board the vessel and not supplied by the Company containing any kind of heating element, such as but not limited to: immersion heaters, heating blankets, flat irons, water heaters, coffee machines with heating / hot plates, etc. 6, 7
21. Any remotely controlled or autonomously flying devices, toys or drones 2,5
22. Self-balancing hover boards , air wheels, scooters, or Segways (except those provided by the Company for shore excursions and for use onshore by passengers with a disability as a mobility device) 2
23. Compressed gas tanks, bottles, cylinders including dive tanks, propane tanks and aerosol cans. 2, 8
24. Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRB) ham radios, communication scanners, wide-band receivers, satellite phones, transformers, lasers and laser pointers.2
1 Except Law Enforcement Officers/Agents acting in an official capacity and/or certified Armed Security Guards acting in an official capacity with full permission of the ship’s Captain.
2 Except when authorized by the CSO (see Section 3.3).
3 Souvenir Ulu knives may be retained if kept in original packaging and stored in passenger / crew cabins.
4 Ceremonial knives/swords as well as entertainment props are, at times, permitted with prior approval from the CSO, but must be held in the custody of the ship’s security department.
5 Except when authorized by the company in support of a sanctioned company activity, and with completion of a risk assessment by the Company’s marine safety group.
6 Except when approved by the Company’s marine safety group.
7 Please see MAR-1502 FIRE PRECAUTIONS for additional items prohibited due to fire risk onboard.
8 Medical gas bottles are allowed in connection with a certified medical condition but cannot be packed in baggage. Oxygen cylinders must be delivered to the pursers’ office and stored in a designated safe area. Oxygen cylinders are not x-rayed.
Answer
Loyalty points are awarded when you have completed a cruise.
Once you have spent at least 15 nights on board (150 points), you automatically become a member and enter at the Pacific Tier. When you join us for your next cruise, you will be entitled to Pacific Tier benefits.
As points are awarded at the end of a cruise, you cannot move up a tier mid-cruise. Instead, you will enjoy
the additional benefits when you join us for your next cruise.
Answer
To continue to enjoy Baltic or Ligurian privileges, in the 3 years prior to the departure date of your next cruise, you must have spent at least 80 nights on board for Baltic, and at least 201 for Ligurian.
Answer
See the Travel Insurance section of the P&O Cruises brochure. Or, for more information call 0800 316 3061, quoting reference WC668, along with your membership number.
Answer
Yes. Purchase shore excursions prior to the start of your cruise, and the applicable on-board spend discount will reflect the tier that you are predicted to be in on the date of embarkation, not on the date of purchase. The discount on shore excursions that are paid for pre-cruise is not dependent on your spending of allocated non-refundable on-board credit. For a World Cruise, purchase shore excursions prior to the start of your cruise, and the applicable on-board spend discount will reflect the tier that you are predicted to be in at the start of the segment in which the activity is taken, and not the date of embarkation.
Answer
P&O Cruises offers the very best in cruise entertainment. Days can be filled with as much or as little as you want, whilst evenings are no doubt the social highlight.
With a range of activities and entertainment taking place throughout the day, you’ll struggle to fit everything in. From dazzling West-End style performances in the ship's theatres to comedy and live music, piano recitals and tribute bands. Cinema and film screenings, dance classes, pub quizzes, sports tournaments, cookery demonstrations and even special interest seminars you’ll be spoilt for choice. You’ll also find traditional card and table games, along with the latest slot machines in our casinos and if you are in the mood for dancing, head for one of our themed nightclubs with where the bars are well stocked with your favourite refreshments.
Of course, some days you just want to relax with a good book and do nothing at all. On these days you’ll find plenty of comfortable sun lounges outside and soft chairs inside to simply relax and do nothing at all.
Families will love the flexibility of The Reef children’s clubs, which offer safe havens for teens and little ones alike.
Answer
Our family-friendly cruise ships, Azura, Britannia and Ventura, are packed with lots of exciting features that will definitely tick all your boxes. Each family friendly ship offers dedicated clubs for all ages from morning till late evening. In addition to the clubs a night nursery, children’s tea, discos and activities are all included in your fare!
The P&O Cruises exciting free on-board programme for 2 – 17 year olds is called The Reef. Split into four distinct age groups so that the needs and level of play in each group can be met. There are a whole host of exciting activities organised daily by our qualified and enthusiastic DBS-checked Reef Rangers, to keep children of all ages entertained safely throughout the day and evening and to ensure that they have the chance to make friends of their own age. In Addition to The Reef, we have a Night Nursery for children aged between 6 months and 4 years of age.
Answer
A full programme of age-appropriate activities are provided for 2-17 year olds in our children’s club The Reef. Varying every day, the programme offers fantastic entertainment with something for everyone. All activities are tailored to each age range for our separate clubs and activities include arts and crafts, quizzes, challenges, sports and much more. There’s also plenty of time for children to simple relax and meet people of a similar age.
As we put safety first right from tots to teens, we are limiting contact between children therefore children will be allocated a cohort, with scheduled sessions they can attend throughout your 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.
Children attending Splashers aged between 2 and 4, we require one parent or guardian to supervise their child whilst using these facilities to protect their health and safety whilst on board.
To make use of our children’s clubs, you must register and book a place for your child/ren attending on of the registration sessions held on embarkation day.
To protect the health of everyone on board, we are currently limiting numbers in the facility at any one time and therefore we recommend registering as early as possible to avoid disappointment. In addition, the nursery and night nursery will not be in operation and all children wishing to participate in the children’s club programme must be toilet-trained and able to use the toilet without assistance.
Answer
We encourage all children to use our fantastic children's facilities however we don't provide one-on-one support or care. If your child needs this, a parent or carer needs to be present at all times.
If your child has a disability and would like to take part in our activity programme, speak with our Youth Team to arrange a chat with our Youth Manager. We can then do our best to make sure they have a fun and safe holiday.
Answer
Our Youth team, the Reef Rangers (this name applies specifically to P&O Cruises), have extensive experience of planning and facilitating activities for 2-17 year olds, as well as having an enhanced DBS check.
Answer
Opening hours are subject to change dependant on the itinerary of the cruise, ship and the seasonal period. They will be clearly advertised and made available on board, please see Horizon newspaper.
Booking in advance is essential, and walk-ins will not be permitted into the children’s facility.
Answer
When it comes to dining we lay on a special early tea (time and location will be confirmed once on board) with children’s favourites to suit younger tastes. If you prefer the relaxed, informal buffet is available from early morning to late evening and has a wide selection of dishes. Or if you’d rather all dine together in the Freedom and Club dining restaurant, that’s great fun for families too.
Answer
Our clubs feature secure entry systems to allow authorised entry only. Children 12 years and under are required to be checked in and out of their age-specific club by on of their registered carers. This means that only pre-authorised adults will be able to collect your child/ren from the club. Please make sure parents/guardians who are collecting the child have their ship ID available for inspection.
Children under the age of 18 may NOT sign out your younger children.
Answer
In line with our new health protocols, children who are not toilet trained can participate in the children’s clubs, however parents/guardians will be contacted to return if assistance is required. Children are welcome to use the family-friendly pools, however due to public health regulations, children in nappies, swim nappies, pull-ups and those who are not completely toilet-trained are only permitted to use designated pools.
Answer
Children under the age of 16 must not be left unaccompanied on the ship whilst the ship is in port. There is no facility offered on board to look after your children if you go ashore. All children under the age of 16 must have an adult, 18 or above, accompanying them whilst on board.
Answer
To make use of our children’s clubs, you must register your child/ren. You can do this before your holiday using My P&O Cruises.
Answer
If you’ve never been on a cruise before, you’re in for a treat. With round-the-clock entertainment, a vast range of mouth-watering menus, relaxing pools and wellness facilities to experience on one of our holidays… you’ll be spoilt for choice every single day. Here are just some of the many activities you can expect to enjoy:
- Spectacular entertainment
Show-stopping theatre performances, live bands, comedians, movies on the big screen, quizzes, casino nights, guest talks, optional activities and so much more is on offer.
· Pools and relaxation
Each ship has several pools of varying sizes and depths, plus a number of whirlpool spas. Some are even covered by a retractable glass roof.
- Outdoor sports
Have a game of football or table tennis, practice your swing in the golf nets and stretch your legs on the sports deck, promenade or – on selected ships – the jogging track.
- Sumptuous food throughout the day
From classic British recipes with a contemporary twist to a world of exotic flavours, there’s so much to choose from – and so much is included in the price of your holiday.
- Spa experiences
Unwind with a massage or rejuvenate in a hydrotherapy pool. With soothing spa facilities waiting for you on our ships, you can take restoration and relaxation to a whole new level.
- Gym
Get energised in your ship’s state-of-the-art gym, equipped with Technogym machines including bikes, treadmills, cross trainers and steppers, as well as free weights.
- Children’s clubs
With four separate clubs for different age groups on each of our family-friendly ships, there’s a whole range of activities for children, from arts and crafts to discos and games consoles.
And on top of all that, you get to sail past breathtaking scenery and explore a range of diverse places that you’d be hard-pressed to see with a land-based holiday. With so much variety on a P&O Cruises holiday, every moment brings something new. We believe you won’t find a holiday anywhere else that can offer you the breadth of destinations, the scale of adventure, the range of experiences and the calibre of dining and entertainment (did we forget to mention accommodation?) for the same price.
Answer
Look above you... there’s your data. Travelling 44,000 miles to space and back again. Given the distances, transmission will be slower than at home and can occasionally be impacted by weather or the ship’s position. We do our best to keep everyone moving by closely monitoring and managing the connections but, please remember, speed will vary and intensive activities like streaming content may not always work and are excluded from certain plans.
Here’s why: at home, internet signals travel through cables to transmit information. At sea, these same signals must travel thousands of miles to satellites that beam the information back to land. Given the distances involved, there will be some latency or delay between when information is requested and delivered. Additionally, satellite internet may intermittently experience blockage or an instance where the internet antenna on the ship may not have a direct view to a satellite due to a large object such as those beautiful mountains over there...
Answer
It’s easy! Almost any device that can connect to Wi-Fi can be used on board our ships. Here’s a simple step-by-step guide for you to follow:
1. Put your device in airplane mode (or similar)
2. Connect to the ship’s free Wi-Fi: P&OCruises_Guest_WIFI
3. Visit internet.pocruises.com
4. Select your package
Answer
There could be several reasons why your device does not connect.
First, make sure your Wi-Fi is switched on; if not, please do so. Next, look for our Guest Wi-Fi network and connect to it. Although we try to ensure complete coverage throughout the ship, including cabins, there are some areas of low/no coverage due to the complexity of the ship’s internal architecture. We recommend that you test your connection in a public area like the atrium. If this does not help, try restarting your device and logging in again. If you continue to experience difficulties, please speak to Reception for assistance.
If you are feeling technical, you can also double check your network and IP address settings. If correctly connected to our Guest Wi-Fi network, the device IP address should start with: 10.26.___.___. The following settings are typical for most devices:
1. DHCP setting is enabled (to automatically pick up an IP address from our system)
2. No static IP address, Netmask, Gateway or DNS is set
3. No proxy server is set in your browser.
The above is for informational purposes only and should not be considered a recommendation for alterations to your device. We cannot support you in any changes you may choose to make to your device. We would strongly recommend you make a note of all original settings prior to any changes you may decide to make.
Answer
Various reasons can contribute to login failures, but the main reason is credentials (surname, cabin number, cruise card, or date of birth) that do not match those in our system. Please ensure that the credential information used at login is correct; remember the Cruise Card field requires the last four numbers printed under the barcode.
If you continue to experience difficulties, please speak to Reception for assistance.
Answer
Various reasons can contribute to login failures, but the main reason is credentials (surname, cabin number, cruise card, or date of birth) that do not match those in our system. Please ensure that the credential information used at login is correct; remember the Cruise Card field requires the last four numbers printed under the barcode.
If you continue to experience difficulties, please speak to Reception for assistance.
Answer
You may use multiple devices on one package but can only use a single device at any one time. If you wish to use multiple devices simultaneously, you will need to buy additional packages. To switch to a different device, make sure it is connected to the Guest Wi-Fi network. Type internet.pocruises.com on the browser tab of the device you are trying to connect with and enter your username and password. A new page will appear. Click on the 'Disconnect other device' button and start surfing the internet using this new device.
An alternative method is to type ‘logout.com’ into the address bar of the browser of the connected device. A logout confirmation page will appear. At that point, connect the new device to the Guest Wi-Fi network and launch the browser.
If you are not logged in on any other device and you still can’t connect, please visit Reception and they will assist you.
Answer
For basic assistance using the service our team at Reception will be able to help.
Our team is available to assist with common issues concerning connecting to the on-board satellite-based internet service. We cannot troubleshoot or repair your device for advanced issues.
On some ships we have PCs that are available for general use in the Library. You may purchase an internet plan at these PCs or use a plan that you have already purchased.
Answer
On some ships we have a self-service internet café in the Library with PCs that you can use for no charge. We also offer limited printing facilities for boarding passes etc.
Answer
No; My Holiday is free to use and does not require you to purchase an internet package. Make sure your Wi-Fi is switched on and connect to the ship’s free Wi-Fi: P&OCruises_Guest_WIFI
Open your internet browser and visit myholiday.pocruises.com or scan the QR code found on advertisements in your cabin or at Reception.
Answer • Email
We offer two plans and two pricing options within each, so that you can choose to go online on your terms:
My Wi-Fi ULTIMATE
This is your ultimate way to stay in touch throughout your holiday or on
the days you choose. Select the cruise plan option, paying just once for quality satellite access to email, video chat, browsing, social media and streaming of your favourite movies and music, every day of your holiday from the moment you purchase. Or pay per day for the same access options, on the days that suit you best.
My Wi-Fi ULTIMATE - £20/day with cruise plan or £15/day
• Everything from the Essential plan
• + Full Streaming
• + Up to 3x faster connection
My Wi-Fi ESSENTIAL
This is the straightforward option that offers you all your satellite internet essentials. It’s ideal if you want to stay in touch via email and social media. And you’ll also be able to stream your favourite music playlists as well as share your holiday highlights via text and images. Select the cruise plan option to stay connected every day of your holiday from the moment you purchase or opt to pay per day... it’s entirely your choice.
My Wi-Fi ESSENTIAL - £15/day with cruise plan or £10/day
• Social media text and images (no video)
• Web browsing
• Music streaming
Answer
Yes, some websites and categories of websites are blocked either due to their content or due to their consumption of large amounts of bandwidth (such as video streaming). Examples of the kinds of websites that may be blocked have been listed below for reference:
- Adult content
- Alcohol and tobacco
- Anonymisers
- Drug abuse
- File sharing
- Malware
- Nudity
- Online gambling
- Streaming hacking
- Phishing
- Proxy avoidance
- Violent content
In addition, some internet services such as Wi-Fi (VoIP) calling, remote desktop connections and VPNs may not be available. Some email applications will not work without significant alterations to provider account or device settings. Unfortunately, we are not able to provide support for those alterations. Most email providers offer web-based access, and these will work in most cases.
Some websites may require authentication via a mobile phone if you’re using an unknown connection (e.g., Hotmail) or have set up two-factor authentication on your account.
Depending on your plan, there may also be certain additional limitations on what you can access; for more details see ‘What plan should I choose?’
Answer
When logging back into the internet, you will be given the choice to upgrade to a plan (where applicable, click the ‘Upgrade my plan’ button). The upgrade will take effect the moment you purchase it and will show as a separate item on your on-board account.
Please note: if you upgrade a daily plan, it does not extend the amount of time the plan lasts (you will still have 24 hours from when you first activated your original plan). If you desire additional assistance, please visit Reception.
Answer
Due to the nature of satellite internet connection on a moving ship, it is possible that interference, partial or full blockage, or bad weather will cause temporary interruptions to our service. If this happens, try to reload the page once as these time-outs can be brief; however, if the interruption is for a longer period you may wish to try again later.
In any event, if you are accessing the internet with a personal device, we recommend you switch off any background applications and disable any automatic updates on your device.
Should you feel that none of the pages you request are accessible, please contact Reception for assistance.
Answer
Yes. Internet access will be available right up until you leave the ship, but printing services will not be available on the morning of disembarkation, so please ensure you complete all your printing the day before.
Answer
Internet billing is integrated with your on-board account. Once you log in and pick a plan, the amount will be billed automatically through your account.
Answer
Yes; you can purchase the cruise package at any point during the cruise, meaning you will purchase internet for all remaining days at the reduced rate.
Answer
No; you will not be charged by your phone company for connecting to
our Wi-Fi. However, it is your responsibility to make sure that you are not using the mobile signal or data from your service provider. Often, your mobile phone provider will text you if you are on ‘roaming’ to alert you of fees you may incur.
You can turn off the mobile data service by going into your device settings and turning on the airplane mode. Depending on your device, airplane mode may initially shut down your Wi-Fi connection when turned on, but you should be able to turn Wi-Fi back on separately (look for the airplane and Wi-Fi signals showing together). P&O Cruises is not responsible for charges incurred via your mobile phone service provider.
Answer
To use a voucher, log in to the system as normal. At the bottom of the plan selection page will be a field marked ‘Voucher’. Enter your six-character voucher code and click the ‘Activate’ button
Note: you only need to activate the voucher once. Once activated you only need to log in and then select your active plan.
If you have any trouble redeeming your voucher, please check the following:
• If you currently have an active purchased plan, it will have to expire before you may activate your voucher.
• You may have one active voucher at once per folio.
• If you have an active voucher you will not be able to purchase an additional plan until the voucher expires.
Answer
On Arcadia you can run or jog on "The Promenade" deck 3.
On Arvia there is a jogging track on the Panorama deck, deck 18.
On Aurora you can walk on "The Promenade" deck 7 and jog on deck 13.
On Azura you can run or jog on "The Promenade" deck 7.
On Britannia you can run or jog on "The Sports" deck 18.
On Iona there is a jogging track on the Panorama deck, deck 18.
On Ventura you can run or jog on "The Promenade" deck 7.
All of the above locations are available for running or walking between set times for consideration of other passengers. Further details will be published on board.
Alternatively you may use the gym on-board, information can be found under Is there a spa and gym on board?
On Arcadia the Promenade Deck is approximately 530 meters. To walk a mile you need to walk 3 laps. Jogging around this deck is acceptable, however please be mindful of other guests using this deck.
On Aurora the Promenade Deck is approximately 460 meters. To walk a mile you need to walk 3.5 laps.
On Azura the Promenade Deck is approximately 414 meters, however, does not have a complete wrap around the ship, to walk a mile you need to walk just little under 4 lengths of the deck.
On Britannia you would need to walk 7 laps of the deck to equal a mile.
On Iona you would need to walk 7 laps of the deck to equal a mile.
On Ventura one lap of the Promenade Deck is approximately 460 meters. To walk a mile you need to complete 3.5 laps.