First time cruiser? Let us introduce you to holidays of a lifetime

P&O Cruises offers the very best in cruise entertainment. Days can be filled with as much or as little as you want, while evenings can be the social highlight.

There’s such a range of activities and entertainment taking place throughout the day, you’ll struggle to fit everything in – from dazzling performances from West End musicals in the ship's theatres to comedy and live music, piano recitals and tribute bands. And with 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’re in the mood for dancing, head for one of our themed nightclubs, where the bars are well stocked with your favourite refreshments.

Of course, some days all you want to do is relax with a good book. No problem – you’ll find plenty of comfortable sun loungers outside and soft chairs inside.

Families will love the flexibility of The Reef children’s clubs, which offer safe havens for teens and little ones alike.

A: Think the food options on a cruise are limited to all-you-can-eat buffets and queueing up at set times? Then you’ve never dined on one of our ships. At P&O Cruises, we know that great food lies at the heart of a great holiday. That’s why we work with the brightest lights of the culinary scene, our Food Heroes, such as Marco Pierre White and Olly Smith, to bring you a range of delicious and innovative menus, from modern British classics to flavours inspired by your cruise holiday destinations. And with a range of vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and low-sugar menus to choose from, we’ve got your dietary preferences covered.

So, whether you’re looking to dress up for a night of fine dining in a chic restaurant or grab a slice of poolside pizza, there’s so much to choose from – and so much is included in the price of your holiday. 

The safety and security of our ships is paramount and, as such, you are prohibited from carrying certain items onto our vessels.

Security screening of you and your baggage will be conducted each time you board the ship, and if you are found in possession of any of these items, they may be permanently confiscated.

This list is not exhaustive and any other items may be refused at the discretion of either the Port or Ship security staff.

• Any illegal narcotics/drugs including synthetic, designer drugs, and medical marijuana.  While certain CBD products used for medicinal purposes may be legal in the US, THEY ARE not legal in all the ports we visit and therefore THESE ARE also considered prohibited items.
• All firearms including replicas, imitations and their components
  
• 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.
• Air, BB or pellet pistols or rifles
• Any other projectile-weapon (e.g. paint ball guns)
• All ammunition
• All explosives, including imitation explosives and devices
• Fireworks, flares, pyrotechnics (excluding those which are part of the vessel's lifesaving equipment and which have been properly manifested)
• Sharp pointed weapons including throwing stars
• 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.
• Open razors or scissors with a blade longer than 4 inches / 10.16 cm
• Skean Dhus or Kirpans
• Spears or spear guns
• Crossbows, crossbow bolts and long bow arrows
• Blunt weapons including knuckle dusters, brass knuckles, clubs, coshes, batons, flails or nunchaku
• 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)
• 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.)
• Any other item made, adapted or intended for use as an offensive weapon
• Stun devices
• Handcuffs
• Any remotely controlled or autonomously flying devices, toys or drones
• Self-balancing hover boards, air wheels, electric bicycles/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)
• Compressed gas tanks, bottles, cylinders including dive tanks, propane tanks, helium-filled balloons, and aerosol cans
• Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRB) ham radios, communication scanners, wide-band receivers, satellite phones, transformers, lasers and laser pointers
• Inflatables – with the exception of children’s swimming aids
• Fancy dress, novelty clothing or outfits that feature any inappropriate or offensive language or images are not permitted on board. We reserve the right to deny embarkation to guests who are inappropriately dressed. The only exception to this is official P&O Cruises theme nights, where guests are invited to dress up in line with the theme.
• 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
• Any items or amounts of currency prohibited by customs regulations
• Balloons - As part of our Ocean's Alive programme and our continued commitment to do everything we can to help protect our environment and wild/marine life, we no longer use or allow balloons of any kind on board Carnival UK ships

If you’re a first-time cruiser, it’s worth swotting up on your cabin options before you book. Picking the right one will always be a personal choice and so much will depend on your budget. But whatever type of accommodation you’re considering, it’s important to have somewhere where you can feel at home on your ship. Find out more here.

P&O Cruises offers three different price types: Select Price, Early Saver and Saver. All include accommodation; dining in the main restaurants, buffet and pool-side venues; entertainment from dawn till dusk; swimming pools; children’s clubs; flights and transfers on fly-cruise holidays and lots more.

Select Price

This price gives you the most choice and flexibility.

• Choice of cabin location and first priority for upgrades (subject to availability)

• First priority for dining style on ships offering both freedom and Club Dining, and first priority for seating time and table size for Club Dining

• A choice of on-board spending money, car parking in Southampton or return coach travel to Southampton*

• Shuttle buses in port (where they are provided by P&O Cruises)

• Flexibility to change your booking 

Early Saver

Early Saver offers a great price but without the benefits of Select Price. 

• Available on selected grades of cabin (we'll assign your cabin number)

• Possible upgrades (where and if available, after non-Saver bookings)

• Flexibility required for your desired dining style, dining time and table size in the main restaurant

• Flexibility to change your booking 

Saver

Saver is a last chance for deal-seekers to get a last-minute holiday with P&O Cruises

• Only available on selected cruises, at selected times

• Only available on selected cabin grades (we’ll assign your cabin number, which once allocated cannot be changed)

• Dining allocated upon boarding

• Full balance to be paid at the time of booking

• 100% cancellation fee if cancelled at any time before sail date 

During the day, you can dress in whatever you like. However, on all our ships, we have two dress codes that apply in the evenings: Evening Casual and Black Tie. Nights where the dress code is Evening Casual, you can bring out your best shirt, dress and smart, dark denim. For nights where the dress code is Black Tie, make sure to pack your best tux, suit or cocktail dress.

There are some venues on each ship where dress codes don’t apply, so make sure to check your Horizon paper that’s delivered to your cabin each day to check where these are, as they vary ship by ship. For those travelling on family-friendly ships, dress codes also don’t apply to children aged 17 and under.