EmailFrequently Asked Questions
- What is Included in the cruise fare? And what's extra?
- How much and who should I tip?
- What is the cancellation policy?
- What if the cruise price drops after I book or I find a better fare?
- Does the ship provide internet access? If so, how much does it cost?
- How can I keep in stay in touch with friends and family on land? Can I use my cell phone?
- What is the dress code?
- Can I bring alcohol on board?
- What kinds of items are not allowed on board?
CRUISE INCLUDES:
Room accommodations
- Daily steward service
- TV, radio and telephone, hairdryer, refrigerator and safe
- Tea/coffee maker
- Picture window (outside staterooms) or picture mirror (inside staterooms)
- Vanity/writing desk and chair
Food and Drinks
- Early morning fruit juice, tea or coffee plus continental breakfast in your stateroom
- Light or buffet-style breakfast from a choice of different venues or a full English breakfast in the restaurants
- Buffet-style lunch or three course lunch in the restaurants or on some days a barbecue or specialty buffet
- Snacks throughout the day from any of the Select Dining venues
- Afternoon tea with sandwiches and delicious freshly-baked cakes
- Six course dinner in the restaurant
On-board Activities:
- Swimming pools, whirlpool spas
- Fitness center
- Sports (golf driving nets, table tennis, shuffleboard, short tennis, deck football and cricket)
- Games (Card games, chess, scrabble, backgammon and Trivial Pursuit)
- Lectures
- Library
Entertainment:
- Captain's Reception - a glittering occasion and an opportunity for you to meet the Captain and his officers.
- Complimentary drinks during the Captain's Reception
- West End and Broadway style shows and tributes to well known stars.
- Cabarets with singers, comedians and speciality acts.
- Classical recitals and concerts on most cruises.
- A cinema on Artemis, Aurora and Oriana showing feature films including recent releases.
- Quizzes and panel games - just a bit of a challenge with a prize for the best team effort.
- Dance music with live bands.
- Special theme evenings.
Youth Programs:
- The Reef - our children and teenagers' programme on board Aurora, Oceana, Oriana and Ventura:
- A Junior Club for 2 - 4 year olds & 5 - 8 year olds, with a program of games, sports and entertainment
- For teens (9-12 years) and teenagers (13-17 years) a program of activities including quizzes, sports, pool games, competitions and discos
- Special children's tea
- Captain's 'Coketail' Party - a chance to meet the Captain and the drinks are on us
- A night nursery for children up to 5 years (See 'Families')
General:
- All UK and overseas port taxes
- Coach transfers
- Going Ashore
- Currency exchange
- Port guides
- Illustrated talks by experts on your ports
- Facilities for currency exchange
Not Included (available for EXTRA Charge):
Food and Drink
- Specialty restaurants (reservation required)
- Balcony Dining on all ships
- Coffee and drinks in the bars, all drinks and wines in the restaurant and in your stateroom.
- Room Service
- Charges apply to some premium items.
On-board Activities
- Kinesis gym and hydro pool on Arcadia and thermal suites on Arcadia and Ventura.
- Selected fitness classes and services.
- Optional entertainment facilities including handicraft materials, bingo, golf simulator, souvenir programs and computer services.
- Any optional purchases made at the various outlets on board i.e. the ship's shops, photo gallery, art auctions etc.
- Hairdressing, beauty and spa treatments on all ships.
General
- Travel Insurance
- Travel to and from Southampton or the airport
- Optional shore excursions at your ports of call
- Tips at the end of your cruise
- Telephone calls, faxes, Internet access and e-mails from the cyb@study
- Laundry Service: though there are free launderettes available for your use on board
- Medical services
More info on P&O Cruises' website here
Tips are usually given in cash at the end of the cruise to your stateroom Steward, Restaurant Stewards in the Club Dining restaurants, and to any other staff who you wish to tip.
Recommended guidelines:
- £3.10 (approx. US$4.63) per person (aged 12 and over) per day.
- Passengers travelling on Oceana and Ventura enjoying Freedom Dining may be seated at a different table and served by a different waiter on each occasion. Because of this an automatic service charge of £1.60 (approx. US$2.39) per passenger, per day is added to your shipboard account for the Restaurant Stewards.
*You will, of course, be able to increase or decrease this charge at your discretion by visiting Reception at any point during your cruise. You can also tip any other staff, including your stateroom Steward, as you feel appropriate. Further details of who and when you should tip can be found in your stateroom.
More info on P&O Cruises' website here
The Passenger may cancel the Contract at any time prior to the commencement of the Package via their travel agent or, for Passengers who have booked direct, by calling our Reservations Department.
The amount of the cancellation fee depends primarily on one factor: Days until your cruise's departure. The earlier you cancel, the less the fee. However, the specifics vary depending on the length of your cruise and if you are sailing on a World Cruise.
For example, for a 1 week, 7-night cruise the cancellation fee is:
- None, if cancelled with 57 days or more until departure (91 days for world cruise)
- 45% of the total fare, if cancelled between 56 and 42 days from departure (90-42 days for world cruise)
- 75% of the total fare, if cancelled between 41 and 16 days from departure
- 90% of the total fare, if cancelled between 15 and 6 days from departure
- 100% of the total fare, if cancelled with less than 6 days from departure (For fly cruises, departure day is the date of the flight departure). - 100%
It may be possible for the Passenger to re-claim these cancellation charges (less any applicable excess) under the terms of the Passenger's insurance policy. Claims should be submitted to the appropriate insurer. After departure, if the Passenger disembarks whether by reason of sickness or any other reason the Passenger will not be entitled to a refund of a proportion of the Package not used.
More info on P&O Cruises' website here
P&O Cruises does not advertise a price protection program.
P&O Cruises' version of the internet cafe is called Cyb@study. Internet minutes packages can be purchased before and during the cruise. The packages come in 100 and 250 minute increments. There are additional minutes given as incentive for purchasing a package before the cruise.
More info on P&O Cruises' website here
Telephone:
If any of your family or friends need to contact you while you are on board, they can do so by phoning: 0800 917 1584 (UK only). They will be asked to provide their credit card number and expiry date. They will then be prompted to provide the ship name, as well as your name and stateroom number. Their call will then be directed to your stateroom. Only upon connection with the ship will charges commence. Calls will be charged at £3.00 per minute no matter where the ship is.
If calling from outside the UK, please dial 001 732 3353264 (the same procedure will apply). There will be an American call charge for dialling this number in addition to the £3.00 per minute call charge.
If you are not in your stateroom at the time of the call a message will be taken and delivered to your stateroom. We recommend that you give the relevant number to your family and friends prior to travel.
More info on P&O Cruises' website here
Cell Phone:
You can use your mobile phone to talk, send pictures, media clips and texts. The network will be activated when the ship is at sea. When the service becomes available for use your mobile will show either MCP or 901 12 in the display. This will mean that you are using 'International Maritime Roaming'. Please contact your cellular provider (T-Mobile $4.99/min, AT&T $2.49/min, Verizon $2.49/min, Sprint $2.49/min, Alltel $2.49/min) for more information regarding the rates for this service.
*Please note that some Pay As You Go, International and UK service providers do not cover MCP.
More info on P&O Cruises' website here
You will need the following types of clothing for your cruise:
Daywear
- Casual shirts, shorts, trousers and beachwear
- For going ashore and walking on deck, flat comfortable shoes
- A lightweight jacket or coat for cool evenings and occasional rain showers
- Sun protection cream, a sun hat and sunglasses as the sun is much stronger at sea
Formal
- Gentlemen: dinner jacket or tuxedo. A dark lounge/ business suit and tie or formal national dress are also acceptable
- Ladies: an evening dress, smart trouser suit or a cocktail dress
Semi-Formal
- Gentlemen: a dress shirt and trousers with a jacket such as a blazer or sports jacket. A suit and tie may be worn, but is not necessary
- Ladies: tailored trousers to smart separates or an elegant dress
*(From April 2009 Semi-Formal applies to Arcadia, Artemis, Aurora, Azura and Oriana only.)
Smart Casual
- Gentlemen: open-neck polo shirts and casual trousers (not shorts) for men. A jacket and smart trousers may be worn but are not compulsory. Smart dark denim may be worn
- Ladies: casual separates or dresses
For a typical two week cruise:
- Oceana and Ventura - From April 2009 there will normally be four Formal evenings and ten Smart Casual evenings.
- Arcadia, Aurora, Oriana and Artemis - there are normally 4 -Formal evenings, 4 - Semi-Formal evenings and 6 - Smart Casual.
- Children: As a minimum, Smart Casual dress; however dark denim is not permitted for formal and semi-formal evenings.
*However in extremely hot temperatures these dress codes may be relaxed.
P&O ask that you do not wear your swimsuit in the lounges, interior bars, restaurants or reception area. A shirt and appropriate footwear is required while indoors and when using the buffets.
More info on P&O Cruises' website here
Should you wish to take wine or champagne on board to celebrate an event, the number of bottles you may take on will be at the port authorities's discretion. Should you wish to take wine or Champagne on board to consume in a restaurant, you will be subject to a £10* corkage charge.
More info on P&O Cruises' website here
RESTRICTED ITEMS
The Passenger must not bring on board the ship any goods or articles of an inflammable or dangerous nature, nor any controlled or prohibited substance, nor any animals.
More info on P&O Cruises' website here
