Visa requirements
- Russia, Far East,
Australasia and Asia
For cruises calling at St. Petersburg, P&O Cruises expects to be able to
arrange block visas for passengers travelling on organised shore excursions,
however, if this is not possible we will advise you in good time to obtain a
visa yourself. If you intend to go ashore independently in St Petersburg, a Russian Tourist Visa is
required. This MUST be obtained before leaving home as visas cannot be granted
during the cruise. Should you wish to obtain an individual Russian Tourist
Visa, you will need to be sponsored by a licensed Russian Tour company. This
company will provide you with the necessary documentation to obtain your
individual Tourist Visa. After obtaining this information, you will need to
contact a visa service or the Russian Embassy at www.rusemblon.org for the
visa. You must bring a photocopy of the photograph / personal details page of
your passport if you are intending to go ashore with an organised excursion or
independently.
Visa requirements Libya
A Libyan visa will be required. Generally this visa can
be organised on board for an additional fee. Everyone needs to buy a visa
whether or not they are going ashore. Full details will be advised in the
pre-cruise mailing 8 to 10 weeks before departure. Libya
chooses to apply rigidly to the Arab League rulings regarding the boycott of Israel, and therefore does not recognise the
state of Israel.
As a result the following categories of person are not permitted to enter
Libyan waters:
• Israeli Nationals
• Persons travelling on other nationality
passports containing Israeli stamps
• Persons
travelling on other nationality passports with stamps issued by the Jordanian,
Egyptian or Lebanese authorities at any border crossing point with Israel
• United States of America passport holders
At the time of writing, we are advised that all visitors
to Libya,
regardless of nationality, will require a certified translation of their
passport into Arabic to allow them entry into the country. This will incur an
additional charge. Further, updated information about this requirement will be
provided by us around three months before travel.
Where can I eat
during the evening?
Come the evening, with P&O Cruises Dining Choice there are a number of alternative dining options, tailoring your holiday to your
mood, timetable and lifestyle.
Freedom Dining
Enabling you to dine at any time you wish, with whom you
like, Freedom Dining allows you the flexibility to turn up at selected
restaurants anytime you choose and every effort will be made to accommodate
you. Freedom Dining is included in your fare and available on Oceana and Ventura. If the
flexibility of Freedom Dining appeals, then please opt for it when making your
booking.
Club Dining
This style of dining is a wonderful way to share your
holiday experiences and meet new people. Operating on a fixed sitting basis P&O Cruises
will pre-reserve your seat at a table in one of the sumptuous main restaurants,
for the duration of your holiday. Included in your fare, Club Dining is
available on all of our ships when you choose between first sitting at 6.30pm
or second sitting at 8.30pm. Seating arrangements are made on a ‘first come,
first served’ basis when you book your cruise. Please state your sitting
preference at the time of booking. Sittings are allocated according to
availability. Also, when booking, please let us know if you wish to sit with a
specific party or would like a specific table size. Please note that tables for
two are extremely limited and cannot be guaranteed. Whether you opt for Freedom
or Club Dining you will enjoy silver service in the main restaurants.
Select Dining
In addition to Club Dining and Freedom Dining, Select
Dining gives you the choice of enjoying exquisitely prepared bistro cuisine one
night and grill fare served al fresco under a moonlit sky or signature dishes
inspired by Michelin-stared chefs, another. Simply reserve your table in
advance for a time and evening that suits you best, and P&O Cruises will do the rest.
Please note that a Select Dining cover charge applies.
The Select Dining venues on each ship are:
Ventura
– The White Room, East, Ramblas
Oceana – The Plaza Bistro, The Horizon Grill
Arcadia – Arcadian Rhodes, The Orchid
Aurora – Café Bordeaux, The Pennant Grill
Oriana – Oriana Rhodes, The Terrace Grill
Adonia – Sorrento, The Ocean Grill
Balcony Dining
Giving you the opportunity to indulge in dinner beneath
the stars, a premium menu will enhance the very special and exclusive
experience of balcony dining. Balcony dining is available on Ventura. Please note that there will be a charge per person. For more
information on our dining options and restaurants please visit our website.
What should I
wear?
To help you pack for your holiday, below you’ll find a
description of the different dress codes P&O Cruises operates and upon which ship they
apply. If you do forget to pack something, then don’t worry as our shops carry
a wide range of leisurewear and formal clothing.
Daywear
Casual shirts, shorts, trousers and beachwear are ideal.
For going ashore and walking on deck, flat comfortable shoes are a must. You
will also need a lightweight jacket or coat for cool evenings and occasional
showers. Don’t forget sun protection cream, a sun hat and sunglasses as the sun
is much stronger at sea. Packing a spare pair of glasses and an ample supply of
any medicines you are taking is also a good idea.
Formal
This is the opportunity for ladies to wear formal evening
wear such as an evening dress, smart trouser suit or a cocktail dress. For men,
a dinner jacket or tuxedo are the norm, otherwise a dark lounge/ business suit
and tie or formal national dress is fine. (Applies to all ships.)
Semi-Formal
Ladies can wear anything from tailored trousers to smart
separates or an elegant dress, while men are required to wear a smart shirt and
trousers with a jacket such as a blazer or sports jacket. A suit and tie may be
worn but is not compulsory. (Semi-Formal applies to Arcadia, Aurora
and Oriana only.)
Smart Casual
Stylish resort or leisurewear is ideal, for example
casual separates or dresses for ladies and 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 however P&O Cruises requests that the
following items are not worn: sportswear, e.g. trainers, football shirts and
tracksuits. Bring your brightest clothes for our Tropical evenings. (Applies to
all ships.)
For a typical two week cruise:
Oceana and Ventura
- There will normally be four Formal evenings and ten Smart
Casual evenings. Arcadia, Aurora and Oriana – there are normally four Formal evenings, four Semi-Formal evenings and six Smart Casual. However in extremely hot temperatures these dress codes may be relaxed. P&O Cruises will send you confirmation of the specific details of your cruise with your travel documents.
Children: The dress code is applicable to all passengers
of 18 years and over and P&O Cruises requests that on Formal or Semi-Formal evenings
children wear, as a minimum, Smart Casual dress, however on these occasions
dark denim is not permitted.
Please do not wear your swimsuit in the lounges, interior
bars, restaurants or reception area. A shirt and suitable footwear is required
while indoors and when using the buffets. In the evenings all restaurants and
bars comply with the dress code of the evening.
Are there any
facilities for teenagers?
For children and teenagers (9-12 & 13-17 years) P&O Cruises will arrange a full programme of activities, quizzes, deck sports, pool games,
competitions and discos. Their clubhouses have music, videos, games, computers
and interactive arcade games - all great fun and sure to keep older children
occupied.
Are there any
facilities specifically for my younger children?
For children aged 2-4 & 5-8 and under two’s
accompanied by a parent, Aurora, Oceana, Oriana & Ventura have playrooms,
packed with ballpools and softplay areas, toys, games, books and craft
material. Each is open daily and we arrange an extensive programme of play,
sport and entertainment. Much as we’d like to, we regret we are unable to take
babies under two during the day. In the evening you don’t even need to worry
about small children (under 5 years old) as you can leave them in our
supervised night nursery, though as there is limited space we operate on a
‘first come, first served’ basis daily. Opening times will be published on
board. Please note that parents/guardians must ensure that infants left in the
care of the Night Nursery are settled to sleep before they leave.
What facilities
are provided for families?
We want your whole family to have a wonderful holiday and The Reef provides a whole range of facilities and daily programmes for children and teenagers on board Aurora, Oceana, Oriana and Ventura. The Reef is split into four age specific childrens clubs and includes Splashers for 2-4 year olds, Surfers for 5-8 year olds, Scubas for 9-12 year olds and H2O for 13-17 year olds. At the start of your holiday you’ll be invited to an informal meeting where our Reef Rangers will explain the facilities in detail, outline the events planned and the few restrictions we impose. Please note that Arcadia and Adonia are dedicated to adults and therefore we do not accept children or teenagers under the age of 18.
Each ship has the following facilities available:
Aurora
- has ‘Toybox’ for the 2-4 year olds, ‘Jumping Jacks’ for 5-8’s, Quarterdeck
for 9-12’s and Decibels for 13-17’s. The Terrace Pool and paddling pool on D
Deck are reserved especially for children under 10 and their parents whilst the
Crystal Pool is available for all passengers including children. There is also
a Night Nursery for the under 5 year olds in ‘Toybox’.
Oceana - has the ‘Treasure Chest’ for 2-4’s, the
‘Hideout’ for 5-8’s and the two ‘Buzz Zone’ rooms for 9-17’s. In peak seasons
of school holidays we may designate one of Oceana’s pools as family only. There
is a Night Nursery housed in the children’s area.
Oriana - has ‘Peter Pans’ for 2-4’s & 5-8’s,
‘Decibels’ for 9-12’s and ‘Outerspace’ for 13-17’s. The Terrace Pool and
paddling pool on D Deck are reserved especially for children under 10 and their
parents whilst the Crystal Pool is available for all passengers including children.
There is also a Night Nursery on G Deck.
Ventura
- has Tumblers a play area for under 2s for parent supervised play, Toybox for
the 2-4 year olds, Jumping Jacks for 5-8s, The Den for 9-12s and Decibels for
13-17s. The small pool and paddling pool on Sun Deck are reserved especially
for children 8 and under and their parents.
During peak season we offer Slumber Time between 10.30pm
and midnight for the 5-8 year olds. In addition all ships offer the use of a
stateroom listening facility, which is available through the telephone system.
Please note on some out of season cruises it may be necessary to change the age
ranges of the clubs to 2-8s and 9-17s.
We would ask parents and/or guardians to remember that
there are other passengers on board and for this reason a few of the lounges
and public rooms are ‘out of bounds’ to passengers under 16. Please note that
passengers under the age of 18 must travel with a parent or companion over the
age of 21 and that we are unable to carry babies under the age of six months
(one year for certain sailings).
Please note that children in swimming diapers are not
allowed to use the main pools but may use the paddling pools under the
supervision of their parents or guardians. We also ask parents and guardians to
note that children under 16 must not be left unaccompanied on the ship whilst
at a port of call.
Do you provide
children’s meals?
Normally, children sit with their parents at breakfast
and lunch. But, since even the most affectionate parents may look forward to
dinner on their own, we lay on a special children’s tea on board Aurora, Oceana
and Oriana for children accompanied by their parents. On Ventura, families can dine together at The
Beach House.
We look after babies too, with a selection of baby foods.
Again, the earlier you let us know what you need, the better we’ll be able to
stock up for your little one(s), though please note that we are unable to
guarantee specific brands.
Can I eat when I
want, where I what?
On all of our ships, we have myriad dining choices
specifically designed to add greater flexibility and spontaneity to your time
away. As you would expect from any world-class restaurant or hotel, the care
and skilled lavished on the cuisine and the standard of service you receive
will be exceptional, wherever you choose to dine, at whatever time of the day.
And, with 24 hour dining available on all of our ships, you can enjoy a broad
variety of dining venues. Breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner, or even a
midnight snack, you will be spoilt for choice.
What about
tipping?
First of all, please do not worry about it. Who, when and
how much you tip is at your discretion. Tips are usually given in cash at the
end of your holiday to your stateroom Steward, Restaurant Stewards in the Club
Dining restaurants, and to any other staff who you feel you wish to reward. The
amount you tip is entirely up to you although, as a guide, we recommend a total
amount per person (aged 12 and over) of ~$5.00 per day, which covers all staff
who have looked after you during your holiday. The only exception to this is
for passengers travelling on Oceana and Ventura
who have opted to enjoy the flexibility of Freedom Dining as, with this style
of dining, you may be seated at a different table and served by a different
waiter on each occasion. We will therefore add an automatic service charge per
passenger, per day 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.
How can I stay in
touch with home?
Not just a place to send emails and keep in contact with
friends and family back home, the Cyb@study offer the opportunity to acquaint
yourself with the latest software packages and technology. You could, for
example, discover how to get the very most out of your digital photography with
Photosuite. There may even be some of the more standard Microsoft packages like
Excel and Word that you might have been waiting for the right time to learn how
to use.
If you are a complete novice when it comes to computers
then the relaxed, friendly environment found in the Cyb@study is the perfect
place to be introduced for the first time – we can help you to surf the
internet and set up an email account so you can write home and let everyone
know what a wonderful holiday you are having.
How do I pay for
purchases on board?
For your convenience, P&O Cruises operates a
cash-free system on board with Sterling
as the currency. This is an automatic process; all you have to do is register
your credit card during check-in at the beginning of your cruise. No further
action is then necessary. You sign for all purchases and simply settle your
account by credit card or debit card at the end of your cruise. We accept Visa,
Mastercard, American Express, Diners Club, Visa Delta and Visa Debit. We regret
we are unable to accept Switch/Maestro, Solo cards, American Express Prepaid Travellers
Cheque Credit cards or Visa Electron. We are also unable to accept payment via
cheque or by cash.
If you are travelling on a consecutive cruise, you must
settle your on board account at the end of each individual cruise and payment
will be taken from your registered credit or Visa debit card. If you are
planning to use your credit card ashore, we strongly recommend that you advise
your bank or credit card company that you will be visiting several different
countries during your P&O Cruises cruise. As a continuing effort to combat
credit card fraud, unusual activity, such as transactions in a number of
different countries, can often be questioned.
Mobility - Southampton cruise terminals
When cruising from Southampton,
the effortless experience of your P&O Cruises cruise starts before you
have even reached the ship. You can rest assured that all of the cruise
terminals used by P&O Cruises in Southampton
are fully accessible for passengers using wheelchairs. All Southampton
terminals have a dedicated check-in desk and accessible toilet facilities, with
the majority of cruise terminals featuring lifts and high-level linked walkways
to the ships, including P&O Cruises’ very own Mayflower Terminal.
If you are bringing a wheelchair on board with you, you
must notify us at the time of booking. We will then be able to ensure that our
dedicated Mobility Assistance Team will be on hand to offer boarding assistance
should you require it.
We can also offer assistance for passengers who are not
bringing a wheelchair, but may need wheelchair assistance in order to board the
ship. If you do require boarding assistance, please call our Reservations Team
to register you request. This will help us to ensure that we have adequate
staff available on the day in order to keep check-in times to a minimum.
Mobility - Going
ashore
At the majority of ports visited by our ships, we are
able to deploy a short low-level ramped gangway in order to provide all
wheelchair users with easy access to shore. At some ports this may not be
possible, especially if the port has a large tidal range. At ports where we are
unable to deploy a short low-level ramped gangway, all access to the shore will
be by a narrow stepped gangway that pivots to take account of the tide. In
order to use the stepped gangway you must have some independent mobility,
however, where conditions permit we will endeavour to use a ‘stair climbing
machine’ that can be found on each of our ships. In order to use the stair
climber you must be able to transfer to and from your own wheelchair, which
will be taken ashore separately.
At ports where the ship is unable to dock at the quayside
and where conditions permit, passengers are taken ashore by the ship’s launches
(also known as tenders). Every effort will be made to offer access to the shore
by the ship’s launches, but you must have some independent mobility in order to
step in and out of the launch. For Health and Safety reasons, our crew are
unable to lift passengers into and out of the launches. If no individual part
of your wheelchair weighs more than 32kgs when disassembled, our crew will be
able to transfer it to the launch as appropriate. You or your travelling
companion will be responsible for assembling and disassembling your wheelchair,
although if requested, our crew will be able to assist you where safe and
practical to do so.
Mobility - Shore
excursions
We will send you a shore excursion brochure around 8-10
weeks before your cruise departure date. The brochure descriptions set out to
offer practical advice based on our operating experience. We strongly recommend
that you read the brochure descriptions in order to make sure that your chosen
excursions are suitable for your individual personal requirements.
If you have registered with us that you are a full time
wheelchair user, you will also be sent a separate guide detailing access at the
various ports of call, as well as information regarding fully accessible
vehicles where available. If you are a full time wheelchair user and require
further information about going ashore, please contact our Shore Mobility
Advisor.
I’m not fully
mobile - is a cruise for me?
You will be pleased to know that all of the ships in our
fleet cater for passengers bringing wheelchairs or mobility scooters (referred
to collectively in this section as wheelchairs). With lifts and wheelchair
accessible routes to the vast majority of public areas on board, as well as a
number of staterooms adapted for wheelchair users, including wide doorways and
bathrooms featuring wheel-in showers, we aim to make your stay as relaxing and
comfortable as possible. If you are planning to bring a wheelchair on board
with you, it is essential that you let us know at the time of booking. We will
then contact you to obtain further information.
Please note that on board we are unable to provide
wheelchairs, walking frames, or other mobility aids for passenger use. Before
making a booking, please familiarise yourself with clause 9 of the Booking
Conditions. Please be aware that a ship is not always the easiest environment
for using a wheelchair. Although our crew are always very helpful, they are
unable to assist in moving you around the ship, or in any personal day-to-day
tasks. For this reason, we require passengers who use a wheelchair to be
accompanied by a personal assistant/travelling companion to provide these
services.
Standard staterooms (i.e. not adapted) are not accessible
for full-time wheelchair users because their doorways are not wide enough for
most wheelchairs to pass through and the bathrooms have raised thresholds.
Part-time wheelchair users who wish to travel in a standard stateroom must
bring a collapsible wheelchair and negotiate the stateroom without assistance
from the ship’s crew. For the safety of the ship and everyone on board, all
wheelchairs and other aids to mobility must be stored inside your stateroom at
night and when you are not actually using them.
Going ashore
When choosing your cruise please bear in mind that it may
not be possible for wheelchair users to get ashore at ports of call. At the
majority of ports visited by our ships, we deploy a short ramped low-level
gangway, commonly referred to as the ship’s brow, to give all wheelchair users
easy access to shore. We do our very best to make sure that all passengers get
ashore in as many ports as possible, although there will be times when it is
not possible to deploy the ship’s brow. This is normally due to ports with a
large tidal range. Some examples of ports with a large tidal range (but not an
exhaustive list) are Hamburg, Zeebrugge, Atlantic ports (such as La Rochelle,
Vigo and Bilbao) and most Canary Island ports.
At ports where it is not possible to use the ship’s brow,
all access to shore will be by a narrow stepped gangway that pivots to take
account of the tide, known as the accommodation ladder. When the accommodation
ladder is in use, you will need some independent mobility in order to walk down
the gangway. Each of our ships carries a wheelchair “stair climbing” machine
which allows wheelchair users to go ashore provided they transfer between their
own wheelchair and the wheelchair that is fitted to the stair climber at the
top and bottom of the accommodation ladder. The stair climber cannot be used
with electric wheelchairs – these will need to be taken ashore separately.
At ports where the ship is unable to dock at the
quayside, and where conditions permit, passengers are taken ashore by the
ship’s launches (or “tenders”).
Every effort will be made to offer access ashore via the
“tenders” but you must have some independent mobility in order to step into the
tenders and out of them on the shore side. Please note that for Health and
Safety reasons, the crew are unable to lift passengers into and out of tenders.
For passengers who use a wheelchair part-time and have sufficient independent
mobility to step into and out of the tender, we will transfer wheelchairs into
the tender or onto the quayside as appropriate, provided no individual part of
the wheelchair weighs more than 32kgs when disassembled. You or your travelling
companion will be responsible for assembling and disassembling your wheelchair,
although if requested, we will endeavour to assist where practical and safe to
do so.
Occasionally, at certain terminals at which the ship
berths there are specific access issues and we aim to provide information
wherever possible in advance of the cruise.
