Planning your P&O cruise? If you’re wondering what you can or can’t bring aboard regarding alcohol and soft drinks, you’re not alone. These questions come up often, and it’s important to know P&O’s policies to avoid any surprises at embarkation or during your voyage. Here’s a comprehensive breakdown of P&O’s rules for bringing alcohol and drinks onboard.
Can I Bring Alcohol Onboard at Embarkation?
P&O Cruises allows limited alcohol to be brought onboard when you first embark. Here’s the official word from P&O:
“Each guest aged 18 years (21 years in United States of America ports) and older may bring up to 1 litre of wine or Champagne onboard as they embark the ship for the first time only. Wine or Champagne over the 1 litre limit will be stored and returned to the guest prior to the end of the cruise. If this alcohol is consumed in the dining rooms, bars, restaurants or lounge areas, it will be subject to a corkage fee of £20* per bottle, per occasion which will be charged to the guest’s onboard account. Other alcohol types such as spirits are considered restricted items and prohibited to bring onboard when guests first embark the ship.”
Key takeaways:
Allowed: Up to 1 litre of wine or Champagne per person.
Not Allowed: Spirits or other alcohol types.
Corkage Fee: £20 per bottle if consumed in public areas.
Can I Bring Soft Drinks Onboard?
The answer is yes! P&O permits passengers to bring non-alcoholic drinks onboard, though they recommend limiting it to 6 cans or 1 large bottle per person.
What we do: We typically pack a 1.5-litre flavoured water bottle or a 2.5-litre bottle of fizzy drink each. To prevent accidents, we wrap and seal them carefully. Additionally, we bring along a few Robinsons Mini Cordials to flavour the water – they’re compact, convenient, and perfect for travel. As of May 2024, we’ve done this without any issues.
Can I Bring Alcohol Onboard from Ports of Call?
P&O’s policy:
“Any alcoholic beverages purchased mid-cruise in ports of call cannot be consumed onboard. Guests will need to declare and hand over any alcohol bought in port at the gangway. It will be stored and returned to the guest prior to the end of the cruise, at no charge.”
In short:
Allowed: Bringing alcohol onboard from ports, but it will be stored until the end of the cruise.
Not Allowed: Consuming that alcohol onboard.
Can I Buy Duty-Free Alcohol Onboard and Drink It During the Cruise?
Unfortunately, no. P&O states:
“On eligible cruises, guests are welcome to buy duty-free alcohol to take home via the onboard shops. It will be stored until the end of their cruise.”
This means you can shop for duty-free alcohol onboard, but it’ll be held until disembarkation.
What if i pre-purchased wine or Champagne via P&O Cruises gifts - can i drink this around the ship?
Yes, P&O states:
“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.”
Are There Any Free Drinks Onboard?
Yes, there are! While most drinks come at an extra cost, you’ll find the following complimentary options:
Buffet Area: Water, tea, and coffee are available throughout the day, with juices provided during breakfast.
Specific Ships: Arvia and Iona offer water bottle refill stations.
See our article here on what drinks are free onboard P&O Cruises: https://www.cruiseescapes.co.uk/post/what-drinks-are-free-on-a-p-o-cruise-ship
Final Tips for Drinks Onboard
Knowing the rules about drinks can help make your P&O cruise experience smooth and enjoyable. If you’d like to bring soft drinks, ensure they’re packed securely. And if you’re planning on purchasing alcohol, be mindful of when and where you can enjoy it.
Happy cruising, and cheers to your next adventure with P&O!
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