P&O Cruises

P&O Cruises passengers are about to notice some pretty major changes – and one of them has already caused outrage among loyal cruisers. At least, as close to “outrage” as British cruisers tend to get. Maybe it’s better to say they’re miffed?

Regardless – some of these changes feel long overdue, but as for others? Not everyone’s convinced.

Here’s a look at everything we know is changing, as well as speculation on something people have been asking for for a long time.

1. Children Will Be Allowed on Adult-Only Ships

For decades, Arcadia and Aurora have been known as the line’s quieter, adult-only ships. They’ve attracted loyal passengers who specifically wanted a calmer atmosphere away from the family entertainment and busy pool decks found on larger ships like Arvia and Iona.

But from late 2026, that changes.

P&O Cruises has confirmed that selected sailings on both ships will welcome children and families during peak holiday periods, including Christmas and summer holidays. In total, 20 cruises between December 2026 and September 2027 will become family-friendly.

I’ve booked myself and the kids on the first family-friendly sailing on Aurora in December, so I’ll let you know how that goes.

The cruise line says the move reflects growing demand for multi-generational travel, with more families wanting grandparents, parents and children to holiday together onboard.

Reaction from regular cruisers has been mixed. Some passengers think it’s a sensible way to open up more family cruise options from Southampton, while others worry it risks changing what makes Arcadia and Aurora special in the first place.

Importantly, both ships will still remain adult-only for most of the year. But it’s still a major shift for two ships that many passengers thought would never welcome children again.

Read more: P&O Cruises Opens Arcadia and Aurora to Families

2. Iona is moving to the Caribbean and Britannia is staying in Southampton

There’s a pretty major shake-up coming to where two of P&O Cruises’ biggest ships spend the winter.

From October 2027, Iona will head to the Caribbean for her first full winter season there, joining sister ship Arvia and operating 14-night fly-cruises until April 2028.

Guests will be able to fly out and join Iona in Barbados, Antigua or St Kitts, with St Kitts being added as a new turnaround port for the season.

That’s quite a change for a ship that has spent her winters sailing from Southampton since she launched. And it means P&O Cruises will have its two newest and largest ships operating side-by-side in the Caribbean.

But while Iona heads for warmer weather, Britannia is doing the opposite.

For the first time since she launched in 2015, Britannia will be based in Southampton all year round. Her winter programme includes cruises to the Canary Islands and Mediterranean, as well as much longer no-fly Caribbean sailings for anyone who likes the idea of escaping the British winter without having to get on a plane.

It’s a fairly significant reshuffle. Britannia has traditionally been one of P&O Cruises’ main Caribbean fly-cruise ships, but that role is increasingly being handed over to the much newer Iona and Arvia.

For UK cruisers, though, it also means even more choice from Southampton throughout the winter – and the option to sail on one of P&O’s most popular family ships without flying.

3. There Are New Cabins That Sleep Five

P&O Cruises has now made cruising with three children considerably easier by introducing 50 new five-berth cabins across Iona, Arvia and Britannia.

There are 23 Conservatory Mini-suites on Iona and 15 on Arvia that can now sleep five, along with 12 Superior Deluxe Balcony cabins on Britannia.

Depending on the cabin layout, they include a fixed double bed, a double sofa bed and a pull-down berth, allowing two adults and three children to stay together in the same cabin.

The new options began appearing on sailings in July 2026, just in time for the summer school holidays.

It might seem like quite a small change when you consider the size of the ships, and with only 50 cabins available they could certainly sell quickly during school holidays. But for families with three children, it makes a huge difference.

Read more: P&O Cruises To Offer Five-Berth Cabins

4. Introduction of New All Inclusive Packages

For years, P&O Cruises built its reputation around quality cruising with affordable fares, with optional extras added later. That’s now changing in a pretty big way.

From 2026, P&O Cruises is introducing its first-ever all inclusive packages, bundling together drinks, WiFi and speciality dining into one upfront price. It’s a move that brings the line closer to rivals that already push more “holiday budget locked in” pricing.

There are two tiers available – Classic and Deluxe. Both include drinks packages, internet access and dining credit to spend in venues like Sindhu and Epicurean. The Deluxe option adds upgraded drinks and faster WiFi suitable for streaming and video calls, with extra speciality dining credit to spend too.

Prices start from £49 per person per day, and P&O says guests could save more than 30% compared to paying separately onboard.

It’s a huge change for the cruise line, but it shows how more and more people are enjoying the option to book their cruise and have everything paid for in advance, rather than the worries about having a large bill to settle at the end of the cruise.

Of course, it’s still optional. Ultimately it means more flexibility for cruisers, as guests have the choice of paying individually for what they’ll use or saving money with a pre-bought bundle. So this is definitely a good thing.

Read more: P&O Cruises Launches New All-Inclusive Packages

But not everyone thinks the next one is good…

5. Ventura’s Big Refit in 2026

Ventura has always been one of P&O Cruises’ most popular ships, and after her huge 2026 refit, she’s looking much fresher and far more modern.

The refurbishment touched almost every corner of the ship, from cabins and restaurants to bars, theatres and pool decks. P&O has clearly tried to give Ventura a more contemporary feel without completely losing the ship’s familiar personality.

Cabins received updated carpets, curtains, lighting and furnishings, while public areas were refreshed with new colour schemes, fabrics and flooring. Restaurants including Sindhu, Bay Tree and Saffron all received redesigns, alongside upgraded bars like Red Bar, Havana and Metropolis.

There are practical changes too. The spa now includes a Japanese head spa experience first seen on Iona, the retail spaces have been revamped, and there are more tables for two in Cinnamon restaurant to improve Freedom Dining flexibility.

Even the arcade has been updated with new games and family attractions.

Rather than radically reinventing Ventura, the refit feels more like P&O making sure one of its most-loved ships can still compete with newer vessels like Arvia and Iona – while keeping the layout and atmosphere that regular guests already enjoy.

Read more: These Cruise Ships Are Getting HUGE Upgrades In 2026

6. New Entertainment Partnerships With Big Names

P&O Cruises seems to be pushing much harder into celebrity partnerships and branded entertainment experiences, and it’s a noticeable change from the more traditional cruise entertainment many passengers will remember.

One of the biggest new additions is a partnership with comedian Jason Manford, who is bringing his touring Manford’s Comedy Club concept onboard selected Arvia and Iona sailings in 2026. Across 35 cruises, guests will be able to watch intimate comedy performances in the Limelight Club, with comedians personally selected by Manford himself.

Read more: Jason Manford To Bring Comedy Club Experience To Sea With P&O Cruises

Another big name joining the line-up is Stephen Mulhern, who took up a summer residency in Iona’s Limelight Club in 2026. His new Live & Unbelievable! show combined close-up magic, illusions and audience participation, with Mulhern performing on four nights across three selected sailings. He also hosted family-friendly magic workshops on sea days, where passengers could actually learn some of the tricks themselves.

Alongside Jason Manford and Pete Tong, it’s another sign that P&O Cruises is putting much more emphasis on recognisable names and exclusive entertainment experiences that you wouldn’t necessarily expect to find on a traditional cruise.

Rather than relying purely on traditional theatre shows and tribute acts, P&O Cruises increasingly seems to want moments that feel exclusive and social media-worthy – the sort of thing passengers specifically book a cruise to experience.

7. Higher Drinks Prices

Cruise passengers probably won’t be shocked to hear that drinks prices are rising again onboard P&O Cruises, although the increases are fairly modest compared to some rivals.

A pint of beer has gone up from £5.95 to £6.50, cocktails are now typically around £9, and even soft drinks, bottled water and speciality coffees have edged up slightly. It’s one of those changes where most prices only move by a few pence here and there, but over a two-week cruise the total can definitely add up.

That said, P&O Cruises still sits in a relatively reasonable position compared with some premium cruise lines where cocktails can easily hit double figures and drinks packages cost substantially more.

The timing is interesting too because it comes shortly after P&O Cruises introduced its first-ever all inclusive packages. In many ways, the two changes go hand in hand. As onboard prices gradually creep up, the all inclusive bundles suddenly start looking more attractive for guests who regularly buy cocktails, coffees, wine and WiFi.

For passengers who only enjoy the occasional drink, the increases probably won’t feel dramatic. But for regular cruisers who know the old prices almost by heart, it’s another reminder that cruise holidays definitely aren’t immune from rising costs anymore.

Read more: P&O Cruises Updates Drinks Prices Across Its Fleet

8. Crackdown on Sun Lounger Hogs

Few things divide cruise passengers faster than the great sun lounger debate.

You know the scene. It’s barely 7am, half the loungers already have towels clipped to them, and somehow nobody actually appears to be using them. Hours later, the same empty chairs are still “reserved” while other passengers wander the deck searching for somewhere to sit.

Now P&O Cruises seems to be taking a firmer approach.

Passengers on recent sailings have spotted new warning covers placed over loungers reminding guests not to leave them unattended for more than 30 minutes. The message warns that belongings may be removed and taken to a designated collection point if loungers are left unused for too long.

The move has largely been welcomed by passengers frustrated with towel reserving, particularly during busy Caribbean and Mediterranean cruises where sea days can turn pool decks into a competitive sport.

Not everyone agrees with the exact timing though. Some guests think 30 minutes is too strict, especially for families grabbing lunch or queueing for drinks.

Still, it’s clear P&O Cruises wants to be seen actively dealing with one of cruising’s longest-running holiday annoyances – and judging by guest reactions online, plenty of people are happy to see it finally being enforced properly.

Read more: P&O Cruises Introduces New Sun Lounger Covers Warning Guests Against Reserving Beds

9. Biggest Ever Summer Programme for 2028

P&O Cruises is going big for 2028 – really big.

The cruise line has launched its largest-ever summer season, with a huge 215 cruises now on sale across the fleet. It’s a clear sign that demand for cruising from the UK is still booming, especially for passengers who want to sail from Southampton without the hassle of flying.

The programme covers 121 destinations across 29 countries, ranging from quick European getaways to longer cruises to the USA, Canada and Iceland. But once again, Norwegian fjords cruises are right at the heart of the schedule, with P&O clearly doubling down on one of its most popular destinations.

There are also more weekend departures than before, including Friday sailings designed to make shorter breaks easier for UK guests. And P&O is putting a bigger emphasis on longer port stays too, with dozens of overnight calls and late-evening departures planned across the season.

One of the more interesting additions is a new Arvia itinerary combining Spain, France and the Norwegian fjords in one sailing – not exactly the most obvious mix, but definitely something different.

Overall, the message is pretty clear. P&O Cruises is leaning heavily into flexible Southampton departures, varied cruise lengths and destination-heavy itineraries as it looks to keep attracting both loyal cruisers and newer passengers.

Read more: P&O Cruises Unveils Biggest Ever Summer Season With 215 Cruises For 2028

10. Final Payment Deadline Changes

One small change could catch some cruise passengers out if they aren’t paying attention.

P&O Cruises is moving its final payment deadline further forward for new bookings, meaning some guests will now need to pay the balance of their cruise four months before sailing instead of three.

The updated policy applies to bookings made from March 2026 onwards for cruises departing from December 2026. Existing bookings won’t be affected, but anyone booking future sailings under the new rules will need to settle their balance 120 days before departure rather than the previous 90-day deadline.

It might not sound like a huge difference at first, but for families booking expensive summer cruises, that extra month could make budgeting feel noticeably tighter.

From P&O’s perspective, though, the move makes complete sense. Earlier payments reduce the risk of late cancellations and give the cruise line more time to resell cabins if plans change. It also brings P&O more in line with several other cruise brands that already use longer payment windows.

For passengers, it’s mostly just something to be aware of. Cruise booking timelines are gradually changing across the industry, and this is another example of cruise lines trying to lock in bookings and revenue earlier than before.

Read more: P&O Cruises Extends Final Payment Deadline To 120 Days For Future Sailings

11. P&O Cruises Could Finally Launch a Proper App

This one hasn’t officially been announced yet, so I’m putting it firmly in the “watch this space” category. But there’s now some pretty convincing evidence that P&O Cruises has been working towards a proper downloadable app.

At the moment, passengers have two separate online systems. My P&O Cruises is used before you sail for things like checking in, downloading boarding passes and booking extras, while My Holiday takes over once you’re onboard.

My Holiday does quite a lot. You can use it to check your onboard account, book dining and entertainment, join virtual queues, browse menus and organise your plans for the cruise. But it isn’t really an app in the way most passengers would understand one.

It’s actually a web app that you open in Safari or Chrome once you’re connected to the ship’s WiFi. There’s nothing to download from the App Store or Google Play, and much of the functionality only becomes available once you’re onboard.

That’s quite different from cruise lines such as Royal Caribbean, MSC and Princess, where passengers can download an app before their holiday and use it throughout the whole journey.

But here’s where things get interesting…

Carnival UK, the company behind P&O Cruises, has previously worked with digital product agency Loomery to build a pilot app specifically for P&O Cruises.

According to Loomery, the prototype was designed to help passengers before and during their holiday, with features covering what to do before travelling, packing information, onboard restaurants and entertainment, getting settled once onboard and navigating the ship.

The company said it built the working pilot in just four weeks and that it was ready to be tested with passengers onboard Arvia.

On its own, a prototype doesn’t necessarily mean that a finished app is coming. Companies test digital ideas all the time and plenty never make it any further.

But there’s another, even stronger clue.

A Carnival UK job description for a senior digital role specifically refers to developing the roadmap for “MyHoliday (portal and future app)”.

That’s pretty difficult to interpret as anything other than P&O Cruises having plans, at least internally, for My Holiday eventually to become a proper app.

As of September 2026, P&O Cruises still hasn’t announced a launch date, confirmed exactly what the app would do or said whether the project will definitely reach passengers.

And its own current website still directs guests to the existing browser-based My Holiday platform rather than a downloadable app.

So I certainly wouldn’t say a P&O Cruises app is confirmed.

But this is no longer based purely on passenger rumours either. We know that a working prototype has been built for testing, and Carnival UK’s own recruitment material has explicitly referred to a future My Holiday app.

Considering how far behind P&O Cruises now feels compared with some rivals when it comes to cruise apps, I wouldn’t be at all surprised if this is one of the next big changes we see.

Final Word

Some of these changes are relatively small on their own. A drinks price increase here, a payment deadline tweak there. But taken together, they paint quite an interesting picture of where P&O Cruises seems to be heading.

The line is clearly trying to modernise while still keeping hold of the traditional cruise atmosphere that so many loyal passengers love. That balancing act won’t always be easy. Introducing all inclusive packages, celebrity entertainment partnerships and more family sailings feels very different to the quieter, more traditional version of P&O Cruises many guests first fell in love with years ago.

At the same time, cruising itself is changing fast. Passengers increasingly expect better technology, more flexible booking options, more choice onboard and experiences that feel a little more unique.

Whether you love the changes or hate them, one thing’s pretty obvious – P&O Cruises in 2028 is likely to look quite different from the P&O Cruises people were sailing with even five years ago.

Related Posts

Launched in 2020, Iona brought a fresh new feel to P&O Cruises – the first new ship since Britannia debuted in 2015. While they share the same proud heritage, these two ships offer very different experiences.

If you’re torn between the two, this guide will help you decide which one suits your cruise style best. From dining and entertainment to design and atmosphere, here are the key differences between Britannia and Iona, so you can book the best ship with confidence.

1. Iona is a Bigger Ship than Britannia

Iona can accommodate 43% more passengers than Iona, with space for 5,200 guests, compared to Britannia’s guest capacity of 3,647.

The following table shows the size differences between Iona and Britannia:

Iona is currently the eleventh biggest ship in the world, behind Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas, the five mammoth Oasis Class ships, MSC World Europa and World America, sister Arvia and Costa Cruises’ two newest additions, Costa Smeralda and Costa Toscana.

The P&O Iona’s capacity is so much bigger than on Britannia, which can be both a blessing and a curse. Because it’s a bigger ship, you have more to do, but it can mean bigger crowds, too.

2. Iona has No Set Dining Times

When cruising with P&O Cruises on all ships except Iona, guests have the choice of either Club dining or Freedom dining. Iona offers only Freedom dining, which means that there are no set dining times and you will sit at a different table each night.

• Club Dining – Choose a set time of 6.30pm or 8.30pm. Sit at the same table with the same waiters throughout your cruise
• Freedom Dining – Arrive at the restaurant at any time between 6pm and 9.30pm

Many cruisers prefer the set dining times of Club dining because they have the opportunity to get to know other cruisers over dinner each night and for conversations to progress past the initial stage. However, others enjoy the flexibility of Freedom dining and the chance to meet new people each night.

3. Iona is Better for Cold-Weather Cruises

With its glass-roofed SkyDome, Iona is the ideal ship for cooler weather. The ship also has a four-screen cinema complex offering movie screenings throughout the day.

In contrast, cruisers sailing on Britannia in cold weather may find that the indoor activities are somewhat limited in comparison.

When you look at the itineraries that are on offer on each ship, you can see that Britannia offers more warm-weather itineraries than Iona.

Britannia Itineraries

Britannia cruises from Southampton in the summer, sailing to destinations such as Spain, Portugal, and the Canary Islands. In the winter, she heads transatlantic to offer Caribbean cruises departing from Barbados and St Lucia.

Iona Itineraries

Iona cruises from Southampton all year round, heading to destinations such as Norway, Northern Europe, Spain, Portugal and the Canary Islands.

4. Britannia has More Formal Nights than Iona

Whilst Iona does have formal nights, where you can dress up in black tie attire, they are less frequent than on the other P&O Cruises ships. Britannia and the other ships in the fleet have twice as many formal nights as you’ll have when you cruise on Iona.

The table below shows how many formal nights you can expect during your cruise:

5. Britannia has No Sea View Cabins

A cabin with a window can be a good, cheaper alternative to a balcony cabin, whilst giving a nice view of the outside that you can’t get with an inside cabin. Yet, rather unusually, outside cabins (also known as sea view) don’t exist on P&O Britannia.

Suggested read: Guide to cabins on Britannia

Suggested read: Guide to cabins on Iona

Iona’s sea view cabins are a great choice, because not only do they offer great value for money, they’re also larger than both standard inside and standard balcony cabins.

Another cabin type that you’ll find only on Iona is the conservatory mini suite. These are akin to a larger balcony room, with an extra conservatory-style space that’s ideal for admiring the views while staying out of the cold and wind.

6. Iona has More Dining Venues than Britannia

Iona has 14 restaurants and 19 bars and cafes. This is more than Britannia, which has 11 restaurants and 15 bars and cafes.

Both cruise ships offer plenty of dining options that are included in the price of your cruise, so there’s no need to spend any more money if you don’t want to. However, both ships have plenty of alternative restaurants which are available for an extra charge for a special treat.

The table below shows the dining options on Iona and Britannia:

On Iona, you’ll find The Quays – a vibrant food hall offering street food from all over the world. Here, you can dine indoors, outside or take food away with you. Within The Quays, there are three restaurants:

• Hook, Line and Vinegar – A posh fish and chip shop which serves scampi, crab and other fancy seafood delights
• The Boardwalk Diner – Serving American BBQ hot dogs, burgers and Southern soul food
• Fusion – Offering a variety of Asian-inspired street food

Read more: P&O Iona restaurants and bars

7. Britannia Has No Promenade Deck

If you love a promenade deck where you can walk all the way around the edge of the ship, then you may be disappointed by Britannia. This ship has no prom deck, although there is a walking track up on Deck 18.

In contrast, Iona has a spectacular wraparound promenade deck on Deck 8. As well as lots of space to walk full laps of the ship, Iona’s promenade deck features six infinity whirlpools, two large whirlpools with aft views, an al fresco dining area and the Sunset Bar.

8. Iona is More Environmentally Friendly than Britannia

Iona is one of the world’s first LNG-powered cruise ships. LNG is liquefied natural gas which is a much cleaner fuel than diesel, which powers cruise ships like Britannia.

LNG engines produce up to 30% less carbon dioxide than diesel equivalents. Using LNG also dramatically cuts nitrogen oxide emissions and almost eliminates sulphur oxide pollution.

9. Iona has Way More Hot Tubs than Britannia

Speaking of whirlpools, if you’ve cruised on Britannia, you’ll know that there are only two hot tubs for public use, with another two in The Retreat, which is a part of the spa that you have to pay extra to enter.

Clearly, two Jacuzzis just isn’t enough for over 3,000 people, but luckily, Iona has a total of 18 whirlpool spas (6 infinity and 12 regular), which should be more than enough for everyone on board.

10. Swimming Nappies Are Allowed on Britannia but Not Iona

Those cruising with babies or toddlers should know that on Iona, children in swimming nappies are not permitted to use the swimming pools. However, there is a small baby pool within the kids’ Splash Zone, which is okay to use.

On Britannia, kids in swimming nappies can use the Lido pool and there is also a splash area next to The Reef Adventure Zone.

Iona has four swimming pools:

• Beachcomber pool pool: Outdoor pool on the Panorama Deck
• Panorama pool: Outdoor pool on the Panorama Deck, aft
• SkyDome pool: Indoor pool on the Lido Deck
• Infinity pool: Outdoor pool on the Lido Dec, aft

Britannia has four swimming pools:

• Riviera pool – Outdoor pool on the Lido Deck
• Lido pool – Outdoor pool on the Lido Deck
• Serenity pool – Outdoor pool on the Sun Deck (ADULTS ONLY)
• Terrace pool – Outdoor pool on the Sun Deck

The swimming pools on Britannia are very deep – 165cm at the shallow end and 225cm at the deep end. This means that you will be unable to stand up in the pools, even in the shallow end, unless you are over 6 feet tall. The exception to this is the Terrace Pool, which is small and not so deep.

On Iona, the pools are 130cm deep at the shallow end and 140cm deep at the deep end, meaning that most people will be able to stand up. The water level is lowered further when the ship is at sea.

Suggested read: 10 essential tips for cruising with a baby or toddler on P&O Cruises

11. Iona has Unique Entertainment

Iona offers a huge choice of entertainment that you won’t find on Britannia, including aerial performances, live DJs and a silent disco. Rather than being limited to the theatre and bars on Iona, you’ll also be entertained in the SkyDome and the Grand Atrium.

Whilst both ships have lots of entertainment options and you’ll never be bored, cruisers in their 20s and 30s will likely prefer the variety of entertainment on offer on Iona.

Final Word

If you were struggling to decide between booking a cruise on Britannia or Iona, I hope that this post has helped you to make your decision.

Both Britannia and Iona are incredible ships and which one is the best depends very much on your individual circumstances. I can’t speak highly enough of my cruise on Britannia. I’ve booked to sail on Iona several times and am looking forward to experiencing the ship for myself as soon as possible.

Related posts:

Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.

Read more about me

If you’re new to cruising (or just new to P&O), it’s not always clear what’s included and what you’ll end up paying extra for. I get questions about this all the time on Instagram, so I’ve put together a simple guide to make it super easy.

P&O Cruises offer three different fares – Select Price, Saver, and Early Saver – and each one includes different things. If you want the best value for your money, you need to know the difference.

This quick guide breaks it all down: what’s included, what’s not, and how to avoid surprise charges on board. Perfect for planning – and saving!

P&O Cruises is one of my favourite cruise lines, so I’m always following their latest cruise news. If you’d like me to keep you updated about P&O Cruises, just pop your email in the form below…

1. Accommodation

When you book a P&O Cruise, you can choose to stay in one of several different cabin types:

• Inside cabins – The cheapest cabins with no windows
• Sea view cabins – Include a window or porthole
• Balcony cabins – With a private balcony to step outside
• Suites – VIP accommodation with added perks

You’ll find specific cabin types such as mini-suites, superior deluxe balcony cabins, and single cabins within these types.

Whichever cabin type you choose, you’ll enjoy the following comforts:

• En-suite bathrooms
• Air conditioning
• Tea and coffee-making facilities
• Fridge
• Hairdryer
• Safe
• TV
• Toiletries pack

If you stay in a suite, you’ll also get lots of included extras in your room, such as fresh fruit, Champagne, chocolates, and a bathrobe and slippers, to name but a few. You can see a full list of P&O Cruises suite perks here.

When booking your P&O cruise, you’ll have two main decisions to make:

1. What type of cabin would you like? E.g. inside, outside, balcony or suite
2. Do you want to pick your cabin number or not?

If you want to choose your cabin number, you’ll need to book the Select Fare. If you don’t mind which cabin you get, then the Saver or Early Saver Fare will be cheaper.

Select Fare

Choose the exact cabin you would like.

Saver & Early Saver Fares

Choose the cabin type you would like, and your cabin number will be assigned to you.

So, should you choose your cabin number or book what is known as a ‘guarantee cabin’ and have it assigned to you a few weeks before your cruise?

Well, that really depends on whether you want a cabin in a certain location (such as a low deck if you get seasick or near the lifts, if you can’t walk too far).

To help you decide, take a look at my P&O Cruises cabin guides for the ship that you’re interested in…

Booking the Select Fare doesn’t just allow you to choose a cabin number; you’ll also get some other perks, which we’ll discuss further in this guide.

Sometimes, free upgrades are given. This can mean that you pay for an inside cabin but get upgraded to a balcony for no extra cost. Upgrades are first offered to Select Fare guests, then Extra Saver Fare guests, then Saver Fare guests.

2. Food

P&O Cruises include breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner and snacks in a choice of venues. Each ship also has speciality restaurants where you can dine for a set fee.

The P&O Cruises menus change every day and special diets are always well catered for.

Included food on P&O Cruises:

• Main Dining Room – For breakfast, lunch and dinner
• Buffet Restaurant – For breakfast, lunch and dinner, plus an early tea for kids
• The Quays – A multi-venue food court (only on Iona and Arvia)
• Casual Snack Bars – Sandwiches, salads, fruit, cakes etc
• Poolside Grill – Burgers, hot dogs, chips, pizzas etc
• Poolside Pizzeria – Handmade stone-baked pizza slices
• Afternoon Tea – Finger sandwiches, scones, tea and coffee

• Speciality Dining – Restaurants offering global cuisine with a cover charge
• Market Cafe – Crepes, waffles, cakes and biscuits
• Ice Cream – Outside of mealtimes, ice cream has an extra charge

The speciality dining venues vary by ship, with some favourites, such as Sindhu Indian restaurant, appearing on every P&O Cruises ship.

The cover charges are reasonable, ranging from £9.50 per person for dinner at The Beach House to £30.00 per person for dinner at The Epicurean.

Although children are welcome in the speciality restaurants, there is no children’s menu and no children’s prices. I prefer to take the kids to the earlier kids’ tea in the buffet restaurant and then leave them at the kids’ club while we enjoy an adult-only dining experience.

There’s really no need to pay any extra for food on your P&O Cruise, especially if you’re cruising for less than a week. While it can be nice to dine in a speciality restaurant for a special occasion, you really don’t need to budget anything extra for food if you don’t want to.

Suggested read: P&O Arvia Restaurants Guide

3. Drinks

There are some drinks on P&O Cruises that are always available free of charge. For other drinks, you can either add these to your bill individually and pay for them at the end of your cruise, or you can buy a drinks package that will make your cruise all-inclusive.

Included drinks on P&O Cruises:

• Glasses of water
• Tea
• Coffee
• Cordial
• Milk
• Fruit juices (at breakfast)

When you book your cruise, you’ll need to decide whether to buy a drinks package or to pay for your alcohol and soft drinks individually. There are five different drink packages to choose from, and which one is best depends on what you like to drink.

To help you decide whether to buy a drink package or not, I’ve put together this thorough guide: P&O Drinks Packages Guide.

If you’d like to take a look at the drinks menus to get an idea of prices, you can see those here: P&O Cruises Drinks Menus.

I’ve also made a calculator to help you decide if you’ll pay more with or without a drink package. You just enter how many of each drink you plan to have, and it will work out your expected bar bill for you so you know if you’ll break even on the package or not…

4. Room Service

On P&O Cruises, room service is free of charge at breakfast time (7 am to 11 am), but there’s a charge at all other times.

Included room service breakfast on P&O Cruises:

• Fruit juices and smoothies
• Yoghurt
• Cereals
• Fruit and compotes
• Croissants, muffins, Danish pastries, pain au chocolat
• Toast
• Panini with sausage, bacon and tomato

To order the free breakfast room service on your P&O cruise, just mark what items you want on the card along with your preferred delivery time and hang it on the outside of your door.

After 11 am, the room service prices on P&O Cruises are very reasonable.

P&O Cruises room service prices:

• Baguettes with salad and crisps – £2.25
• Wraps with fries and tabbouleh salad – £2.75
• Speciality sandwiches with fries – £5.95
• Kids sandwiches with orange juice, yoghurt and brownie – £2.95
• Soups and salads- £1.95
• Small plates (starters) – £2.50
• Large plates (mains) – £5.95
• Sharing plates – £7.95 to £12.50
• Healthy salads and omelettes – £3.95
• Desserts – £2.50
• Cookies, brownies, muffins and doughnuts – £1.75

Below is the full P&O Cruises room service food and drinks menu…

You can also order drinks via room service. See the menu with prices above.

Read more: P&O Cruises Room Service Menu & How To Order

P&O Cruises Minibar

There is an extra charge for items from your minibar on P&O Cruises. The mini bar is not included in the drinks package either.

You can see P&O Cruises mini bar price list below…

I usually ask our cabin steward to empty the minibar. That leaves the fridge free so that we can store our own drinks.

P&O Cruises lets you bring up to one litre of wine or Champagne plus unlimited non-alcoholic drinks on board with you. You can also bring on extra non-alcoholic drinks in each port of call and keep them in your minibar.

The cruise line used to let you bring spirits onboard too, but that policy changed in May 2024.

5. Entertainment

Your P&O cruise will include a range of entertainment throughout the day and evening at no extra cost. Each evening, you’ll receive a daily programme called Horizon, which will have the details of all of the activities and entertainment for the following day.

Included entertainment on P&O Cruises:

• West End-style theatre performances
• Cinema
• Comedians
• Live music and tribute acts
• Cabaret, musicians and acrobats
• Nightclub

There’s no charge to watch any of the shows on P&O Cruises’ ships.

6. Activities

On P&O cruises, the whole family can enjoy a wide variety of activities at no extra cost…

Included activities on P&O Cruises:

• Swimming pools and hot tubs
• Gym and fitness classes
• Running track
• Sports court with football, basketball and tennis
• Golf nets
• Deck quoits and shuffleboard
• Darts
• Table tennis
• Dance classes
• Card room and bridge classes
• Pub quizzes
• Family discos
• Sports tournaments
• Seminars with guest speakers
• Library
• Kids’ bingo

Some activities do have an extra charge. These are activities done in small groups, such as cookery classes or behind-the-scenes tours, as well as activities where you get to take something home such as photos or souvenirs.

• Spa with thermal suite, saunas and steam rooms
• Hair and beauty services
• Casino
• Arcades
• Cooking classes
• Art auctions
• Shopping e.g. Clothes, jewellery, perfume and souvenirs
• Behind-the-scenes tours
• Photo shoots
• 1 to 1 dance tuition
• Art classes

7. Kids’ Clubs

P&O Cruises offers The Reef Children’s Club, which, until June 2025, had been free of charge at all times.

However, P&O Cruises is now trialling a new system on Iona where parents can pre-book kids’ club sessions in The Reef for a fee – £4.95 for daytime and £8.95 for evenings. While some free spots will still be available onboard, they’re on a first-come, first-served basis. For families with two children attending all sessions, this could add up to £38 per day. No rollout date has been confirmed for its other family-friendly ships.

The Reef Children’s Club open from just after breakfast until late in the evening, with breaks for mealtimes.

The P&O kids’ club is split into four age groups:

• Splashers: 2 to 4 years old
• Surfers: 5 to 8 years old
• Scubas: 9 to 12 years old
• H2O / The Scene: 13 to 17 years old

On cruises outside the school holidays, when there are fewer children on board, the groups may be combined.

The activities on board P&O Cruises ships for kids in The Reef include arts and crafts, sports tournaments, soft play, games consoles, quizzes, karaoke and movie nights.

As well as the kids’ clubs, P&O Cruises offer a free night nursery service for children aged four and under. This is a group babysitting service for children who are asleep. It’s open between 6 pm and 2 am on a first-come-first-served basis.

8. Service Charges

Gratuities

While some other cruise lines mandate a daily service charge known as a gratuity, P&O Cruises includes this in the cruise fare, so you won’t get a bill for it at the end of your cruise.

Tipping staff isn’t required or expected on board P&O Cruises ships. There’s also no service charge when purchasing drinks on board.

If you’d like to tip certain staff members, such as your cabin steward or waiter at the end of your cruise, you can do so, but you don’t need to and most people don’t, as tips are included in your P&O Cruises fare.

Corkage

If you bring your own wine on board with you, you may drink it in public areas, subject to a £20 per bottle corkage fee. If you drink the alcohol in your own cabin, there’s no charge.

9. WiFi

WiFi is available on P&O Cruises’ ships for an extra charge.

When your cruise ship is in port, you’ll be able to connect to the internet over 3G, 4G or 5G. However, when the ship is at sea, you’ll want to turn this off to avoid a huge bill. And I mean huge! Data roaming at sea is notoriously expensive.

If you’d like to stay connected to the internet at sea, P&O Cruises offers two WiFi packages:

• My WiFi Essential – Web browsing, email, music streaming, social media, text, and images (no videos)
• My WiFi Ultimate – As above, plus video streaming

You can purchase each package for 24 hours or for your whole cruise.

P&O Cruises WiFi prices

If you need internet access for medical reasons, such as a continuous glucose monitoring device for diabetes, you can get this free of charge on P&O Cruises. Just ask at the reception desk on board for a free 100-minute internet voucher.

Read more: P&O Cruises WiFi Guide

10. Laundry

P&O Cruises offers two options for laundry:

• Self-service laundrettes – Free of charge
• Professional laundry services – For a fee

Self-Service Laundry

You’ll find a laundrette on most cabin decks, just take a look at the deck plan to find your nearest. Here, there will be washing machines, sinks, tumble dryers, irons and ironing boards.

The self-service laundrettes can get quite busy on sea days on longer cruises, so you may wish to do your laundry in the early morning or evenings to avoid the queues. The laundrettes close at 10 pm until 8 am so as not to disturb people in cabins nearby.

It’s a good idea to take your own 2-in-1 washing tablets. Otherwise, you can buy them from the onboard shop.

Laundry Services

If you’d rather not spend your cruise holiday doing laundry, you can send items to be washed, pressed or dry-cleaned. If you hand laundry to your cabin steward before 10 am, it will be returned the same day.

Professional cleaning is charged per item. On longer cruises, you may find special offers for multiple items.

Here is the P&O Cruises laundry price list…

11. Flights and Overseas Transfers

P&O Cruises offers cruise holidays as well as fly-cruise packages that include flights and overseas transfers.

If your cruise departs from a port outside of the UK, you will usually get flights and overseas transfers included in the cost of your package holiday.

If you prefer, it is possible to arrange your own flights or have a travel agent do this for you rather than travelling on the flight that comes as a package with your cruise. One thing to bear in mind with this option, though, is that if you travel on a P&O Cruises flight and it’s delayed, the ship will wait for you. If you book your own flight, it won’t.

P&O Cruises offers flights from the following UK cities:

• Belfast
• Birmingham
• Bristol
• East Midlands
• Glasgow
• London
• Manchester
• Newcastle

There is often a supplement for regional departures outside of London. You may also choose to pay extra to upgrade your flight to premium economy, business class or first class.

12. Transfers To Southampton

Depending on whether you choose P&O Cruises Select Fare, Saver Fare or Early Saver Fare, you may be able to enjoy included transport to the Southampton cruise terminal. This is an option on cruises of seven nights or more that depart from Southampton.

When I lived in the north of England, I’d normally book the Select Fare because the free coach travel alone is worth the extra cost. In the past, I have paid as little as £1 for kids’ places, which include a seat on the coach!

You’ll find more information about the coach to Southampton here: Guide to Coach Travel to Southampton Cruise Terminal.

If the coach to Southampton isn’t for you, you can instead choose free car parking in Southampton or some extra on-board spending money.

For cruises departing from Southampton, P&O Cruises can book internal flights from regional UK airports for an extra cost.

13. Shuttles Buses in Port

Another advantage of choosing P&O Cruises’ Select Fare is that it entitles you to ride the shuttle buses for free. These offer a constant service running between the ship and the city centre.

The shuttle buses aren’t available in every port. This is because in some ports your ship will dock very close to the city centre, so there is no need for one.

Some ports are working cargo ports where it’s not safe or possible for passengers to explore on foot. In these ports, a free shuttle bus will be provided for everyone.

In some ports, you’ll find independent buses and taxis which can work out to be a similar price to paying for the P&O shuttle bus.

14. Shore Excursions

On P&O Cruises, shore excursions are available for an extra charge. After booking, you can see which shore experiences are available for your cruise on the My P&O Cruises planner.

The excursions are usually a little pricier than doing your own thing and they can feel a little rushed sometimes. But if you prefer to step off the ship and onto a coach rather than planning your day ashore yourself, then it can be a stress-free way to explore.

P&O Cruises Onboard Credit

When you book a Select Price P&O cruise, you may receive some free onboard credit to spend on the ship. You’ll also get onboard credit if you’re a Carnival shareholder, as I am.

Many people wonder what to spend this free money on, and you may wish to plan this before you go.

You can spend P&O Cruises onboard credit on:

• Drinks (individually or as a package)
• Speciality dining*
• Shore excursions*
• Spa services, hair and beauty treatments*
• Items from any of the onboard shops
• Photographs
• Laundry and dry cleaning
• Internet and telephone charges
• Artwork from the gallery
• Celebration packages*

*To use your onboard credit, you must book these on the ship, not before embarkation.

You can not use P&O Cruises onboard credit to buy:

• Shore excursions, speciality dining or spa services that are booked before embarkation
• Visas
• Medical charges
• Cashback
• Future cruises
• Flight upgrades
• Foreign currency
• Casino and arcades
• Charity donations
• Shore excursion cancellation charges

There is no refund or cash alternative for any onboard credit that’s not spent before disembarkation. So if you have any left at the end of your cruise, be sure to head to the souvenir shop to spend it.

To Conclude

P&O Cruises offers great value for money as there’s so much included. Are P&O Cruises all-inclusive? No, but very few cruise lines are, and those that are tend to charge a lot more for the privilege!

While many other cruise lines charge extra for gratuities, service charges on drinks and breakfast room service, these are included in the ticket price with P&O Cruises.

The free late-night babysitting for under-fives is something that you also won’t find on any other cruise line.

It’s possible to cruise with P&O without spending anything at all on top of your cruise ticket price. That said, most people do leave with something on their bill, even if it’s just drinks.

And if you’re a long-time P&O fan, you’ll know that there have been some serious cutbacks over the past 5 years or so. Check out this post: 20 Things That P&O Cruises Used To Offer That They No Longer Do to see what’s not included any more.

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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.

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