p&o cruises australia alcohol policy

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P&O Cruises Alcohol Policy, Wine, Drinks Prices

Learn about current P&O Cruises alcohol policy and how much cost drinks on P&O Cruises ships (drink prices regularly updated). P&O line's beverage policy was changed pretty soon for liquor availability to be consumed in the stateroom. Originally guests could take their own drink but it was also easy to order through interactive TV (room steward delivery) within 24 hours.

P&O Alcohol Policy

In 2011, P and O cruise lines introduced the new Duty-Free shops offering good prices and available almost immediately. Very soon though, and not surprisingly, prices went up by 50%, which was still a good deal. This is the reason why it makes sense to take mixers and buy alcohol on board P&O cruise ships.

Drinking age on PandO ships

Passengers must be 18-year old or over to be allowed to purchase or consume alcohol (or to gamble) onboard P&O. Guests younger than 18 are not served alcohol. Drinking age is 18 years outside US waters, and in American Waters - 21 years. 16 and 17 years old may be brought cider, wine, or beer to drink with meals in P and O restaurants, only if accompanied by an adult. Alcohol ashore purchased by under 18's are confiscated at the gangway. Government photo identification is sometimes requested - Queensland ‘Adult Proof Age Card’ is accepted, but the older Queensland ‘Card 18+’ version is not.

Can I bring alcohol on P&O cruises - alcohol policy

How about bringing liquor at embarkation? According to P and O Cruises, passengers may bring small amounts of alcohol onboard with no amount of restriction. However, P&O reserves the right for removing alcohol at gangway should any need arise. The line generally allows reasonable alcohol amounts to be taken for yourself to enjoy in the cabin, but taking bottles into lounges or restaurants incurs corkage fees. Note that the charged corkage fees will cost you GBP 11 per item of any size, per occasion.

NOTE: In November 2017, in a change to previous policies, P&O places restrictions on the amount of alcohol that is brought onboard. Currently, each guest 18 or older is allowed to only bring 1 bottle of beer, wine, Champagne, liqueur or spirits up to 1 liter during embarkation. Additional alcohol, of which any bought ashore or in the duty-free shops onboard, is confiscated and held until the sailing's last night.

At embarkation and disembarkation all your luggage, including check-in and hand, will be x-rayed. Passengers have to declare to Customs the amounts of excess alcohol. Bringing champagne or wine onboard is allowed. If you wish to take champagne or wine onboard for celebrating an event, the bottles' number will be at port authorities' discretion. You will be also charged the due corkage fees.

Purchasing liquor from P&O cruise ships’ duty-free shops and ashore

• Purchasing liquor in ports of call is allowed. Any purchased ashore alcohol will be collected at the gangway, kept safe and returned to you on the last day of the voyage.
• Duty-free liquor products that are sold in P&O ships' shops will be available only to take home. If you make an order at any time during the voyage via these shops, your orders will be available to collect at the end of the cruise.
• Passengers under 18 will are not permitted to purchase alcohol and may be asked to verify age. It's prohibited to attempt purchasing alcohol for those who are under 18 in the onboard shops.
• If you want to purchase a bottle of alcohol for consumption in the cabin during the voyage, you must make a room service order. The service details are located in the cabin directory.
• P&O shops offer a price guarantee on tobacco and liquor purchases. The line guarantees that her duty-free shop is cheaper than any of the comparable outlets (including shops ashore during your voyage). All you have to do is provide proof of cheaper price from retailers recognized by P&O. Online price comparison is not included. If you have purchased alcohol onboard, the shop will make a refund for the difference back on your onboard account. When you haven't purchased yet, but have proof of cheaper price ashore, P&O duty-free shops will price match.
• Free alcoholic beverages are served at P&O ships' cocktail parties.
• Duty-free shops location by ship: Arcadia (Deck 3); Adonia (Deck 5); Aurora, Azura, Oceana, Ventura (Deck 6); Oriana (Deck 7).

P&O Cruises beer list on ships

• Draught beers: Boddingtons and Stella Artois.
• Bottled beers: Bass Pale Ale, Beck's, Beck's nonalcoholic, Boddingtons, Budweiser, Caffrey's, Carlsberg, Corona, Greene King IPA, Guinness, John Smith's, Kingfisher, Leffe, Magners and Magners Pear, Marston Pedigree, Newcastle Brown Ale, Old Speckled Hen, Peroni Nastro Azzuro, Spitfire, San Miguel, Stella Artois, Strongbow, Tiger.

Specialty bars on P and O cruise ships

Onboard each P&O ship there are a variety of specialty bars, which offer a range of drinks at low and competitive prices. Drinks can be also purchased in P&O restaurants. There are different specialty bars on P&O ships and they vary by vessel. Anderson Bar is on Aurora and Oriana; Intermezzo on Arcadia; Blue Bar on Azura; Magnums on Oceana, and Red Bar on Ventura, all offer special drinks' selections, only available in there. Also discover treats like Pendryn Welsh Whisky, Williams English Gin, Champagne and caviar, and many others.

How much are drinks on P&O Cruises - alcohol and drink prices

Note: All P&O Cruises drink prices are in GBP / British pounds (GBP ).

• All liqueur and spirit measures are 25ml (0,8 US fl oz)
• Aperitif, port and sherry measures are 50ml (1,7 US fl oz)
• Prices of drinks are inclusive of gratuities.

Bar Menu beer prices

Ciders and specialty beverages prices.

These are the prices of bottled or canned beverages (soft drinks, mocktails).

Ales, bitters, stout beers prices

Gin and gin cocktails prices, cocktail drinks prices.

Follow the prices of alcohol drinks served over ice, and of refreshing cocktails.

By the glass WINE prices

By the bottle wine prices, soda and soft beverages prices, alcohol prices (of wines, spirits, aperitifs, whiskies), p&o cruises alcohol packages.

"Spirit Package" prices also include 6x (150ml) soda cans of your choice as a bonus. All cabin bottle purchases are allowed only for in-cabin consumption.

NEW "P&O Australia" alcohol package (all-inclusive, unlimited drinks)In September 2015, the P&O Cruises Australia line introduced its first alcohol package on the ship Pacific Pearl (now CMV Columbus) . The new drink package was rolled out across the PandO Australia's fleet. Named “Premium Beverage”, the new all-inclusive drink package's price is AUD 69 per person per day. The unlimited beverage package (non-transferable, 1 drink ordered at a time) includes wine (by the glass), beer, liquor (spirits priced up to AUD 12), bottled water, also soft drinks and coffee/tea. The offer will be available on 7 nights and longer P&O AU cruises.P&O Cruises wine packagesWine packages can be consumed either in your cabin or in the restaurant. These would give up to 15% savings on normal cost."The Commodore Collection" wine package"The Captain's Collection" wine packageP and O Cruises wine list pricesThe listed below pricing is per bottle.

• Soft Drinks Package: A soft drinks package is also available to buy at a cost of GBP 35, including 20 refills of 330ml soft drinks from any PO bar (Pepsi, Diet Pepsi, Lemonade). This would give 10% savings on normal cost.
• Costa Coffee Card: A coffee card is available to buy at a cost of GBP 21,50, including 10 Primo (12oz) Costa coffees, Latte, Cappuccino or Americano.

P&O alcohol policy is committed to responsible liquor service. Sometimes the P and O line may consider appropriate to refuse alcohol service to a passenger for any reason. P&O also reserves the right for taking alcohol (when brought on board) at the gangway and returning to guests at the end of the voyage. The company stated they would implement this alcohol policy only when they consider it likely that comfort, health, and safety of passengers may be compromised.

NEW "P&O Australia" alcohol package (all-inclusive, unlimited drinks)

In September 2015, P&O Cruises Australia introduced its first alcohol package on the ship Pacific Pearl (now CMV Columbus) . The new drink package was rolled out fleetwide.

• Named “Premium Beverage”, the new all-inclusive drink package's price is AUD 69 per person per day.
• The unlimited beverage package is non-transferable and limited to 1 drink order at a time.
• The package includes wine (by the glass), beer, liquor (spirits priced up to AUD 12 per drink), bottled water, also soft drinks and coffee/tea.
• This special offer is available on 7-nights and longer P&O Australia cruise itineraries.

P and O Cruises WINE packages

Wine packages can be consumed either in the stateroom or in the restaurant. These would give up to 15% savings on normal cost. Mix and match to create your own package - choose between:

Cruise Line Drink Policies: Can I Bring Alcohol Onboard?

Can I bring my favourite bottle of spirits onboard with me? My son is 18 and is allowed to drink alcohol at home – will he be able to drink on a U.S. ship? I only drink sparkling water, can I bring bottled water onboard? If I buy wine while in port, will I be able to bring it back on to the ship?

Questions about bringing drinks onboard – in particular, alcohol and bottled water – are a daily occurrence around here. And it’s not surprising, because every cruise line has different policies about this and it can be confusing. To ensure you know the rules before you’re seeing double, we’ve pulled together a comprehensive list of drink policies for the most popular cruise lines. If we haven’t covered your specific cruise line, reach out to one of our Cruise Travel Advisors and they will be able to guide you.

General Rule of Thumb

When it comes to alcohol, policies vary by cruise line. But there are some general rules that tend to be consistent across most cruise lines. Most cruise lines that permit alcohol to be brought onboard typically limit this to wine or Champagne. However, each cruise line has its own regulations regarding the number and size of bottles you can bring on board. Additionally, if you decide to enjoy your alcoholic beverages outside of your stateroom, there might be respective corkage fees involved.

Usually, passengers who are of legal drinking age (21 or older, depending on the homeport of your cruise ship) are allowed to bring a bottle or two on board. It is essential to keep in mind that these bottles must be unopened and sealed, and they should be stored in your carry-on luggage rather than in your checked bags. Any alcohol purchased from the ship’s duty-free shops will be held on your behalf and returned to you at the end of your voyage.

To make things easier for you, let’s go through a comprehensive overview of the drink policies of the most popular cruise lines.

Can you bring your own wine, Champagne, beer and spirits onboard?

Azamara Cruises

You can bring your own wine, beer, or liquor with you on an Azamara cruise, to consume in your stateroom at no extra charge. However, if you wish to enjoy your own bottle at one of the onboard dining venues or bars, a US$10 corkage fee will apply. The same policy applies to alcohol purchased during port visits. Any alcohol bought from a duty-free shop will be safely stored until the end of your cruise.

What is the legal drinking age onboard Azamara cruises?

The minimum drinking age for all alcoholic beverages on Azamara’s ships sailing from North America is 21. However, for ships sailing from Europe, Asia, South America, Australia, and New Zealand, where the legal drinking age is lower, the minimum drinking age onboard is 18.

Carnival Cruise Line

On Carnival Cruise Line ships, passengers 21 and older may bring on board one 750 mL bottle of wine or Champagne (sealed and unopened) per person packed in their carry-on luggage when they embark. There is a corkage fee of US$15 if you drink your bottle outside your stateroom. Beer and liquor are not permitted.

If you plan on purchasing alcohol during your port visits, it will be held until the last morning or night of the cruise, depending on the itinerary. The same applies to alcohol purchased from the ships’ duty-free shop(s).

The legal drinking age for all alcoholic beverages on Carnival cruises is 21.

What about Carnival Cruise Line Australia?

On Carnival’s Australia-based ships, passengers must be 18 years of age to consume or purchase alcohol onboard. However, unlike other Carnival cruises, bringing alcohol onboard during embarkation is not allowed on any Carnival Cruise Line Australia ships. Any alcohol found at the gangway will be confiscated and discarded.

If you purchase alcohol in port, or from the ship’s duty-free shop(s), your purchases will be held for safekeeping and returned to you at the end of your cruise.

Spirits can’t be brought onboard, but you can still enjoy plenty of cocktails on a Carnival Cruise

Celebrity Cruises

Celebrity Cruises permits passengers to bring up to two bottles of wine or Champagne (with a maximum volume of 750 mL) on board when embarking. However, beer and spirits are not allowed. If you wish to drink your wine or Champagne in the ship’s restaurants or bars, there will be a corkage fee of US$25 per bottle. Guests with the Classic Beverage Package or Premium Beverage Package are, however, exempt from the corkage fee.

Any alcoholic beverages that you purchase at a port or the duty-free shop will be held safely until the last day of your cruise. Guests who are under the permitted drinking age will not have alcohol returned to them. For security purposes, staff may conduct inspections at any time, including checking containers such as water bottles, soda bottles, mouthwash, and canteens for concealed alcohol. Any hidden alcohol will be appropriately disposed of.

What is the legal drinking age on a Celebrity cruise?

The minimum age to consume alcoholic beverages is 21 years. However, on cruises departing from countries where legal drinking ages are younger than 21, such as in Europe, South America, Asia, Australia, and New Zealand, the onboard drinking age is 18.

Cunard Line

When it comes to bringing alcohol on board a Cunard ship, there are a few guidelines to keep in mind. At embarkation, you are not allowed to bring liquor onboard, but you are welcome to bring one bottle of wine or Champagne. However, there is a corkage fee of US$20 per bottle if you choose to enjoy your wine or Champagne in the restaurants or bars on the ship.

If you purchase alcohol in port or from the duty-free shop onboard, your purchases will be held by the ship and delivered to your stateroom on the last night of your cruise. This ensures that you can still take advantage of any special deals while adhering to Cunard’s policies.

What is the legal drinking age on a Cunard cruise?

The drinking age on Cunard cruises is strictly enforced. No one under the age of 18 is permitted to purchase or consume alcohol onboard. In U.S. territorial waters, where the legal drinking age is 21, no one under 21 may purchase or drink alcohol.

Enjoy your bottle of wine in your stateroom with no corkage fee

Disney Cruise Line

During embarkation on a Disney cruise, passengers aged 21 and above can bring two unopened bottles of wine or Champagne (not exceeding 750 ml) or six beers (not larger than 350 ml) onboard. These beverages have to be personally carried in a day bag or your carry-on luggage, and any excess amount or any alcoholic items discovered in checked luggage will be collected and stored until the conclusion of your sailing.

Should you wish to enjoy your wine or Champagne in the dining rooms, you will be required to pay a US$25 corkage fee per bottle. Unfortunately, personal beverages are not permitted in lounges or public areas.

If you decide to purchase alcohol during your port visits, the same allowance applies as on embarkation day. Please be aware that corkage fees are applicable, and any excess quantities will also be stored for return to you at the end of the voyage. Lastly, if you plan to purchase alcohol from the duty-free shop(s) onboard, keep in mind that it will also be held for you until the end of the cruise.

What is the legal drinking age on a Disney cruise?

The drinking age on all Disney Cruise Line ships is 21, and you must have a valid photo ID to purchase alcoholic beverages. However, if you are on a round-trip cruise departing from any European country with a lower drinking age, parents have the option to sign a Beverage Consent Form that will allow their 18 to 20-year-olds to consume alcoholic beverages while in the presence of their parent or guardian.

If you’re embarking on a round-trip cruise from Sydney, Melbourne, Auckland, or Brisbane and you’re 18 years or older, you are free to purchase and enjoy alcoholic beverages without needing parental consent. For repositioning cruises between Hawaii and Australia, parents or guardians can also sign a Beverage Consent Form as above.

Holland America Line

When embarking on a Hollan America Line cruise, passengers of legal drinking age are welcome to bring bottles of wine or Champagne (with a maximum size of 750ml) in their carry-on luggage. However, this bottle will incur a corkage fee of US$20 per bottle, regardless of where and how it will be enjoyed. While there is no specified limit on the number of bottles you can bring, your cruise officials reserve the right to determine if the quantity is excessive. In such cases, you may be requested to check some of your bottles until the end of the sailing. Wine purchased during Holland America Line-sponsored shore excursions that visit local wineries are exempt from the on-board corkage fee (offer limited to one bottle of wine per person).

What about other drinks?

As for box wine, beer and liquors, the cruise line does not allow these to be brought onboard, and any such items discovered in your possession will be collected and safely stored until the final day of your voyage. Items, such as sodas, energy drinks, and other non-alcoholic beverages, are also strictly prohibited from being brought on board in any shape or form. This also includes plastic water bottles, including during stops at ports..

However, there is a generous allowance for water in alternative forms:

⚓ a maximum of six liters, twelve (12) cans or cartons (with a volume of 500 ml or less) ⚓ or six (6) cans or cartons (with a volume of 1 liter or less) per stateroom.

Any amount exceeding this limit will be prohibited for boarding.

What is the onboard legal drinking age?

For most of Holland America Line’s voyages, the minimum drinking age is 21. However, on round trip sailings from certain destinations in Asia and Europe, the legal drinking age is lowered to 18. Please be aware that for sailings beginning or ending in Japan, the legal drinking age is set at 20.

Check the legal drinking age for your destination before heading to the Billboard Bar

Hurtigruten Expedition Cruises

On a Hurtigruten expedition, only alcohol purchased onboard can be consumed during the cruise. Any alcohol purchased on land must be handed over to crew, who will store it and return it to you on the last day of the sailing. If you plan to purchase alcohol in port and bring it on board, the same rule applies. There are no duty-free shops on Hurtigruten ships, but if you purchase alcohol from any of the onboard shops, the ship will store it and deliver it to you before you depart.

If you are a guest aboard the Santa Cruz II and wish to bring bottles of wine and/or spirits, please note that a corkage fee of US $27+ taxes will apply.

What is the legal drinking age on Hurtigruten cruises?

Hurtigruten follows Norwegian law when it comes to drinking age restrictions. Passengers who are 18 years or older are permitted to purchase beer and wine, while spirits are only available to those who are 20 years or older.

MSC Cruises

MSC Cruises has a much stricter alcohol policy, and no alcohol is permitted to be brought on board MSC cruises during embarkation. Any alcoholic beverages purchased in port or at the onboard duty-free shop(s) will also be securely stored until the end of the cruise. These items will then be delivered directly to your stateroom on the last evening of the cruise.

On U.S. and Caribbean sailings, the legal drinking age is 21, while on all other itineraries, it is 18.

Norwegian Cruise Line

Passengers are permitted to bring wine and Champagne onboard a Norwegian Cruise Line ship upon embarkation, including 1,500 mL magnum bottles. There is also no limit on the number of bottles you can bring! However, please note that corkage fees will apply based on the bottle size – US$15 for 750ml bottles and US$30 for 1,500ml bottles. These fees are only applicable if you decide to enjoy your bottles outside of your stateroom. But here’s the good news: passengers with beverage packages are exempt from these corkage fees. Box wine, beer and liquor are not allowed to be carried on board and will be kept securely until disembarkation day.

The same rules for wine and Champagne mentioned above apply for those bought while in port. Any other alcoholic beverages purchased during your time ashore will be kept safe until the end of the cruise. Any alcohol you purchase in the ships’ duty-free shop(s) will be stored securely until the conclusion of your cruise.

What is the legal drinking age onboard Norwegian cruises?

For most itineraries, the legal drinking age is 21. However, for sailings that operate round trip from European or Australian ports, the drinking age is 18, but only for beer and wine. Passengers between the ages of 18 and 20 can also enjoy beer or wine on other itineraries when the ship is in international waters (excluding Alaska or Hawaii sailings). In such cases, a parent or legal guardian must accompany the minor and sign a waiver form at the front desk.

Corkage fees will apply if you bring your own wine or Champagne on board

Oceania Cruises

Oceani Cruises allows passengers to bring up to six bottles of wine or Champagne per stateroom on board. However, they charge a US$25 corkage fee per bottle if you consume them in public areas. Any beer or liquor brought on board or purchased in port will be held until the end of the cruise, including any purchases beyond the allowed limit of six bottles. Alcohol is not available for purchase in the ships’ duty-free shops.

There is an exception to the six bottle limit – gusts who are booked on a world cruise itinerary will be allowed to bring up to 60 bottles per stateroom. However this only applies to guests who are booked on the full world cruise or any of the variations of the full world cruise as listed below:

⚓ INS210125G – Los Angeles to New York (164 days) ⚓ INS211221H – Miami to New York (196 days) ⚓ ATW – 2022 INS220106G – Los Angeles to New York (180 days)

What is the legal drinking age on an Oceania cruise?

The legal drinking age onboard Oceania Cruises is 21 years of age for all destinations. Guests who are 18 – 20 years of age can purchase and consume beer or wine when the ship is in international waters (5 km’s out of US territorial waters). Guests who are between the ages of 18 and 20 years of age will not be allowed to consume any alcohol on any Alaska or New England sailings. For Caribbean sailings, they can consume beer and wine once the vessel leaves US territorial waters.

P&O Cruises Australia

P&O Australia does not allow passengers to bring alcohol onboard during embarkation. If it is found in your luggage, it will be confiscated at the gangway and returned at the end of the cruise. The same rule applies for alcohol purchased in port or from the ships’ duty-free shop(s). It will be held for safekeeping by crew members until the end of the cruise, when it will then be returned to you before disembarkation.

What is the legal drinking age on P&O Australia cruises?

Passengers must be at least 18 years old to consume or purchase alcohol on board a P&O Australia cruise.

Princess Cruises

Princess Cruises does not allow passengers to bring beer or liquor onboard – it will be confiscated and discarded. However, each adult passenger can bring one bottle of wine or Champagne (no larger than 750 ml) per voyage. If you drink it in your stateroom, there will be no corkage fee, however if you choose to drink it in a restaurant or public lounge, a US$15 corkage fee will apply. Any alcohol purhcased in port will be held at the gangway until the end of the cruise for safekeeping. And if you happen to buy alcohol in any duty-free shop(s) on the ship, the bottles will also be kept safe until the last day of the voyage.

What is the legal drinking age on Princess Cruises?

For most voyages, the drinking age is 21 years and older. However, if you’re sailing between ports in Europe, Australia, New Zealand, China, or Singapore, the minimum age is 18. For those voyaging in Japan, it’s 20 years old.

Enjoy your wine in your stateroom without a corkage fee

Regent Seven Seas Cruises

On a Regent Seven Seas cruise, adult passengers are welcome to bring their own alcohol without any restrictions or corkage fees. However, keep in mind that most of drinks onboard are already included in your upfront cruise fare, so you don’t need to take up luggage space bringing your own onboard.

If you purchase alcohol during your port visits and bring it onboard to enjoy at your leisure, you are absolutely allowed to do so too. However, please note that alcohol is not sold in any of the onboard duty-free shops.

What is the legal drinking age with RSSC?

On a Regent cruise, you must be 21 years of age or older to consume or purchase alcohol. No matter which ship you’re sailing on, or which destination you’re visiting, this rule applies consistently across the entire fleet.

Royal Caribbean International

During embarkation, each Royal Caribbean passenger of drinking age is allowed to bring, in a carry-on, one bottle (750 mL) of wine or Champagne per cabin. However, bringing your own beer or liquor is not permitted. If spirits or beer are found, they will be confiscated and disposed of. Additionally, if you choose to consume your bottle in a dining room, a US$15 corkage fee will be charged per bottle opened outside of the cabin.

If you declare that you have additional bottles or make purchases at ports or in duty-free shops onboard, these beverages will be stored until the end of the cruise for your convenience. Similarly, any alcohol purchased in the shops onboard will also be held until the end of your voyage.

What is the legal drinking age on a Royal Caribbean cruise?

The legal drinking age for all alcoholic beverages on Royal Caribbean ships sailing from North America is 21. However, on cruises departing from countries where the legal drinking age is younger, such as South America, Europe, Asia, Australia, and New Zealand, the drinking age is typically 18.

Wonderland Imaginative Cuisine onboard Harmony of the Seas

When it comes to bringing alcohol on board a Seabourn cruise, at the start of your voyage you can bring on as much as you’d like, without any restrictions or additional costs. Additionally, Seabourn ships offer complimentary beer, wine, spirits, and Champagne, throughout your cruise, and you can explore the ship’s cellars where sommeliers are encouraged to source and include local wines for your enjoyment.

Should you wish to purchase alcohol during your port visits and bring it back on board, you are more than welcome to do so, however, the Seabourn shops do not sell alcoholic beverages.

What is the legal drinking age on Seabourn?

To ensure a safe and responsible drinking environment, the minimum drinking age on all Seabourn ships is 21 years. However, please note that in specific sailing destinations, age restrictions may be lowered.

Silversea Cruises

Passengers are welcome to bring wine and liquor on board Silversea cruises for their own personal consumption, both on embarkation day and at ports of call. Silversea sets no limits and does not charge any corkage fees. It is important to note that Silversea does not offer any alcohol for sale in its onboard shops.

Regarding the legal drinking age on Silversea ships, please note that it is 21 for all alcoholic beverages.

Visit “Oinou Yi” winery in Cyprus and bring your wine purchases back with you onboard

Viking Ocean Cruises

Viking Ocean Cruises does not impose any limitations on the quanities of wine, Champagne, beer, or liquor that passengers may bring on board during embarkation, so you are free to bring your preferred alcoholic beverages. They also do not charge any corkage fees, ensuring you can savour your own selection without any extra costs.

Passengers are also allowed to bring alcohol acquired in port directly back to the ship. Once on board, you can freely enjoy the beverages you purchased during your shore excursions. Viking’s onboard shops also feature a selection of duty-free aquavit, a popular Scandinavian spirit, so you can also indulge in this cultural delight during your voyage.

What is the legal drinking age on a Viking ocean cruise?

Viking Ocean Cruises’ legal drinking age is 21 years of age.

Virgin Voyages

Virgin Voyages offers an Adult-by-Design experience, and as such, allow each cabin to bring two (2) 750ml bottles of wine in carry-on bags. Unfortunately, no liquor or beer is permitted). Any alcohol found in checked luggage will be collected prior to sailing and safely returned to passengers at the end of the voyage.

Passengers can bring onboard alcohol that has been purchased while in port, however you will be required to hand them over to the security staff during boarding and they will be kept safe until your final night onboard.

When it comes to non-alcoholic drinks, small quantities of water, protein-based drinks, non-alcoholic beer, and soft drinks in boxes and cans are permitted in hand luggage. This means:

⚓ a maximum of twelve (12) sealed and unopened cans/cartons of 350 ml each, or less per person

Please note, the cruise lines requests that passengers refrain from bringing drinks in bottles (glass or plastic).

What is the legal drinking age on a Virgin cruise?

The legal drinking age in international waters is 18, while in the United States, it’s 21. For other ports Virgin Voyages visits, the cruise line strictly follows the respective country’s laws.

Adult-by-design cruising with Virgin Voyages

A Final View from the Deck

If we haven’t covered your specific cruise line in this list, one of our Cruise Travel Advisors will be happy to assist you with that information. It’s always best to be prepared before you go so that you don’t land up wasting money on something you can’t even bring on board.

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Can I bring drinks onboard P&O?

Guests boarding a P&O Cruises ship may bring a maximum of 12 canned drinks loosely packed in carry-on luggage. These requirements will be strictly enforced with all luggage being X-rayed on embarkation.

Please note that you are unable to bring Alcohol on any P&O ship. Any alcohol found in your luggage on embarkation it will be returned to you at the end of your cruise.

The details and prices on the P&O Beverage Packages can be found on our website and when speaking to your cruise consultant.

Guests may NOT in any circumstance bring the following

• Slabs / Cartons of canned drinks.
• Plastic and glass bottled drinks whether they are opened or unopened. This also includes bottles of water.
• Tetra pack drinks which includes fruit juice poppers.

What drinks you can and cannot bring onboard P&O

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Booking & Travel Conditions

P&O Cruises / We / Our / Us means Carnival plc. You means you and all guests in your booking. You are entering into this contract with Carnival plc trading as P&O Cruises Australia ( P&O Cruises ), ARBN 107 998 443.

These and Your Booking Confirmation are the Terms and Conditions under which You book Your cruise holiday and travel on any P&O Cruises product We sell You. Once We have received the first payment towards Your cruise holiday, a legally binding agreement on these Booking and Travel Conditions becomes effective between all guests on Your booking(s) and Us. By making a payment, You represent that You accept and have authority from all guests (or their parent/ legal guardian) on Your booking(s) to accept on their behalf, our Booking and Travel Conditions. Parents/legal guardians accept the Booking and Travel Conditions on behalf of their children.  It is important that You and all guests in Your booking read them carefully and understand them.

Every guest included in Your booking will have access to the booking (excluding credit card details). Any adult guest named on the booking  may amend the booking.

Certain laws such as the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth) and any applicable state based consumer legislation (from here known as ‘Consumer Laws’), are in place for Your protection. They are designed to ensure our services are provided with due care and skill and are reasonably fit for a cruise holiday. These Booking and Travel Conditions do not alter any protection given to You by Consumer Laws.

We have in place, and may introduce, alter and/or withdraw, policies and procedures for the health, safety, comfort, enjoyment and/or general wellbeing of people relating to the Cruise. We also have policies and procedures in place so that We comply with relevant Laws in relation to Your Cruise. You must, at all times, comply with Our policies and procedures as well as all directions from Our staff.

Many factors may affect Our ability to provide any particular itinerary. These include weather, mechanical difficulties, civil unrest, government direction or other unforeseen circumstances. We agree to use reasonable endeavours to provide a cruise in accordance with our published schedules and itineraries. However, We  do not guarantee itineraries and they do not form part of Your contract with Us . If We are unable to operate in accordance with Our published itinerary, We may in some circumstances offer You assistance or compensation in accordance with clause 13.

Each room can accommodate between one (1) and four (4) guests, with the exception of Pacific Adventure and Pacific Explorer which can accommodate up to five (5) guests, depending on the room configuration. Each room booked will be assigned a unique booking reference.

A single traveller supplement applies to guests occupying a room alone. This will be outlined to You before You book with Your Travel Agent, online or through our Customer Service & Sales team.

If You decide to make Your P&O Cruises booking through a registered Travel Agent, any amendments or enquiries on the booking will need to be made by Your Travel Agent.

A booking, and payments on a booking, can only be made by a person aged 18 years or over.

You acknowledge that You have authority from all guests in the booking to make changes to Your booking.

We reserve our discretion to refuse to accept a booking request from any guest or group for any reason, acting reasonably.

Your fare is determined by the fare type, the number of guests in Your room, its location on the ship, the amenities offered, port charges, taxes, fees and port expenses (which are all subject to change), and any applicable airfares including taxes and fees. Child fares, where available, only apply when children are the third (3rd) or fourth (4th) guest in a room and are aged under 13 years.

When you holiday with P&O Cruises you can choose to purchase a ‘Value Plus’, ‘Value’ or ‘Go’ fares.  Guests who purchase a ‘Value Plus’ or ‘Value’ fare enjoy more flexible payment and cancellation conditions, as outlined in the ‘Names Changes’ and ‘Refunds Policies’ in clauses 9 & 11. Please specify at the time of booking which fare type you would like to purchase.

Once booked, Your fare may be subject to increased taxes, fees and port expenses. You will be notified of this before it is added to Your fare or to Your onboard account.

The cruise fare includes onboard accommodation, main meals at select onboard restaurants (additional fees may apply to some menu items), entertainment and some activities onboard, gym and some fitness classes, as well as taxes, fees and port expenses. Additional charges may apply to some entertainment and activities, and main meals at onboard specialty restaurants. Onboard offerings are subject to change.

A number of optional extras are also available that are not included in the cruise fare including drink purchases, some onboard activities and entertainment, shore tours, shopping, wifi internet, laundry services, day spa services, fitness classes and additional dining options.

All prices are quoted in Australian dollars, unless otherwise noted. 

In the event that a displayed price is incorrect, subject to any requirements under the Consumer Laws, We may retract the price and /or withdraw the product from sale and refund any payments made at the incorrect price.

Sometimes We will release promotional fares. These can be offered and withdrawn at any time. If after booking You decide to change to one of these promotional fares, You may need to cancel Your existing booking and our Refunds Policy outlined in clause 11 will then apply.

We may elect to impose a fuel supplement at any time, in which case any additional fees will apply to new bookings only. The total price quoted to you at the time of booking will be inclusive of any applicable fuel supplement.

Onboard credit (OBC), which may also be referred to as  Onboard Spending Money , may sometimes be offered as part of a promotional campaign ( Promotional OBC ) or it can be pre-purchased ( Purchased OBC).  Onboard credit is a monetary amount in Australian dollars which is applied to Your onboard account to be used for onboard purchases. Unused Promotional OBC will expire at the end of Your cruise and is not transferrable and not redeemable for cash at any time. Any Purchased OBC will be refunded at the end of the cruise if not used.  All types of onboard credit are not transferable between any cruises, including back-to-back cruises.

Your booking is not secure until an initial deposit in cleared funds is received by Us. If Your deposit as indicated on Your Booking Confirmation is not received within three (3) working days from the date that You make the booking, Your booking will be cancelled automatically by our system. 

Deposit Required

A deposit is required for all guests. The amount of the deposit is the same for adults and children, as follows:-

- For sailings from 1 to 4 nights in length: $49 per guest - For sailings from 5 to 11 nights in length: $250 per guest - For sailings from 12 to 27 nights in length: $400 per guest - For sailings 28 nights in length or longer: $600 per guest.

Final Payment

Payment of the remaining balance is due as follows:

- For sailings up to 27 nights in length: a minimum of 75 days prior to departure - For sailings 28 nights in length or longer: a minimum of 180 days prior to departure.

Bookings made within the final payment period will require payment of the full cruise fare at the time of booking.

Please ensure you check the payment conditions, including the deposit requirements, at the time of booking as some promotional fares may have specific payment conditions that may differ from those listed above. Some promotional fares may also require full payment at the time of booking. Your deposit and final payment due dates will be indicated on your booking confirmation. If we have not received your deposit or final payment by the due date, the booking will be cancelled automatically and our Refund Policy will apply in accordance with clause 11.

When booking through a travel agent, they may have different payment conditions. Please check with your travel agent at the time of booking.

Future Cruise Deposits may be applied to new bookings on Value fares and Value Plus fares only. Future Cruise Deposits cannot be applied to GO Fares/Short Sale or any fares not available to the general public.

Payment for direct bookings that are not made through a travel agent must be made by Visa, MasterCard or American Express.

When booking directly with P&O Cruises, service fees apply to payments made by credit cards. Service fees for credit cards, per transaction, are 1.1% for Visa Credit and MasterCard Credit and 2.75% for American Express.

There is no service fee for Visa Debit and MasterCard Debit or prepaid Visa & MasterCard products.  Service fees are subject to change and will be advised at the time of payment.

Once you have made your booking, please check your Booking Confirmation, ‘Cruise Control’, or with your travel agent to ensure the details are correct.

Should you need to correct the spelling of a name on your cruise booking, no administration fee will apply. However, should you need to replace a guest on your booking, the following administration fees will apply based on the cruise fare purchased:

Any name change to P&O CruiseAir bookings will require the air to be cancelled and rebooked, and applicable charges will apply as per the P&O CruiseAir Terms and Conditions.

One original guest from the booking must always remain in the cabin. If all original guests cancel / are replaced, the booking will be subject to the Refund Policy at clause 11.

If the cancelling guest was the only person that qualified the booking for a promotional fare (eg: past guestfare), additional and remaining guests will no longer be entitled to the promotional fare. The booking will revert to a different fare and the remaining guests will need to pay the difference in cost, if any.

New guests added to bookings, and new bookings made within 48 hours of departure will be asked for passport information at the time of booking for security clearance. Please note, we are unable to accept new bookings or new guests on existing bookings after 5pm (Sydney time) on the day prior to departure.

On occasion, We may offer reduced cost upgrades meaning that You may be offered a higher grade room at a discounted rate. The opportunity of an upgrade is never guaranteed and will always be at our discretion.

 We may also upgrade You without consultation to a higher room grade at no extra charge. The higher grade room could be in any part of the ship (forward, mid ship or aft) and could also be on a lower deck. If You have chosen Your booked room for a particular reason or You are travelling as a group and do not want to be considered for an upgrade, please let Your Travel Agent or our Customer Sales & Service team know at the time of booking.

If You receive an automatic upgrade, please note that it is not possible to return to Your original booked room. Even if You request not to be upgraded, Your room can still be changed for operational reasons, including when the number of people booked in the room is less than the number of beds in the room (for example, 2 people booked in a quad room) or if You have selected a wheelchair accessible room and do not require one.

In addition, when a booking is made and a specific room number is not selected (known as a ‘Guarantee’), the room will be allocated at our discretion in the grade booked, or a higher priced grade, at a later date. When booking on a “Go” fare, you will be booked into a room grade under a ‘Guarantee’.

Although We would love to see You onboard, We understand that plans can change. Should You need to cancel Your booking, We ask that You notify Your Travel Agent or our Customer Service & Sales team at Your earliest convenience. The quantum of refund depends on the fare type booked and the amount of notice You give us, as follows:

Note: ‘Total Fare’ is the total amount payable to Us for Your booking.

*Unless otherwise stated, the Refund Amount is determined by reference to the Total Fare (including taxes, fees and port expenses) , less any third party charges for which P&O Cruises are liable e.g. onshore activity cancellation charges. Any Restricted P&O CruiseAir booked will be charged 100% of the total airfare paid as a cancellation fee. Any Flexible P&O CruiseAir booked will be charged 100% of the total airfare paid as a cancellation fee if cancelled 44 days or less prior to the flight departure. For Air cancellation fees, please refer to the specific P&O CruiseAir Terms and Conditions before the cruise departure date.

Please note, your Travel Agent and promotional fares may have different cancellation and refund terms. Please ensure You check these at the time of booking.

For bookings made directly through P&O Cruises, refunds will be processed back to the original method of payment. For Visa, MasterCard & American Express – refunds will be issued back to the card/s that was used to make payment. Where this is not possible a bank transfer may be used.

For bookings made through a travel agent, any refunds will be issued back to the travel agent.

Shipboard Environments

There are some inherent features of travel by cruise ship which you should be prepared for. Some noises and vibrations are associated with the normal operation of the ship. Maintenance may occur in certain areas of the ship while you are onboard which may affect access to these areas. Weather conditions may also require us to restrict access to certain areas of the ship for safety reasons. 

Ship & Itinerary Changes

We will do everything We reasonably can to make sure everything goes according to plan; however, sometimes changes can happen that may affect Your holiday experience. This could include weather, mechanical difficulties, civil unrest, government direction or any other unforeseen circumstances.

In addition, We may charter all or part of the ship, or remove the ship from service where this becomes necessary. We may change the itinerary, ship or cancel the cruise due to operational or commercial requirements. We will notify You of these changes as soon as We can. If We are forced to cancel the cruise for any reason prior to departure We will provide a full refund. Since Your itinerary is not guaranteed, please do not make any important arrangements or meetings based on the proposed itinerary.

Changes within our control

Where a significant change is made to the ports in Your itinerary prior to departure and this is due to a circumstance within our control, for example for operational or commercial requirements You will have the choice of:

1. the new itinerary;

2. an alternative cruise of comparable standard, if available; or

3. cancelling the cruise for a full refund of Your fare paid.

For the purposes of this clause, 'significant change' means a change to the city of departure or disembarkation, or to the majority (by number) of the other ports in Your itinerary. Changes outside our control

If it is necessary to change the itinerary due to safety, maritime law, severe weather, to protect human life or health or other factors outside our control, We will attempt to offer a revised itinerary as close as possible to the original itinerary. We will not provide any compensation in connection with the revised itinerary unless Consumer Laws require otherwise.

We strongly recommend You purchase appropriate international travel insurance at the time You pay Your deposit. As Australian Medicare and New Zealand Accident Compensation Corporation do not cover Your travel onboard, it is important that international travel insurance is purchased for all voyages (including domestic Australian and New Zealand itineraries which do not visit international ports). If You do not purchase international travel insurance You may not be able to recover any charges, medical costs, repatriation and other expenses that may be incurred if things do not go according to plan.

Some counties included in our cruise itineraries have a mandatory requirement that guests hold international travel insurance that has both cruise and COVID coverage. For cruise itineraries with a mandatory travel insurance requirement, all guests will be required to bring printed or digital proof of their travel insurance policy when they check-in for their cruise. Guests who cannot provide proof of the required travel insurance for itineraries that visit countries where travel insurance is mandatory will be provided with the option to purchase it prior to check in (noting guests will be solely responsible for this purchase and check in staff will not be able to assist) or they will be denied boarding.

Guests who are pregnant at the commencement of their cruise are required to supply a doctor’s letter confirming they are fit to travel, including the estimated due date, prior to embarkation. We are unable to accept any guests who will have entered their 24th week or later at any time during the cruise.

Due to limited neo-natal facilities onboard and at the destinations We visit, the following minimum ages apply:

For the safety and enjoyment of all onboard, there may be limits on the number of children that can be carried within different age groups. The age of the guest on the day they board the cruise, is the age We use for the entire holiday. We will advise You at the time of booking whether We are able to accept bookings for children on the cruise You have chosen.

For safety reasons, there needs to be at least one guest 18 years or older in each room. However, to accommodate families cruising together, children may occupy a separate room to their parent/legal guardian, including an inter-connecting room, providing one child is 16 years or over.

Subject to applicable laws, for cruises departing from an Australian port between 1 November and 7 January, We will permit a quota of 20 guests per cruise who are under the age of 19 and not accompanied by a responsible adult. Once this quota is filled, We will require guests who are under the age of 19 to travel in the same room as a responsible adult 19 years or older.

In addition, from 8 January to 31 January, We will permit a quota of 60 guests per cruise who are under the age of 19 and not accompanied by a responsible adult. Once this quota is filled, We will require guests who are under the age of 19 to travel in the same room as a responsible adult 19 years or older.

We can advise You at the time of booking whether the limit applies to Your booking. P&O Cruises can waive the responsible adult requirement at our discretion. Any requests for review of a waiver application decision can be made by emailing [email protected] .In determining waiver requests we will take into account, the risks of an unauthorised event occurring, the risks of secondary supply of alcohol to minors or any other risks of excessive behaviour. The responsible adult is accountable for guests under 19 years of age in their room for the duration of the cruise, and the ‘Travel Restrictions and Rights of the Captain’ under clause 28 will be applied to anyone who displays disruptive behaviour.

Parents/Legal guardians are responsible for children at all times, including when participating in Kids Club activities. If a child displays dangerous or disruptive behaviour, the ‘Travel Restrictions and Rights of the Captain’ under clause 29 will be applied to both parent/legal guardian and child.

Some public lounges and onboard entertainment are designated as ‘adults only’. Parents/Legal guardians are responsible for ensuring that children under the age of 18 do not attend these restricted areas.

Children’s access to pools and spas may be restricted and children will not be permitted to use any pools and spas marked for adult only use. Children must be toilet trained and under their parent’s/guardian’s supervision in order to use onboard pools, spas, waterpark and waterslides. Children wearing nappies will not be permitted to enter onboard pools, spas, waterpark and waterslides.

Prams and strollers must be collapsible and capable of being stored in Your cabin.

You acknowledge that if You are travelling with a child of whom You are not the parent or legal guardian, You are required to notify us and complete the ‘Consent Form for Minors Travelling with a Responsible Adult’ executed by the child’s parent or legal guardian. You must carry this form with You at all times during Your cruise. You may be asked to make decisions relating to matters such as that child’s safety, health and dietary requirements, medical treatment and decisions relating to disciplinary matters.

Kids Clubs are included in the cruise fare and are divided into four age-specific groups:

• Turtle Cove – 2 to 5 year olds
• Shark Shack – 6 to 9 year olds
• HQ – 10 to 13 year olds
• HQ+ - 14 to 17 year olds

Children under two (2) years of age are welcome to use the Kids Club facilities under the direct supervision of their parent/legal guardian. To attend the Kids Clubs without a parent/legal guardian, children need to be two (2) years of age or over. Children who are in nappies are welcome to participate in the Turtle Cove activity program.

Use of Kids Clubs requires daily registration and entry is on a first-come-first-served basis as places are limited. Group child minding for children 2-9 years is available between 9.30pm and 1am only, for a fee.

When booking a cruise visiting an international port, You are responsible to ensure You have all necessary visas, vaccinations and travel documents, including a passport that is valid for the minimum duration required based on the countries You are visiting. Your passport must be valid for a minimum of six months beyond the date of Your cruise return and have sufficient blank pages for entry and exit stamps and visas.

Without the necessary passport, visas and/or vaccinations, local authorities may deny You boarding, prevent You from going ashore, issue a fine or deny the ship entry into the port. It is Your responsibility to ensure You have all the necessary documentation which permits You to travel, including visas for ports at which You do not intend to disembark. We will not provide You with a refund or reimbursement for any expenses or losses incurred as a result of Your failure to comply with these requirements.

In addition, travel on a Round Trip Cruise from Australia will not be recognised by Australian Immigration to have left Australia and therefore the cruise cannot be used to revalidate an Australian visa.

For domestic cruises departing an Australian port that do not visit an international port,  and for domestic cruises departing a New Zealand port that do not visit an international port, a valid passport or government issued photo identification is required. Accepted forms of government issued photo identification includes drivers licences, proof of age cards (Queensland ‘Adult Proof of Age Card’ will be accepted, however the older version of Queensland ‘Card 18+’ will not be accepted) and Government ID cards. For Australian domestic cruises, a current Medicare card can be used for guests under 18 years of age. For New Zealand domestic cruises, an original or certified copy of the child’s birth certificate or a school pass with photo will be accepted for guests under 18 years of age.

To ensure a safe and enjoyable holiday for all our guests items which may pose a risk to the safety of guests and crew are not allowed to be brought onboard our ships including: Irons, kettles, coffee machines, baby bottle warmers, candles, heating devices, illegal drugs, illicit substances, flammable liquids, weapons (including knives of any kind), hoverboards (Flyboards or similar devices), remote control devices of any kind, such as drones, and power boards with surge protection devices. In addition certain electrical items and personal grooming devices, such as power boards (without surge protection devices), laptops, phone and camera charges, hair dryers and straighteners, curling irons and shavers may be allowed onboard if they are deemed to be in a safe and proper working condition, and used with proper caution. However, if such devices are deemed to pose a hazard, they will be confiscated and available for collection at the end of the cruise.

As part of our commitment to the responsible service of alcohol and to ensure the safety and security of guests and crew, guests are prohibited from bringing alcoholic beverages onboard. In addition, the following beverage items cannot be brought onboard our ships:

• Plastic or glass bottled drinks (including water) and slab packs of canned drinks;
• Tetra pack drinks (including fruit juice poppers)

Each guest can bring onboard a maximum of 12 non-alcoholic canned drinks loosely packed in hand luggage.

All luggage, including hand and check-in, will be x-rayed at embarkation. In addition, it may be necessary for our staff and other parties, such as port and government agencies, to search You and Your luggage. You agree to allow such searches. Any prohibited items or items which may pose a quarantine or safety risk found in hand or checked in luggage will be confiscated and, if appropriate, will be available for collection at the end of the cruise. If the confiscated item is not collected at the end of the cruise, You must contact us within three (3) days of disembarking to claim the item if Your item is appropriate to be returned. If You do not contact us within this time Your item will be destroyed.

All items purchased during Your cruise will be subject to applicable quarantine clearance procedures by local authorities on disembarkation.

We can deny boarding or disembark any person in possession of any weapons or illicit substances. We may also hand these items over to law enforcement agencies. 

All P&O Cruises’ ships operate on a ‘cashless’ system. When you check in, you will be asked to register a Visa, MasterCard or American Express credit or debit card which will be associated with your onboard “Cruise card”. The Cruise Card is what you will use onboard for all onboard purchases, which are charged in Australian Dollars. As an alternative to registering a Visa, MasterCard or American Express, you can add funds to your onboard account in Cruise Control or at the self service cash kiosks onboard up to a maximum balance of AU$5,000.  The self service kiosks allow you to top up your onboard account free of charge using cash or Australian Eftpos (cheque or savings accounts only) with an Australian issued bank card.  Non Australian issued bank cards cannot be used in the self service kiosk, but can usually be used in the ATMs onboard to withdraw Australian dollar currency.  ATM fees apply.

If you choose to register a Visa, MasterCard or American Express we will settle the outstanding balance on your onboard account to your registered card at the end of each day.  If the card registered has the name of the guest printed on the card then this must match the name of the guest’s photo ID used to embark the ship.

Service fees apply to all credit card transactions. The service fee for Visa credit and MasterCard credit transactions is 1.1%. For American Express the service fee is 2.75%. There is no fee for Visa debit & MasterCard debit , or pre-paid/travel Visa & MasterCard transactions if the card is issued by a bank in Australia or New Zealand. Service fees are subject to change and will be advised onboard. 

Pre-paid Visa & MasterCard travel products can also be registered to your onboard account as long as the card holders name printed on the card matches the name of the guest using the card.  Travellers cheques are not accepted onboard. If you live outside of Australia please consider registering a prepaid cash passport Visa Card & MasterCard travel product to avoid currency conversion and international processing fees that may be charged by your bank.

Please be aware that once you get onboard, even if you have not registered a Visa, MasterCard or American Express or added any funds to your onboard account, your Cruise Card authorises purchases onboard up to a maximum of AU$100, which will appear on your onboard account as an amount owing to Us.

Any refunds owed for transactions on Your onboard account should be collected at the cash kiosk via the express checkout feature before disembarkation. Otherwise these will be processed back to the original payment method used for the booking if they exceed AUD$50, or via bank transfer if this is not possible. Uncollected refunds for amounts less than AUD$50 will automatically be donated to the P&O Pacific Partnership unless otherwise advised by the guest.

For refunds of onboard Casino player bank balances, We recommend collecting Your balance before closure of the Casino on the final sea day. Refunds for uncollected Casino account balances are issued by refund cheque. The guest will need to visit the Ocean Players Club website (https://oceanplayersclub.com/contact/balance-request/) and complete the online form to confirm their contact details.

P&O Cruises are committed to the responsible service of alcohol. There may be times when We consider it appropriate to refuse the service of alcohol to a guest for any reason. Guests must be 18 years or over to purchase or consume alcohol, or gamble onboard. Government issued photo identification may be requested (Queensland ‘Adult Proof of Age Card’ will be accepted, however the older version of Queensland ‘Card 18+’ will not be accepted).

As part of our commitment to the responsible service of alcohol and to ensure the safety and security of guests and crew, guests are prohibited from bringing alcoholic beverages onboard. In addition, some other beverage items are also prohibited from being brought onboard. For more details please refer to the Prohibited items clause (clause 20).

As part of our Premium/The Lot drinks packages, all alcoholic beverages are limited to 15 beverages per 24-hour period (6am to 6am) and service is always subject to P&O’s Responsible Service of Alcohol (RSA) Policy. Alcoholic beverages requested above this limit are charged at regular menu prices. Non-alcoholic beverages have no daily limit.

Smoking and vaping is not permitted indoors on any of our ships. This includes in guest rooms and on private balconies. For those who smoke, there are designated outdoor areas where smoking is permitted and this information will be communicated to You onboard. Electronic cigarettes can only be used in the designated smoking areas onboard.

Please make sure that all valuable and important items, such as jewellery, medicines, fragile items, and camera/computer/electrical equipment are carried in Your hand luggage and not packed in Your main luggage/suitcase or left unsecured in Your room or elsewhere onboard ship. Once onboard, all valuables and important items should be stored in Your in-room safe.

In the event You lose any items onboard, please notify Guest Services immediately. If You have already disembarked please contact our Guest Relations team. Due to hygiene reasons, any unclaimed clothing items will be destroyed at the end of the cruise. All other items not claimed within 3 weeks of the cruise return will be donated to charity or destroyed.

Where Consumer Laws and other laws permit us to exclude our liability, We will not be liable for loss of, or damage to, any luggage or other belongings, unless caused by our proven negligence or failure to provide services with due care and skill or that are reasonably fit for purpose.

You warrant that You are medically and physically fit for travel, and that such travel will not endanger yourself or anyone else.

Our medical centres are not required to be and are not equipped to the same standards as a land based hospital nor are they designed for the provision of extensive or continuing treatment. It is up to You to ensure that if you require doctors clearance to travel that you obtain that clearance. We may request that you provide such clearance to us at any time .

If a guest has a condition that We decide may seriously affect the enjoyment, health or safety of themselves or any other person onboard, We can refuse or cancel a booking. Such decisions will be made giving reasonable consideration to Your circumstances and We will advise You of our decision as soon as possible. Where Your booking is cancelled You may be entitled to a refund. Guests with restricted or limited mobility, and those with medical conditions must be self-sufficient or travel with a carer or someone who can assist with day-to-day activities. Our crew and medical staff are unable to act as personal carers.

Guests who are bringing a wheelchair or mobility aid onboard must advise Us at the time of booking. You must provide your own wheelchair or mobility aid and must ensure it can be stored inside Your cabin. Limited areas of the ship may not be wheelchair accessible. Please note that some ports can only be accessed using the ship’s tenders. Tender boats and tender ports  are generally not  accessible to guests who use a wheelchair or with significant mobility impairments.

Communicable Diseases The transmission of communicable diseases can be facilitated by people interacting or close/casual contact environments. Cruises involve the transportation of large numbers of people in an environment where they are likely to interact or come into close/casual contact with one another. You can be exposed to pathogens and communicable diseases at any time during Your cruise(including onboard, in terminals, or while ashore). Exposure to pathogens and communicable diseases is an inherent risk of Your cruise. While We have policies and procedures in place to reduce this risk, You acknowledge and accept that We cannot eliminate this risk and you accept this risk upon booking with Us.

Each ship has a medical centre that is staffed by qualified, licensed doctors and nurses, who, in addition to routine clinic hours, are available 24 hours a day in the event of an emergency.  All of our medical centres are well equipped to handle most medical conditions and are accredited to international healthcare quality standards.

All cruises on our ships are outside the scope of Australian Medicare, New Zealand Accident Compensation Corporation and private health insurance. Consultations, treatments and medication are charged at private rates and must be paid by You and claimed through Your international travel insurance.

While all of our medical centres are equipped to handle many medical conditions, there may be occasions where it becomes necessary to disembark or evacuate a guest to receive further essential medical treatment. To ensure guest safety, this decision will be made by the onboard doctor and the Captain.

All of our medical centres are only for medical needs arising onboard and cannot cater for treatments that You know You will require while on holiday.

We are not a healthcare provider and may not be held liable for the sickness, injury or death of any guest arising from any advice, treatment, care, services or any omission by medical staff. These medical providers exercise their own medical judgement and expertise.

While We specialise in cruising holidays, You may choose to book other services through us such as flights and shore tours. We can assist You in making these arrangements; however, We act only as a booking agent. The service providers are solely responsible for the information and service offered and their conditions will apply. Where possible, We will assist in addressing any concerns You may have with these service providers.

Any arrangements made with other service providers by or for You are Your responsibility and entirely at Your own risk.

In the event that You go ashore You do so at Your own risk. You are responsible for adhering to the local laws, regulations and customs. We take no responsibility for any injury or loss that occurs while You are are not onboard the ship.

During the cruise the Captain will exercise complete control over the ship and take such actions as he or she thinks necessary to preserve the safety and integrity of the ship and the comfort, safety and enjoyment of the guests and crew.

You are responsible for ensuring that no travel restrictions apply to you. If police or any other authority in any jurisdiction notify Us of, or We otherwise become aware of, any matter that reasonably causes Us to believe Your presence onboard might present a risk to Your health, safety, well-being, comfort or enjoyment, or any other person’s onboard, We, and/or the Captain, may take any reasonable action required including but not limited to:

• deny You boarding;
• disembark You from the ship;
• restrain or confine You onboard;
• remove You from a particular room or area onboard the ship;
• search You, Your luggage and/or Your room;
• administer medication to You including use of sedatives (via the onboard doctor or nurse);
• hand You and/or Your luggage over to local authorities;
• refuse or cancel any bookings from You;
• require you to take preventative, protective or remedial action; and/or
• require you to undertake medical testing.

In such cases, We are not responsible for any expenses including Your return home. In addition, You will not be entitled to any refunds or compensation from Us.

Once the cruise has commenced, if a guest seriously affects the safety, well-being or enjoyment of themselves or any other person onboard, the Captain has the right to confine, sedate or disembark the guest. In such cases, We are not responsible for any expenses including Your return home. In addition, You will not be entitled to any refunds. While the Captain will always act reasonably in these circumstances, You accept that the safety, well-being and enjoyment of everyone onboard, comes first.

If You are required, or choose, to leave the cruise for any reason (unless caused by our proven negligence or failure to provide services with due care and skill and that are reasonably fit for purpose), We are not responsible for any expenses, including Your return home. This also applies if You do not return to the ship in time for sailing after a port visit. If We assist with any costs, You will be required to reimburse us. In addition, You will not be entitled to any refunds.

It is important to be aware that it will not always be possible to leave a cruise early, even when on an Australian domestic itinerary. Some Australian ports have strict border and quarantine restrictions which prevent cruise ship guests from discontinuing the cruise in that port, even if they are an Australian passport holder. Many international ports also have strict border restrictions and visa requirements.

P&O Cruises is committed to supporting communities in the destinations We visit. As part of our P&O Pacific Partnership Program a $1 donation will be automatically added to the onboard folio of each guest aged 18 years or over. The donation will be used towards community based initiatives in the destinations We visit. This is an optional donation and You may remove it from Your account at the Guest Services before You disembark. Visit the P&O Cruises website for more information on our latest Pacific Partnership Initiatives.

Limitation of liability for Recreational Services

Save for liability for significant personal injury caused by Reckless Conduct by us or our servants or agents, We exclude liability for all Excluded Recreational Liabilities arising out of the supply of Recreational Services.

In this clause:

• Reckless Conduct has the meaning set out in section 139A(5) Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth) (‘CCA’);
• Excluded Recreational Liabilities means liabilities described in section 139(3) of the CCA which, without limitation, includes liability for death, physical or mental injury, or contraction or aggravation of any disease; and
• Recreational Services has the meaning set out in section 139A(2) of the CCA.

Contributory Negligence Our liability will be reduced in proportion to any negligence or fault on Your part.

These Booking and Travel Conditions must, so far as possible, be interpreted and construed so as not to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, but if a provision, on its true interpretations or construction is held to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable:

• that provision must so far as possible, be read down to the extent that it may be necessary to ensure that it is not illegal, invalid or unenforceable and as may be reasonable in all the circumstances so as to give it a valid operation; or
• if the provision or part of it cannot effectively be read down, that provision or part of it will be deemed to be void and severable and the remaining provisions of these Booking and Travel Conditions will not in any way be affected or impaired and will continue notwithstanding that illegality, invalidity or unenforceability.

This contract is governed by the laws in force in New South Wales. You agree that any action You bring against us will be brought in Australia and will be subject to New South Wales law.  If You have a claim against us, You agree only to bring an action against us and not any of our related bodies corporate as defined in the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth).

Privacy laws safeguard your personal details.

Personal Information

During the booking process and Your cruise holiday, We ask for personal information about you. By providing this information, You authorise us to handle Your personal information in the ways indicated below:

• from any third party making a booking on Your behalf for cruise administration purposes;
• if You are travelling as part of a group – from any person in the group for cruise administration purposes;
• from any third party where it is necessary to provide a health service to You (including a medical disembarkation) and You are unable to provide the information directly;
• for security purposes;

Where lawful and reasonably necessary to perform our functions or activities, We may be required to collect sensitive information including, information about health, race and criminal record.

• to our service providers, including mailing houses, ticketing companies, marketing agencies, emergency response providers, claims processors and lawyers for the purpose of enabling them to provide relevant services;
• to our booking centre which is located in the Philippines;
• to our customer database service providers which are located in the United States and India;
• to related entities within the Carnival group of companies (headquartered in the United States and the United Kingdom with registered branch offices in Australia, New Zealand and Japan) for cruise administration and business operation purposes;
• to Your Travel Agent for cruise administration purposes, including any information relating to travel bans;
• where You book as part of a group – to every guest in Your group (excluding credit card details);
• to an emergency contact person You have nominated for emergency management purposes;

Where lawful We may also be required to disclose sensitive information about You to the entities listed above.

• for product research and development purposes, including conducting past guest surveys;
• for sending You information about our products and services, including by email and messaging services such as SMS, and to us contacting You by telephone and fax (you may request to be removed from our contact lists at any time);
• for reporting, assessing, investigating, processing and otherwise managing accidents/incidents, including disclosures to lawyers and insurers;
• for public health and quarantine purposes;
• for medical treatment (including medical disembarkation) purposes, including disclosures to health service providers, medical evacuation assistance companies, travel insurers, hotels, airlines, Travel Agents and, where You are unable to consent, next of kin.
• where Your onboard expenses are charged to someone else’s credit card – to deliver onboard account statements regarding those expenses to the credit card holder;
• where We need to disclose Your personal information to someone who is not in Australia – to transfer Your personal information outside Australia;
• where We need to disclose Your health information to someone who is not in New South Wales or to a Commonwealth agency – to transfer Your health information outside New South Wales or to the Commonwealth agency;
• in the event that You lodge a complaint or claim about any matter with or in relation to us – to use and disclose Your personal information for the purpose of reporting, assessing, investigating, processing, responding to and resolving Your complaint or claim, including disclosures to relevant government departments/agencies/bodies, courts/tribunals, Your Travel Agent, any authorised representative acting on Your behalf and lawyers.  You also authorise us to collect from any third party sensitive information about You within the meaning of the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth), and for any third party to disclose personal information about You to us, for the above-mentioned purpose.

If You would like to access or correct Your personal information or obtain a copy of our Privacy Policy, please contact us on:

Email: [email protected] Post: PO Box 1429 Chatswood, NSW 2057 Alternatively, our Privacy Policy can be found at https://www.pocruises.com.au/business/privacy-policy

Security Cameras

For the safety and security of our guests and crew, We use Closed Circuit Television (CCTV)  to monitor and record public areas onboard all our ships. In addition, shipboard crew may use body mounted cameras for security purposes. This footage and any accompanying audio recording is confidential and is not available for viewing, unless required or permitted by law. We are not responsible for any consequences arising from the viewing or other use of this footage.

• "CCA" means the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth);
• "Consumer Guarantee" means right or guarantees a guest may have under Consumer Laws or other rights in relation to the supply of goods or services that cannot lawfully be excluded or limited;
• “Consumer Laws” means schedule 2 of the CCA and any equivalent Australian or New Zealand state or territory legislation
• "Consequential Loss" means any loss or damage suffered by a guest or any other person that is indirect or consequential, including but not limited to loss of revenue, loss of income, loss of business, loss of profits, loss of goodwill or credit, loss of business reputation, loss of use, loss of interest, damage to credit rating or loss or denial of opportunity;
• "Excluded Recreational Liabilities" means liabilities described in section 139(3) of the CCA which, without limitation, includes liability for death, physical or mental injury, or contraction or aggravation of any disease;
• legislation (including statutes, regulations, determinations, by-laws, declarations, ministerial directions, ordinances and other subordinate legislation);
• court decisions, and principles of common law and equity;
• mandatory code, standard or guideline; and
• writ, order, injunction or judgment.
• "Reckless Conduct" has the meaning set out in section 139A(5) of the CCA; and
• "Recreational Services" has the meaning set out in section 139A(2) of the CCA.

Dangerous? Irresponsible? Here’s what you’ll need to drink to make your drinks package worth it

A case this week of a cruise ship brawl has turned the spotlight on how cruise lines handle the sale of alcohol..

The brawl broke out onboard a P&O Britannia from Bergen, Norway, to Southampton, England.

The case gained worldwide attention for what didn’t happen – it was reported that the fight began because of a “passenger dressed as a clown”. There was no clown suit, it later transpired.

But by then, it had gone viral on social media.

Three men and three women suffered significant cuts and bruising. The London Daily Telegraph wrote an opinion piece suggesting drinks packages were ruining cruise holidays.

Could that be true? Cruise Passenger decided to investigate.

A drinks package sounds like a good idea if you like to spend your holiday ordering drinks without having to keep track of your bar tab, or if you like to pair different wines with entrees and mains during meals.

But whether the package is worth it depends on how much you drink. And drinking to excess to justify your expenditure is not a great way to have a wonderful holiday.

We estimated by line (based on the average price of a glass of wine), the amount you’d have to order in a day to get your money’s worth.

Turns out you’d need to be having between six and 14 glasses per day to make economic (but perhaps not healthy) sense.

Having six glasses of wine throughout the day when you have several sea days might sound plausible. However, there are many itineraries that pull up to a new port each day – making it a challenge to stay at the bar.

In general, drinks packages cannot be shared and some lines like Carnival Australia and Royal Caribbean require all adults in the same cabin to purchase the beverage package. Guests travelling with Princess Cruises do not have this issue, as adults travelling in the same cabin do not need to purchase the same package.

The fine print of drinks packages also varies across lines. Drinks packages on lines like Carnival Australia, Princess Cruises and P&O Cruises have a limit of 15 alcoholic beverages per day. Any additional alcoholic drink order is subject to Responsible Service of Alcohol (RSA) Policy and charged at regular menu prices.

Most packages also only include drinks up to a certain price and some also exclude drinks from certain venues, room service or mini-bar items.

For example on Royal Caribbean, Starbucks is excluded from all beverage packages. For drinks exceeding the price, some lines have guests pay the difference and others have guests pay the full price of the drink.

Lines like Viking Ocean Cruises and Azamara also include beer and wine at meals in the fare. So you might want to skip the drinks package if this is sufficient and you do not have a particular drink preference.

In terms of setting aside a budget for the drinks package, it is helpful to keep in mind that the package has to be bought for the entire trip. An additional gratuity also has to be added to the advertised price of the package.

Here’s how to work out  if the drinks package on each line is for you:

Carnival Cruise Line

When sailing on Carnival Cruise Line outside of Australia, the line offers the CHEERS! drinks package.

Price (per person per day):

$75.33 (US$51.95) when purchased pre cruise, $82.58 (US$56.95) when purchased on board

Price (with 18% gratuity charge, per person per day):

$88.89 (US$61.30) when purchased pre cruise, $97.44 (US$67.20) when purchased on board

Glasses of wine (per day): 5.6

Includes: All spirits, including cocktails, cognacs, whiskies and other spirits, as well as beer (including self-serve beer stations) and wine and champagne by the glass, up to US$20 per glass.

Excludes: Alcohol by the bottle, room service, mini-bar, shareable drinks like buckets or pitchers.

Other T&Cs: There is a 25% discount off the menu price for drinks over US$20 per serving. You can only purchase one beverage at a time and up to 15 drinks per day. All adults in the same cabin must purchase the beverage package each.

Extra perks: There is a 25% discount off the menu price for wine and champagne by the bottle, beverage classes and seminars.

Norwegian Cruise Line

Corks and caps package.

Price (per person per day): $94.25 (US$65)

Price (with 20% gratuity charge, per person per day): $113.10 (US$78)

Glasses of wine (per day): 6.8

Includes: A variety of draft beer , bottled beer and glasses of wine up to and including $15 USD and unlimited fountain soft drink and juices at all bars, lounges, restaurants and Great Stirrup Cay.

Excludes: Room service, package sales, ship specific promotions or beer buckets, designated Super Premium brands (subject to change), bottled wine, mini bar purchases, bottled water, fresh squeezed juices, select Lavazza coffee beverages, energy drinks, vending machines, wine stations.

Other T&Cs: Not available for sailings of two days or less. You can purchase two beverages per transaction. Any items over $15 USD will receive a $15 USD discount and the guest will be charged the difference to their account.  Packages must be purchased by all qualifying individuals residing in the stateroom or additional staterooms under the same method of payment for the entire length of the cruise.

Extra perks: A 20% discount will be applied to all bottles of wine purchased on board. A 20% discount will be applied to all bottles of wine purchased on board.

Premium Beverage Package

Price (per person per day): $143.55 (US$99)

Price (with 20% gratuity charge, per person per day): $172.26 (US$118.8)

Glasses of wine (per day): 10.4

Includes: Everything in the Corks and Caps Package as well as liquor and cocktails. See the full list of beverages here.

Excludes: Same exclusions as Corks and Caps Package

Other T&Cs: Same as Corks and Caps Package

Extra perks: Same as Corks and Caps Package

Premium Plus Beverage Package

Price (per person per day): $185.60 (US$128)

Price (with 20% gratuity charge, per person per day): $222.72 (US$153.6)

Glasses of wine (per day): 13.8

Includes: The widest selection of beverages by the glass, such as Veuve Clicquot, Patrón Añejo, The Macallan Quest and more. Also includes unlimited soft drinks, beers, spirits, cocktails, wines by the glass and select bottles of wine with dinner, plus, still and sparkling water, energy drinks, and specialty coffee. See the full list of beverages here.

Excludes: Room service, mini bar purchases, vending machines, or pre-cruise wine bottle purchases.

Extra perks: For non-select bottles of wine (champagne and sparkling included), “Wine and Spirit Experiences”, tastings, and flights, guest will receive a 40% discount when purchased on board.

Oceania Cruises

House select+.

Price (per person per day): $52

Glasses of wine (per day): 5.2

Includes: Unlimited Champagne , wine and beer with lunch and dinner. See here for sample menu .

Extra perks: Receive a 20% discount on any of our exclusive wine-pairing dinners in La Reserve on board M arina and  Riviera.

Prestige Select

Price (per person per day): $78

Glasses of wine (per day): 7.8

Includes: Unlimited premium spirits, Champagne, wine and beer wherever and whenever you wish

Extra perks: Same as House Select+ package

Princess Cruises

Premier beverage package.

Price (per person per day): $86.50 (US$59.99)

Price (with 18% gratuity charge, per person per day): $102.65 (US$70.79)

Australian-based vessel Price (per person per day): $86.99 service charge included

Glasses of wine (per day): 7.5 on foreign vessels, 6.4 on Australian vessels

Includes: The package includes all beer, spirits, wine by the glass and cocktails $12.00 USD and under as listed on our menu(s), or $16.00 AUD and under for voyages departing from and returning to Australia and New Zealand. It also includes all bottled water (500ml only), fountain sodas, fresh juices (if available), specialty coffees and teas, Gong Cha items, Frappés at Coffee & Cones, milk shakes (if available) and Red Bull energy drinks.

Excludes: Package does not apply to bottled spirits or bottled wine or any items offered in retail venues or shops onboard. It also cannot used for Room Service or Mini-Bar items. Excludes and is not combinable with other Programs, Promotions, Onboard Specials, or Events such as Wine Tastings, Chef’s Table, Buckets of Beer, Buy One Get One type Offers.

Extra perks: The package provides a 25% discount on all excluded bottles of wine, one liter bottles of water, canned soda and bottled juices.

Other T&Cs: Alcoholic drinks are limited to 15 beverages per 24-hour period (6 a.m. to 6 a.m.). Alcoholic drinks requested above the daily limits are at the discretion of the shipboard management and crew and charged at regular menu prices. Only one beverage is allowed per order. Items selected that exceed the $12 USD or $16 AUD price are charged at full menu price. Drink packages are individually purchased per person, adults travelling in the same cabin do not need to purchase the same package.

P&O Cruises Australia

Price (per person per day): $79 pre-purchase, $89 onboard

Glasses of wine (per day): 7.4 pre-purchase, 8.3 onboard

Includes: Glasses of Coca Cola, Diet Coke, Fanta Orange, Sprite, Lift, tonic water, soda water, ginger ale, 600ml bottled water, juice blends, mocktails, beer, wine and cocktails up to and including AU$13. Full charges will apply to drinks exceeding AU$13.

Excludes: Energy drinks, espresso coffee drinks,T2 beverages, in-room bottled water or apply to room service, food, merchandise items, events, special promotions, sponsorships, charitable partnerships or tastings, beverage and merchandise packaged items, New Zealand Natural ice cream products or cover charges.

Other T&Cs: Only one beverage allowed per order. Alcoholic beverages are limited to 15 beverages per 24-hour period (6am to 6am). Alcoholic beverages requested above this limit are subject to P&O’s Responsible Service of Alcohol (RSA) Policy and charged at regular menu prices.

The Lot! Beverage Package

Price (per person per day): $95 pre-purchase, $105 onboard

Glasses of wine (per day): 8.8 pre-purchase, 9.8 onboard

Includes: Everything in the Premium Beverage Package and espresso coffee drinks, T2 beverages, milk by the glass, energy drinks, wine and cocktails up to and including AU$16. Full charges will apply to drinks exceeding AU$16.

Excludes: The Lot! Beverage Package does not include in-room bottled water or apply to room service, food, merchandise items, events, special promotions, sponsorships, charitable partnerships or tastings, beverage and merchandise packaged items, New Zealand Natural ice cream products or cover charges.

Other T&Cs: Same as the Premium Beverage Package

Royal Caribbean

Deluxe beverage package.

Prices for onboard purchase

Price (per person per day): $91.35 – $101.50 (US$63 – US$70)

Price (with 18% gratuity charge, per person per day): $107.79 – $119.77 (US$74.34 – US$82.6)

Glasses of wine (per day): 10.8 to 12

Includes: Cocktails, spirits, liquor, beers, wine by the glass, can and fountain soda, fresh and bottled juices, premium coffee and teas, bottled and sparkling water.

Excludes: Package does not include room service, mini bar items and souvenir glassware, specialty beers as listed on bar menus, or super premium category beverages above $12.

Other T&Cs: All guests of legal drinking age in the same stateroom and under the same stateroom booking number are required to purchase the same alcoholic beverage package. All Beverage Packages exclude any beverages served inside licensed Starbucks® stores.

Extra perks: Receive a 40% discount on bottled wines priced up to $100, and 20% discount on wines prices above $100.

Celebrity Cruises

Classic package.

Price (per person per day): $85.55 (US$59)

Price (with 20% gratuity charge, per person per day): $102.66 (US$70.8)

Glasses of wine (per day): 6.6

Includes: Beers, spirits, cocktails, liqueurs, frozen drinks and wines by the glass up to $9 per serving.

Excludes: Packages may not be shared, and do not include beverages sold in gift shops, mini-bar, or room service.

Other T&Cs: Drink packages do not need to be purchased by everyone in the cabin

Extra perks: This package also included a 15% discount on all wines by the bottle.

Premium Package

Price (per person per day): $100.05 (US$69)

Price (with 20% gratuity charge, per person per day): $120.06 (US$82.8)

Glasses of wine (per day): 7.7

Includes: All classic package items, plus specialty coffees & teas, craft & artisan beers, spirits, cocktails, frozen drinks, Coca Cola products, premium bottled water and wines by the glass up to $15 per serving.

Extra perks: Take a 20% discount off all bottles of wine

We did the Singapore to Fremantle Cruise with Princess and purchased the drinks package however not only was the beer hot after 2 days they started to run out. By the time we were halfway they’d run out of anything drinkable. A lot of disgruntled passengers with packages.

We have purchased a deluxe drinks package on a RC cruise and it is costing $59 AUD ($39 US) so probably only need to have a cappuccino with brekkie an afternoon cocktail, glass of wine with dinner a couple of bottles of water and a nightcap to make it pay. Just have to be savvy when you purchase.

From my experience on RCI – I’ve never paid more than ~AUD72 per day for deluxe drinks package. Not AUD91-101. And what’s with the gratuity calculation? Australians don’t pay that either. I figure at bar prices you only need about 5 drinks a day to ‘break even’.

Anyway good article with lots of details, but if they are all as incorrect as my example than it’s not much value to anyone!

I just got off a cruise that included as much alcohol as you wanted beers, spirits and cocktails and there was no drunk passengers and no brawling and it was the best cruise I have ever done. It seems to me it’s the dirt cheap cruises, short type cruises that attract these morons as they couldn’t afford to take a decent cruise and they want their money back ten fold by drinking stupidly but that’s not the problem it is the types that get violent after just a few drinks and want to fight everyone who disagrees with them and when they do have a fight then the Authorities paint everyone on every cruise with the same tar brush. It should be treated on a case by case basis not blame everyone who partakes in a drink. You find these idiots anywhere there is cheap or even free alcohol like backyard parties, you don’t have to be on a cruise to find these types of people and I think they know if they are the type to get into brawls when drinking and I reckon it wouldn’t be the first time that they have been in a fight while intoxicated. So don’t blame the cruise lines for trying to give you a good time or innocent passengers. Ban the ones that have started the fights.

When researching cruises and find one that includes a “Drink Package” but one does NOT want it due to being a non drinker (medical reasons) lines refuse to reduce the fare for the cabin.

I think I get what the article is trying to say, however in a practical sense, it makes little sense to me. From our only two cruise experiences, we were dudded in just about every way and was just another of the reasons why we are unlikely to ever cruise on the Princess Line again. It wasn’t because we didn’t understand the American concepts (hell we lived and worked in Chicago Ill, Seattle Wa, Los Angeles Ca, and Oakton Va for over 5.5 years all up and managed just fine. On the first cruise over 14 days given our requirements, we worked out we would be better off pay as we go and the room card kept tab. Well that’s what we thought until a random check of our room account revealed more than we consumed. Further accounting against actual drinks consumed, exposed them for what (in our eyes) they were, cheats. Granted the front desk adjusted the charges to reflect the actual drinks, but it put the extra burden on us to be vigilant, keeping record and validating charges each day. The second cruise (also 14 days) was better value by purchasing the drinks package. That was of course until the “pool deck” informed us our room card had rejected our two “margarita’s”? Turns out, our 14 day cruise according to them was actually two seven day cruises and the “drinks package” had expired (but we could always purchase another). So we had been fooled by the system and it didn’t stop there. Just took the shine off things a bit, but of course we evened up the ledger by signing away their “gratuities” charges grab. On the flip side, we did get to observe some power drinkers who seemed to be consuming bucket loads (not letting bad form get in the way).

This article is written for Australian s so how about do not talk American ie appetisers and entrees during meals.and use the rest of the world words ie entrees and mains. Good article though.

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By hilifta , May 16, 2010 in P&O Cruises ( Australia )

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We all know that the prices are a ripoff, but I have just returned from doing our weekly shop at the supermarket.

And what did we find, a bottle of Australian Red Knot merlot for $9.95NZD!!.

On our recent cruise on the Pacific Sun that happened to be our choice of wine at dinner but at $36.00AUD per bottle we had to make it last 2 nights.

This is just racketeering at its worst.

We would have loved to have a bottle (or 2) each night, but not at that price. When I think that P&O don't pay duty, and that the price here not only includes duty but GST,plus the supermarket isn't losing money on it, and, it is in NZD not AUD.

It all goes to show just how much P&O are ripping us off. Surely does it not occur to them that if they charged a little less that we just might drink a little more.

Oh, I bought 6 bottles,... for a rainy day though!!!

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That's so true, Mike. A wine we can get here from $10-$15 was $34 on the ship and we made it last 2 nights. But that's cheaper than buying it by the glass. Consequently, we did not buy it every night, either.

It's the same in all sorts of businesses. I find that cheaper prices lead to a bigger turnover but a lot of places don't understand that theory and price themselves out of the market.

Smuggling is the only answer for some past cruisers who like a drink!

First time cruisers tend to get carried away with the moment and pay whatever!

on my last cruise in jan/Feb i saved a fortune on booze by smuggling it on,we only bought one bottle of wine at dinner because of the amount they added on to the on land price!

Why charge so much? you have already paid for the waiters and service in the cruise price! if some of the wine prices were more realistic then we would have bought a bottle almost every night.

On past cruises it wasn't really worth the trouble of smuggling as the saving wasnt that great!

I had duty free saved from a past trip with the plan of taking it aboard and it worked out great.

I am a true believer that the "only" reason you cant consume duty free or BYO is purely so you have to buy theirs at their price.

Not the same as taking your own to a restaurant or pub on land as some have suggested in the past.

Could you imagine a hotel taking your duty free off you until you check out so you have to use their mini bar with such inflated prices!

Expensive booze bought with no Tax and sold at on land price that has tax

Expensive cigarettes bought with no Tax

Extra payment for a decent steak or prawns/oysters

Extra payment for coffee other than instant

Extra payment for pizza

Extra payment for ice cream

Extra payment to go to an adults sun deck

Not really getting much for your quite expensive nightly cruise price if you are twin share.

Only done 3 cruises with P&O but wouldn't consider another unless it was a dirt cheap deal,even then i would still take my own booze!

Not so different from restaurant prices though e.g. http://www.chachachar.com.au/p17/wine-menu.html where the cab sav is $40, which is what the experience can be compared against.

They're not trying to compete on a value basis against the cheapest supply. Moreover they need to train staff to be familiar with the wines, supply glassware and serve/pour each glass just like a restaurant. Supermarkets are a completely different business line and if you buy from the onboard tax free prices are cheaper reflecting that less staff/service/effort is required in that.

Surely does it not occur to them that if they charged a little less that we just might drink a little more.

I'm sure it does, but they're not in the business of trying to get people to drink as much as possible. In fact, after Brimble, they have an interest in moving away from that (and if they tried to move towards it, would correctly be labelled hypocritical).

Good luck to you Fishtaco. :D I'm not game to smuggle any on! It would be my luck to get caught. :eek: Wouldn't you know it? The damn dog sat down on me............. all for an unopened box of Bundy Rum fudge! Even the Customs guys were having a laugh about it!

PS Don't all the cruise lines charge exorbitant prices for alcohol? I read where some charge 15% tax on it. Can't remember which - may have been RCL.

Most mass market lines charge a 15% gratuity automatically to cover bar staff. P&O is one of the few exceptions.

The Brimble case??? that was drugs and nothing to do with alcohol?

P&O still move in the direction of selling you as much alcohol as possible without crossing responsible drinking guidelines "too much".

you have got to be pretty drunk to be refused drinks on P&O and the one drink per person rule only kicks in around 4am!

certain parts of my last cruise were like one big pub crawl with the drinks flowing very freely and frequent served by the drinks waiters on deck to obviously drunk cruisers who needed no more!

Anybody would have to be a fool to believe that higher prices charged is to cut the consumption of those that like to over indulge!

Doesn't work on land,doesn't work with cigarettes,why would it work on a cruise?

Well, we didn't see one drunk person in the whole 14 days, and we didn't go to bed early, either. We didn't frequent the bars though, but we did walk on the decks quite late.

Maybe each cruise is different. :confused:

I have been told that, on the UK P&O ships, I will be able to purchase a litre bottle of Bombay Sapphire gin (for consumption in cabin) for 12.50 UK pounds - that works out at around $20!!:eek: Only 10 Pounds for duty free (but cant access it until arrival). Our good Aussie dollar is making everything in the UK quite inexpensive - just the opposite of what it has been for the past 30 years. A pint of yummy English bitter (600 mils) will be around $5. :)

Wow Barry, you should buy, and bring that back and sell it. We thought we did well at the PDawn duty free shop getting a special - 2 one litre bottles of Bombay Sapphire for $45. Actually it WAS a very good price, but definitely can't beat yours! :D

The beauty of this is that you can drink it in your cabin :) - although it really needs a balcony!!:mad: We don't have a balcony -- unless???? the Fairy comes :) She has every other time we have sailed.

maybe our luck has run out - does anybody know of any underwater volcanos anywhere between Brisbane and UK??

Barry, I'll keep my fingers crossed that the upgrade fairy pays you a visit!

Well, there ARE volcanoes under and on the ground everywhere.....but hopefully, after all the activity of late, they have cleared out all their ash. :D

Now it's the earthquakes I'm bothered about - don't want any more tsunamis. I want to get to Napier next time!! :cool:

Re the "Big M's" reply.

Although I don't like it, what you say is probably quite true.

Late last year we did a cruise out of Singapore on the Costa Allegra and found that Costa had a couple of very good schemes, that if you worked it properly, you could save a considerable amount of money.

Firstly, prior to the cruise we purchased a wine and beer package available at lunch and dinner. Cost was $250.

We quickly realised that you could order a bottle of wine for your meal, and then a second and take it away with you.

Also at lunch both beer and wine was available even when you returned late from a tour, at 3pm or so. Fantastic, a couple of beers and a bottle of wine to take away!!.

Secondly, Costa had a happy hour from 11am to Noon (too early for me), and another from 5pm till 7pm, where you got 2 for one. It had to be the same drink tho.

We would get 2 cocktails each, and then at 7pm get another 2 and take them to the show lounge.

After the show finished it was off to dinner, and some more wine!!!

I know we sound like a couple of p+++heads, but it wasn't quite like that.

But, the point is, you could at least drink for a reasonable cost. Two of our tablemates managed to spend $800 in the first 4 days, so if you did not do it right, that cost was enormous.

We spent 470NZD in 14days on alcohol, this includes the package.

As the water was undrinkable on the Allegra, we would also get a 2 bottles of water free from our waiter and take them back to our cabin.

We did not buy any water at all.

P&O need to be a bit more inventive, maybe now with all the competition coming over the horizon they might just have to look at these things.

It's not a legal outcome, but the perception outcome. It was the culmination of a series of bad events due to various forms of wild behaviour on board. The line had to respond to show they didn't encourage that and put a number of restrictions on, and took a very different tone towards anything that didn't support that, such as unchecked alcohol.

Sure they've got a business to run, and they're not running sobriety cruises. But now they can say they can control the consumption themselves so that things won't get out of hand.

It's not a legal outcome, but the perception outcome. It was the culmination of a series of bad events due to various forms of wild behaviour on board. The line had to respond to show they didn't encourage that and put a number of restrictions on, and took a very different tone towards anything that didn't support that, such as unchecked alcohol.       Sure they've got a business to run, and they're not running sobriety cruises. But now they can say they can control the consumption themselves so that things won't get out of hand.

control the consumption themselves by making the alcohol more expensive and prohibiting BYO wine along with spirits?

Just a good excuse to charge more and stop BYO wine and everybody seems to be buying P&O,s theory

Just as easily controlled by not charging excessive prices!

Why are princess ships based in Australia not useing the exact same policy of no BYO wine with its Australian customers? How is princess controlling the consumption and if it works as it most certainly does why does P&O not adopt the Princess system?

You can get just as drunk and disorderly on wine but a bottle or two allowed at each port is hardly going to cause major problems especialy with the young who tend not to drink too much wine.

Threads about excessive prices of alcohol on board P&O ships always turns into a Brimble case or previous anti social behavior cases?

It may kill two birds with one stone for P&O but the reason and only reason the prices are high is because you have no option other than to buy from P&O at P&O prices!

I dont agree with letting people drink as much Duty free alcohol as they want in the privacy of their own cabin then spilling their drunken selves all over the ship but there is no reason what so ever to prohibit BYO wine along with hard spirits other than profit!

I am one of the few (if only) who has taken BYO wine on P&O Australia in recent years after arranging it with P&O head office under their Rare/age wine policy.

Why is it only possible with rare or specific vintage wine? Because they haven't got it to sell you at super inflated prices!

As said before, they're not excessive - they're similar to other restaurants which serve liquor. It's probably true that they make a little more profit due to lower cost for tax free but the price is still similar.

I fail to see how charging lower prices encourages people to control themselves though...

Why are princess ships based in Australia not useing the exact same policy of no BYO wine with its Australian customers?

How many times have you heard Princess called out as the poster child of cruising in these current affairs and nonews reports? Each time there's an issue the questions go to P&O and what are _they_ doing to make sure problem behaviour is controlled.

I've no issue with taking one or two onboard but like it or not, P&O is the highest volume operator locally. Simple maths means that it's more likely to get the problem element who take advantage of the situation, just due to the volume of passengers they take locally. As an example, get a group of 4 going together, two bottles each is 8 bottles. Just have them substitute wine for vodka in those bottles and that's a lot of spirits being brought onboard in one cabin. It's a lot of overhead and loss of control, and far simpler for them to just put the restrictions they have, then deal with the inevitable consequences as people smuggle it through.

I am one of the few (if only) who has taken BYO wine on P&O Australia in recent years after arranging it with P&O head office under their Rare/age wine policy.   Why is it only possible with rare or specific vintage wine? Because they haven't got it to sell you at super inflated prices!

Or because it's a justifiable reason and been cleared first. That means they're not just taking a hard line no, and dealing with special circumstances flexibly. However, for the mass market, the safest approach is the one taken where they can control it.

I am not sure what your point is?

I think it is quite simple really. We cannot bring BYO alcohol into a Licenced Premise in Australia. There may even be a legal basis for that - however, from a fairly commonsense aspect, it is fairly obvious why this is so -- because the purpose of the Licenced Premise is to sell alcohol.

I don't know if that is a good analogy - as all analogies usually fall down somewhere. In this case, I am not even sure that a cruiseship is actually "Licenced"

Apart from that, I see the prices onboard P&O AUS ships to be completely consistent with that charged in Licenced Premises ashore. Are they too expensive ? -- sure they are, the same as they are in the pubs/clubs/restaurants. I see no reason why, from a business perspective, P&O would have any desire to allow people to bring BYO alcohol onboard - it is a complete lose-lose situation for them - there is no win in it for them at all. Personally, I would love for them to charge less for their alcohol - but I realise that this is how it is, and I have the choice to either cruise or not to cruise.

Smuggling is the only answer for some past cruisers who like a drink!   First time cruisers tend to get carried away with the moment and pay whatever!   on my last cruise in jan/Feb i saved a fortune on booze by smuggling it on,we only bought one bottle of wine at dinner because of the amount they added on to the on land price!   Why charge so much? you have already paid for the waiters and service in the cruise price! if some of the wine prices were more realistic then we would have bought a bottle almost every night.   On past cruises it wasn't really worth the trouble of smuggling as the saving wasnt that great!   I had duty free saved from a past trip with the plan of taking it aboard and it worked out great.   I am a true believer that the "only" reason you cant consume duty free or BYO is purely so you have to buy theirs at their price.   Not the same as taking your own to a restaurant or pub on land as some have suggested in the past.   Could you imagine a hotel taking your duty free off you until you check out so you have to use their mini bar with such inflated prices!   Expensive booze bought with no Tax and sold at on land price that has tax Expensive cigarettes bought with no Tax Extra payment for a decent steak or prawns/oysters Extra payment for coffee other than instant Extra payment for pizza Extra payment for ice cream Extra payment to go to an adults sun deck   Not really getting much for your quite expensive nightly cruise price if you are twin share.   Only done 3 cruises with P&O but wouldn't consider another unless it was a dirt cheap deal,even then i would still take my own booze!

I would be interested to know how you smuggle your alcohol onboard....in your packed luggage or your carry on..

Give us the heads up.

You can get just as drunk and disorderly on wine but a bottle or two allowed at each port is hardly going to cause major problems especially with the young who tend not to drink too much wine.   I dont agree with letting people drink as much Duty free alcohol as they want in the privacy of their own cabin then spilling their drunken selves all over the ship but there is no reason what so ever to prohibit BYO wine along with hard spirits other than profit!

I agree. I'm legless after two/three glasses of wine, but not stupid enough to do this to myself! :rolleyes: So just have one glass with a meal.

I would like to be able to bring my own choice of wine aboard to have with meals, though! DH and I like different wines but we have to compromise so that we can share a bottle, otherwise it gets too expensive.

I don't mind paying for an occasional cocktail or a G & T and DH likes a beer, but the wine situation is restrictive. The Princess deal would suit us fine, and I can't see a problem with that, either!

(That's one for the questionnaire and suggestion sheet next time.!)

I agree with what you are saying about the drinks prices. But just to throw in something here, the price for Beer, Wine and Spirits in Australia is quite high. Last year we stayed in QLD and NSW for a week and found the prices in the supermarkets and bottle shops to be really very, very pricy for us as Kiwis. When I buy Corona or similar it costs me about $20-$22 NZD per 12 bottles (supermarket). On the ship they go for about $7.50 or close to $10NZD per bottle, so for the price of two bottles on the ship I can buy 12 bottles at home. Guess what….I didn’t buy any beer (and the spirits I took myself). Also I feel that buy doing this I am not ripping off P&O. If I could not take a few ‘drinks’ for own consumption, then I would not buy it, I can do without.

I don’t think the Aussies don’t mind too much as they are used to paying much more than us for ‘Drink’ and, as we are constantly reminded by John and Phil, we are also paid a lot less as well.

They do have a captive audience and you just can’t walk around the corner and buy somewhere else for your enjoyment.

Yes, they do charge extra for Oasis, Steak, Oysters, Ice cream and the list goes on and on and on. P&O have a captive audience of 2000 people for 2-3 days on the way there and 2-3 days on the way back, its got to be the perfect business model. I wish I had the business acumen to have 2000 people who are having a great time and not watching what they spend by issuing cards and have them on my premises (and on holiday in holiday mode) for 4-6 days, wouldn’t that be great.

Personally I think it’s how you ‘use’ it. We set a budget, stick to it. We don’t need any more photos until next time, then we get them done with the kids and buy the best 1 or 2 (cheaper than getting them done at home). The kids want a soft drink, they get it from the cabin, they want ice cream we go to the restaurant. Before we go to a port I find out what is there and arrange it myself. P&O most probably have a special name for people who go on cruises like me (and I don’t think its very complimentary), but hey, we are on one income with 4 small kids and if you budget you can do heaps.

Has anyone purchased the tins of fudge recently? They really are a steal, only $24.95 for a 500g (maybe 700g) tin of fudge! I did like the jigsaw, but I think the price was close to $50AUD, or about $75NZD, something that simply will not do.

Fishtaco, got to agree with you (again)

The answer to smuggling – easy - use your imagination!!

Yayy, Steve. Bombay Sapphire looks like Listerine!! :D I wouldn't use a Listerine bottle, though.

Can anyone remember if they use the beagles BEFORE you board? or just when you disembark?

I'm a bit touchy about this cos the darn dog sat down by my suitcase for an unopened packet of Bundy Rum Fudge!!! And there wouldn't be too much rum in that! :cool:

Aussie Aloha

I thought the wine prices were extravagant too! I am usually a wine drinker, but at those prices no thanks.

Then I tried basic spirits but at $7.50 each, I ended up deciding to drink cocktails for the week, as my fave (Mojito) was $9.25 and not that much more.

The cocktail prices are actually cheap in comparison to what you pay at some places on land.

• 2 months later...

Mike, The answer to smuggling – easy - use your imagination!! Steve

So how closely do they check your luggage? Same as airport security? Is it x-rayed? I was thinking of taking a couple of bottles of wine, but probably not worth the effort.

we have taken on a couple of 2 litre wine cask without any problems...they went thru the xray ok

Bottles show up, consider using something other than a bottle shape. XRay picks it up too easily. Has anyone tried Rum Runners? Just got my order today. We will be using them plus other things.

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