Are You As Shocked As I Am?

This week we were advised that P&O cruise line have made a few changes to their Terms & Conditions and from some of the phones calls I have received so far, its clear that opinions are divided!

So what exactly are these changes and how do they affect your cruise?

For me the biggest changes are the Dress code & alcohol which in my opinion are two of the most asked questions for any new cruise customers.

So lets take a look at the policy changes…….

DRESS CODE

 

Dressing for dinner is one of the many highlights on a cruise and guests are expected to follow our dress codes, which change from night to night. There are two dress codes that can apply, effective in the majority of public areas after 6pm. A description of each is provided below. The only exception to these are the official P&O Cruises theme nights which may include 60s, 70s, tropical, Western, and black and white night.

 

Evening Casual: Stylish resort or leisurewear is ideal for Evening Casual nights, for example casual separates or dresses for ladies and open-neck polo shirts and casual trousers (not shorts) for men. A  jacket and smart trousers can be worn but are not compulsory. Smart dark denim is also fine, but not trainers, football shirts or tracksuits. For a typical two-week cruise there are normally ten Evening Casual nights.

 

Black Tie: Our Gala Evenings provide the opportunity for ladies to wear glamorous evening wear including cocktail dresses, ball gowns or even smart trouser suits. For men, dinner jackets or tuxedos are the norm, but a dark lounge or business suit and tie can be worn as an alternative. You can also wear formal national dress. Attire for Black Tie nights can be purchased on board (limited availability).

 

Theme nights: Our theme nights offer a great opportunity for guests to dress up in line with the theme. Themes can include 60s, 70s, tropical, Western, and black and white nights.

 

Children: The dress code for children in the evening is Evening Casual, regardless of the adult dress code but they are welcome to dress to impress too. We do, however ask that children don’t wear denim on Black Tie nights please. When dining in the informal or buffet restaurants children can be casually dressed. If children are going to be with you in the evening in the formal restaurants and theatre then they can still dress more casually adopting our Evening Casual dress code.

 

Fancy dress: We don’t want to dampen anyone’s fun but coming into effect on 1 January 2018, fancy dress and/or novelty clothing will not be permitted on board. We reserve the right to deny embarkation to guests who are inappropriately dressed. This is a change from the policy wording printed in the back of our January 2018 – October 2019 brochure and pre-cruise brochures. The only exception to this is on official theme nights, when guests are invited to dress to reflect the theme. This policy, however, does not apply to children 16 and under.

Personalised and slogan clothing: In addition to the fancy dress policy, clothing personalised with images/slogans, and/or clothing that features offensive language, images or slogans, will not be allowed on board at any time.

 

ALCOHOL POLICY:

 

Passengers (18 Yrs and over) are now only allowed to bring up to 1 litre of alcohol, (including spirits, wine and champagne) on board at embarkation. 

 

Any bottles of alcohol bought in port will be stored by the ship until their day of disembarkation.

Now I have already heard from passengers travelling on P&O that the drinks can be quite expensive on cruises and having a little pre-dinner drink in your cabin is a nice way to set the mood for the evening.

I my personal opinion, I think P&O have always been extremely fare with their alcohol policy especially if you are comparing to some of the other cruise lines.

I do however feel that P&O should have differentiated between the mini cruises and longer voyages. I personally do not think that wearing fancy dress on a mini cruise should be outlawed, if anything these are the type of informal, fun cruises that generally appeal to a broader market of people and I have always felt it added to atmosphere on-board.

I would love to hear your thoughts on this!

Has this made you want to cruise with P&O even more? or has it made you consider other cruise lines because you do not agree with their new policies.