Booking Conditions
General
All bookings are subject to these Booking Conditions and the Passage Conditions, and to the availability of the appropriate accommodation at time of booking. We draw your attention in particular to the fact that they strongly recommend you take out travel insurance.
How to book
Simply call us to make your booking. Please note, by making a reservation and paying your deposit, you will be deemed to have accepted their Booking and Passage Conditions and all other information relevant to your holiday. When you’re ready to book, please have the following ready:- Cruise Details – ship name, cruise number and departure date.
- Cabin Details – the grade of cabin you wish to travel in and with how many passengers.
- Personal Details – as they appear on each passenger’s passport or other photo ID, including date of birth, address details and a contact telephone number.
Deposits, payment and cruise ticketing
When you’re happy with the accommodation offered and the fare quoted, you will be given a booking reference number. Bookings must be secured by a deposit of AUD200 per person (AUD100 per child) on all cruises, except Tahitian Treasures W916 where the deposit is AUD600 per person (AUD300 per child), Kiwi Adventure N843 and Tahitian Treasures N919 where the deposit is AUD400 per person (AUD200 per child), in each case payable within 3 days of confirmation. Failure to make your deposit payment on time will result in the loss of your booking. At any time prior to six months before your cruise departs, you may change your booking and apply your deposit to any cruise currently advertised by and available through P&O Cruises. You must nominate the specific alternative P&O Cruises voyage at the time that you initially change the booking, and a handling fee of $100 per cabin booking will be applied. You may only do this once, and your deposit is otherwise non-refundable and non-transferable. Re-booking will then be subject to cabin and pricing availability. You must pay your deposit at time of booking. On receipt of your deposit, P&O Cruises will forward (via your travel agent) a deposit confirmation. Passenger details and the balance of all fares must be received by P&O Cruises no later than 60 days prior to your sailing. For cruises W831, W832, W833, W834, W835, W836, W901, W931, W932, W933, W934, W935, W001, N839, N840, N841, N842, N843, N844, N901, N936, N937, N938, N939, N940 and N001, full payment and passenger details must be received 90 days prior. Failure to provide these details and make final payment by this date may result in your booking being automatically cancelled. Documentation will be dispatched approximately 60 days prior to sailing provided the online booking form or the booking form enclosed in this brochure has been completed and full payment has been received by P&O Cruises. Payments can be made by credit card. An additional 1% credit card service fee will be applied to the dollar amount paid by credit card. Requests for the re-issue of documents that have already been dispatched will be subject to a handling fee of AUD25. Additional fees may be applicable for the re-issue of airline tickets or vouchers if the airline concerned levies such fees.
Travel insurance
At time of deposit or as soon as practicable thereafter, it is strongly recommended that you take out comprehensive international travel insurance to protect you from a variety of eventualities, including any pre-existing medical conditions, medical issues or emergencies arising during your holiday and charges arising should you have to cancel your holiday plans. We recommend that you carry a copy of your policy with you during your cruise. P&O Cruises may not be liable for lost or damaged baggage and personal property. Please arrange travel insurance with your travel agent.
Cancellations
Cancellations made before the advertised date of departure will incur the following charges per person (these are also applicable for hotel packages):
| New Year Melbourne Cup Kiwi Adventure Tahitian Treasures* |
All Other Cruises | Cancellation Fee |
| 75 days or more | 45 days or more | Deposit |
| 74-61 days | 44-31 days | 25% of Total Fare |
| 60-31 days | 30-15 days | 50% of Total Fare |
| 30 days or less | 14 days or less | 100% of Total Fare |
| * Cruises N843, N901, N921, N001, W818, W831, W901, W916, W930, W001 | ||
All airfares are non-refundable for cancellations made inside 60 days prior to the first flight departure date; this includes airfares that are included in Fly/Cruise packages where the cancellation fee will be equal to the applicable airfares quoted.
Changes to reservations
P&O Cruises reserves the right not to accept replacement passengers for bookings in any grade of accommodation for which there is a waitlist, unless at least one passenger from the original booking remains. A handling fee of AUD100 per person will apply for each replacement passenger accepted after deposit has been received.
Corrections to issued tickets, vouchers and other documents
It is essential that your full passport name is given to P&O Cruises at the time of booking. One correction per booking to a passenger name before tickets/vouchers have been issued is allowed without charge. Additional corrections will be subject to an AUD25 per person charge on each occasion. (Corrections made after tickets/vouchers have been issued will also incur an additional charge of AUD25 per person each time a ticket or voucher has to be reissued.) Alterations to flights booked with P&O Cruises will be subject to a handling fee of AUD100 per person.
Contacting P&O Cruises when booking via a travel agency
If you hold a booking via a travel agency it is P&O Cruises’ policy not to discuss any aspect of your booking with any party (including yourself) other than a representative of that travel agency. If you wish to transfer the ownership of your booking from one travel agency to another travel agency/wholesaler you may be able to do so by making the request in writing to the travel agency which currently holds the booking. Please note that the travel agency may have the right to refuse the transfer of the booking and may also charge a fee.
Airfares
To be eligible for the airfares, you must take a full cruise and travel on flights and airlines nominated by P&O Cruises. These return economy class airfares are quoted in Australian dollars, per person, and include: GST (where applicable); all fees and taxes (except New Zealand departure tax payable at the airport); applicable fuel surcharges; transfers and baggage handling between airport and ship (and vice versa) on the day of embarkation/disembarkation only. For cruises embarking/disembarking in Auckland, transfers are included between airport and hotel (and vice versa) if the hotel is booked with P&O Cruises in conjunction with the airfare. Airline baggage restrictions apply. Airfares do not include stopover accommodation. Bookings are subject to limited availability and the applicable airline conditions apply. Airfares and conditions listed in this brochure are subject to change without notice, and they reserve the right to charge the fare applicable at the time of booking. Air fees, taxes and surcharges may include any and all fees, charges and taxes related to air transportation imposed by Australian and/or foreign governmental or quasi-governmental authorities, including airport facility charges, departure taxes, security taxes and surcharges, airport service charges and government inspection fees. Air fees, taxes and surcharges vary by gateway city, routing, destination and carrier. Air fees, taxes and surcharges for each gateway city are correct at time of printing. P&O Cruises reserves the right to collect any increases in air fees and taxes in effect at the time of sailing that are required to be collected on the ticket by the relevant authorities, even if the fare has already been paid in full. Children 2 to 11 years and infants occupying a seat pay the full airfare for domestic flights and 75% for international flights. Infants not occupying a seat travel free on domestic flights and pay 10% of the airfare amount for international flights. You can fly on the airline nominated by P&O Cruises on the day of your choice (subject to availability) using the airfares on this website as a guide and make your own accommodation arrangements but transfers and baggage handling to/ from airport, hotel and ship will not be included. Additional charges may apply for flight requests which differ from their nominated flights and/or airlines.
Air ticketing
P&O Cruises will issue, as an agent only, documentation for travel on flights and airlines nominated by P&O Cruises, subject to airline schedules and availability. Flight requests are confirmed with the airline and upon receipt of full payment by P&O Cruises. P&O Cruises cannot accept any responsibility where airline schedules or seat availability necessitates overnight hotel accommodation. Alterations to flights, after flights have been booked, will be subject to a handling fee of AUD100 per person. Please note that flight amendments are subject to P&O Cruises’ booking class availability and additional charges may apply for flight requests which differ from their nominated flights and/or airlines. P&O Cruises reserves the right to pass on any additional or increased taxes that the relevant authorities require to be collected on the ticket, after flights have been booked.
Air and hotel packages
Hotel package prices quoted are per person in Australian dollars. Hotel prices include:- Accommodation in hotel as stated, or, if fully booked, P&O Cruises reserves the right to substitute the hotel with one of a similar standard.
- Hotel taxes and GST.
- Transfers and baggage handling as outlined below:
Sydney, Brisbane and Auckland- Air Packages: Transfers included between airport and ship (and vice versa) on day of embarkation or disembarkation only.
- Hotel Packages: Transfers included between hotel and ship (and vice versa) on day of embarkation or disembarkation only.
- Air and Hotel Packages: Transfers included between airport, hotel and ship. Packages must be supplied by P&O Cruises and run consecutively for the transfers to be available.
- Hotel packages close 60 days prior to departure. Additions or changes to existing hotel bookings after this time cannot be made under any circumstances.
- Hotel accommodation is limited and subject to availability, particularly in holiday and special event periods.
- General hotel room configuration is 2 double beds, however this cannot be guaranteed.
Goods and Services Tax
All domestic flights and hotel packages include GST. W831, W920, W922 and W930 cruise fares include GST, and purchases made on board these cruises are subject to GST.
Making your own travel arrangements
When arranging your own connecting air travel in conjunction with your cruise, please ensure your flight arrives before the following times on the day of embarkation: Departing from Brisbane: arrive by 11am, departing from Sydney and Auckland: arrive by midday. Ensure your return flight leaves after midday on the day of disembarkation. P&O Cruises will not be held responsible for any unforeseen circumstances that necessitate any changes to your travel arrangements.
Health
Passengers’ wellbeing is their foremost concern and any recent/current physical or mental condition that may require medical attention or special treatment (including travelling with a wheelchair), must be advised to us at time of booking. In addition, they may require you to complete a preboarding medical health questionnaire. If you are travelling with any medical apparatus, please advise them in writing at time of booking so they can ensure this apparatus will operate on board and send you an information sheet. Passengers must bring sufficient quantities of any prescribed medicines to last the duration of the cruise plus a few extra days (to allow for any unforeseen delays or failed connections). Their on board medical services and facilities are only for medical needs arising on board, and can not cater for scheduled in-patient care or treatments that you know you will require prior to boarding. Please advise us at the time of booking or, if this is not possible, at the earliest opportunity of any health issues or concerns.
A booking may be refused or cancelled after deposit for anyone whose state of physical or mental health renders them, in the reasonable opinion of P&O Cruises, unfit for travel, or anyone whose condition may constitute a danger to themselves or any other passenger. They will advise you of any decision in that regard as soon as reasonably practicable after forming that opinion and you will be entitled to a full refund of all amounts paid if their decision to refuse the booking is based on information that you have provided to us at the time of booking. Otherwise, refunds for cancellations or changes due to medical or health reasons will generally not be available, and we strongly recommend you take out travel insurance to cover this and other possibilities.
Mobility and passengers requiring assistance
P&O Cruises has certain facilities available for people with disabilities or who require assistance. Please ask us for details of such facilities, including wheelchair access or if you have any other special needs.
Vaccination and health advisories
They recommend seasonal influenza vaccination for all passengers. Furthermore, you are strongly advised to seek advice from either your doctor or an approved public health travel advisory service, to identify any specific vaccination or health precautions required for each port of call, e.g. World Health Organisation (www.who.org), The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade or ‘Smart Traveller’ (www.smartraveller.gov.au/tips/travelwell.html). Some countries strictly enforce certain health requirements. Failure to comply may result in the local authorities preventing passengers from going ashore and some may impose a monetary fine or deny the ship entry into the port.
Medical services
The on board medical centre is staffed by full time, registered doctors and nurses. In addition to daily centre opening hours, the medical staff, headed by the Senior Doctor, are on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week to provide medical care for both passengers and crew in the event of an emergency. The centre does not cater for scheduled in-patient care or treatments that you know you will require prior to boarding. Please contact us at the earliest opportunity to discuss any needs in this regard, as you may not be able to travel. Charges for medical services will be added to your on board account and you will be provided with an itemised account to submit to your insurance company. Each P&O Cruises ship is outside the scope of Australian Medicare and treatment is charged at private rates. All charges for consultations, treatments and medication, including those incurred on Australian coastal cruises, cannot be claimed on Australian Medicare. We strongly recommend that you arrange appropriate international travel insurance at time of booking or as soon as possible prior to departure. P&O Cruises is not a healthcare provider and may not be held liable for the death, injury or sickness of any passenger arising from any act or omission of doctors, nurses or other providers of medical services with respect to the treatment, advice, care or services of any kind given by such persons to any passenger. These medical providers exercise their own medical judgement and expertise.
Pregnancy
P&O Cruises cannot accept any passenger who will have entered the 24th (or later) week of pregnancy by the end of the cruise.
Dining
‘Classic Dining’ is available on the Pacific Sun, at the time of print, offering two dinner sittings (1st and 2nd) at tables of 4, 6, 8 and 10, where you sit at the same table each evening. Your preferred dining sitting and table size may be requested at time of booking but cannot be guaranteed. ‘Your Choice Dining’ is currently available on Pacific Dawn and it is expected to become available on Pacific Sun from February 2009. ‘Your Choice Dining’ allows you to choose to dine when, where and with whom you like each evening. Dining reservations for a specific time in the evening at the main restaurant can only be made during your cruise on board, subject to availability. A complimentary in-cabin continental breakfast is available on all ships, but a nominal delivery charge will apply. If you require a specific dining time due to a medical reason, please request this at time of booking. You may be asked to supply a medical certificate. Whilst they endeavour to meet all requests, they cannot guarantee your preferred dining sitting.
Tipping
Tipping is voluntary, and at passengers’ discretion, however they are frequently asked by passengers to recommend an appropriate daily amount. Please see full details within Money Matters on the Questions & Answers page.
Children and age restrictions
Children are not permitted to sail if, at the time of sailing, they are less than 12 months old. Due to the limited children’s and teenagers’ facilities on board, there are restrictions on the number of children that can be accommodated in different age groups. Once the relevant limits have been reached, P&O Cruises will not be able to accept bookings for any children in the applicable age group. They cannot guarantee your child’s participation in the children’s centres. Entry will be on a first come first served basis. Children must be toilet trained and at least three years of age to attend centres without a parent. Passengers under 18 years of age not cruising with their parents must provide a letter of consent from them when booking and must travel in a complete cabin with an adult (18 years or over). For cruises W831, W832, W833, W834, W835, W836, W901, W931, W932, W933, W934, W935, W001, N839, N840, N841, N842, N843, N844, N901, N936, N937, N938, N939, N940 and N001, any passenger under the age of 21 years at the time of travel must travel in the same cabin as their parent or legal guardian. There must be a minimum of two full fares in each cabin before children’s fares can be applied. Infants 12 months to 3 years are welcome to travel, however they will be required to be cared for, accompanied and supervised by a parent or guardian at all times throughout the cruise, including when the vessel is in port. There will be a charge for evening child-minding in the youth centre between 10pm and 1am for children 3-12 years. A parent or guardian must remain contactable and on board at all times. Children under the age of 18 years must be accompanied by a parent or guardian in the entertainment lounges. Children must be over 122cm to use the waterslide. Restrictions may apply for children’s access to whirlpool spas.
School holidays
School holidays are a guide only, and may vary by state and school. For some cruises, the school holiday period may not coincide exactly with the cruise period. You are advised to check school holiday dates prior to booking.
Illicit substances
P&O Cruises reserves the right to search you and/or your luggage for any illicit substances. P&O Cruises reserves the right to deny boarding or to disembark any persons in possession of illicit substances.
Alcohol
To ensure the safety and comfort of all on board, they wish to advise that passengers are not permitted to take on any alcohol for personal consumption. Duty-free and personal alcohol purchased shore side must be surrendered by passengers at embarkation or prior to boarding in any port. All alcohol will be held under bond and returned at disembarkation in the final port of call. Please note that all luggage, both hand and check-in, will be x-rayed at embarkation. At disembarkation, individuals must declare to Customs all amounts of alcohol in excess of the local Customs limits. P&O Cruises reserves the right to refuse to serve alcohol to any passenger for any reason. Passengers must be 18 years of age or older to purchase or drink alcohol or gamble on board P&O Cruises’ ships at all times. Photo identification may be requested.
Smoking
In line with Australian regulations and in an effort to improve your cruising experience, smoking is only permitted in specifically designated outdoor areas of the ship. Smoking is not permitted in cabins, private balconies or any indoor passenger areas.
Fare basis
Your cruise fare is determined by the number of passengers aged 12 months and over sharing your cabin, its location on the ship and the type of amenities offered. Your ‘total fare’ includes the cruise fare, discounts, charges, government taxes, airline/airport taxes (except New Zealand departure tax) and fees, hotels and supplementary airfares, which are correct at time of publication, but are subject to change without notice prior to booking. Your travel agent or P&O Cruises can provide up-to-date advice on any changes. Once booked, your ‘total fare’ is subject only to any increased taxes, which will be added to the fare or to your on board account.
Fuel surcharge
P&O Cruises may elect to impose a fuel surcharge at any time, in which case the surcharge will apply to new bookings only. The total price quoted to you at the time of booking will be inclusive of any applicable fuel surcharge.
What your fare includes
Accommodation; all main meals (except food at alternative dining venues as indicated on board, drinks, bar snacks and room service menu items); entertainment and the use of the ships’ many complimentary facilities.
What your fare does not include
Shore tours; drinks; tips; meals ashore; passport/visa fees; travel insurance; vaccination costs; items of a personal nature; food from the alternative dining venues as indicated on board; bar snacks; room service menu items; hairdressing services; massage and beauty therapies; photographic services; internet facilities; video arcade games; merchandise from on board shops and florist; artworks from the art auction; some materials for selected optional activities such as handicrafts and bingo; ship-to-shore telephone and fax services; medical services; laundry and dry cleaning services; some child activity services (please see ‘Children and age restrictions’ section on this page for details); or anything not mentioned in the ‘What your fare includes’ section above. Please note: the Casino and Duty and Tax-free shops on board are open subject to local regulations.
Passports and documentation
Passports are required on all cruises except the following: Queensland Week Tropique, W831, W915, W920, W922 and W930; however, some form of photo ID is still required on these cruises. For children 12 years and under a current Medicare card with the child’s name will be sufficient identification. If you hold other than an Australian or New Zealand passport you must check about visa requirements. All passport and visa requirements are your responsibility. Passports and visas must be valid for a minimum of 6 months beyond the date of the cruise return. To comply with Australian Government Immigration Department requirements, it is essential that the full name (as shown on passport), date of birth and nationality of each passenger is given to P&O Cruises at time of booking.
Visas
There are many regulations that apply to different nationalities, such as the South Pacific, and it is the responsibility of you to ensure that you are in possession of the necessary documents to transit the countries included in your itinerary. Please note that travel on their P&O Cruises ships will not revalidate an Australian re-entry visa.
Luggage
P&O Cruises carries all personal luggage, provided each item conforms to the size limits of no more than 140cm x 60cm x 40cm and does not exceed 32kg in weight. For passengers booking airfares, additional airline luggage restrictions will apply.
