Day of Embarkation
Cashless cruising with your Cruise Card
One of the easiest things about cruising with P&O Cruises is the convenience of being able to sign for all your expenses and have them charged to your account. Simply register your credit card (Visa, MasterCard or American Express) at embarkation or at the Passenger Services/Purser’s desk on board.
You may ask for a balance on your account at any time, just contact the Passenger Services/Purser’s desk. If you do not wish to use a credit card for your on board account, you are required to leave a minimum deposit of AUD300 per person, payable in cash or traveller’s cheques to establish your personal on board account. You can put additional cash on your Cruise Card at any time during your cruise, by visiting the Purser’s desk. An itemised statement will be delivered to your cabin prior to disembarkation and your account must be settled at the Purser’s desk prior to disembarking the ship.
Please note authorisation holds on credit cards can remain on your card until released by your issuing bank.
Passengers are advised Australian dollar cash, traveller’s cheques,credit cards and EFTPOS are the only acceptable method of payment for settling on board accounts at the conclusion of the cruise. P&O Cruises uses a ‘pre-authorisation’ system to verify credit cards for on board Cruise Card accounts. Pre-paid Visa cards, including those linked to credit card facilities and Travelex Visa cash passports, are not accepted on board. P&O Cruises advises all passengers to verify with their issuing bank that their card can be used for pre-authorisations. Presenting any card that is not a credit card will be at your own risk. By providing your credit card in advance for your Cruise Card, you are automatically registered for Express Check-Out, which means there is no need to visit the Purser’s desk to settle your account. An itemised statement will be delivered to your cabin prior to disembarkation. Please note there are ATM facilities available on board. Passengers are welcome to take home their cruise card as a memento of their cruise.
Please call P&O Cruises if you have any queries.
As you embark, you will receive your personalised Cruise Card. It’s important to sign the strip on the back of your Cruise Card as soon as you receive it. Your Cruise Card has many important functions that are helpful when you’re cruising:
- It has a record of your name, your on board account number and dining information.
- It also acts as your security pass to leave and reboard the ship at all ports of call.
- The Cruise Card can be used anywhere on board that you would normally use cash. In fact, in the duty and tax-free shops, Beauty Salon, Medical Centre or to buy food, drinks and Shore Tours, your Cruise Card is the ONLY thing you can use. It can also be used to tip on appreciation of service.
Please note, charges for obtaining chips and tokens in the casino are limited to AUD1,500 per day, per person up to a total limit of AUD5,000 per cruise and are only available if you have pre-registered your credit card to your Cruise Card with the Purser’s desk for Express Check-Out. For enquiries, please refer to Casino section. Please note: There is a 3% processing fee applied to all casino room charges. These advances are billed directly to your on board account or your credit card.
TRS – Tourist Refund Scheme
The TRS enables you to claim a refund for the Goods and Services Tax (GST) and Wine Equalisation Tax (WET) that you paid on goods you have purchased in Australia. You can claim the TRS from Customs at embarkation after you have checked-in. For more information please refer to the Australian Customs Service website – www.customs.gov.au. For purchases in New Zealand, there is no provision for travellers to obtain a refund of GST on their goods when they leave the country.
Visitors
Consistent with cruise line security procedures around the world, no visitors are allowed on board when you embark or at any port of call during your cruise. On the day you embark the ship, once you have passed through the security barriers, you are not permitted to return ashore.
Luggage
All luggage will be security screened by an x-ray machine at embarkation.
P&O Cruises carries all personal luggage provided each item conforms to the size limits of no more than 140cm x 60cm x 40cm weighing no more than 32kg and is stowed in your passenger cabin. Please remember to clearly write your cabin number, name, address and telephone number on the luggage tags provided in your ticket wallet and attach these to your baggage prior to arriving at the wharf.
Cabins are normally allocated approximately 5 to 7 days prior to sailing. You can find out your cabin number by logging onto Cruise Personaliser at pocruises.com.au. Alternatively, P&O Cruises staff will be able to advise you of your cabin number when you check-in on the day of sailing.
If you are flying to or from the ship on P&O Cruises’ nominated flights on the day of sailing, it is vital that every item of luggage has a P&O Cruises identification label on it to assist us in transporting your entire luggage to and from the ship.
New Aviation Security Measures for Carry-on Baggage at International Airports
To increase your safety, there are new rules for taking liquids, aerosols and gels on flights into and out of Australia. These rules also apply when transiting on international flights within Australia.
These new rules, effective 31 March 2007, are necessary to protect you from the threat of liquid explosives.
Each container of liquids, aerosols or gels in your carry-on baggage must be 100 millilitres/grams or less. All the containers must be sealed in a transparent, one-litre plastic bag. You are only allowed one plastic bag. Any transparent resealable bag of one litre capacity or less is allowed. Please note, these bags must be independently resealable. Bags sealed with items such as sticky tape, rubber bands or ribbons will not be accepted. For more information on clear resealable bags please see the frequently asked questions section of this website.
You may still carry on board prescription medicines. Baby products and non-prescription medicines that you need for the flight are also allowed. Proof of need may be required.
When you get to the screening point, you will have to surrender any liquids, aerosols or gels greater than 100ml/g that you still have with you, including duty free. The new rules also introduce random frisk searches as part of the screening process.
For further information, please visit: www.dotars.gov.au/transport/security/aviation/LAG/index.aspx
Airline luggage restrictions apply to those purchasing P&O Cruises’ airfare add-ons.
Arriving at the ship
If you are arriving in your city of departure prior to the day you board the ship, or have made your own air or hotel arrangements, you are required to make your own way to the ship. If you require special assistance going to and from the ship, you are advised to make contact with us 60 days prior to sailing as lift-equipped transportation may not be available in your port of embarkation or disembarkation. We ask that you contact us on 1300 653 852 (AU) or 0800 444 762 (NZ).
Wharf Addresses
Please refer to your cruise tickets for boarding time. All passengers must be on board 1 hour prior to sailing.
Sydney
- Wharf 8 Darling Harbour, Hickson Road, Sydney
- Overseas Passenger Terminal, Circular Quay, Sydney
Brisbane
- Brisbane Cruise Terminal (Portside Wharf), Remora Road, Hamilton, Brisbane
Auckland
- Overseas Passenger Terminal, Princes Wharf or Queens Wharf (off Quay Street), Aucklandday
Passengers arriving at the ship independently
Upon arrival at the wharf, leave your luggage at the security check point. Please ensure all luggage is clearly marked with the details filled out on the luggage tags provided.
Passengers arriving on P&O Cruises’ arranged flights
You will need to collect your luggage from the baggage carousel at the airport. You will then be met by a P&O Cruises Representative holding a P&O Cruises sign and shown to the coach for transfer, with your luggage, directly to the wharf.
Passengers booked on a P&O Cruises pre-cruise hotel package
All passengers are required to make their own way to the hotel (unless otherwise stated in your documents), check your cruise documents for the hotel details. Please note that the hotel room may not be available until 2.00pm, accommodation is booked on a room only basis and all other expenses incurred must be paid directly by you to the hotel. Upon arrival at the hotel, present the hotel voucher in your ticket wallet to the hotel reception.
On the day of embarkation you must vacate your hotel room and settle any additional expenses incurred. A coach will pick you up from the hotel for transfer to the wharf at the following times:
- Sydney Hotels - 1.00pm pick up
- Brisbane Hotels - 12.00pm noon pick up
- Auckland Hotels - 1.00pm pick up
Once at the wharf, your luggage will be taken directly for you to the security check point where it will be loaded onto the ship for delivery to your cabin.
For passengers booked on Hotel packages or Air and Hotel packages on cruise W819 and N830 onwards, transfers are included between airport, hotel and ship on day of embarkation. Packages must be supplied by P&O Cruises and run consecutively for the transfers to be available.
If you are delayed on the way to your cruise
If you encounter unforeseen flight or weather-related delays on sailing day, we suggest you immediately advise an airline representative at the airport that you are a cruise passenger destined for sailing that day. The airline may be able to arrange alternative flights for passengers to continue with their travel to the point of embarkation (charges may apply). Once your new flight details have been confirmed, please contact us on 13 24 69 (AU) or 0800 951 200 (NZ).
Ship delays
We recommend you call the Departure and Arrival Information Line which can be accessed by phoning 1300 653 620 (AU) and 0800 543 429 (NZ) at least 24 hours prior to your cruise to confirm the ship’s departure time or visit pocruises.com.au.
