Disembarkation
Express Check-Out
If you have already provided your credit card details at the beginning of your cruise, you will be provided with a final statement and your account will be taken care of automatically. Those paying by traveller’s cheques or cash will be required to leave a cash deposit at the Purser’s desk at the beginning of the cruise. We will provide you with updates on the items charged against your account. You will be presented with a final statement on the morning of disembarkation.
If this statement is to your satisfaction, then everything will be taken care of for you without another visit to the Purser’s desk. If you have paid a deposit by cash or travellers cheques, please attend the Purser’s desk and we will refund the remaining balance in Australian dollars.
Please note, authorisation holds can remain on your credit card for up to 1 week after your return from the cruise. Please call P&O Cruises if you have any queries.
The last night
Your cabin steward will provide you with a disembarkation letter containing information regarding your departure from the ship. You will also receive coloured tags for each piece of luggage. Please put your name, home address and other information requested on each tag. Also, remove any old airline flight tags or embarkation tags.
Before you retire for the night, your bags should be packed and placed outside your cabin door to facilitate Customs clearance and disembarkation.
Please make a final check of your cabin and cabin safety deposit box for any personal items, as P&O Cruises are not responsible for items left behind. Remember to bring an overnight bag for clothes, medication and personal effects you need to keep on hand for the night prior to disembarkation.
Immigration and Customs Clearance
Due to Customs restrictions, passengers may not leave the ship until all luggage is off-loaded. For comfort and convenience, disembarkation will be staggered in groups. Each group will be identified by their group coloured tag. To enable officals to prepare for disembarkation, kindly wait in the comfort of your assigned lounge on the ship until your colour group is called to disembark. Customs and Immigration inspectors will review with you the Customs declarations form upon which you have listed all the articles bought in foreign ports or in the ship’s boutiques.
Returning to Australia
Australian residents returning to Australia are allowed a duty-free exemption of AUD900 per adult and AUD450 for people under 18 years of age, which includes the cost of 2250ml of alcoholic beverages for each passenger 18 years of age or older.
Returning to New Zealand
New Zealand residents returning to New Zealand who have been out of the country for eight days are allowed a duty-free exemption of NZD700 per adult, which includes the cost of 4.5 litres of wine or 4.5 litres of beer, one bottle containing not more than 1125ml of spirits, liqueur, or other spirituous beverages for each passenger 17 years of age or over.
It is recommended that passengers keep their sales receipts handy for declaring their purchases.
All food, plant materials, animal products and souvenirs containing any of these need to be declared to Quarantine in Australian and New Zealand ports upon your disembarkation. Depending on how pest and disease free the items are, the following will happen:
- They will be returned to you after inspection
- They can be treated to make them safe*
- They will be destroyed by Australian or New Zealand Quarantine*
*Subject to fees and special conditions apply.
Please note that these are current exemptions and are subject to change. For further Customs information, we recommend that you attend the Cruise Director’s disembarkation talk given during the last days of the cruise or visit www.customs.gov.au or www.customs.govt.nz
Departing from the ship
If you are departing the arrival city after the day you leave the ship, or if you have made your own air arrangements, you are required to make your own way to the airport.
Passengers departing from the ship independently
Upon collection of your luggage and clearing Customs and quarantine you will be directed to the exit doors. If your friends or relatives are meeting you at the wharf, please be advised that disembarkation may take up to four hours after the scheduled arrival of the ship in order to clear Immigration and Customs.
Passengers departing on P&O Cruises’ arranged flights
Upon collection of your luggage and clearing Customs and quarantine you will be directed to the P&O Cruises Representative who will direct you to the coach for transfer to the airport.
Passengers booked on a post-cruise hotel package
Upon collection of your luggage and clearing Customs and quarantine you will be directed to the P&O Cruises Representative who will direct you to the coach for transfer to your hotel. Please note that the hotel room may not be available until 2pm, 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 your hotel voucher in your ticket wallet to hotel reception.
On the day of departure you must vacate your hotel room by 11am and settle any additional expenses incurred. All passengers must make their own way from the hotel to their destination, except international passengers who will be transferred to the airport.
Important note
New Zealand departure tax
Passengers 12 years and over departing New Zealand on an international flight must purchase their NZD25 departure tax at the airport. Passengers under 12 years must receive an exemption stamp.
