Cruise Operators

Specialist Reports Styles of Holiday Cruise Holidays Cruise Operators P&O Cruises 

	P&O Cruises
77 New Oxford Street, London WC1A 1PP			MAP
tel: (020) 7800 2222;

NOTE The following information is correct to the best of our knowledge but the company and/or those responsible for its marketing have not felt able to fact check the entry, probably because there is a proposed merger between P&O and Royal Caribbean Internationl.

One of the classic operations which has absorbed a number of other well known names. Runs Princess Cruises in the US.

Ships

Four with 704 to 1,874 berths.

Where

Canaries, Mediterranean, northern and Atlantic Europe, Scandinavia, North Africa, Caribbean and Azores. And with Princess Cruises Alaska, New England and Bermuda plus again Mediterranean and Scandinavia.

UK Departures

Yes.

Style

The superliners Oriana, Arcadia and Aurora are the best for families. Guests are predominantly British. However, all of the Princess Grand Class ships are described as ‘ideally suited for family holidays'.

Accommodation

There are no four-berth cabins but twins with upper berths or sofa beds.

For Children

Cots, high chairs, baby listening. No babies under 6 months or on all Princess Cruises except the Alaska ones, under 18 months.

Children's Facilities

On Oriana and Aurora there are pools normally reserved for families plus on Aurora an interactive games room. Each ship has playrooms for children 2-9 years and under 2s with a parent. On Aurora Toybox is for the 2-5s, and Jumping Jacks for the 6-9s. On Arcadia and Oriana Peter Pans is for the 2-9s and there is a Junior Club on certain cruises. Facilities range from computers to Lego. Victoria has a similar programme and children's room but only on certain summer cruises.
Some lounges and public rooms are out of bounds for under 16s.
On the Princess ships Sea, Dawn, Sun, Ocean, Regal and Crown there are children's and teen centres open to 9am-noon, 2-5pm and 7pm-1am (with an hourly charge of $4 per child 10pm-1am). On Royal and Pacific Princess there are no children's centres but supervised children's activities when 15 or more children are travelling.
On the Mediterranean and Scandinavia programme there are children's and teen centres on Golden and Crown Princess as above, and supervised children's activities when 15 children or more are travelling on Royal or Pacific Princess. Private babysitting is not available on any Princess travelling on Royal or Pacific Princess. Private babysitting is not available on any Princess ship. A parent must be on board the ship at all times if their child is in the children's centre.

Food for Kids

Children's teas. More flexible eating options including lunch buffets, all day pizzerias. Selection of babyfoods.

Babysitting

Children 2-5 years can be left in the supervised Night Nursery 6pm-2am on a first come, first served basis. On Oriana and Aurora there is in-cabin baby listening.

Children's Activities

9am-10.30pm daily, and for 10-13s to midnight and teens longer, closed during lunch on Victoria.
2-9 years and under 2s if accompanied by parents The Junior Club on Oriana, Aurora and Arcadia - dedicated and staffed areas exclusively for their use, with play, sport and entertainment.
On Aurora Toybox 2-5s has its own enclosed deck space, and Jumping Jacks 6-9s has a soft adventure play area plus stage for children's entertainer.
Club Arcadia, and Club Oriana, Club Aurora offers quizzes, deck sports, pool games, competition and discos. On Aurora a separate Club House Quarterdeck for 10-13s
14-17 years is as for 10-13 with in addition a disco (school holidays), video games room. Decibels teen disco operates on all three ships.
On the Princess ships Sun, Sea, Ocean, Dawn, Regan and Crown staff supervise children between 2 and 18 in a variety of activities, and on Royal and Pacific Princess when there are 15 or more children on board.
Note that the company specifies that nappies can not be changed, bottles given or medication administered by the children's centre staff, nor can a meal service be provided.

Staff

Nursery nurse trained and/or with NVQs.

Security Measures

There are additional youth supervisors during peak season for added security.

Port Calls

Can advise on most suitable tours with children and in peak season run children-only tours. Children cannot be left in the childcare when parents take shore excursions on the main P&O ships though on Princess ships while the ship is in port babysitting or supervised activities are offered 9am-5pm for 1-12 years at US$4 per hour. Under 8s are not permitted on Princess Alaskan tours or Canadian Rockies tours.

Sample Price

For an adult in an inside cabin on a seven-night cruise to Lisbon and back around £1,000 in an inside four berth cabin. There may also be some free places for under 11s on certain cruises plus possibly Family Savers.