When it comes to planning a holiday, flexibility is crucial. While booking a cruise with P&O Cruises is often an exciting experience, sometimes life gets in the way—plans change, emergencies arise, or a new destination catches your eye. This naturally raises the question: Can I rebook my P&O Cruises cruise?
The good news is that yes, P&O Cruises allows rebooking in certain situations. However, the rules vary depending on factors such as the type of fare you purchased, how close you are to your departure date, and whether you want to change ships, itineraries, or travel dates.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore P&O Cruises’ rebooking policies, how to make changes to your booking, potential costs, and insider tips to ensure a smooth process.
P&O Cruises offers different fare types, and each has its own rules for rebooking. Understanding these is key before making any changes.
Saver Fares: Lowest cost but least flexible. Rebooking is usually not allowed without cancellation fees.
Select Fares: More expensive but offer greater flexibility for rebooking.
Early Saver Fares: Similar to Saver Fares, but may allow limited changes with fees.
Generally, rebooking is possible if:
The cruise has not yet reached the cancellation deadline.
The fare type allows modifications.
Availability exists on your desired new sailing.
If you haven’t made your final payment, rebooking is usually straightforward. You can often change your itinerary, sailing date, or cabin category with little to no penalty.
Any fare difference must be paid if the new cruise is more expensive.
If the new cruise is cheaper, you may be refunded or receive a credit.
Once the final balance has been paid, things get stricter.
Select Fares: Rebooking may still be allowed, but fees could apply.
Saver Fares: Generally, no rebooking—cancellation and rebooking as a new reservation is required.
P&O Cruises applies cancellation fees on a sliding scale depending on how close you are to departure. For example:
90+ days before departure: Loss of deposit only.
57–89 days: 50% of fare.
42–56 days: 75% of fare.
Less than 14 days: 100% of fare.
Rebooking after final payment often means canceling under these terms, then making a new booking.
Check your confirmation email or P&O account to see what fare type you purchased.
You can rebook by:
Calling P&O Cruises directly.
Contacting your travel agent if you booked through one.
Managing your booking via the online portal (limited changes available).
Choose a new sailing date, destination, or ship that suits your updated plans.
If the new fare is higher, you’ll need to cover the difference.
Always request a written confirmation to ensure changes are recorded correctly.
Select Fares: Usually lower fees or no fees if well before departure.
Saver Fares: May require canceling and rebooking, incurring full penalties.
If your new cruise is more expensive, you’ll pay the extra amount. If it’s cheaper, the difference may be refunded as credit.
Travel insurance may cover change fees if your reason for rebooking is due to covered circumstances like illness or emergencies.
Yes, date changes are allowed with Select Fares, subject to availability.
You can rebook onto another P&O Cruises ship, but fare rules and availability apply.
Rebooking to a higher-category cabin is possible if you pay the fare difference.
Minor name corrections are free, but full passenger substitutions may carry charges.
If you need to rebook due to illness, P&O may allow more leniency, especially if supported by medical documentation.
When cruises are canceled by P&O Cruises themselves (e.g., due to weather, global health events), passengers are usually offered options to rebook without penalties.
If you cancel and receive FCC, you can apply it to a future cruise booking with P&O.
If you think your plans may change, Select Fares provide the best rebooking options.
The earlier you rebook, the more options and lower penalties you’ll face.
Sometimes rebooking can save you money if new discounts are released after your original booking.
Agents often have direct access to rebooking channels and can help avoid fees.
Insurance with “Cancel for Any Reason” (CFAR) coverage gives maximum flexibility.
Yes, if you purchased a Select Fare and rebook early enough. Saver Fares usually carry penalties.
Yes, depending on fare type and availability. You may need to pay fare differences.
You may receive the difference as onboard credit or a refund, depending on fare rules.
Yes, usually with no penalty, and you may receive credit toward a future cruise.
Rebooking is usually better since cancellation fees can be steep, but it depends on your circumstances.
can you rebook your P&O Cruises cruise?
The answer is yes, but the process depends heavily on your fare type, timing, and availability. Select Fares offer the most flexibility for rebooking, while Saver Fares are restrictive and often require cancellation instead.
By acting early, monitoring policies, and considering insurance, you can rebook your cruise with minimal hassle and continue planning the holiday of your dreams.
P&O Cruises understands that plans can change, and their rebooking options—while structured—give passengers the chance to adapt their travel plans without losing the entire value of their booking.