Ship Visits

I see mention of ship visits on another thread. We would not normally be interested in this as we live in the north, but will be visiting a relatives house in Hampshire regularly for at least the next few months, so could be available if a ship visit is available.

Can anyone tell me how you can book this, if available? I would also be interested if there is a cost involved (or not) and what happens on the day of the visit.

All info on website

https://www.pocruises.com/guided-tours/

Brian

Thank you very much - will look at the link.

I did one of these visits and very much enjoyed it. You need to book it early as they sell out. The tours takes place between disembarkation and embarkation. On the day I turned up at the terminal at the appointed time which was quite early. I think I had to take my passport. Coffee was served in the terminal before we checked in. Groups of about ten were taken through security scanning and on to the ship. Our guide led us round the main public rooms and a selection of the cabins. I think the tour took two hours. There was a quick stop for coffee in the Lido half way. A three course lunch with wine was served afterwards in one of the main dining rooms and I think we were escorted off the ship about 2pm. Parking in the terminal short stay car park was included.

The guides are very good but shore based so may not be that knowledgeable about a particularly ship or what happens on a cruise. Most of my group had never cruised and soon started asking me questions which was fine. One very appropriate question as we walked through a nearly empty ship was is it always this peaceful.

Best wishes, Stephen.

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We enjoyed looking round on a ships visit. I think they have become so popular I have read elsewhere they now seem to be limiting it to people who have not cruised before. Passports will be required. Plus a decent pair of comfy shoes. There is a lot of walking.

Thanks for those extra comments.

I rang yesterday, so can give a bit more detail. There are some planned for November, but not on Britannia, which I mainly had an interest in and I was told they would need to check if there would be availability - I had been asked my name/address and had been ID'd by their system. We are past passengers, but not for 2-3 years and mainly on Artemis/Adonia. I had an interest in Britannia, but presumably that is/will be in the Caribbean fairly soon, so no ship visits until next year on her.

Costs £30 now and the person I spoke to did not know about any chance to regain the cost in any way if you book a cruise on board.

I wish P&O would bring these ship visits back properly. They were great. 

We paid £25pp to do a ship visit on the Aurora in 2017. Prior to that we'd never sailed with P&O. A few months after our ship visit we booked a cruise on Azura and were pleasantly surprised to find that P&O had credited our account with £50 OBC as we had done a ship visit within 6onths prior to us booking. Incredible customer service!

And as others have mentioned, lunch is included in the visit as well as seeing all the main areas and chatting to some of the staff. 

I'd very much like to repeat that!

I doubt they will ever bring these back now.

13 hours ago, Britboys said:

I doubt they will ever bring these back now.

I agree now that the special lunch for Peninsular club members is turning into a bun fight at times.

Post covid P&O now realise that minimising contact between essential staff and passengers is a good idea.