Healthy Cruising with P&O

Understand Health Requirements

Before finalising travel plans guests need to carefully review our Healthy Cruising protocols accept the COVID-19 Acknowledgment, and understand their obligations to comply with health requirements.

NSW Health Fact Sheet for Cruises departing or entering NSW

Health Declaration

Prior to boarding, guests will complete a health declaration this includes verification the guest does not have COVID symptoms.

Guests Vaccinated

All guests 12 years and older are required to be fully vaccinated with a TGA approved or recognised vaccine. It is strongly recommended that eligible children under 12 years of age are also fully vaccinated.

Minimum 95% of guests must be fully vaccinated on each P&O Cruises departure .

Guests must declare their vaccination status at time of booking and provide proof of vaccination status before boarding.

For more details about COVID-19 vaccination requirements, click here .

Confirm Negative COVID test

Guests are required to take a self-administered Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) within 24 hrs of boarding or a PCR test within 72 hours of boarding. Click here for more details.

Mask Wearing

Masks are to be worn during check-in and embarkation, and at all times while inside a cruise terminal, in line with Public Health Orders for airports and public transport.

Masks must also be worn indoors onboard, including on the ship’s tenders, where physical distancing is not possible.

Staggered Check-In

Staggered check in is in place with time slots available to pre-select in Cruise Control, to ensure responsible physical distancing at the cruise terminal .

Onboard Health Information

Health information is readily available onboard, and our crew are trained in all COVID-19 health protocols. We’ll give you regular reminders about ways to stay healthy while you’re onboard and ashore.

Onboard Healthcare

Our highly-trained medical staff of doctors and nurses are experienced in caring for a broad range of medical conditions, including COVID-19. Each of our onboard medical centres are equipped with COVID-19 testing and treatment capabilities. We will provide free medical assessments for respiratory symptoms and COVID-19 as appropriate.

Cleaning & Sanitisation

At P&O, we’ve always strived to offer a clean and sanitised onboard environment. We are cleaning public areas and guest rooms thoroughly and more frequently using a safe disinfectant that’s clinically proven to quickly kill novel coronaviruses. Additional handwashing facilities and hand sanitisation stations are available for your convenience.

Physical Distancing

Responsible physical distancing is managed by adjusting the flow, timing and size of groups. Masks are required for all guests and crew when physical distancing is not able to be maintained.

Onboard Ventilation

Enhanced fresh air distribution into public spaces and guest rooms and fresh air supply and HEPA exhaust filtration is used in key areas such as onboard medical centres and isolation rooms.

Port & Shore Visits

P&O is working in conjunction with government health authorities and public health experts at all our ports and shore destinations to ensure alignment on enhanced health measures. We'll share the status of local guidelines with you prior to disembarkation at each destination.

P&O shore tour operators must also follow the same health and safety protocols we have onboard along with any additional local health requirements.

Disease activity and health regulations are also regularly monitored in the destinations we visit so we can adjust our cruise itineraries as necessary.