P&O Cruises Online Check-in – how does it work?

P&O Cruises online check-in makes it easier to prepare for your holiday. All you need to do is enter a few key details and you’ll soon be sailing away to incredible destinations, knowing your embarkation has been as easy and stress-free as possible. Here’s a quick guide to answer all your key questions.

What does online check-in for a cruise mean?

Pretty much what it sounds like, and similar to when checking in online for a flight, you’ll be able to log your passenger details, register a credit card and print your boarding pass before you arrive at the terminal.

What are the advantages of checking in online?

By checking in online, before your sailing, you’ll join a shorter queue when you reach the terminal, get your cabin card quicker and of course, start your holiday sooner!

How will I know if I can use P&O Cruises online check-in?

You’ll get an email direct from P&O Cruises to prompt you. You’ll need your name, date of birth and booking reference to login. You can log in using any device.

How do I check-in online for my P&O Cruises holiday?

In order to check-in online, you will need:

  • Your booking reference
  • Passport details
  • A passport-style photograph for each guest
  • Payment card

The passport-style photograph will be applied to your account and used by crew on the gangway to identify you as you disembark and embark the ship.

Why do I need to provide a payment card when I check in for my cruise?

A credit or debit card is added to your onboard account to cover any expenses you incur during your holiday. If, for example, you haven’t opted for a P&O Cruises drinks package, then any drinks you have will be charged directly to your onboard account. The same goes for spa treatments, shop purchases and anything else you might treat yourself to during the cruise. This means you don’t need to carry cash around, enabling you to enjoy your time on board without your wallet. Bonus!

At the end of your holiday, you will receive a statement outlining all your expenses – however, you can easily keep track of this throughout your cruise by checking the on-screen information in your cabin, or requesting a statement from reception. If you want, you can choose to settle your bill in cash. Otherwise, the balance will be taken from the card you registered during check-in.

If I’ve checked in online, what happens when I arrive at the Southampton cruise terminals?

You’ll be met at the terminal by staff who will scan your passport on hand held devices and a cruise card will be printed for you containing the picture on your passport. From there, you’ll progress through security as usual and embark at your designated embarkation time.

When is online check-in available?

Online check-in for your cruise is available from the moment you get your email from P&O Cruises and closes the day before you sail.

Can my Travel Agent carry out my P&O Cruises online check-in for me?

For security reasons, you will need to login and carry out your own online check-in, your Cruise Expert won’t be able to do this for you.

What if I don’t want to check-in for my P&O Cruise online?

If you don’t want to complete online check-in, don’t worry, you will still be able to check-in at the terminal as usual.

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  • It seems from the above that you will have two photographs of me in your system taken at very different times.
    The newer photograph I will provide for the on-line check in will be used by the staff when I go off and on ship but my older passport photograph will be used to print out my cruise card which is used when I go off and on ship.
    Presumably the difference in age and photo quality doesn't matter???????
    Please advise.

  • Further to Mr Taylor's earlier question, I really don't get the photograph issue. You say that we should upload a photograph if possible when carrying out the on-line check-in. But then P&O will scan your passport photograph. What is the point of uploading photographs if P&O are then going to use your passport photo? If they already have a photograph on their system that you have uploaded what is the point of taking a second one? I'm not worried about identity issues but the system doesn't seem to make sense...

    • Hi Andrew, this has always been the case, the change is now the photo is uploaded before hand where as before they were taken at the terminal. Thank you.

  • HI IVE BOOKED IN ON LINE, BUT DONT SEEM TO HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PRINT OF MY BOARDING PASSES, AS FAR AS I CAN REMEMBER, I DID PRINT OF MY E- TICKET HOWEVER IS THIS THE SAME THING, IF NOT HOW DO I GET MY BOARDING PASSES
    THANK YOU RAY

    • Hi Raymond, if your in the Booking Summary, click Check in, it will redirect you to log into the check in site and then you can download and print your boarding passes from there. I hope this helps. Thank you.

  • Can the photo required for online check in be taken with an iPad? Do they need to be against a plain wall and just your face? Thanks for the help.

    • Hi Rita, these photos arnt as strict as passport photos, but we'd suggest a light background. An Ipad will be fine and it should be just of your face, we'd say shoulders and above. We hope this helps. Thank you.

  • Hi, the website says online check in is open 30 days before departure, we're down to 27 days prior to departure and online check in is still not open.

    • Hi Phil, please try from 21 days, it should definately be open from then. Thank you.

  • Hi

    We cannot get our e tickets up to print or our luggage labels
    We have completed the boarding passess

    • Hi Gary, for cruises after 14th September, P&O Cruises will no longer provide E-tickets as they won’t be needed for check in. You’ll just need your boarding pass to embark your ship. If you are booked on a guarentee cabin, your luggage labels will be available when your cabin is allocated. If you’re still having problems with this, please get in touch and we can look at this further. Thank you.

  • Hi Gary, for cruises after 14th September, P&O Cruises will no longer provide E-tickets as they won't be needed for check in. You'll just need your boarding pass to embark your ship. If you are booked on a guarentee cabin, your luggage labels will be available when your cabin is allocated. If you're still having problems with this, please get in touch and we can look at this further. Thank you.

  • Hi we have completed online check in and it says they are complete for my self and my husband however I can only print an e ticket in my name not for my husband also the same for the luggage labels. It will only allow me to login using my name and get details for myself is the e ticket only being in my name a problem. We are departing on September 8th so really need to get this sorted out. Thanksx

    • Good Morning, please use the following link https://checkin.pocruises.com/booking and you should be able to print both boarding passes from here. E-tickets are no longer needed, only boarding passes. With regards to luggage tags, these are absolutely fine in your name. I hope this helps, please do let me know if i can help further. Thank you.

  • I’ve printed my boarding passes for cruise on 17th September, but won’t let me print e-ticket or luggage labels ☹️

    • Good morning Patricia, E-tickets are no longer required for boarding, you'll only need your boarding passes. P&O are aware that there is a problem with printing docuemnts on certain devices. If you are able to ask family or friend to print these, if not, please do let us know and we can send you labels. Thank you.

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