P&O Cruises Fares Explained: Select, Early Saver and Saver

George and Dan
1 day ago
4 min read

Booking a P&O cruise and stuck on which fare to pick? Here’s a simple breakdown of what you actually get with Select Price, Early Saver and Saver, plus a quick way to work out the best value for your trip.

The short version

Select Price – maximum flexibility and perks. You choose your cabin number, get first pick of dining, shuttle buses are included where provided, and you can pick one extra perk on 7-night+ Southampton round-trips: onboard spend, car parking or return coach. 15% deposit. Changes allowed up to 90 days before departure.
Early Saver – cheaper than Select, fewer perks. P&O allocates your cabin number, you’re second in line for upgrades and dining priority. 15% deposit. Changes allowed up to 90 days.
Saver – lowest price, least flexible. You won’t know your cabin number until close to sailing, you’re third in line for upgrades and dining priority, and you pay the full balance at booking with 100% cancellation fees.

What you get with Select Price

Choose your exact cabin number at booking.
First priority for dining time/table size in the main restaurants.
First priority for complimentary upgrades when offered.
Complimentary shuttle buses in port where P&O provides them.
Pick one extra on 7-night+ Southampton round-trips: onboard spend, car parking or return coach travel.
15% deposit and the flexibility to change your booking up to 90 days before departure.
Note: onboard spend amounts and promos vary by ship, date and duration, and the benefit choice depends on your cruise. Car parking is subject to availability.

A quick dining note

Select gives you first choice between Freedom and Club dining (where offered). Iona is Freedom dining only.

Early Saver explained

Available on selected cruises and cabin types; P&O allocates your cabin number.
Second priority for upgrades and dining time/table size.
15% deposit and changes allowed up to 90 days before departure.

Saver explained

Available on selected cruises and cabin types; cabin number can be allocated up to 1 day before departure.
Third priority for upgrades and dining time/table size.
Full balance due at booking and 100% cancellation fee if you cancel before your holiday. If you’re price-driven and totally flexible, this is the rock-bottom option, but it’s the least forgiving.

Is Select worth the extra?

Work it out in two steps:

List the value of the Select extras you’ll actually use.
- If you’re driving, car parking being included on 7-night+ Southampton round-trips is a real saving. Typical third-party parking for a week in Southampton can run roughly £60–£110+ depending on provider and season, with CPS valet often higher. Select includes P&O’s car parking when you choose that benefit and meet the criteria.
- If you won’t drive, consider the onboard spend offer for your sailing. Amounts vary by ship, date and duration, and are sometimes boosted by limited-time promos.
Compare the fare difference.
- If Select minus Saver is less than or roughly equal to the value you’ll get back in parking/coach or onboard spend, plus the peace of mind of choosing your cabin, Select is usually the smarter pick. If the gap is big and the perks don’t matter to you, Early Saver or Saver may make more sense.

Example approach

If Select is £350 more per cabin and you’d use £110 of parking plus, say, £200 of onboard spend offered on your dates, you’re effectively paying £40 extra to choose your cabin, have shuttle buses included and keep flexibility. If you won’t use parking and the onboard spend is low on your sailing, the maths can flip the other way.

When we’d pick each fare

Select Price if: cabin location matters (avoid noise, be near lifts, stay mid-ship), you want first pick of dining, you’ll use parking/coach or a healthy onboard spend, or you want flexibility to tweak plans up to 90 days.
Early Saver if: you want a lower price than Select but still value a 15% deposit and the ability to make changes up to 90 days, and you can accept P&O assigning your cabin number.
Saver if: you’re chasing the lowest price, happy to accept any cabin number close to sailing, and comfortable paying in full with no refunds if plans change.

Helpful fine print to know

Benefit choice depends on cruise type, duration and booking window. Car parking is subject to availability and applies to Southampton round-trips of 7 nights or more when chosen as your Select benefit.
Onboard spend is per cabin, typically for the first two guests, and can’t be exchanged for cash. Amounts vary.
Upgrades are never guaranteed, even with priority.

Final thoughts

There isn’t a single “best” fare every time. Start with your priorities, check the specific perks and onboard spend for your dates, and then compare the price gap. If the perks plus cabin choice are worth the uplift, go Select Price. If you’re flexible and just want the cheapest cabin on the ship, Saver will win. If you want a middle ground with a smaller deposit and some flexibility, Early Saver is a solid compromise.