What Alcohol Can You Bring on a P&O Cruise in 2026?
- George and Dan
- 3 days ago
- 2 min read
P&O changed their alcohol policy in May 2024, and a lot of people still haven't heard. If you've got an old forum post open in another tab telling you to pack a couple of cans for your cabin, close it. The rules have changed.
Here's what actually applies now.
What you can bring on board
Each guest aged 18 or over (21 if you're embarking from a US port) can bring one litre of wine or champagne on embarkation day. That's it. One bottle, per person, on the day you first board.
If you're travelling as a couple, you can each bring one litre, so two bottles between you. That's the maximum.
What you can no longer bring
Beer, cider, spirits, and liqueurs are all banned. P&O removed them from the permitted list in May 2024. Before that, guests could bring a modest amount of beer or spirits alongside wine. That allowance is gone.
If you try to bring any of these through the terminal, they'll be confiscated. You won't get them back.
What happens if you bring too much wine
If your bottle is over one litre, or you try to bring more than your allowance, the excess gets taken at the gangway and stored for you. P&O will return it before you disembark. No charge for storage, but you won't see it again until the end of the cruise.
Can you drink your bottle in your cabin?
Yes, and there's no corkage charge for drinking in your cabin. If you take it to a bar, restaurant, or any other public area, you'll pay a £20 corkage fee per bottle, per occasion. Worth keeping in mind if you're planning to enjoy it at dinner.
What about alcohol bought in port?
Any alcohol bought ashore has to be handed in at the gangway when you return to the ship. P&O will store it and give it back to you before you disembark. You can't drink it on board.
The same applies to duty-free alcohol bought in the ship's onboard shops. They store it and return it at the end of the cruise.
Soft drinks and water
No limits here. You can bring as many sealed soft drinks or bottles of water as you can comfortably carry. Useful if you've got kids, or if you just want a specific brand that won't be stocked on board.
What if you want more to drink?
P&O sell drinks packages, available to buy before your cruise or within the first two days on board. They're only available on cruises of five nights or longer. Each package covers up to 15 alcoholic drinks per day, after which you pay full price with a 20% discount. You can also just buy drinks as you go on your on-board account.
Room service is another option if you want spirits in your cabin. The room service menu includes wines and spirits you can order by the bottle.
The short version
One litre of wine or champagne per adult, embarkation day only. No beer, no spirits, no bringing your own gin. Anything bought in port gets stored until the end of the cruise. That's the current rule as of 2026.
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