P&O Cruises passengers who bring their own wine or champagne onboard face a £20 corkage fee if they drink it in certain public areas. The charge applies per bottle, per occasion, in dining rooms, restaurants and lounges.
Alcohol allowance and corkage rules
Guests aged 18 and over may bring up to one litre of wine or champagne when they first board the ship. However, consuming that bottle in a dining room, restaurant or lounge triggers a corkage fee, which is added to the passenger's onboard account rather than being paid immediately.
Drinking the permitted wine or champagne in a cabin does not incur the corkage charge. Spirits, however, are restricted items and cannot be brought onboard when guests first embark.
Port purchases and gift bottles
Alcohol bought during a port stop must be declared and handed over at the gangway, where it is stored and returned before the end of the sailing. Bottles purchased as gifts through P&O Cruises require the gift card to be kept, as this is needed to avoid the corkage charge being applied to the onboard account.
The £20 fee applies each time the permitted bottle is consumed in one of the specified public areas, rather than being a one-off charge for all bottles brought on a cruise. P&O's wording states the fee is charged "per bottle, per occasion".
Impact on holiday budgets
Passengers trying to control spending should note the policy before setting sail. Bringing your own wine is allowed within the stated allowance, but where you choose to drink it can make a £20 difference to the final holiday bill.
